Page 122 of Love on the Run

She shook her head. “You’ve done everything. You always know how to cheer me on, and I love that you’re always on my side. I loveyou.”

Good. At least they were on the same page, because he loved her more than life itself. “I love youtoo. Now, do you want to go check out the silent auction?”

Anna carefully wiped at the edges of her eyes. “Yes. That’s my favorite part of this gala.”

“I’m not going to pretend like I know what it is. I’ve never done this before.”

Anna’s earlier tears were forgotten as she dove headfirst into the silent auction. They slowly made their way through the room bidding on the items and talking with people Anna knew. Fortunately, no one gave him a second look. They were mostly interested in catching up with Anna.

When they moved out of the auction room, her parents were nowhere in sight. Anna was in a brighter mood, and Beau didn’t bring up the elephant in the room. If she got a chance to talk to her parents tonight, maybe it would be in God’s perfect timing.

The dinner was a plated, five-course meal, and Beau held up the set menu between them, whispering behind the thick paper. “Is this a different language? What is camembert? Why is the turkey stuffed with prune and juniper?”

Anna giggled, and the sound was a jolt straight to his heart. He’d do anything to keep her happy like this.

Beau glanced up as a couple walked by their table. Anna’s parents passed so close to them that her father’s coat brushed Beau’s arm.

In a desperate attempt to distract Anna from her parents’ dismissal, Beau asked, “Do you think they’d let me substitute the pavlova for Froot Loops?”

Anna’s smile faded. Shoot. She’d noticed.

Beau reached for her hand beneath the table. “Don’t worry about talking to them right now. We can’t exactly switch tables during dinner, so this is your time to relax.”

A bright-eyed woman in her early fifties let out a controlled gasp when she spotted Anna. “Anna Harris, it is so good to see you!”

Beau relaxed as soon as Anna stood to greet the woman. “Sharon! It’s so good to see you too.”

The woman embraced Anna, then stepped back to give her a once-over. “You look amazing. You are practically glowing.”

Anna reached for the woman’s hand. “Thank you, but I was going to say the same about you.”

Sharon pointed at a man a few feet away. “Mark retired, and it has been the best thing for us.”

“That’s amazing. Congratulations to both of you.”

Sharon leaned around Anna to lock her attention on Beau. “And who is this?”

Beau stood and offered his hand, but Anna beat him to the introduction.

“This is my boyfriend, Beau Lawrence. Beau, this is Sharon Black. She and her husband own hotels in and around Jackson Hole.”

Wow. They owned multiple hotels in one of the country’s top vacation destinations? Even knowing Sharon and her husband were probably loaded, the woman was friendly and down-to-earth. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Beau said.

Sharon’s brows rose as she took his hand with a playful smile. “The pleasure is all mine. I hope you’re treating Anna well. She’s the sweetest woman I’ve ever met.”

Yep. Beau and Sharon were going to be good friends. “My mission is to make her happy for as long as she’ll let me.”

Sharon pinched her lips together, trying and failing to hide a grin. “Well, that’s good.” She leaned closer to Anna and held up a hand in a show of sharing a secret. “He’s a hundred times better than that sour-faced man I saw you with last year.”

Anna chuckled. “You have no idea.”

“And what line of work are you in, Mr. Lawrence?” Sharon asked.

Oh, great. The question he’d been waiting to rear its ugly head. “I’m a small business owner.”

Sharon made a rumbling sound in her throat. “Really. That’s impressive. I admire anyone who has the guts to step out and take a risk these days. I’ve never understood the appeal in working for anyone but yourself.”

Beau raised his glass of water. “I agree.”

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