The bad Ashton would’ve known what to do. I let out a sob and laid my forehead against the cool window of the car door. Two arms slipped around my waist and I started to scream when the smell of Irish Spring soap met my nose.
“It’s me. You’re safe.” At the sound of Beau’s voice I let out a sob and spun around to throw myself into his arms. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I came up too late. But I swear to you Ryan Mason won’t ever come near you again.” His words caused me to cry harder and I clung to his shirt, burying my head in his chest.
“Shhh, it’s okay, Ash. Let me get you in the truck before anyone comes searching for either of us,” he whispered in my ear. I let him lead me to his truck and put me inside.
“I told Leann I’d take care of you,” he said as he got into the truck. I wiped my face and nodded.
“Thank you. I told her coming here was a bad idea. This isn’t the place for single females.” I tried to make my voice sound light but I failed.
Beau cranked the truck then leaned over and opened the glove compartment. It was then I noticed the blood covering his knuckles. Gasping, I reached for his hand.
“OHMYGOD!”
A low chuckle vibrated from his chest as he took the rag he’d pulled out of the glove compartment and wiped the blood off of his hand.
“It isn’t my blood, Ash,” he reassured me. Slowly I released his wrist and let him finish cleaning off what I assumed was Ryan’s blood.
“Like I said. Ryan won’t come near you again.”
I nodded. Not sure what I was supposed to say. I’d never had anybody beat someone up for me before. It was a strange feeling. The warmth rushing over me as I watched Beau’s slightly scratched knuckles come clean was surprising. Apparently, I liked the idea of him smashing in Ryan’s face.
“I’m sorry I haven’t called,” said Beau.
I tore my eyes off Beau’s hand to gaze up into his eyes. The worried expression in them tugged at my heart.
“You don’t have to apologize. I have no reason to expect you to call me. I just hope my being at your place didn’t cause problems for you and Nicole.” Okay, that was a lie, but he didn’t know it.
“Doesn’t matter what she says. I make my own decisions.”
I wanted to ask him what he meant by that comment but I didn’t say anything.
“Do you want to go home now?” he asked.
Not if I could stay with him, but telling the truth would only cause us more problems.
“Um, well, I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
Beau glanced over at me and a mischievous grin tugged at his lips. I couldn’t help but smile back at him.
“What about a game of pool?”
“Pool?”
“Yes, pool. There’s a little place outside the city limits where I go to get away and shoot pool.”
I nodded slowly before admitting, “I don’t know how to play pool.”
He smirked. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Beau pulled into the small graveled parking lot of a bar. Motorcycles, beat up old trucks and a few older model sports cars filled the limited space. I glanced over at Beau. “This is a bar.”
He chuckled and leaned over me to open the truck door.
“Yes princess, it is. Beer and pool go together. Where’d you think we were going?”
This sounded like a bad idea. Actually, I knew it was a bad idea. I hesitated as Beau got out of the truck. He walked around and stopped at my door, holding out his hand.
“Come on, Ash. I promise no one in here will bite you.” I swallowed nervously and slipped my hand into his. I wanted to live a little and this was definitely living a little.
“Let’s do this,” I said, smiling up at him. He squeezed my hand before leading me inside.
A band was playing a really bad version of Sweet Home Alabama on a small makeshift stage as we stepped inside. Cigarette smoke, beer, and cheap perfume combined to make an unpleasant smell. I fought the urge to cover my nose. Greasy-looking men with stomachs that hung over their jeans, tattoos on their arms and trashy-looking women perched on their laps or draped against them as they danced, littered the place. Beau let go of my hand and slipped his arm around my waist.
He bent his head down and whispered, “I need to show possessiveness in here in order to keep the others away from you.”
I had no complaints so I nodded and pressed up against him. “Um, aren’t they going to kick us out? We’re underage.”
Beau chuckled and led me over to an empty pool table.
“Nope.” He glanced over at the bar and gave someone a little nod then grabbed two pool sticks and handed me one.
“Now it’s time I taught you how to play some pool.”
The wicked gleam in his eyes made me want to agree to anything he asked.
“Beau, what’re ya doin’ bringing the preacher’s daughter here?” a lady with long black hair and barely any clothes on asked as she sat a beer down in front of him. She turned her gaze my way and I saw familiar hazel eyes staring at me with concern. This was Honey Vincent, Beau’s mother. I’d seen glimpses of her when she’d shown up on rare occasions to pick Beau up from Sawyer’s. But I’d never had a proper conversation with her. She was gorgeous even with all the thick make-up and cheap clothing.
“Mama, you remember Ashton,” Beau said before taking a swig of his beer. I smiled at her even though she was studying me like I was a strange animal at the zoo.
“Hello, Ms. Vincent. It’s nice to see you again.”
She tilted her head and a lock of long, dark hair fell over her shoulder. “Since when did Sawyer’s sweet little girlfriend start slumming it at the bar?”
I tensed and glanced over at Beau.
“Mama, that’s enough. Ashton and I are friends. We have been for most of our lives. I’m keeping her company while Sawyer’s out of town.” Honey looked me up and down before turning back to Beau and shaking her head.
“If that’s what you want to tell yourself, son, but I ain’t stupid and for her sake I hope she ain’t either.” Then she touched Beau’s cheek with her hand and turned to walk back to the bar.
“Bring Ash a Coke,” he called out after her. She raised her hand in the air and wiggled her deep red fingernails as a way of acknowledgement.