“Do you ever think about love, Beau?”
My breath jammed in my chest, and I made one of those gruntin’ swallows. My voice was rendered useless, so I stretched my neck, trying to pull some oxygen in. When that didn’t work, I twisted the other way like I was practicing for an exorcism.
She was batting her lashes like a toad in a hailstorm.
Shoot.
I was sugar in her hand.
I didn’t have the slightest clue how that happened.
“Ah, nope, can’t, never could, and won’t think about love,” I rattled out so many negative words, my old English teacher’s head would have exploded. I quickly crossed to the window, closing the curtains tight. “I reckon this storm is gonna blow all night. We might as well settle in. I gotta be on site by sunrise, so I need a few hours of sleep.” I announced as I focused on not looking at her. “The washroom is right down the hall. You really should put on that dry shirt. There’s a guest room right there on the left and you’re sure welcome to sleep in it.”
I didn’t glance back before heading upstairs because I didn’t want any trouble.
At least nottonight.
I wasn’t afraid of trouble. I actually rather liked it. However, I was a country boy, and my mama taught me how to treat a lady, and do things properly. Any trouble I get into is always done properly.
eleven
Clover
Sometimeinthemiddleof the night, I dozed off and was awakened the next morning by the sound of chirping outside the window. And a yellow Post-it note on my forehead. “I got a ride to work. You can take my scooter.” I squinted through one eye, rereading it as my confusion mounted. I recognized Beau’s house.
And I remembered last night!
My heart motored fast as the panic seeped all the way up to my throat, irritating it enough to make me feel like throwing up. I wasn’t sure what was more humiliating. Beau pulling me out of the storm on his electric scooter, or the way I tried flirting with him afterward.
Who was I kidding?
I smacked my forehead, feeling the shame claw its way further up in my throat. It was definitely my ill-advised attempt at flirting. When he showed up in the middle of that storm with a storm of his own in his eyes, I felt like I was struck by a lightning bolt. Something hit me right in the chest and didn’t stop until it implanted in the vicinity of my heart. It took on a life of its own, swelling each time I gazed into his dreamy eyes, colored just like my favorite 80% dark chocolate.
I had never had an experience like that before.
Once I gave into my thoughts, I couldn’t find an excuse to push them away. He wasn’t the Beau I had thought he was. As I unpacked this idea even more, I made a list on my fingers.
This Beau was funny.
This Beau was kind.
This Beau was handsome.
Sure, he was a rig pig, but he was a rig pig with heart.
Not only did he selflessly charge out to save Poppy, but last night he was my own just-in-time hero, and his actions opened my heart in a way that it hadn’t been in a long time—if ever. It wasn’t overdone, but just sweet enough. More than that, I didn’t want to fight these feelings. I’d been single so long, and there wasn’t anything wrong with having a little innocent crush.
Sure, we were working together, but that would end soon, and then what? Maybe this was fate? I tucked the Post-it note in my pocket and got up. Destination: garage. Since I had already lost the bet, I eagerly strapped on a helmet, straddled on Beau’s scooter, and headed toward my apartment to clean up.
I arrived home and found Charlotte sitting at the table, sipping coffee. “Hey,” I half-whispered, unsure whether Poppy was still sleeping. “How’d it go last night?”
Her eyes met mine, but she didn’t smile. My heart ticked up a notch as I lowered myself to the chair next to her, and kept my voice low while I asked, “What happened?”
Wagging her head back and forth, she kept her lips sealed. I pressed my hand on her arm. “Just tell me. Nothing will surprise me.”
“It was fine.” She ran a hand through her dark hair, smoothing out the soft waves. “I could just tell she would much rather have had you here. She seemed so out of sorts.”
“How so?” I leaned forward, my trepidation growing.
