Page 28 of Sweet Surrender
Beau nodded and once again his eyes were drawn to the bar.
“I better go and say hi to the old ball and chain,” he joked then headed over. He watched Taylor pouring drinks, emptying the dishwasher, joking with customers and helping Kayleigh. Her energy zapped around her, giving him a crazy second-hand high. It bolstered his confidence to walk behind the bar and straight up to her. She frowned at him for invading her space but offered up a tight smile.
“Evening sweetheart,” he said, and bent down to kiss her cheek. Lingering slightly and inhaling the cinnamon scent that turned his brain to mush and his body to steel.
“Hi,” she gritted out.
“You got a few minutes, for us to put on a performance?”
She looked around, surveying the bar. “Just give me five to get through this lot.”
He nodded and went back to Christy and Dean. They chatted until Taylor eventually came over carrying two beers and a fruity cocktail that none of them had ordered. But that was what she did, she anticipated what people wanted and did nice things for others without being asked. The one thing he could never fault her on was the way she cared for people.
He tried to get her attention but she refused to meet his gaze. How was he going to get her to relax and let him in? He had known this would be difficult, but they needed it to work and he felt like she was purposely fighting it. He decided to speak to Justine when she and Blake turned up to see if she could fit some time in with them.
“I’ll be back,” he muttered, not sure if anyone heard him as he headed to the restroom. While he was in there, Porter, one of the bar regulars cornered him.
“I’ve heard about you and my girl Taylor, is it for real?” Porter said. It was sweet that Porter was looking out for her, but Beau’s main takeaway from that was that news of their relationship was spreading, just as they’d hoped.
“Yes Porter, it’s for real.”
“If you hurt her, I will end you,” Porter said, his smile replaced by a scowl. Beau didn’t feel threatened in the slightest, hell he was more scared of Porter’s wife, Dina.
“Don’t you worry ’bout a thing,” he said, clapping Porter on the shoulder then heading back out. When he rejoined them, Taylor was staring at something behind them, her eyes wide, her shoulders drawn in.
“What is it?” he asked.
Her eyes didn’t move to him, but she replied:
“Dale’s here.”
*
Taylor watched as Beau spun around and scanned the bar, looking for Dale. She expected him to march over there and drag Dale outside like he’d done in the past but instead he turned back to her, anger flickering in the depths of his eyes.
“Are you okay?”
She tilted her head, surprised that this time he was focused on her. She wasn’t okay. It unnerved her more than she expected that Dale was there after what he had done to her squirrels. Fear skated down her spine but she just nodded.
“I’ll just go and tell him to leave,” she said, taking a step forward but Beau’s massive body blocked her path.
“Like hell are you going over to that motherfucker,” he growled. Heat sparked through her. Did she like the possessive alpha thing he had going on? Yes, wait, no. She usually hated it when guys got all macho and started measuring their dicks, but on Beau? She could get used to it. Then she remembered he was only doing his job as her fake boyfriend. It was just pretend.
“No, Tay, you can’t. It’s exactly what he wants, and it defeats the whole purpose of the evening,” Christy said.
“And what is the purpose of the evening?” Taylor grumbled.
“To show him how in love you are,” Dean said, then shoved her face-first into Beau’s chest. The hard wall of flesh didn’t give way beneath her cheek and Beau’s arm came around her shoulders, keeping her in place. As annoying as he was, Dean was right. That was exactly what Dale wanted. He wanted her to seek him out and give him attention when she was meant to be showing everyone how in love she was with Beau.
Taylor gritted her teeth and leaned into Beau, trying to relax the tension in her shoulders but not quite managing it. She still couldn’t let go of their past and give herself over to what she was meant to be doing. Couldn’t relax into it and let him touch her, kiss her.
It was too much, too painful because she had started to think about what it would be like if he really did touch her, really did kiss her. Because he wanted to and not because it was pretend.She shook him off, needing to keep her guard up and protect herself.
“Let’s go and relax,” he said and gestured to the one table in the whole bar that was free. Christy and Dean sat down but when Taylor grabbed the back of the chair to sit, Beau snatched her hand and tugged her towards him. She fell unceremoniously into his lap, elbowing his ribs and he let out a startledoofbefore he righted her.
“Your ass sits right here,” he commanded, for her ears only, and traitorous tingles erupted at his demand. She brushed said tingles aside and settled in, his powerful thighs cradling her ass perfectly. She sat ramrod straight and his hand came up against her back, rubbing soothing circles. His thumb found the edge of the split in her jumpsuit and stroked across her exposed skin. Thankfully her sharp intake of breath was covered by a particularly loud guitar solo blaring from the jukebox.
This is perfectly normal, it’s what a normal boyfriend would do, completely acceptable behavior.She chanted it over and over, willing herself to relax but she just couldn’t.No, this isn’t happening!She bit her cheek and leaned forward out of his grip which pushed her ass back into his lap and he jolted.
