Healing Beau (The Brothers of Beauford Bend Book 6) by Alicia Hunter Pace Read Free Book Online Page B

bone structure and the beauty of his mouth. But there was something more tonight. Was it her imagination? He looked a little happier. There was a glimmer of serenity in his eyes.
    “I’ve been wondering where my sweatshirt got to.”
    She stepped aside to let him in. “It’s not your sweatshirt. You left it here and I took it for my own.”
    “Have you eaten?” He held out a paper bag to her. “Gwen sent this. It’s chili.”
    “Gwen’s chili?” She took the bag. It only now occurred to her that she’d had nothing since that Italian wedding soup at String. The more the knots in her stomach dissipated, the more ravenous she became. “Even if I had eaten, I’d eat again. I assume you ate at Beauford Bend.”
    “Yeah. I think there’s come cornbread and pound cake in there, too.” He dropped down on the sofa.
    Christian sat down and unpacked the food on the coffee table. It was still hot. “Do you want anything?” She went into the kitchenette to get flatware and pour a glass of iced tea.
    “No. I’m good.”
    “So was Taylor Swift at dinner?” Christian sat on the sofa and took the lid off the chili.
    “Who?” Beau frowned. “No. Why would you think that?”
    “No reason.” But one could never tell. “Did you notice that it was cold downstairs?”
    “Cold like Beowulf’s hell, but it stands to reason. It’s gotten colder outside. I cut up the thermostat. Is that okay?”
    “Cut away. It won’t do any good. The unit’s broken, and between the holidays and the part being on backorder, it won’t be fixed until after Christmas.” Now was when he was going to say he was going back to Beauford Bend. She’d be breezy and make it easy for him, like it didn’t matter. “So it looks like you have three choices: Sleeping in the cold. The little room up here. Or back to Beauford Bend with you.”
    “Hmm.” He closed his eyes. “If it’s all the same to you, I pick the little room up here. It’s palatial compared to some places I’ve slept.” He winked at her. “Besides, I like the company.”
    “What about climbing the stairs? Isn’t that bad for your back?”
    He shrugged. “I can’t say it’s the most comfortable thing I do all day, but the physical therapist said taking the stairs is good for me. Seems like those medical guys can’t make up their minds. Rest. Exercise. Rest. Exercise. Which is it?”
    His eyes lit up with true amusement, and Christian grew weak with the beauty of him.
    “You know you’re welcome here.” If that wasn’t the biggest understatement in Understatement Land.
    “I might not be after I tell you what I need to tell you.” Was it possible that Beau Beauford actually looked sheepish? It must be really bad.
    “What? What? Did you kill my horse? Dig up my grandmother?”
    His expression went from sheepish to confused. “No.”
    Suddenly, she was embarrassed. She picked up a throw pillow and hugged it to her. “That’s good. The last person who dug up my grandmother”—she swiped her hand through the air—“right out of here.”
    Beau laughed. He was beautiful when he laughed—crinkled eyes, perfect teeth, and a tiny dimple that almost wasn’t.
    “I’ll try to stay away from the Hambrick cemetery.” Then he went serious. “I lied to you about something.”
    Fabulous. Just what she needed to top off this ideal day—lies and confessions from her oldest, best friend.
    “Maybe you’d better tell me about what.”
    “I don’t know woodworking. Or I didn’t. I know a little now.”
    What did that even mean? Then it dawned on her. The day had been so long, and so much had happened, that she’d forgotten about the writing desk.
    He held up a hand. “Don’t worry. Your desk is fixed now. I can’t believe how good it looks. Do you know who Will Garrett is?”
    “The woodworker? Sure. He fixed my desk?”
    Beau shook his head. “No,” he said proudly. “I did. But he helped me. We sent pictures. Jackson set up a web cam and Will talked me