Page 76 of Well Aware

“And so sweet and concerned about you,” she said. “I’ve known him for my entire life, you know. Never seen him like this with a woman. You would think that his world starts and ends with you.” She shook her head. “I always knew that it’d take a special kind of woman to tie him down. So wild. Racing horses. Running wild at his friends’ parents’ ranches. Hell, one year he even decided to start rodeoing. Then he found the Marines and it was like his world finally clicked. We all thought he’d forever be single, but seeing him now? Like this? With you? It’s obvious that it just took the right woman.”

Of course she knew him.

They’d been casual around each other, and it’d never occurred to me until now.

“Was he a bad boy?”

That came from Iris.

“Oh, yes.” My nurse, Tina’s, eyes lit with an inner fire. “I swear, there wasn’t a day that went by that he wasn’t in trouble in school. I think he was in the principal’s office more than he was in class.”

“Telling lies about me, Tina?” Beau drawled.

“Of course not,” Tina razzed him. “I’m telling only the truths as I know them to be.”

“Uh, huh.” He snorted. “Is my girl allowed to go home?”

“She is,” Tina confirmed. “But she’ll still need to get her meds picked up. I called them into The Mercantile, so you’ll need to stop there first.”

“Anything special that I need to know?” Beau asked as he came to stand at my side.

“Nothing. The doctor already went over it with her. No driving with the pain meds in her system. Also, when you play your game on Friday, make sure to pre-medicate. Since I have a feeling that you’re going to play it.”

“I am,” I interrupted Beau’s “she’s not.”

Tina rolled her eyes. “Anyway, pre-medicate. Ibuprofen for the swelling, alternated with these pain meds. Take both right before your game.”

“Will do.” I slid my feet off the bed and stood.

I felt a little wobbly, which Beau immediately noticed and caught me around the hip.

Since Iris was still clinging, he held on to me until I was steady on my feet again.

“Who’s this little lady?” Tina asked.

She’d come on after Beau had left last night to get Iris to sleep.

“This is my other girl, Iris,” Beau answered. “She’s my favorite person in the world.”

Iris smiled against my neck, clearly hearing him and liking his words.

Fifteen minutes later, we were in the driveway of Beau’s house.

I didn’t comment on his choice of houses to take me to.

Instead, I got out and headed for the front door.

What I did not expect when we walked into the door of Beau’s place was Beau’s mother to be waiting with a beaming smile stretching her face.

She walked up to me and caught my good hand in hers. “I’m so glad that you’re okay, Magnolia. I’ve heard so much about you from Beau that I just had to be here.”

I grinned. “He’s told me a lot about you as well. I’m glad to finally meet you. I wish it was under better circumstances, though.”

She waved that away. “Beau was hogging you, wanting to keep you all to himself. He didn’t know I was coming, so don’t be surprised when he walks in and whines.”

The next moment he walked through the door with Iris, and his face fell. “Mom.”

Her lips twitched. “Yes?”