But Clara was not a normal patient. I already knew she was extraordinary in a multitude of ways. Her being damn near close to a medical phenomenon did not surprise me.
Though I knew her being here was giving her father more gray hairs, that he was grinding down his white, slightly crooked teeth as he took in the house, the throngs of people.
The small crowd worked in my favor to distract me from Beau’s presence, but it only increased my anxiety about us walking in together. Inmatchingcostumes.
No, I had not thought this through.
I snatched a glass of what I hoped was booze from a serving tray set on the giant kitchen island.
Before I could lift it to my mouth, a large hand wrapped around my wrist, my skin scalding at the contact.
I froze, looking up at Beau, who was now standing close to me, touchingme.
“You sure you should be drinking?” he murmured. “With your head?”
I stared at him, trying to form coherent thoughts over the scorching sensation in my wrist.
I swallowed, looking up at him. I’d forgotten that I was in a mild car accident last night. Beau, apparently, hadn’t. “Um, no, I suppose I shouldn’t.”
When he let go of my wrist, I put the glass down, immediately feeling the loss of his contact. Like my bones might just melt away without him holding them together.
“I’ll get you a soda,” he informed me. It triggered me. Him deciding what I was going to drink without question, it reminded me of all the decisions Waylon would make for me. But this was born from concern, not control.
“What about Clara?” I was suddenly aware that we did not have a small shadow, the buffer between us that kept things civil. That kept things G-rated.
Beau didn’t lower his gaze. “She’s with her aunt Calliope. I’ll get you a soda.”
“I can get my own soda,” I argued. “Go be with your family.”
“I’m getting you a soda.” Beau’s azure eyes drilled into me. “You go over with Calliope and Clara.”
My eyes widened at the order, forcing myself not to make the implication that I didn’t in any way belong here. Belonged at the party. With his family.
Beau leaned closer still, and my pulse spiked. “Don’t make me tell you again, Hannah.”
I let out a shallow gasp at his words, the husk in them not at all similar to the tone he spoke to me in as Clara’s father. As my boss.
The tone was that of a man speaking to a woman.
Unable to do anything else, I followed his order.
Beau and I were not alone for hours after that. Not with all of the Jupiter Crew present. Not with Clara wanting to run around everywhere. Beau kept close to her because he was protective. Plus, I knew crowds were his worst nightmare. I’d found myself with the large group of Jupiter women who kept me engaged in easy conversation. My gaze kept darting toward Beau of its own accord, and a couple of times we’d locked eyes, an electric spark shooting through me.
It was only after we’d piled Clara onto the hayride with all of the other children and a couple of fathers that we were alone again. I was surprised that Beau didn’t charge his way on to ensure his daughter wasn’t alone. I knew he wanted to, from the tic in his jaw, his tense posture.
The other parents who had helped their children onto the ride had dispersed back inside, presumably to enjoy some adult time and adult drinks while the children were under the care of Rowan and his badass crew of dads.
Again, I wondered why Beau wasn’t part of that crew and was secretly glad.
“You’re letting her go that far from you, without your watchful gaze?” I teased Beau.
“I sewed an AirTag into the hem of her dress,” he replied, still staring.
I choked out a laugh. “You can sew?”
He nodded. “Enough to do that, at least. Nowhere near your level.” As soon as the hayride disappeared from view, he turned to face me. “Your talents are impressive, Hannah. Clara’s costume is perfect. Your dress…” His eyes ran over the velvet fabric, my skin prickling as he did.
My heart became a wallop in my ears.
