Page 22 of The Fake Date (Brides of Beaufort 4)

“I came with them, so my car’s not here. I’ll take you home in yours, then I’ll walk to mine at Zac’s place.”

“But I’m fine—”

Something in his eyes cut off the rest of my words, and a chill rose on my spine. It was strange, and I almost didn’t believe it, but it looked like he was…concernedfor me. Like the perfect mask I knew I still wore had holes that he could see right through.

Before I could stop myself, I launched into his arms, hugging him tightly around the waist. I closed my eyes, pressing my cheek to his hard chest—okay, hissolid-like-a-freaking-brick-wallchest. But it was oddly comforting, despite what you’d think based on that description.

He only hesitated for a moment before he wrapped his arms around my back, and then, like Paul had done for Will, he made small soothing circles with his palms.

The pulsing ache that had thrummed beneath my skin ever since the moment Aria had scared the crap out of me by going into labor during a wedding seemed to lessen with each passing second that he held me. This unexpected hug was a balm, calming and peaceful, and exactly what I needed.

And I couldn’t be sure, but there was a bit of a hitch to his breath, a slight increase in the speed of his heartbeat beneath my ear, that made me think maybe he’d needed it, too. Maybe whatever was up with him yesterday—wow, only yesterday?—was still troubling him today.

It occurred to me then that Beau had only spent about four seconds within the walls of the hospital. He’d stood in one spot just inside the lobby doors, and for the rest of our time here, he’d never gone back in. Did that have anything to do with it?

Stop it, Lyndi.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out my overactive imagination. Not every hot guy had a tortured soul or a backstory that would make you white-knuckle your Kindle until he got his hard-earned HEA.

Finally—regretfully—I stepped back and gave him a grateful smile. “Thanks, Beau. I needed that.”

One corner of his mouth twitched up, and then he jammed his hands into his pockets. “Anytime. Now, let’s get you home.”