Page 128 of Love on the Run

Beau leaned over the console and pressed a quick kiss to her lips that only left him wanting more. Little tastes of her only ignited his hunger.

“I was just thinking the houses are too big. It’s just me, and while I do need lots of closet space, those houses are too much.”

Beau tightened his grip on her hand. “Well, you’ll have a family one day.”

She cut her gaze over to him, studying his expression as he focused on the road. “What do you mean?”

Great. His palm was sweating, and he couldn’t pry it out of hers without making things weird. “I know this is a lot of assuming on my part, but I live at the shop. It’s fine for me now, but I could afford to buy a house when thetime comes.”

Anna sat up straighter, turning toward him in her seat. “Beau Lawrence, speak in plain language.”

He lifted her hand and pressed his lips against her soft knuckles. “I’m trying to have a talk about our future, and you’re making me very nervous.”

Anna let out a small gasp, but he couldn’t look at her. He’d lose all of his courage.

“This is big, isn’t it?” she asked.

“Yep. About as big as it gets,” Beau confirmed. He was having a premeditated talk with his girlfriend about the future. Their future. “But don’t feel like you have to make a decision about a house with me in mind. Just because I’m hoping to be a part of your life for the foreseeable future doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pick the exact house thatyouwant.”

“Are you serious? I am one hundred percent thinking about you when I make decisions. I have been for months!”

“But you’re just getting your independence, and?—”

Anna leaned over the console until her face was only a few inches from him. “I don’t need any more independence. I know I have that now. I needyou.”

Oh boy. His heart was running a marathon in his chest, and Beau was trapped inside the small cab of his truck. “Here’s my take on where we live one day. I want a place where I can protect you and provide for you. I want to love you and cherish you, and I don’t care one bit about what the house looks like.”

He paused, and Anna spoke up. “I feel like there’s a but coming.”

“But I’d like to have room to grow our family,” he added.

Anna jerked back to her seat and squealed. “Ahhh! You’re joking!”

Beau gripped the wheel. “Good grief. What are you doing? What’s wrong?”

“I’m happy! I’ve never been so happy in my life! Beau, I want a future with you. I want it all. Let’s do more than house hunt together. Let’s buy one.”

“Are you sure? It’s only been a few months. What if?—”

“What if everything isn’t perfect? What if we have fights and disagree? What if we work together to make the future we both want? What if it’s perfectly imperfect, and we love it?”

Beau jerked the truck into the nearest vacant lot and shifted into park.

“What are you?—”

Wrapping a hand behind her head, he pulled her in for a kiss that did nothing to settle his wild pulse. They formed to each other, fitting perfectly together.

He never saw her coming, but Anna crashed into his life and changed everything for the better.

She pulled back long enough to take a few steadying breaths. “I know how big of a deal this is for you.”

He brushed a hair behind her ear and trailed histhumb down her jaw. “It’s not. It feels right with you. I don’t want to pressure you into anything.”

“I never feel pressured with you,” she said. “I can finally be myself.”

“Good, because I don’t want you to be anyone else.”

She pressed another quick kiss to his lips. “I tried to save my old life, but I was better off walking away from it. You love me so much that I don’t care who doesn’t anymore. I’m not trying to fix what doesn’t work. I’m ready for what comes next.”

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