Anything For Love

by Melissa Foster

  Charlotte headed back toward the house, her arms full of bright flowers. She smiled as he came down the steps to help her.

  “How’s my beautiful girl?” He kissed her, then took the flowers as they went upstairs.

  “Nervous as a virgin on her wedding night.” She smacked his butt and ran up to the landing. “I’ll get a vase.”

  He chuckled and followed her into the kitchen.

  She opened one cabinet after another. “Where are your vases?”

  “I’m a guy, Char. I don’t have vases.” He set the flowers on the counter.

  Over the last week he’d learned that she didn’t pick flowers when she wrote because she didn’t get to enjoy them, but the day she’d finished her book, she’d filled vases and put them out all over their suite.

  “Well, we need to fix that. In the meantime”—she reached into the cabinet and took out every glass he owned—“we’ll use these.” She began filling the glasses with water and dropping a few flowers into each.

  He moved behind her, kissing her shoulder as she arranged the flowers. “You already met my parents on FaceTime. They love you. Why are you nervous?”

  “I don’t know. Meeting them in person is different. And I haven’t met Jax or Zev, either. I hope they like me.”

  She was his silly girl. Everyone loved her. He wrapped his arms around her and said, “They will love you, but I can think of one way to ease your jitters.”

  She turned in his arms and pressed her lips to his. “We’re supposed to be there in twenty minutes and there’s no way I’m showing up after having been utterly and completely ravaged by my man. I’d have noodle legs all night long, and I’d worry they’d know why.” She pressed a kiss to the center of his chest and said, “Can we stop on the way to get a card?”

  “A card?”

  “I have a gift for your parents, but I forgot to get a card. It’ll only take a minute.”

  “Sure, although a trip to the bedroom would be more fun. For a woman who can’t remember to feed herself, it’s astonishing how often you think of others. Why did you get my parents a gift?”

  “They raised you from a little bean of a baby. They need to know I’m worthy of you. I don’t cook and I’m pretty sucky at cleaning, but there are some things I’m really good at, and this gift will show them that.”

  He lifted her onto the counter and wedged his body between her legs, earning a bright, sexy smile. “I thought you didn’t want them to know about our bedroom activities.”

  “Their gift has nothing to do with sex.” She wound her arms around his neck, put her mouth beside his ear, and said, “We should go, but I promise to make it up to you after we get home.”

  He growled, and she bit his earlobe. “You know I love that growl.”

  “And you know I love when you bite me.” Which they’d discovered in their edgier sexual adventures. He clutched her ass, holding her tight against him.

  Her eyes sparked with seduction. “Why do you think I did it?”

  “You are such a tease.”

  His lips descended hungrily upon hers just as his cell phone vibrated. He groaned, but he didn’t relent. They were about to be inundated with family, and he wasn’t ready to share her yet. He took the kiss deeper, and she moaned into his mouth. He ground against her, loving the sinful sounds he earned and the way she arched against him, wanting him as badly as he wanted her. His phone vibrated again, and she giggled.

  He reluctantly tore his mouth away, cursing under his breath.

  “It’s probably Jilly telling us to hurry up. I need to grab my bag anyway.” She touched her lips to his and pressed her hand over his zipper, palming his erection as she slipped off the counter. “I’ll take care of this bad boy when we get home. Promise.” She made a big show of swaying her hips as she disappeared into the bedroom.

  The text was from Jax, not Jillian. Fair warning. Mom and Jilly are bouncing off the walls, practically planning your wedding. Don’t be late.

  Beau grinned as Charlotte came out of the bedroom with a big blue leather bag over her shoulder.

  “What are you grinning about?”

  He grabbed his keys from the hook beside the door and hauled her in for a kiss. “I’ve got the sexiest, sweetest girlfriend in the world. What’s not to grin about?”

  They drove into town to get a card. Charlotte gazed out the windows at the brick buildings and upscale shops and the flowering dogwoods lining brick-paved sidewalks along the main streets.

  “We’ve been here only a few hours, and I already love it. It reminds me of Port Hudson, the way the town itself is surrounded by rolling hills and sprawling pastures.”

  “It has a nice mix of rural and city life,” he said as he circled the beautifully landscaped roundabout in the center of town. He pulled her against his side, glad to be in his own truck without the console between them.

  “Look!” She pointed to Emmaline’s Café. “That place is so cute. Can we go there for coffee one day?”

  “Sure. The card store is a few doors down. Why don’t we park so you can see it when we walk by?” He drove around to the parking lot and found a spot.

  “Emmaline’s. I love that name.” She climbed out of the truck after him and bounced on her toes. “I have a good feeling about this place.”

  “A story feeling?” He kissed her grinning lips. She got inspiration everywhere they went, from people, signs, businesses. Her mind was a creative playground.

  “Probably a story,” she said. “You never know when a character or setting is going to come to life.”

  “Beau? Is that you?”

  Beau turned, and a chill prickled down his spine at the sight of Duncan Raznick and Carly Dylan, Tory’s best friend and the love of Zev’s life. Carly’s blond hair was pinned up in a ponytail, and her eyes lit up like she was genuinely happy to see him, while Duncan’s jaw was clenched as tight as Beau’s.

  Duncan and Carly’s gazes moved between him and Charlotte—Duncan’s serious, Carly’s sparkling with delight—and guilt tightened like a noose around Beau’s neck. Charlotte slipped her hand into his and held on tight. If they were ever going to have a normal life without him feeling like he was on the verge of a heart attack when he saw people who knew Tory, he had to man up and deal with it.

  “It’s so good to see you,” Carly said as she embraced Beau. “And who is this? Hi. I’m Carly.”

  “Charlotte, this is Carly Dylan, and this is Duncan Raznick. Carly, Duncan, this is—”

  “Charlotte. Got it.” Duncan nodded, flashing a feigned, tight smile. “Nice to meet you.”

  “You too,” Charlotte said sweetly, but Beau could hear the tension in her voice.

  “It’s so nice to meet you, but I’m a hugger.” Carly leaned in and hugged her. “We all go way back. You know, small town, known each other since grade school. Beau’s brother was my first…kiss. So, Beau. How have you been?”

  “Good.” Beau looked at Charlotte and said, “Great, actually.”

  “I didn’t expect to see you,” Duncan said coldly.

  Beau had seen Duncan in movies and magazines, but as he stood before him, Beau didn’t see the square-jawed, chisel-faced actor. He saw the brown-haired, blue-eyed kid he’d grown up with who had lost his sister. The guy he’d respected and loved so much like a brother, he’d approached him before asking Tory out for the first time. Listen, dude. I’m asking out your sister. He’d never forget the look on Duncan’s face when he’d said, It’s about time. You’ve only loved her since we were kids.

  Charlotte looked up at Beau, a silent offer of escape in her eyes. “We’re supposed to meet your family. Should I run in and grab the card, or…?”

  “That’d be great, babe, if you don’t mind. We don’t want to be late.” He kissed her and reached for his wallet.

  “I’ve got it,” she said.

  “Carly, why don’t you…?” Duncan suggested.

  “You suck at subtlety.” Carly looped her arm through Charlotte’s. “Com
e on. We can get to know each other, and you can give me all the dirt on you and Beau. I miss the big guy.”

  As they walked away, Beau’s gut clenched. He didn’t have any idea where to begin, so he went with the easiest, most obvious topic. “So, you and Carly…?”

  Duncan scoffed. “No. You know she’s been like a sister to me since she was a pain-in-the-ass little girl. She’s just here for the weekend and we’re hanging out.”

  They held each other’s cold stares, and Beau wondered how he’d let so many years go by when he and Duncan used to be inseparable. “Listen, man. I’m really sorry about—”

  “Abandoning me?” Duncan said coldly. “Leaving me to grieve for my best friend and my sister? Do you have any idea what it was like to lose both of you at once? What the hell, Beau? I called you and came by a hundred times. What the fuck was that?”

  “What did you expect me to do?” Beau shot back, hands fisted by his side. “It was my fault she died. I couldn’t face you, your family, Carly. Everyone who knew her blames me, and they should, because I’m the reason she’s no longer here.”

  Duncan’s brow knitted. “What are you talking about? She died in a car crash, and you weren’t anywhere near her.”

  “But I should have been! She texted me to pick her up at the airport. She was coming back to surprise me, Duncan. If she hadn’t wanted to see me…if I had seen her texts…”

  A disbelieving look came over Duncan, and he shook his head. “Beau, this is Tory we’re talking about. Do you remember what she was like? She was not a girl who waited around for anything. I don’t know if she texted you first or what, but she texted me, and she called my parents who were an hour and a half away at a dinner party. She called Carly, who was too drunk to go pick her up. None of us could have known what was going to happen when she got in that cab.”

  Beau tried to piece together what that meant. “Just because no one else could get her doesn’t mean it wasn’t my fault.”

  Duncan’s expression softened. “Then we’re all equally guilty. Nobody blames you, Beau, and nobody ever has.” He glanced at the café, his eyes tearing up. He gritted his teeth and blinked the sadness away. “She’d be happy for you, you know. She would be pissed at how you left me hanging, but she’d want you to be happy. You know that, right?”

  Emotions clogged Beau’s throat, making it impossible for him to speak.

  “Tory loved you, and I know how much you loved her,” Duncan said. “I never got to thank you for that. You made her life great, Beau, and my family will always be grateful for that. My mom talks about you all the time. She worries about you. Her other son.”

  Beau felt an unexpected smile tugging at his lips, the knots in his chest loosening. “I miss your mom.”

  “She’s going with us to see the fireworks. She’d love to see you.”

  How much could one man’s heart take? They don’t blame me. “We’re heading over to my parents’ house for dinner before the fireworks. Why don’t you guys stop by?”

  “Carly has to swing by her friend’s house for a bit, but maybe I will.”

  They stared at each other for a long moment. Beau didn’t think as he opened his arms, and they fell into a manly embrace as he said, “I’m sorry, man. I’m so damn sorry.”

  “Me too. Don’t fucking abandon me again,” Duncan said as they parted. He nodded toward the café. “Charlotte, huh? Is it serious?”

  “Yeah, it’s serious. By the way, she’s got a chicken named after you,” Beau said as the girls came around the corner. Charlotte’s eyes found his, soothing the remaining knots right out of him.

  “Seriously? You must love that.”

  “I love her, man,” Beau said as Charlotte and Carly joined them. “Nothing else matters.”

  ON THE WAY to his parents’ house, Beau told Charlotte about his conversation with Duncan. She heard a difference in his voice. He sounded lighter, as if at least some of his burden had been lifted.

  “How do you feel about it?” she asked as he parked in front of his parents’ enormous brick and stone manor-style house.

  “Strange but good. It’ll take some time before the visceral response of seeing certain people goes away, but I’m glad he told me she’d texted him and the others. It doesn’t take away my guilt, but talking with Duncan eased the weight of it. Did you like Carly?”

  “Yes. She’s funny and smart, and she really misses you. Did you know she lives in Allure, Colorado, not far from the inn? We can see her when we’re there.” She filled out the card for his parents and tucked it into her bag with the gift.

  “Nice change in subject by the way,” she said. “I know you don’t want to talk about it anymore, but I just want you to know I realize how hard that was, and I’m glad you did it.”

  “Thanks, babe.” He pressed his lips to hers, hearing Bandit barking. “Here come the troops, but I need one more kiss.” He took several.

  Bandit bounded over as they climbed from the truck, and they knelt to love him up. He had thick black fur with a white stripe on his snout and a red bandana tied around his neck. He was the cutest bundle of energy Charlotte had ever seen, and the way Beau buried his face in his fur and Bandit wiggled, whimpered, and licked spoke of their love for one another.

  “Hello, pretty boy. Thank you for sharing your daddy with me. I’m so happy to finally meet you,” Charlotte said as Bandit moved between her and Beau, licking their faces. “He’s so soft.”

  Beau kissed Charlotte, and Bandit pushed his nose between them, giving them both more kisses. “Hey, buddy. Char’s pretty great, huh?” He winked and said, “I think you got his stamp of approval.”

  They’d left the Chickendales with Cutter watching over them, but they’d be back in Colorado soon, and they were excited to introduce Bandit to his new friends.

  “Finally,” Jillian said, running toward them. She hugged Charlotte. “You look amazing! I’ve missed you so much!”

  Beau kissed Bandit’s head and rose to his feet. “You talk to her every day.”

  “Says the brother who, according to Nick and Graham, nearly lost his mind when his girlfriend was away for two nights.” Jillian took Charlotte’s arm and headed for the backyard. “Come on and meet Jax and Zevy.”

  “I didn’t lose my mind! I found it,” Beau called after them.

  Charlotte blew him a kiss. “Love you!”

  His parents were holding hands as they came around the side of the house. She’d met them over FaceTime, but in person Lily’s shoulder-length straight hair was even blonder, and her hazel eyes were warm and welcoming. Clint’s hair was mostly gray, cut short like Jax’s and Beau’s, and he had what Charlotte’s father would have called wise eyes. Charlotte and Lily had gotten close over the past several weeks. Lily called often, and she made Charlotte feel as though she were part of their close-knit family, catching her up on the happenings of each of Beau’s siblings and wanting to know what was new in her and Beau’s life. It had been so long since she’d had a mother, she felt drawn to her. His father had also gotten on the phone to chat with Charlotte a few times, and before they hung up, Clint and Lily always said, We love you both. Talk soon.

  “Hello, sweetheart,” Lily said warmly. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you in person.”

  Lily embraced her for so long, it reminded Charlotte of how her own mother had sometimes embraced her for long stretches out of the blue. Come here, ma chéri, she’d say, and then she’d hug her for no reason other than loving her daughter.

  Bandit pushed his nose between them, and Charlotte loved him up, too.

  Clint embraced Beau, and then he drew Charlotte into his arms. “I finally get to hug the woman who brought my boy back into the world. Thank you. I might never let you go.”

  “I’m not above taking my father down to get my woman,” Beau teased. He reached for her hand as a whistle sounded, and Bandit took off toward the backyard. “That’d be Nick. The man can whistle like a train.”

  As they entered the backyar
d, Charlotte saw Nick holding up a piece of meat while Bandit sat anxiously waiting, his tail wagging. Nick threw the meat up, and Bandit sprang off the ground, catching it in his mouth.

  At the other end of the yard, Graham was playing basketball with two guys she recognized from pictures Beau had shown her of Jillian’s twin, Jax, the wedding gown designer, and Zev, the treasure hunter who had taken off after Tory died. Jax was clean-cut, with short brown hair and the classic looks of a movie star, while Zev’s hair hung almost to his shoulders, and his beard was thick and unkempt.

  Zev looked up and lifted his chin in what Charlotte had come to know as the Braden greeting. “About time,” he said in a deep, serious voice.

  “You grungy bastard, look at you.” Beau opened his arms and embraced Zev. “Good to see you, bro. It’s been too long.”

  “I don’t know what your girl’s been telling you, but there’s no such thing as too long.” Zev winked at Charlotte and said, “Hi, cutes. I’m Zev, the good-looking brother.”

  Charlotte liked his affable personality. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “I’m shaving his head tomorrow,” Jillian said.

  Zev scoffed. “In your dreams.”

  As Zev and Jillian argued over his hair, Graham sidled up to Charlotte. “Good to see you again, Charlotte. Have you met Jax yet?”

  “I’m the only sane one in the bunch,” Jax said with a wink. He had his father’s wise eyes. “My sister hasn’t stopped talking about you since she came back from Colorado.”

  “I’m sure I’ve been driving Beau crazy, too,” Charlotte said. “I’m so happy I’m finally here and get to meet everyone.”

  “I’m glad I got to see you two before I leave for Oak Falls,” Graham said. “My buddy Reed is getting married, and I’m going to take a look at an old theater he just bought. You’d love it, Beau. The architecture is incredible.”