Page 6 of Love on the Run

Beau turned at the sound of Dean’s sharp tone itching for a fight as Anna whispered a clean curse under her breath because the woman was as sweetas cotton candy and didn’t have a mean bone in her body, but Dean was Beau’s least favorite person on the planet. It was easy to daydream about thumping him off a cliff, but Beau had done a fantastic job of staying out of Dean and Anna’s business since day one.

How exactly did he end up standing between the runaway bride and her ex-groom?

“Dean, she told me. I think it’s only fitting that you be the one to explain to everyone why there won’t be a wedding happening today.” She pointed at the woman trailing Dean like a puppy. “Misty is good at telling the story.”

“You can’t be serious. It’s our wedding day. Get back inside!”

Beau straightened his shoulders when Dean stalked closer, but he didn’t have a chance to take one step toward the guy before Anna pointed a manicured nail in Dean’s face.

“You think that’s going to work on me now? I can’t believe that all those trips you took were for her.” She turned the finger around on herself. “I begged you to spend time with me.”

“That’s the thing. You’re not begging. You’re nagging,” Dean said.

Misty looked like she’d been through the wringer with black makeup smeared from her nose to her hairline and all down her cheeks.

Why wasn’t it surprising that Dean had awoman on the side? Few people had ever seen him treat Anna with respect. Why did he ask her to marry him if he didn’t want to be faithful to her?

Dating had never been at the top of Beau’s to-do list, but it made sense that you wouldn’t ask a woman to spend the rest of her life with you if you didn’t want to spend the rest of your life with her.

Misty pulled on Dean’s arm. “Please. Let’s go. She said the wedding is off.”

Dean shoved her off and focused on Anna. “You think you can just leave?”

Anna crossed her arms over her chest. She had to be cold, but she didn’t look like someone protecting herself from the weather. It was a stance of defiance. “Did you cheat on me with Misty?” she asked calmly.

“What? How can you even ask me that?” Dean spat back, as if surprised she’d have the nerve to even ask.

Anna huffed. “Yeah, this conversation is over. I’m not marrying you. Misty can have you, and I wish you two the best. Oh, and you’ll be getting the catering bill. Be sure to tell everyone to stay and enjoy the food.”

Dean’s chest rose and fell as he took deep breaths. His face was turning a scary shade of red that didn’t look healthy. “Get. Back. Inside.”

“Absolutely not,” Anna spoke calmly with her chin slightly lifted. “I don’t have to stay with you. Ididn’t stand up in front of God and the people of this town and make vows to you.”

“This is ridiculous. I?—”

“Dean,” Misty whined, still pulling on his shirt.

Dean rounded on her, and she shrank back. “Shut up. This is all your fault.”

“Don’t talk to her like that,” Anna said.

Dean threw his hands in the air. “Why do you care how I talk to her?”

Anna clenched her fists at her sides. “Because you talk to me the same way. You don’t have to say it. I know you’ve been seeing her.”

Beau crossed his arms and eyed that little bit of tension in her hands. Good for her. She needed some fight in her after putting up with loser Dean for so long.

Dean took a step toward Anna and lowered his voice. “I swear, if you don’t get back in there?—”

“You might want to take a quick second to think about how you want to finish that sentence,” Beau said.

Great. Why’d he have to say something? It was like the words just popped out.

Getting involved in this marital tiff was about as appealing as licking wet paint, but apparently there was a tipping point to Beau’s indifference.

Anna grabbed Beau’s hand and pulled him toward the parking lot. “Let’s go,please.”

She hadn’t cried yet, but the last word wasdrawn out and a little shaky. That was the only reason he let her lead him away from the church.

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