Page 23 of Love on the Run

Of course Beau would have gone camping with his friends. He’d always loved the outdoors and anything that involved getting his hands dirty.

Anna smiled softly. “And you haven’t wanted a vacation since then?”

Beau let out a low huff. “Not really. I drank too much and woke up in a canoe about ten miles down the Snake River from where I started.”

Gasping, Anna covered her mouth. “Ten miles?”

Two servers in black brought their dinner and placed the steaming plates in front of Beau and Anna. The warm scent drew a rumble from Anna’s stomach.

Beau closed his eyes and bowed his head over the steak and potato he’d ordered. Of course he would pray before eating. He’d grown up in a Christian home and always prayed when their friends had meals at his garage.

Anna, on the other hand, had to pray discreetly when she was around her family. If her parents took notice of her prayers, they made a quick point to add their snarky comments. Worship of anyone higher than themselves was considered an offense.

Here, she could pray without judgment. Here, Beau would understand, and she didn’t care what anyone else thought. Anna bowed her head and took stock of the long day. Just the act of praying reminded her to lean on God and the assurance of His love.

The meal was delicious. Beau practically scarfed down the food then relaxed in his chair, clearly satisfied.

Apparently, food was the answer to most problems because the unease and stress of the day melted out of her as she finished eating. They hadn’t even picked up the conversation again when their waiter brought out a bowl with a thick slice of chocolate cake covered in chocolate syrup with whole strawberries on one side and a large scoop of vanilla ice cream on the other.

Despite her full stomach, Anna’s mouth watered. “Wow. That looks delicious.”

The waiter placed a spoon next to each of them and bowed. “Congratulations. Enjoy.”

“I forgot I mentioned it was my wedding day while making the reservations,” Anna whispered as soon as the waiter disappeared.

She picked up the spoon and scooped up a small bite of the cake. When Beau didn’t reach for his, she gestured to his spoon with hers.

He shook his head. “That’s all you.”

“You don’t like chocolate cake?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“I can’t eat this by myself. I need you to help me.”

After a few thoughtful seconds, Beau picked up the spoon and dug out a heaping chunk of the cake.Somehow, he swallowed the bite without looking like a greedy chipmunk.

When he reached for his second bite, Anna chuckled. “What do you think?”

“It’s amazing, and you know it,” he mumbled before inhaling another spoonful of cake and ice cream.

Her lips spread into a smile as Beau enjoyed the dessert. “I hardly ever see you eat sweets.”

Beau paused and held his spoon above the plate. “Not much use for them when work is waiting.”

Anna dragged the tip of her spoon through the syrup. “You don’t hear about a lot of workaholic mechanics.”

“What else am I going to do?” Beau helped himself to a strawberry.

“So, you don’t love your job?”

“I do, but I don’t want to just sit in my apartment if I don’t have anything else to do.”

Dean worked a lot, but he also hated his job. Most of their relationship consisted of his travels and complaints about work. Now that she knew about his secret relationship, how much of what he’d said had been true?

The waiter appeared next to their table just as Anna scraped the bottom of the bowl.

“Can I interest you in coffee?” the waiter asked.

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