Page 78 of Love on the Run

It was a perfect night, and she was still ridingthe thrill of Beau’s fake proposal. Her heart raced like a herd of wild horses. It was all pretend, but her body hadn’t gotten the message. She still hadn’t caught her breath.

Dean had proposed at the local country club during a formal gala, and she’d been happy at the time—thrilled even—but tonight’s proposal blew that one out of the water. No, it blew Dean’s proposal out of the country.

Beau pressed the button for the elevator and tugged her arm until they were chest-to-chest. He wrapped his arms around her and leaned down to whisper, “Should I expect you pick out a house in the suburbs soon?”

Anna pressed her forehead to his chest. “Sorry.”

“No, you’re not. I have to keep my guard up whenever you’re around. You’re always getting us into trouble.”

Us. She liked the sound of that way too much.

The elevator doors opened, and they stepped inside. A man and woman who looked to be in their late forties waved as they sprinted toward the elevator. “Hold it, please!”

Beau stuck an arm out until the couple made it to the elevator.

The man let out a deep breath. “Whew. I must be out of shape if I can’t jog to catch the elevator.”

The woman turned a sweet smile on Beau and Anna. “Thanks for holding it for us.”

“You’re welcome,” Anna said.

The man pointed to Beau and Anna. “Wait, aren’t you the two who just got engaged in the restaurant?”

Oh no. Faking it for a room full of strangers was one thing. Lying to someone’s face was another.

Anna hunched her shoulders forward. “Actually, we’re not engaged. I dropped my ring on the floor, and he just picked it up for me. Everyone thought he was proposing, so we played along.”

The woman pressed a hand to her chest and let out a riotous laugh. “That’s hilarious!”

“You two had us all fooled,” the man said.

The woman chuckled. “That was some kiss. I’m sure the real thing is in your future.”

Anna glanced up at Beau to find him staring at the floor. “We’re not together. Just friends.”

Why did it hurt to admit the truth? The lie sounded so much better.

The woman gasped. “You’re joking. You two make such a great couple. And that kiss!”

The man shook his head and made a clicking noise behind his teeth. “I’ve got one piece of advice for you. Don’t let a good one get away.”

Beau pressed his lips into a thin line, biting off something on the tip of his tongue.

The elevator dinged, and the couple stepped out. “Have a nice evening,” the woman said with a wave.

“Bye!” Anna shouted as the doors closed again. “They were nice.”

Beau crossed his arms over his chest and glared down at her with a look that was probably meant to be intimidating. “You are trouble.”

“I told the truth!” Anna argued.

“I can’t trust you as far as I can throw you.”

Anna propped her hands on her hips. “And how far is that?”

The elevator doors opened, and Beau’s lips turned up into a playful grin. “I don’t know. Let’s find out.”

One second she was an independent woman standing on her own two feet. The next, she was whisked into Beau’s arms and carried out into the hallway.

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