Page 41 of Believe
“Me, too,” he smiled. “There wasn’t anyone that ever made me want to settle down. Until you.”
“Me?” she whispered.
“I know it’s soon but you make me smile, Tara. Everything about you. You’re an amazing woman, mother, person. I know I’m a good bit older than you but I hope that doesn’t matter.”
“It doesn’t matter at all and I don’t care about age. You look my age,” she laughed. “You’ve got an amazing physique and not a wrinkle on your face.”
“You noticed me physique,” he grinned.
“Yes,” she laughed. “It was hard not to when you guys were working on the docks the other day. You had your shirt off.”
“I guess I did,” he smiled. “It wasn’t planned but I’m glad it was warm that day.”
“Me too,” she laughed.
Hawke leaned forward, placing a soft, easy kiss against her lips. She smiled up at him and kissed him again, firmer, more filled with need.
“Did that lunch count as our date?” she asked.
“No, ma’am. We will have a proper date at a fine restaurant in New Orleans. We can even take Gideon if you like.”
“Nope. My son doesn’t need to be on our dates. He’ll be just fine here with the others. And by the way, I asked him how he felt about you and me, if there was a you and me. He said he thought it was cool.”
“Cool. And Tara? There is definitely a you and me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Beau had the gifts wrapped and ready, hoping that Miss Esta would agree to spend the night with his family for Christmas Eve. He just couldn’t stand the idea of her being all alone tonight.
He tapped on the door and she opened it, smiling up at him. She was dressed in a beautiful maroon velvet dress with handmade lace collar.
“Miss Esta, you look beautiful,” he smiled.
“Beau Couvillion, you best stop flirting with this old woman.” They both laughed, hugging one another.
“Merry Christmas eve, Miss Esta.”
“Merry Christmas eve, Beau. Come in. We got a few minutes before we have to head to mass.”
“I wanted to ask you something, Miss Esta. I know we talked about you having dinner with my family tomorrow but we’d sure like it if you joined us for dinner tonight after mass and then stayed in our guest room.”
“Oh,” she said staring at him.
“I just don’t want you to be alone tonight. Of all nights, this isn’t the one where you should be by yourself. We have a nice dinner tonight, we sing carols, its very old fashioned I guess but we like it.”
“Well, I’m nothing if not old fashioned,” she laughed. “But are you sure, Beau? I’m not family.”
“You are,” he said emphatically. “You’re my family, Miss Esta. I think of you that way. I know that you knew Aunt Irene and Uncle Matthew and were friends with them.”
“I was,” she nodded. “They were the finest people I ever knew. In fact, I didn’t realize until you started talking to me how much I missed my chats with Irene at the store.”
“She’s amazing. I mean, she was amazing,” smiled Beau. “Anyway, it would sure make me feel better if you would pack a bag and join us tonight.”
“Alright,” she smiled. “Come help me grab my old suitcase from the shelf.”
He followed her into the bedroom and opened the closet, reaching for the suitcase. He set it on the bed and she opened it, laying a few items in it. Beau looked around the room, staring at the photos of her husband in his military uniform.
There were photos of her children when they were young and they looked happy, not cruel as they’d become adults.