Page 69 of The Runaway and the Rugged
Beau.
He pulled up to a stop next to me, cranking the passenger window down.
“Sunshine? What the hell you doin’ all the way out here?” His blond brows were practically touching as he observed me anxiously.
He probably thinks I was running off again like I did on my wedding day.
Sweat clung to my palms but I swiftly wiped them down the length of my denim shorts and leaned both hands onto the door panel.
“Just thought I’d take a walk and get some fresh air.”
He appeared reluctant to believe me, but ultimately nodded with a grin.
“Perfect place to do that,” he declared. “You doin’ okay? You know, after yesterday with Garth?”
It was apparent in his expression that he was hesitant to ask. He witnessed my flare-up after all, and now, I was certain he saw me in an entirely new light.
“Yeah, I’m doing better, thank you for asking.” My eyes dipped down and away from him. “I’m sorry you had to see that. Garth triggered a memory that I’d rather forget and the way he was treating you, I didn’t think it was called for.”
“No need to be sorry, sunshine.” He grinned happily. “It was nice seein’ you hold your own against him. Garth’s not a bad guy, far from it, but he has a tendency of comin’ off as a real jerk just to stay guarded and I have a feelin’ you’re fuckin’ all that up for him.”
My stomach did that thing again where it feels like it's flipping around.
“I’m… fucking it up, how?”
His grin widened as he leaned his body over the middle and passenger seats, opening the door for me.
“Hop in,” he demanded, a cocky, playful hint in his tone.
Apprehension started to fill me, not because of Beau personally, but because I was terrified to hear more of Beau’s insight on Garth. It was all speculation anyway, right? There wasn’t evidence to prove anything, nothing to make me believe what he had to say, but that didn’t stop me from choosing to ignore everything that was telling me to leave it alone and I hopped inside.
It took me a few seconds to get settled into the seat, a strong smell of cologne and aftershave saturating the air. And that’s when it hit me, he was dressed stylishly casual, with a cleaned-up face and fancy, wide-brimmed cowboy hat.
He was going on a date.
“You’re going on a date,” I stated matter-of-factly, causing the corner of his mouth to curl up slightly.
“Not a date, just a friendly dinner,” he corrected.
I rolled my eyes.
Of course he was the type of man that didn’t refer to a date as a date.
“Why’d you tell me to hop in then?”
“You really think I’d let you walk all the way back to your cabin by yourself?” He scoffed as if it were the most outrageous thing he’d ever heard. “Not a chance, sunshine.”
Instantly, I folded my arms over my chest, annoyed that I had another “protector” I had to worry about.
“I walked all the way out here, I’m sure I could find my way back no problem,” I defended, feeling a shot of heat creep up my back as Beau watched me with lighthearted intensity.
I’ve learned that this was his thing. He loved a little back-and-forth, playful banter, and thankfully, there was nothingflirtatious or grimy about it. It was simply his way of communicating without the worry of things getting too serious. I had a strong feeling there was much more to Beau, but it was hidden under a mountain of guarded secrets and hidden stories.
Maybe one day I’d get the chance to know the real Beau, without the facade he maintained, but today clearly wasn’t the day.
“Besides,” I added. “I’m not ready to head back yet.”
“Well, where do you want to go then?” he questioned, shifting around restlessly as if seeking to find a more comfortable position. “With me?”
