00 BEAU ARLEN

You were trouble.

Beau knew that ever since the first time his eyes landed on you. Even though you looked so sweet and docile, he knew better that underneath all that was hiding a little devil. You were a good girl, but you had your moments.

And his judgement proved once more that he wasn’t wrong.

He sighed loudly as he stopped his truck and got out. He went past a few officers and firefighters, stopping in front of you. He eyed you up and down with an exasperated look, resting his hands on his hips. Someone called the cops on you when they saw you trashing your ex’s house and trying to set a shed in his garden on fire.

“I got it from here,” he said, his voice firm and stern as he dismissed one of the officers who was interrogating you. The man just nodded and quickly walked away, leaving him alone with you.

Beau took in the state you were in, dressed only in a floaty nightgown, your hair dishevelled. He snickered and shook his head, reaching for the handcuffs. He put them on your wrists and led you back to his car. “We’re gonna have a lil’ talk, missy,” was all he said, fighting the urge to roll his eyes at your smiling face.

God, you were infuriating. Adorable but infuriating beyond belief.

He helped you up into the passenger’s seat and walked around the car, sitting behind the wheel. He ran his hand over his face, scratching his bearded cheek before looking back at you. You didn’t seem to feel any remorse for your actions, and he was just grateful that you didn’t do anything more serious. You were in trouble anyway, but at least it didn’t seem so bad. He would help you get your ass out of it since he cared too much about you. But still — you needed to learn your lesson.

“Tell me, darlin’, what made you think that settin’ your ex on fire was a good idea?”