Beau (Remington Ranch Book 4) by SJ McCoy Page A

me?”
    Wanda laughed. “Only your reputation as an asshole, but don’t worry I won’t tell anyone.”
    “Well, thanks. I guess, since I got myself into it, I may as well try to make the most of it, huh?”
    “See, there’s the spirit! You can do it!”
    Beau nodded. He was glad Wanda had faith in him—he wasn’t so sure he did!

Chapter Nine
     
    Ruby came out of her bedroom and did a twirl. She really did look cute in the purple dress.
    “You look lovely, Ruby.”
    “I do, don’t I? How long till Beau gets here?”
    Corinne looked at the clock on the wall. “Fifteen minutes.” And she needed to get ready herself. She wondered again why she’d agreed to this. She could have told Ruby no when she’d invited Beau to dinner. She could have let him off the hook when she’d seen the panic in his eyes. She wasn’t stupid; she knew he didn’t want to spend an evening with Ruby. She should have said no. But she hadn’t. And she couldn’t decide why.
    She had two theories and she considered them both while she went to her room to change her shirt and freshen her makeup. She had to be honest, part of her hoped that Beau would like Ruby if he got to know her properly. And this was a chance for him to do so. She pursed her lips while she brushed her mascara on. Another part of her felt that if he really didn’t like Ruby, then this was a chance to make him suffer! He was a guy, a guy who wanted sex. She wanted him, too, but it didn’t seem right to go sneaking off to screw him! If he really couldn’t stand Ruby, tonight would see him off altogether and she wouldn’t have to wrestle with her own conscience. She probably shouldn’t have to anyway, but she couldn’t deny the internal battle that was raging: the battle between the devoted mother who put her daughter first in all things, and the young woman who might just occasionally want to put herself first. She felt guilty even thinking it, but it was true. It would be nice to have some fun, to feel attractive—and to have sex!
    Ruby stood in the doorway. “You look pretty, Mommy.”
    “Thank you, sweetie. Not as pretty as you do.”
    Ruby smiled and twirled again. “Do you think Beau will like my dress?”
    “I’m sure he will, but he might not say so.”
    “I’ll ask him then.”
    “Ask him if you want to, but what matters most is if you like it.”
    “I do.”
    Corinne smiled. She wasn’t going to tell her not to ask, and that wasn’t about saving Beau. She’d grown up living by her own mother’s rules. Believing that other people’s opinions mattered more than her own. It’d taken her most of her life to step into her own confidence. Perhaps she was going too far in the other direction with the way she was raising Ruby, but she’d rather her daughter was outspoken, than crippled by fear of what people might think .
    She started at the sound of a knock on the door. Oh, well. Here went nothing. Ruby ran to open it.
    “Hello, Beau!”
    Corinne smiled as she joined Ruby in the hallway.
    Beau was gorgeous. He took her breath away. He was wearing black jeans and a black shirt and he had his hands behind his back. He caught her eye and winked before looking down at Ruby.
    “Good evening, pretty lady. I have something for you.”
    “You do?”
    He nodded and brought his hand around to present her with a little posy of flowers, pretty pinks and blues tied with a string.
    Ruby’s eyes were wide as she smiled and took them from him. “Thank you!” She turned to Corinne. “Look, Mommy. Beau gave me flowers!”
    Corinne smiled. She didn’t have any words right now, just a big lump in her throat. What a sweet thing for him to do! And the last thing she would have expected. She looked up to meet his gaze.
    His smile was hesitant as he brought his other around from behind his back and presented her with a bunch of roses. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat, and nodded. She knew her smile would give him the answer he was looking for. Was this