Page 97 of Love on the Run

Hmm. Until now, Beau would have bet he couldn’t be any prouder of Anna. Knowing she wouldn’t bow to anyone when it came to worshiping the one true God had heat rising in his chest.

Oh no. It was heartwarming. Anna had softened his rough edges in a mere week. At this rate, he’d be watching those made-for-TV Christmas movies before the end of the month.

Beau rubbed the back of his neck. Dean was out of the picture, but her mom was still a threat to Anna’s happiness. He’d never had an enemy before, but anyone who bothered Anna was going to get bothered by him.

“Tell me everything you know about Catherine Harris.”

Chapter 30

Anna

Walking into Harris and Associates after the week spent with Beau was like stepping into a time machine. She’d worked at the family firm since she was old enough to file and water plants, but nothing about the place welcomed her back to the real world.

The receptionist, Katie, raised her head as soon as Anna stepped through the door. The young girl’s eyes widened, and she straightened her back.

“Hi. How was your…trip?” Katie asked, stammering over half the words.

“It was great. How have you been?”

Katie had been with the firm since early October, and she probably deserved some kind of award. Anna’s parents did a fantastic job of running off employees who were too sweet.

“I’m fine. It’s just…” Katie glanced at the doorway leading to the attorney offices. “Things have been tense.”

That wasn’t news. Her parents and the other attorneys were always upset about something or fuming whenever the smallest things went wrong. It was a pretty toxic work environment.

“Oh? What’s happening?”

Katie glanced one way, then the other before leaning in to whisper, “They’re not happy about the wedding.” Katie’s nose scrunched. “Sorry about that, by the way. You deserve better.”

Right on cue, Anna’s stomach clenched. Of course her parents were making the employees miserable because they were mad at her. Heat crept up her chest and neck, tightening her throat until her words were hoarse. “I’m really sorry you’re having to deal with that because of me.”

“Oh no. I just wanted to give you a heads-up. I don’t know if you’ve talked to them since you got back, but maybe tread lightly.”

Katie was a gift from the Lord and way more mature than most eighteen-year-olds.

“I haven’t talked to them yet, but hopefully it won’t be a big deal.” Who was she kidding? Her parents were going to lay into her as soon as they found out she was here.

Katie lifted her hand in a small wave. “I hope you’re right. I’m glad you’re back.”

Anna flashed a sweet smile. She wasn’t soglad to be back, but there hadn’t been any catastrophic damage since her return.

Yet.

“Thanks. I’ll see you at lunch,” Anna said as she headed for her office.

The whole place was eerily quiet. When she peeked into a few offices to say her hellos, the conversations were short and stilted. She’d been lulled into a false sense of security while she was on the trip. Freedom was just far enough that she could avoid her parents and ex, but now she was home, and the air was charged like the calm before the storm.

She slipped her purse into the bottom drawer of her desk and pulled her laptop out of its case. At least there wouldn’t be a ton of work waiting for her. She’d taken care of most things for the firm on the drive home yesterday, and she’d stayed home this morning to process all the mail she’d received while on the trip. She must have had fifty packages from boutiques waiting for her.

The quick, heavy beat of her mother’s footsteps echoed down the hall, and it took everything Anna had to keep her shoulders pulled back. Beau had taught her well, but he wasn’t here. Her instinct was to cower and please.

Not this time. She wouldn’t let her mother make her feel like an abused animal.

Catherine Harris dressed the part perfectly. Herhair was slicked back into a tight bun, her navy blazer matched her pencil skirt, and her scowl could terrify a grown man. Somehow, Anna lifted her chin in the face of the tongue-lashing to come. She thought of Beau and the way he built her up, and her insecurities faded from a burning wound to a dull ache.

Catherine didn’t give Anna a chance to greet her before she let the daggers fly. “How dare you.”

“Mom, please. We don’t have to fight like this.”

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