Page 38 of Love on the Run

Anna smiled and took a deep breath. “And when we get home, our lives go back to normal?”

“Only if you want to. You might get used tobeing the real you and want to be yourself all the time,” Beau offered.

Anna nodded and straightened in her seat. “Okay. It’s a deal, but I have one rule.”

“Fine. What is it?”

“What happens in Colorado stays in Colorado.”

“I thought we already established that,” Beau said.

“Yeah, but it’s a rule now. It’s official.”

“Fine. If you have a rule, I have one too.”

“Another one?” Anna tilted her head slightly as she studied him. “Go on.”

“You can’t use the fake smile with me,” Beau said.

Anna’s eyes narrowed. She actually had the nerve to look surprised. “What fake smile?”

“The one you wear all the time when you’re trying to make people think you’re happy. It’s just me. There isn’t anyone to impress here, and whatever happens this week is about you. Don’t be fake.”

Anna swallowed hard and took her precious time deciding if she’d take him up on the pact. Once she decided, she extended her delicate hand out beside him. “It’s a deal.”

They shook on it, and Beau focused on driving through the mountains. The trip would be ten times better if Anna could loosen up and have fun.

Chapter 12

Anna

Bundled in no less than five layers of winter weather gear, Anna wrapped her arms around Beau’s torso from behind.

“Ready?” he shouted to be heard through the helmets and screaming wind.

She’d trusted Beau when he whisked her away from her wedding disaster on his motorcycle. Why were her thighs shaking against his now?

“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” he reminded her.

It wasn’t that. She wanted to ride a snowmobile, but her central nervous system was sending out all kinds of danger signals. “I’m ready.”

“You sure?” he asked.

Bless his soul. He really wanted her to be comfortable, but he was giving her way too manychances to back out. If he didn’t step on it soon, she’d get cold feet.

“No,” she shouted above the engine noise.

“Hang on,” Beau said as he turned to face ahead.

Anna tightened her hold as Beau took off. Closing her eyes and pressing the front of her helmet against his back was the most she could do at first. After a few minutes of steady riding, her tight muscles loosened.

What did it say about her that her fear faded in dangerous situations simply because Beau was around?

What did it say about him?

She’d promised he could choose what they did today, but even after he told her about the snowmobile idea, he’d asked if she wanted to do it.

That tiny freedom had made her think twice about doing something that had initially sounded terrifying. Beau wouldn’t have suggested it if he thought it was unsafe.

---