Page 123 of Love on the Run

Sharon reached for Anna’s hand and whispered, “I like this one.”

And with that, the nervous energy Beau had been carrying around all night slipped away. Sharon had a gift for making people relax in the most uncomfortable situations.

Beau pulled Sharon’s chair out for her to sit next to Anna. Once the two women settled into a conversation, Beau leaned over to whisper to Anna.

“I’ll be right back.” He gestured toward the alcove where the men’s room was discreetly labeled.

Anna nodded, clearly happy to have a friend next to her.

Beau was washing his hands when Anna’s dad walked in. He’d met her father before, and the encounters had always been polite but petty.

Donald Harris lifted his chin as he stopped next to Beau. There wasn’t an ounce of emotion in his voice as he said, “This could all be over if you would leave her alone.”

Oh, good. A solution.

Too bad it wasn’t a solution. Not one that Anna would like. It was just another way her parents could dictate her life.

“Polite decline. I think Anna is tired of someone else calling the shots in her life, but you’re welcome to take that proposition to her yourself. You’ll be digging your own grave, but that’s your call.”

Donald’s eyes narrowed. “Is that a threat?”

“It’s a figure of speech. Anna wants you in her life, but she doesn’t need someone making decisions for her anymore.”

With a huff, Donald lifted his chin again. “Catherine has big plans for Anna without you. Bow out now and save yourself the embarrassment.”

Beau dried his hands and shoved them into his pockets. “Why do you care? You don’t care about Anna, so what’s your endgame?”

Donald made a tsk sound behind his teeth. “You don’t understand. We have a reputation to uphold, and we didn’t raise Anna to throw it all away on trash who will find some other tramp within the week.”

Beau took a deep breath. “I hope you’re not implying Anna is a tramp because that won't end well for you.”

“The point of this conversation is to convince you that leaving Anna now is what’s best for her.”

Well, Beau’s patience was officially at its end, and a few more words with this guy might earn him a trip to jail before the end of the night.

“She’s twenty-eight years old. Twenty-eight. You have to trust her to make her own decisions now. She’s not a pawn in your networking game. She isn’t your employee anymore, and calling her your daughter is kind of a stretch when you’veturned your back on her. So, I think it’s weird that you assume she’ll come running back, asking for you to manage her life again.”

“Obviously, she can’t make decent decisions on her own. You’re living proof of that.”

Beau stepped closer to the man he wanted to throat punch. “Here’s a decision Anna and I made together. We’re committed to each other through the good and the bad. I’ll love her without strings attached. I’m not asking for your blessing. I just wanted you to know that I’ll be taking care of your daughter from now on. She’ll have everything she needs and wants, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make her happy.”

If Donald was bothered by Beau’s admission, it didn’t show. Instead, the man continued to stare Beau down as if he could set him on fire with a look. “Success isn’t about happiness. It’s about determination.”

The skin on Beau’s arms prickled, and he forced out another deep breath that was anything but relaxing. Still, falling into Donald’s trap wasn’t on Beau’s list of things to do today. “I can see this conversation is getting us nowhere, but I have one thing to ask of you.”

Donald huffed a single laugh. “That’s incredibly bold of you.”

“Hear me out. Anna still cares about you and her mom, despite the way you’ve shut her out. I knowshe would like to at least hear from her parents on Christmas.”

“That’s—”

“Just think about it,” Beau said before stepping around Donald and out the door.

Chapter 41

Anna

On Christmas morning, the warm scent of coffee woke Anna from a restful sleep seconds before her phone dinged with a text. Blinking through the soft light of the morning, she stretched her arms above her head and reached for her phone.

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