Page 12 of Beautiful Deceit
"Of what?" He asks crossly. I don't know why he's so mad at me, but I can’t find it in me to care right now.
I throw my hands in the air saying, "An unfamiliar guy yelling my name and running into an alley where I’m basically trapped.” It’s not the entire truth, but I keep it at that, “Why wouldn’t I fucking hide?” It's a lie. We probably both know it.
He walks up to me close enough to see my face; he stops and stares. He must come to some conclusion, because when he speaks again it's much gentler.
"At first, I couldn't find you then when I saw you down here, I thought you were hiding from me on purpose," he explains regrettably.
I can see his whole face uncovered. His eyes are a fresh grass green and his messy hair is longer and lighter than I expected. Taking in these small details gives me pause.
"I didn't know it was you," I say as a way of explaining.
His eyes squint and he asks, "Who did you think it was?"
By the way he asks, I jump immediately to the conclusion that he knows. He knows that I was hiding from someone specific. I try to derail that thought, because it’s impossible.
I say with more conviction than I feel, "I got spooked. That's all."
He doesn't believe me. He frowns at my answer but doesn't push further.
Looking back towards the door, I ask, "Was that the door I heard slamming?"
He looks down embarrassed, "Yeah, I tripped over the wedge."
"No shit?" I ask through a fit of giggles. Now that I know I'm not facing my nightmare, the adrenaline needs a place to go. I start roaring with laughter. He looks over at me as if I'm losing it. I snort, and he starts laughing too.
When I finally wind down, I tell him, "Thanks I really needed that. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time." I frown at the overshare and vow to better censor myself in his presence. "Well I'm locked out, so I need to walk back around front." My side hurts, and I'm still breathless as I recall reading a book where the heroine is forced to laugh herself to near death. Cursed by a fae, I think. I don't ever want to experience that, so I breathe deeply now, trying to contain my sense of relief.
We walk up the alley together.
He doesn't speak until we reach the store fronts, "Sorry I yelled at you. I got scared when I couldn't find you." His hat is already back on his head, covering his face again. I feel more comfortable looking at him but wish I could meet his eyes again.
"It's okay. It's been a weird day." I bump my elbow into his arm, "And hey, I kinda freaked out on you. We're even."
He chuckles, "Yeah, laughing at me because I fell over your door wedge so hard you snorted, was pretty bad." The reminder of my not-so-lady-like response makes my cheeks flush.
"How dare you suggest anything so unbecoming. I would never ever snort." I say in mock outrage. "You, sir, are no gentleman." Am I flirting with him? The realization hits me like a cold shower. I place some much-needed space between us.
Beau looks down and I swear he’s talking to my breasts as he says deeply, "Never claimed to be one."
Whoa that voice could melt panties.
He reaches for the door handle and places his hand on the small of my back to usher me through the door.
Jess looks up and smiles slyly when she sees us, while Anna looks like she swallowed a wasp. Her face is pink as she sticks her lips out like a little duck. I tilt my head and study her. That's her flirty face. I see her use it on customers. I'm not sure how men find that look attractive, but if I ever did that, I would be in trouble. Someone would probably ask if I was okay.
Anna wastes no time making her way over to us. Beau notices her sashaying our way and turns his body so he's standing behind me. It looks like he's using me as a shield. She's undeterred by his overt body language.
"I see you found Sam," she croons up at him.
Beau moves even further behind me, "Yeah thanks for your help."
Anna leans past me and places her hand on his bare forearm. Beau looks down and grimaces. He's clearly uncomfortable.
I move forward forcing her to step back, "Thanks for telling him where I was Anna." I end my comment in the air, trying to hint that she should head back to the register, but she doesn't take the hint.
"I told you. I can help with anything you need." she says.
I think I am witnessing the reason why Anna does not have many female friends. She's a viper. What if I was seeing Beau? Would she still act like this? I shake my head, before that thought goes any further.
