How West Was Won (Haven, Texas 7)

She blinked. “Beau, you tell every woman between one and ninety they’re beautiful.”

“Hey, that’s not true, I told Mrs. Washman she was beautiful the other day and she’s gotta be at least a hundred and ten.”

She just shook her head and poured herself a cup of coffee. He leaned in and gently grasped her chin, tilting her face up. He studied her intently. “What’s going on?”

All right, she didn’t know what to do with serious Beau. Flirty Beau, outrageous Beau, incorrigible Beau, yes. Not this Beau.

Had she fallen down a rabbit hole?

She faked a large smile. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Flick, you’ve got dark circles under your eyes and you’ve lost weight.” He frowned. “West is supposed to be taking care of you.”

“He is.”

“Uh-huh, that’s why he’s been around so much these last few days?”

“He’s busy working.”

“He’s got a whole lot of brothers who can take over his workload. But maybe one of us should be taking over his care of you.”

“I don’t need anyone to take care of me,” she stated, but even she heard the lack of conviction in her voice.

“Uh-huh, I think you very much need someone to take care of you. You’ve been doing it yourself for far too long. I can see I need to have a word with my brother.”

“Beau, just leave it. Please.”

“What happened between the two of you?”

She shrugged.

“We’re friends, you and me. Friends talk with each other.”

“He’s your brother,” she pointed out.

“So? Got plenty of those. He was always my least favorite anyway.”

“Beau!” she protested, before she caught a glimpse of laughter in his eyes. “You’re such an idiot.”

“I still meant it, darlin’. West has all of us. We’d go to bat for him against anyone.” He gently gasped her shoulder as a wave of sadness hit her at his words. It was no less than she’d expected. West was their brother. She was no one. “But not at the expense of you, darlin’. We’d never go to bat for him against you.”

“Beau—”

“All I’m saying is if you need someone to kick his ass for being a dick, then I’m more than willing to take on the task.”

“That’s the kindest offer I’ve had all week,” she teased, needing to lighten the mood.

“Meant it, darlin’.” He tapped his chest with two fingers then pressed them to his lips and blew her a kiss.

Total flirt.

“Where is everyone?”

His face darkened slightly. “Butch is still away on business. Tanner and Maddox took Mia into town to get groceries. Alec and West had to go take care of some ranch business. Jaret is out checking the other fences.”

“Everything okay?”

“One of our fences was cut last night. Some cattle are missing.”