BreakingBeau by Chloe Cole Page B

had to put a name to the look, he would’ve dubbed it “Frazzled
Soccer-Mom”.
    Not that there was anything wrong with moms. Jesus, he only
had to look at Quinn to remind himself of that fact. She looked beautiful in
her little dress and the glow of pregnancy only made her look better. The
purple lock of hair that usually hung over her eye was now black since she
couldn’t dye it until the baby was born. It made her look softer somehow.
    At that moment, she tossed her head back and laughed at
something Rex said and Beau pinched his eyes closed to shut out the view. He
was long past any romantic feelings for her, but something about seeing her and
Rex together made him feel empty inside…as if he was missing something. Despite
the revolving door of female companionship, he was never more aware of his
dissatisfaction than when he looked at the two of them together.
    They were happy, he reminded himself. And he was happy for
them. No reason to be a hater.
    He turned his attention back to Holly Hobby as she plucked a
fat raspberry off one of the tarts and popped it into her mouth. It was the
same color as her full lips and Beau had the sudden desire to see if those full
lips would be as sweet. Must be thoughts of the impending dry spell getting to
him.
    Almost as if she read his thoughts, her gaze flickered to
his. Her cheeks flushed and he grinned his easy, good-old-boy grin. She’d
seemed nervous around him from the get-go. Was she just shy, or was she
star-struck? Either way, it was a welcome change from the usual aggressive
style of the groupies he was used to. Who knew, maybe they could be friends?
Might be nice to have a woman to talk to who wasn’t Quinn. Plus, a little
flirting and maybe he could talk her into making some fried chicken and greens,
bring a little of the South to the Man Bus.
    “What’s my name, Skip or something? How come nobody told me
about a party?”
    Beau turned to face the newest member of their band. Up
until last year, they’d managed as a three-piece, but with their popularity
growing and their desire to make more layered, complex music, they’d taken the
leap and gotten a bass player. Enter Tai-Nan Jose Rivera. He was a great
addition to the group and was slowly becoming part of the family. It was nice
to have someone back in the Man Bus with him now that Rex had moved into
Quinn’s bus. It wasn’t that he was lonely, there were too many people around
for that. It was just nice to have someone to bullshit with after a gig again
who didn’t want him to sign their tits.
    The only thing about Tai was that he wasn’t down with the
ladies all that much. Although the ladies were extremely down with him.
Half-Korean and half-Puerto Rican, his dark, exotic looks drew them in droves.
That was fine with Beau, because he had more than he could handle now that Rex
had defected. But in spite of numerous invitations, Tai had yet to hook up. He
insisted he didn’t have a girlfriend back home, and he wasn’t gay, so Beau
wasn’t sure what the problem was. Turning away women night after night took a
kind of discipline he just couldn’t get his head around.
    He held up a hand at Tai. “Don’t blame me. I didn’t know
there was going to be food, I just got here.”
    Quinn and Rex came over and brought Gigi with them. “Gigi’s
our new chef. She’ll be bunking with you guys for the next couple weeks since
my bus only has the one room. No worries, though, Beau’s going to take the
couch,” Quinn said, then stuck her tongue out at Beau.
    Two weeks on the couch for a good, home-cooked meal every
night was a fair tradeoff so he nodded. “Can do.”
    “Nice to meet you, Tai.” Gigi smiled and shook his hand,
then immediately moved away to make him a plate.
    Beau followed Gigi’s path with his gaze, compelled to watch
her but clueless as to why.
    “This is going to be interesting,” Tai predicted in the slow,
thoughtful voice he used so often. Beau couldn’t shake the feeling that Tai