Page 117 of Love on the Run

Every alarm in Beau’s head went off in unison when he saw Brittany. He’d been on high alert for weeks, but Anna had gone to great lengths to assure him Brittany was a friend.

Friends were supportive. Friends were there when you needed them. Friends did not travel across the countrytwiceand show up unannounced.

Anna kept a firm grip on Beau’s arm as she greeted Brittany. “Hey. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

That was one way to put it. Anna had a lot more tact than Beau.

Brittany kept her gaze locked on Anna as she pushed the bridge of her glasses up her slender nose. “You haven’t answered my messages.”

Her monotone words were so matter-of-fact, but her reason for traveling so far to find Annadidn’t add up. If she was outraged enough by Anna’s lack of replies to travel this far, where was her emotion? There wasn’t a frown line or wrinkle on her face.

Anna rested a hand on her chest and gave Brittany her full attention. “I’m sorry. I’ve been really busy the last few days.”

Brittany only stared. “Okay.”

That was it?Okay?

Nope. Not gonna work for Beau.

He reached for Anna’s hand just as she gestured for a table their friends had claimed.

“Do you want to sit and talk?”

Brittany gave a single nod, and Anna moved toward the booth. Beau’s hand kept a firm grip on Anna’s while he watched Brittany.

She was the last person anyone would expect to be a threat with her thin build and big-framed glasses, but Beau wouldn’t underestimate her or anyone else when Anna’s safety was at stake.

A hand rested on Beau’s shoulder, and Lauren appeared at his side.

“Let me,” Lauren whispered.

Beau glanced at Anna and Brittany before turning back to Lauren. She could take his place at the table, but he wasn’t leaving Anna’s side.

Lauren jerked her head toward the nearby bar where a few of their friends watched intently.

He had zero problems leaving Anna to girl-talkwith her friends. Leaving her with someone he didn’t trust was a whole different story.

“Trust me,” Lauren said before sliding into the chair across the table from Brittany. A friendly smile lit up her features, and Anna made introductions.

His chest rose and fell in deep waves. He could stand five feet away. He could give Anna space and trust that she and Lauren knew what they were doing.

What kind of help could he provide anyway? None when the game was being played with words instead of fists.

Dawson welcomed Beau to a different table where the Harding family waited to hear Asher and Hunter play. “Hey, man. Who’s that?”

Beau leaned over the table without sitting and rested his palms flat on the wooden surface. “Her name is Brittany. Anna knows her from her online stuff, but she lives somewhere in California.”

“That’s cool. I didn’t know Anna was expecting someone. Is she planning to stay at our place? We don’t have any more beds, but there’s a couch available.”

Beau glanced at the table where the women talked. “Anna didn’t know she was coming.”

Camille leaned in, jumping into the conversation. “Is that the girl who showed up in Freedom when you were there?”

Dawson’s head jerked from Camille, to Beau,and back to Camille. “Time out. She showed up in Colorado too? Unexpected?”

“Yep. It’s as weird as it sounds,” Beau said.

The women at the table seemed calm enough. Anna smiled and leaned one elbow on the table. If her alarm bells were going off right now, she was hiding it well. His feet wanted to do the walking for him and march right over to Brittany and lay down some boundaries.

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