Page 75 of Backed By You
I sniffle and Beau squeezes my hand. I glance at him. His rapt attention is on his family. The love he has for his brothers is written plainly across his face, unguarded in a way he rarely allows himself to be.
When the final couple is pronounced husband and wife, the pavilion erupts in cheers and applause, and something flashes across his expression—a brief, considering look as his gaze meets mine that makes my breath catch.
The recessional music swells as the newlyweds make their way back down the aisle, followed by the wedding party. Guests begin to stir, gathering purses and suit jackets as they prepare to move to the reception area.
“That was beautiful,” I say, blinking back tears.
Beau’s thumb brushes across my cheek, catching a stray drop I didn’t realize had fallen. “It was,” he agrees, his gaze never leaving mine.
There’s a weight to his gaze that makes me wonder what he’s thinking, but before I can ask, we’re swept up in the crowd. His hand remains firmly in mine as we navigate through family and friends.
The evening sun casts long shadows across the resort grounds as we follow the flow of guests toward the reception tent. In the distance, the newlyweds are posing for photos against the mountain backdrop, their joy visible even from afar.
“Do you need to join them?” I ask, nodding toward where his parents stand with the wedding party.
Beau shakes his head. “Not yet. Family photos are after the cocktail hour.” His arm slides around my waist, drawing me closer. “Which means I get you all to myself for a little while.”
“Whatever will we do with this time?” I ask innocently.
His grin turns mischievous. “I have a few ideas.”
Twenty-Seven.
Callie
Thereceptionisinfull swing by the time the speeches conclude. The dance floor is crowded with guests moving to the live band’s upbeat cover of a country song, the overhead string lights cast a warm glow over the celebration.
I sit at our table, while Beau chats with a cousin near the bar. Even from across the tent, I can see the relaxed set of his shoulders, the easy smile that appears more frequently now than when we first met. He looks at home here.
“He hasn’t taken his eyes off you all night, you know.” Julie, Beau’s mom, slides into the chair beside me. She’s elegantly dressed in a navy jumpsuit with flowy sleeves, her silver-blonde hair swept into a stylish updo. “Even when he’s talking to someone else, he checks to make sure you’re okay. He’s quite fond of you.”
Warmth rises to my cheeks. “He’s protective.”
“It’s more than that, dear.” She pats my hand, her eyes kind but knowing. “He’s always been the serious one, the careful one. Even before the army.”
I nod, recognizing the description of the man I first met—guarded, watchful, keeping the world at arm’s length.
“But the way he looks at you?” Julie continues. “That’s new. That’s a man who’s found his place.”
The band transitions to a slower song, and as if summoned by our conversation, Beau appears before us, hand extended toward me. “Dance with me?” he asks deeply, merely sparing his mother a sweeping glance.
I place my hand in his and tell Hulk to stay. He sits beside Julie watching on with a satisfied smile, as Beau leads me to the dance floor. His arm circles my waist, drawing me close as we begin to sway to the music.
“Having fun?” he asks, his voice low near my ear.
“Yes,” I answer honestly. “Your family is wonderful.”
“She likes you,” he says, glancing at our table.
I roll my eyes. “What, did she tell you that?”
“She did.” His smirk is slow, easy. “They all did.”
His hand is warm against the small of my back, one I’ve come to rely on. We move together easily, finding our rhythm among the other couples on the dance floor. Duke and Maci glide past us, lost in their own world. Nearby, Butch twirls Cassidy in a move that fumbles but makes her laugh.
“Do you ever think about it?” I ask, the question slipping out before I can reconsider.
“About what?”
