Page 94 of Love on the Run

Anna swallowed hard, dreading the conversation they needed to have before they crossed the town line back into Blackwater. “Where do we go from here?” she asked.

“What do you mean?”

She brushed her fingertips over the lines on his palm before trailing up each finger. With a deep inhale, she asked, “What are we? Do we have a label? What do you want?”

Beau lifted her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. “I want you to be happy. As much as I really, really want to jump into things with you, I think you need time to find out how strong you can be.”

Anna’s chest tightened. It sounded a lot like he was letting her down slowly. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I want to make sure this is what you want. You have a million things to take care of when we get back, and I don’t want to get in the way of that.”

“You’re not in the way,” she quickly added.

“Listen, nothing that I’m saying is bad. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here. Just don’t stress too much about us when you have other things going on. I’m not going to be upset if you don’t call, because I know you’re busy. I’ll be happy to hear from you when you do have time for me.”

“That’s…good, I guess.”

When she stopped exploring his hand, he began to lazily explore hers where it lay on the console between them. “I’m trying to say I’ll give you time to realize that you can do things on your own without questioning every move you make. You don’t have to worry about what I think because I’m on your side. Always.”

Beau was giving her a gift, and it was the best thing anyone had ever done for her. It only made her want him more.

“Is that what you want?” she asked.

“What do you mean? This isn’t about me.”

Anna leaned closer to him, propping on the console between them to whisper, “Ask me what I want.”

He gave her a playful smirk before facing the road ahead. “Okay. What do you want?”

“I want you. I also realize that you’re right. I trust you, and I’m not afraid. I’ve never had this before—a relationship that was stronger than the storms life throws at us.”

“See? You can do this.” He blew out a quick breath. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, butwecan do this.”

Anna chuckled. “Yeah, it sounds strange to me too. I don’t think anyone could have seen this coming. Me and you!”

Beau narrowed his eyes. “I’m starting to think Olivia pushed me to go with you because she knew.”

She hadn’t thought about it before, but she certainly was now. Had she missed Liv subtly prodding them toward each other? “You think? She’s never said anything to me about the two of us.”

“I wouldn’t put it past her. She’s sneaky like that.”

A carefree laugh burst from Anna’s chest. “Do you think she saw an opportunity and ran with it?”

“You’re laughing, but I think I’m right.”

“I think you are too. I don’t know whether to kick her behind or send her a thank you card.”

Beau was quiet for a few moments, but he held onto her hand with an unwavering grip. “I think we should wait to tell people.”

Anna could easily spiral into doubt, but none of that feeling made an appearance. Beau wasn’t ashamed of her, he was protecting what they were building. “I agree. It would take a lot of the pressure off, at least in the beginning. Liv and Dawson know.”

“We could ask them not to tell,” Beau said.

Anna nodded, then squeezed his hand in a show of solidarity. “I like that idea.”

Their week in Freedom was only the beginning. The new relationship they were bringing home was worth protecting at all costs.

Chapter 29

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