Page 48 of Beau

Beau cast a twisted smile at Remy.

“Give her a minute to process,” Remy whispered. “She’ll realize it wasn’t your fault. Her father gave us strict instructions not to tell her.”

“So, now we’ve broken his trust as well.” Beau snorted. “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.”

“And sometimes, you’re rained out.” Remy grinned and clapped a hand on Beau’s back. “It all works out in the end. Give it time.”

Give Aurelie time, Beau added silently.

She waited for him at the doorway that led into the boat factory.

He opened the door for her and waited while she passed through it. Her shoulder brushed against his, sending a spark across his nerves, pinging through his body like a ball in a pinball machine. When heat settled at his core, he pushed back against the rising tide of desire.

He had to get a firm grip. The woman wanted nothing to do with him.

Beau made another stop before heading for the safe house. He pulled into the parking lot at Broussard’s Country Store.

When he went to get out of the truck, Aurelie sat still.

“Aren’t you going inside? You need conditioner and other things to tide you over for a while.”

She stared straight ahead. “I don’t need anything.”

He frowned. She damn well did need stuff. “It’s not fancy, and they might not carry the brands you prefer, but it’s better than nothing.”

“I can get by for one more night.”

He stared at her for a moment longer. “Why sacrifice when you don’t have to?”

Her brow formed a V over her nose. She spun to face him, her cheeks bright pink. “Damn it, I don’t have my purse. I don’t have money, and I refuse to be a charity case to you.”

Beau could have smacked his forehead. She had told him the night before that she’d left her purse in her father’s car.

“I have money.” He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket, dug bills and a credit card out of the pockets and tried to hand them to her.

She held up her hands. “No. I can’t take your money.”

“Then show me what you like, what will fit, and I’ll buy them as gifts.” He sighed. “At the very least, you need shampoo and conditioner, and we need food for dinner.”

“I’m not hungry,” she said with a stubborn tilt of her head.

“Well, I am,” Beau said more forcefully than he’d intended. He drew in a breath and started over. “I’m sorry. Our last meal was breakfast, we missed lunch and I’m getting hangry. I’d like to buy some food to prepare at the cottage.”

“Go on,” she said, waving a hand. “Get your food. I’ll wait here.”

He shook his head. “I can’t leave you in the truck. I don’t feel comfortable letting you out of my sight for a moment.”

“No one is going to attack me so close to a public place,” she said. “Besides, I’ll be in the truck with the doors locked.”

“Are you one hundred percent certain you’ll be safe?” he challenged. “Are you willing to bet your life on it?”

She nodded.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Have you heard of drive-by shootings?”

Her brow dipped. “Yes.”

“That’s all it takes. A car and a gun. The truck doors and windows aren’t built to repel bullets.”

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