More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Everyone thought it was the article that had changed my life. It wasn’t. It had been the six months I’d spent in Montana. It had been the six months I’d spent with him.
He stepped away from the counter he had been slouched against and stood to his full height of seriously tall.
My eyes traveled up and up, finally finding his, and once they did, I couldn’t tear them away.
Those eyes were a beautiful distraction from the mess that was my life.
Even beaten to a pulp, she was stunning. Her blond hair, brilliant green eyes and supple lips were going to get me in trouble. But this was the right thing to do. I had the skills to keep her safe, and the place. And if that meant making a mess of my own life, then I’d do it without hesitation.
His smile held actual magical powers. One flash of those pearly whites and the angry bees swarming in my stomach returned to their hive. Beau should model for Colgate. He’d sell more toothpaste than Michael Phelps sold Wheaties.
Starting something with Beau was the epitome of stupid, but damn, his fingers had felt good against my face. And that spark in his eyes was a beacon calling to my soul. Telling me to dock my fucked-up ship in his port and he’d make sure it didn’t sink.
There were very few people in the world whose opinion of me mattered. In just one night, Beau had added himself to that list. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I was an ungrateful brat.
“I’m just going to lay it out there,” he said. “You’re beautiful.” Those words, ones that should have elicited a beaming smile, made me brace. His tone was dreadfully serious. The next statement was certain to ruin his pretty words. “We’re from two different worlds. Let’s not get wrapped up in this physical connection, or whatever this is, and do something stupid.”
Nothing could happen between us. A fling would certainly lead to disaster. But somehow, his rejection hurt worse than the kick Anton had landed in my side.
His eyes softened and he reached out a hand, placing it on the side of my neck. “They’re okay. Jess would have found us if something bad had happened.” “You think?” “I know.” His thumb rubbed the underside of my jaw and I couldn’t help but lean my weight further into his soothing grip.
No man would ever hold me this well. I was made to be wrapped in these arms. A woman could tell a lot by the way a man holds her. She could tell if he had the strength to endure the rougher moments. If he had a mighty yet kind heart. If he could make her feel safe and cherished. Beau’s embrace said all that and more.
I didn’t need or want a man to fight my battles for me, even if they were against the demons in my mind. I wanted a man who would hold my hand, squeezing it every now and again so I knew I wasn’t alone as I waged my own war. I wanted a man who would push me to keep battling because he knew I’d eventually win. Being held in Beau’s strong arms was exactly what I had needed.
I doubted I’d ever find such a perfect embrace again. “Sleep,” Beau whispered into my hair. And, for the first time in a week, I did just that.
I didn’t believe in soul mates but Beau was starting to make me rethink that position.
“You’re not a burden, Sabrina.” “I need you for everything. That is the definition of a burden.” “No, the definition of a burden is a heavy load. Nothing about this feels heavy to me. I’ve told you before, I don’t mind. You know how much I love it up here. And spending time with you is fun.
“I’ll make you a deal, Shortcake. When the mafia isn’t a threat, you’re not considering WITSEC and life goes back to normal, I’ll meet you in Disney World and take you on the vacation six-year-old Sabrina never had.”
Sleeping with Sabrina in my arms had been a huge fucking mistake. It was too easy to picture her there for good. It was the best sleep I’d ever had.
I was going to start doing whatever I could to make her fall in love with Montana. If she did? I’d be one lucky man. If she didn’t? Well, I’d still be lucky. I was coming to realize that even if I only had Sabrina for a short time, anything with her was better than nothing.
“What would you call me then?” “Brave. Selfless.” I scoffed. “How can you say that?” “Because the truth feels right. The lies hurt. And hearing you call yourself a whore felt like someone had kicked me in the gut.” I stared at Beau, dumbfounded, tears pooling again. “Don’t ever talk about yourself like that again. Ever.”
Good people don’t just see the good in others, they see it in themselves too.
On the drive back to the outpost, I realized that Beau had captured another piece of my heart today. Little by little, he was taking them all. I just hoped that when I left, he’d give them all back.
“If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?” “Disney World,” he answered immediately. I smiled, glad he was teasing me to lighten the mood. “No, seriously. Where would you go?” “Disney World,” he repeated. My smile dropped. “Why?” He had promised to take me there when the Federovs were no longer a threat. Was it because he wanted to see me again? Would he miss me too after I was gone? “Because that means you’re safe from the Federovs,” he said, “and this whole mess will be over.”
“What just happened?” he asked. “I’m letting you off the hook.” “No, you’re taking away something I was looking forward to. Why?” My eyes found his. “You’re looking forward to it?” “Yes. Of course.” His face was so gentle and soft, I realized I’d made the wrong assumption when he’d called this a mess. My head fell against his chest and I snaked an arm around his waist. “Me too.”
My body fit into Beau’s side like a missing puzzle piece. He filled my heart like his waterfall filled its pool—until it was overflowing.
“We would never stop at just a kiss.” I smiled. “Would that be so bad?” “Woman, it would be fucking incredible.”
“Would you mind telling me how?” Men! Did they always need women to spell things out?
“Don’t look at me like that.” “Like what?” “Like your heart hurts. It’s killing me.”
Nick chuckled. “If I were going for a man, Beau would be my number one. Good thing for you, I’m married.” He nudged my shoulder and I realized there was no use pretending he hadn’t caught me. I grinned. “Good thing for me.”
“You’re the toughest woman I’ve ever met, Sabrina MacKenzie.” He grabbed the hair I’d been twirling out of my fingers. “But I think I’ll always worry about you.” Just like I’d always worry about him when we were apart.
With Beau’s eyes staring right into my soul, I didn’t have one worry about where we were headed. I’d follow him anywhere on earth.
I didn’t want her for right now. I wanted her for always.
But even his pretty brown eyes couldn’t conjure the butterflies I used to feel for him. Those little flutters all belonged to Beau now.
If I didn’t get to keep Beau for a lifetime, I wanted to fill the time we did have with only happy moments.
And if it hurt this much to say good-bye to a building, I’d never be able to say good-bye to Beau. If I weren’t in danger—if life could go back to normal—I’d uproot everything and fit my life to his just to avoid the pain of leaving his side. All he had to do was ask me to stay.
“I love you,” I whispered to Boone, hoping that Beau would know I was talking to him too.
“I’m scared of my laptop,”
Alexa play scared of my guitar
As it was, I was barely hanging on to the pieces of my shattered heart. I couldn’t fathom any other man taking Beau’s place. Not now. Maybe not ever.
My eyes flew open. I knew that deep voice. I held my breath and waited, listening as heavy footsteps grew louder. When Beau knelt down in front of me, a sob escaped my throat. His big hands slid around my waist and he pulled me out of the chair, right into his lap on the floor. My arms clutched his shoulders and I buried my face in his neck, inhaling the smell that I had missed so much. Now I could cry. “I killed him,” I whispered, another sob working free. “I know. Give it to me, angel.” And I did.
“Henry called Felicity. Felicity called me.” “And you came right here?” He nodded. “I drove like hell to Bozeman and caught the last flight out.”
“Don’t be talking about my Shortcake like that. She’s always beautiful. Even after being forced to use an outhouse.”
“That’s what you want?” “Yes.” It was the worst lie I’d ever told.
“I can’t force her into a life she doesn’t want, Michael.” She didn’t want that life—my life—even if she wanted me. He sighed. “But you love her.” With everything I had.
Sabrina thought yesterday was our good-bye. It wasn’t. I’d prove to her that she was more important than anything else. My job. My family. My mountains. I’d say good-bye to it all, just so I could say hello to her every morning for the rest of my life.
I was glad they could give my parents grandchildren to love and spoil, because without Beau, I didn’t see myself having kids.
“And I knew Felicity would call Holt and he’d come to you.” “You did? How?” “Because that man loves you, Sabrina. Which is why I’m surprised he isn’t here.”
“I think I’m going to move home.”
bro, we all know home is beau
Where I was going, I didn’t need a bed, couches or chairs. Beau’s house already had it all.
Montana had won my heart. Just like Beau had.
“You belong right here.” He held out his arms, making a circle in the space between them. “You belong with me. Right here. No matter where we live, whether it’s Montana, Seattle or Timbuktu, this is where you belong.”
