Sweet Renegade

by Large, Andria

  “Ugh, it’s so nice to get away,” he groans before taking a deep relaxing breath.

  “I agree,” I say from behind him.

  He glances over his shoulder at me, looking a little guilty. “I’m sorry about all of the paparazzi shit,” he mutters.

  I smile reassuringly and shake my head. “Don’t worry about it, Beau. It’s part of your life, you can’t help it.”

  He sighs heavily, stops, and turns around to look at me. “But it was me who insisted on not keeping us a secret. We could have told the guys and left it at that. Maybe could have been a bit more private when it comes to us, but I wanted the whole world to know that you’re my girl and now look, we get swarmed where ever we go. I should have thought it through a little better,” he frowns.

  I shrug. “It’s too late to go back now. The only thing we can do is deal with it and move forward.”

  “I just don’t want you to resent me for it,” he says, looking down at his boots.

  I stepped into him, cupping his face in my hands. I duck my head so that I can catch his gaze. He lifts his blue eyes to look into mine. “You have no reason to think like that. I could never resent you for something you have no control over. It would have gotten out eventually, and we still would have had to deal with this. So please, don’t worry about this anymore, okay?” I say, giving him a soft kiss on the lips.

  He drops his forehead to mine and wraps his arms around my waist. “Yeah, okay.”

  I give him a much-needed hug before pulling away. “Shall we continue?” I ask with a smirk.

  “Yeah, let’s go,” he smiles and takes my hand, as we start down the path together.

  *Beau*

  Lizette looks stunning in the firelight, even more so because she’s naked and I just made love to her. We are lying on the floor in front of the fireplace on a thick quilt. Her blonde hair is thoroughly tousled and her skin is covered in a fine layer of sweat. I’m half covering her with my own sweaty body as we try to catch our breaths after that amazing session of lovemaking.

  After a few more minutes of relaxing, we both get up to clean up. I pull my sweatpants and T-shirt back on before heading into the kitchen for something to drink. It’s turning out to be a great day. We went hiking, had a nice dinner that we made together, and made love in front of the fireplace like I’ve been dying to do for years. I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and take a swig.

  Everything has been going really well between Lizette and me. But I’m still worried. My stomach still churns at the thought that at any moment she could change her mind again. I’m trying my hardest to keep part of myself closed off from her because I feel the need to protect myself. It hasn’t been easy not giving her all of me like I had before, and I know that she knows that I’m holding back, but I’m still afraid to fully trust her.

  Lizette heads for the stairs to the loft and says she’s going to take a quick shower. I nod and head over to the back wall of windows that overlooks the valley below. The sun has gone down, but it’s not completely pitch black yet. I sit on the couch at the end, next to the arm. I prop my elbow up on the arm and rest my head in my hand, sitting my bottle of water next to me on the couch. I sigh heavily. I wish I knew that I could trust her. I wish I knew for a fact that she isn’t going to leave me again. It’s eating me up inside and I don’t know how to stop it.

  I love her. I know that much. I love her with everything I have. I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with her. I’m afraid to even think about asking her to marry me for fear that she’ll reject my proposal. We’ve only been back together for about three weeks, so maybe I just need more time to get over this doubt that I have.

  The world beyond the windows is slowly darkening. The only light in the cabin is coming from the fireplace behind me. I can see the flames flickering reflection in the windows. I can’t help but stare at it, it’s mesmerizing. I don’t know how long I am sitting there for but I startle when Lizette’s hand runs along my back as she comes around the couch.

  “Hey, you okay?” she asks, a concerned frown on her pretty face.

  I look up at her. She’s now wearing flannel pajama pants and a baby T-shirt. Her hair is dry but not straightened, so it’s a little wavy and frizzy. Not like I care because she looks cute as shit. No makeup…damn, she’s beautiful.

  “Uh…yeah, I’m fine, just lost in thought I guess,” I say, giving her a small smile.

  Lizette kneels down in front of me between my spread knees, her hands resting on the tops of my thighs. She looks up at me, her green eyes searching mine. She actually looks a little nervous, but I have no idea why she would be nervous. Dread hits me hard and fast, making my stomach roll violently. Oh fuck, what if she wants out of this relationship again and she’s nervous about telling me?

  “What is it?” I ask her, my voice shaking a little.

  She takes a deep breath. “There is something I’ve been wanting to ask you,” she says softly.

  I swallow hard and nod. “Okay,” I wheeze.

  A question? That sounds like it might be better than her telling me that she’s leaving. She must notice my apprehension and fear because she gives my thighs a squeeze and smiles.

  “It’s nothing bad, I promise.”

  I take a deep breath and try to relax. She seriously scared the shit out of me for a moment there. I place my hands over hers and give them a squeeze. “Okay.”

  She removes one hand from my thigh and reaches into the back pocket of her pajama pants. My heart flutters at how much this feels like a marriage proposal. It makes me smile, that would be kind of out of the ordinary, but I like the idea of Lizette proposing to me. When her hand returns, she’s holding a small black ring box. My smile drops and my eyes go wide. No. Fucking. Way.

  She hands it to me. “Open it,” she whispers.

  With shaky hands, I take the box and slowly open the lid. Sitting in the slot of a little cushion is a stunning black titanium ring with a single square diamond embedded in the band. I blink at it a few times, unsure of what it means; my brain is having trouble connecting the dots. I lift my eyes to meet Lizette’s loving but anxious gaze.

  “Lizzie?” I ask, needing her to clarify this gift.

  “I love you, Beau, with my whole heart. Will you marry me?” Lizette asks, her voice trembling. I can see the tears welling in her eyes because the firelight is making them shimmer.

  I don’t even know what to say. I feel like I’m dreaming. I must be dreaming. “Is this for real?” I whisper, not trusting my voice.

  She smiles, the tears finally slipping down her cheeks as she nods. “I want to be with you forever.”

  I snap out of my stupor and grab her, pulling her roughly into my lap. I tangle my hands in her hair and pull her down, crushing her mouth to mine. The kiss is raw and emotional, both of us fighting back tears.

  “Is…this…a…yes?” Lizette asks between kisses.

  I pull back, my hands still tangled in her hair and stare up into her beautiful green eyes that I will never get tired of looking into. “Hell yes, Lizzie, I will marry you,” I rasp.

  She laughs…or maybe sobs…I’m not sure, but she comes back down for another quick kiss before she sits up and takes the box from my hands. She takes the ring out and holds out her hand. I put my left hand in hers and she slips the perfectly sized band on my ring finger. I absolutely love it. I’m never going to take it off.

  “You know I’m going to get you a ring, too, right?” I smirk.

  “You don’t have to,” she shakes her head.

  “Sugar, I can’t let my fiancée walk around with her ring finger bare, doesn’t matter who asked who. I’m getting you a ring,” I say firmly.

  “Fine,” she huffs.

  I smooth her hair out of her face. “I love you, Lizette Parrish.”

  “I love you, too, my sweet Renegade,” she giggles, leaning in for another kiss.

  *Lizette*

  “You’re gonna move in with me now, right?” Beau m
urmurs into my hair.

  We are lying in bed after another round of steamy hot sex. I’m draped over Beau’s chest with my face tucked into his neck.

  “Well, Dennis is in the process of looking for an apartment. I wouldn’t want to move out before him, so maybe I’ll wait until after he’s found a place,” I reply quietly.

  “Why don’t you sign the condo over to him?” he asks.

  I roll off him but turn on my side so I can face him. “He can’t afford the mortgage payments and the utilities, even if his friend Tucker moves in and helps out. I don’t think that they would be able to handle it.” I sigh.

  “I don’t want him moving into some shitty apartment,” he grumbles.

  “Neither do I, but I know Dennis, and he won’t let me continue to pay the mortgage for him if I move out.”

  Beau makes an annoyed noise. After a moment of silence, he then says, “I’ll pay it off then. You can sign the condo over to him, and all he would have to worry about is the utilities.”

  “I don’t know how well he would take that either,” I huff.

  “Tough shit, he doesn’t have a choice. How about that?” Beau snorts.

  “You can tell him,” I scoff, knowing that’s not going to be a fun conversation.

  “I will,” he says firmly.

  I snuggle up against him, running my hand over his solid chest.

  “How do you think your fans are going to take the news of your engagement?” I ask quietly, changing the subject.

  “Oh, I’m sure it’ll be a mixture. Some will be supportive, while others are going to hate your guts. So be prepared to get some shit thrown at your head.” He snickers.

  “Greeeaaat,” I mutter dryly.

  “It’ll be fine,” he says, running his hand along my naked back. “I just might have to hire you a bodyguard.”

  “What?” I gasp, my head shooting up to look at him.

  He chuckles. “Relax, we’ll see how it goes, but if it gets bad, I will hire someone to protect you.”

  “I will punch bitches in the throat.”

  He laughs and pulls me down for a kiss. “You’re so cute when you talk shit.”

  After another quick kiss, we settle down and eventually fall to sleep.

  *Beau*

  Lizette and I walk into her condo after stopping at the bank to pay off her condo and making a stop at Tiffany & Co. so that she can pick out a ring. Luckily, the one she picks out is her size, so we buy it on the spot and I slide it on her finger. It’s a gorgeous 5 carat pink diamond in a halo art deco platinum setting. As soon as Lizette saw it, she fell in love with it. And of course, I had to get it for her.

  We got back from our romantic weekend away a few hours ago and I insisted on taking care of those two things immediately. I want her living with me as soon as possible and I want her wearing my ring. Now, we just have to tell Dennis the good news.

  Dennis is in the kitchen when we walk in. He glances up from making a sandwich at the counter and smiles at us.

  “Hey guys! How was your weekend?” he asks cheerfully.

  “So good,” Lizette gushes as she goes to give him a hug.

  “Did you guys actually make it out of the cabin?” He teases, chuckling when Lizette punches him in the arm.

  “Yes, jerk,” she huffs.

  I walk over to him, clap him on the shoulder with my left hand and shake his hand with my right. “Hey, buddy,” I smile at him.

  “Hey, man.”

  “Sooo…Denny, we have some news for you,” Lizette says, sending me a glance that is both excited and nervous.

  Dennis’ eyebrows rise. “Oh yeah?” he asks, sending us each a curious glance as he continues to make his sandwich.

  I round the counter and stand opposite him. I place both my hands on the counter, the stark black of my ring blatantly obvious when it hits his line of sight. Dennis freezes, a piece of turkey dangling in the air. He drops the turkey and snatches my wrist. He yanks me halfway across the counter to bring my hand closer to his face. I stifle a laugh.

  “What the fuck is this?” he asks in a rush. “Did you two get married behind my back?” He squawks, shoving my hand away and turning to glare at Lizette.

  She pouts. “No! You know I wouldn’t get married without you, Denny!”

  “Lizette asked me to marry her.” I smirk, sending her a wink when she smiles at me brightly.

  Dennis blinks and shakes his head. “Come again?”

  “I asked Beau to marry me,” Lizette repeats.

  Dennis’ eyebrows scrunch together. “Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around?”

  “It’s 2014, Denny. It really doesn’t matter anymore,” Lizette says, waving a hand dismissively.

  “So, do you have a ring?” he asks her.

  Lizette holds out her hand for him to see. “Just got it this morning.” She grins.

  Dennis whistles low. “Whoa,” he breathes. “Beautiful.”

  Dennis then goes and gives his sister a hug, whispering his congratulations in her ear. Once he lets her go, he comes around the counter and pulls me into a hug. He slaps me on the back a few times before pulling back and clasping my head, looking at me with a serious face.

  “You hurt her, I’ll kill you,” he grunts before sending me a wink and kissing my forehead.

  We all laugh. Now, it’s time to get down to business. Time to get to the hard part where Dennis will most likely fight us tooth and nail.

  “So…ah…there is something else you need to know,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck.

  Dennis, who is back to making his sandwich, glances up. “Are you pregnant?” he asks Lizette.

  “What? No!” She denies quickly.

  Dennis smiles. “Okay. So what is it then?”

  I glance at Lizette and she motions for me to continue. She told me that she won’t be the one to tell him about the condo. I take a deep breath and go on.

  “Since we’re now engaged, Lizette is going to move in with me.”

  Dennis nods. He slaps on the top piece of bread and smashes it down. “Right, I’ll step up my search for an apartment then,” he mutters.

  “No need, I just paid off the condo. All we have to do is transfer it into your name, but you have to be there for that,” I say.

  Dennis’ head pops up and he glares at me hard. “Fuck you, man, I’ll find my own place, I don’t need your charity.”

  I frown. “Come on, Denny, it’s not charity. I don’t want you living in some shit apartment. You and Tucker can live here and just pay utilities and the condo fee.”

  I can see Dennis grinding his teeth together. His green eyes are locked on mine and I can tell that he wants to continue arguing, but he also sees the benefit of accepting what I’m offering.

  “Please, Dennis, it will make me feel better knowing that you’re not living in some shithole,” Lizette adds.

  Dennis scowls then finally relents. “Alright, fine,” he grinds out. “But I don’t like it one bit.”

  “I didn’t think you would,” I smirk.

  He sneers at me and I chuckle.

  “Thank you,” he says softly.

  I nod. “You’re welcome.”

  Epilogue

  *Beau*

  “Alright, you guys! It’s time to get back on track,” Lizette says from behind her desk.

  I love when she’s in business mode. The fellas and I are all sitting in her office having a meeting about getting our tour back on schedule. The next six months are going to be grueling for us with having to make up shows that we canceled and whatnot. Plus, there are a few changes being made with the set up. Lizette has decided to hire a new choreographer and backup dancers. She said that she received feedback that said our previous show, the one we did in New York a couple of months back, was too boring and that we needed more substance. Okay, whatever she says. She knows what she’s talking about.

  “We’re going to start over, start fresh. We’re holding auditions for backup dancers as we speak, and once
five women and three men are chosen, we’re going to start rehearsals. You will have a month to get the new dances down before we hit the road.”