✅️Other Hoyt's Off Limits

Interesting Car Ride

My sister and I were driving to work until we met Beau at our old work place. I moved into the backseat of the truck behind Beau with my sister driving since it was her truck. Glancing out the window we passed a sigh with a picture of a girl that belonged in prison because she helped these cartel people we tried to put away. "You know for supposed friends you two don't talk much." Beau breaks the silence seeing the same sign I had. "You know, I got these breathing exercises I do, like visualizations. I can show you my technique if you want."

"I don't need a technique." My sister sternly said.

Leaning back in my seat I replied to his earlier statement teasing. "Did you consider we might be on edge since our boss is riding in the truck with us to work."

"Now that you mention it, Mallory. I did note that." He turned to face me in his seat. "But you didn't seem to mind our conversation the other night at the bar-"

Covering his mouth with my hands I changed the subject needing him to keep his mouth shut. "You were saying something about visualizing things. Talk about those."

"Well, you need something, 'cause that hate, that is a slow poison, Jenny. Now, what kinda man would I be if I just sat by and watched it eat you up? So... I'm here if you need to talk about it." He removed my hands from over his mouth focusing his gaze onto my sister.

"I need less talking." My sister tried to concentrate on driving.

He glanced at her thankfully getting the message to talk about anything else. "If you talked about the Tonya situation, maybe it wouldn't be a situation."

"Tonya belongs in prison. Okay. And I'd like to punch her." She rolled her eyes looking in his direction.

Beau smiled in the reverse mirror at me. "It was a good photo, I'll give her that." His next words made me blush where I wrapped my arms around myself. "Your friend is cute by the way, Hoyt."

"Okay, I'm gonna punch you." My sister threatened him with a look that said more than he realized yet.

Beau laughed and I smiled brightly enjoying the sound of his laughter for the first time. "Yeah, you could do that, or you could make a punch list. I've got one. - It's one of my visualization things."

"Oh my God you're serious." I broke out into a fit of laughter throwing my head back as he started listening them off.

"Gary Gravy... Bully, fifth grade. My football coach. Elon Musk. The guy from the beer commercials... You know the one. My daughter's stepdad. Oh, I'd just like to knuckle dunk his teeth in. But I won't. But it sure feels good to think about it."

Leaning my head over his seat I grinned ear to ear. "You're hilarious, Beau." He turned his head where our noses almost brushed causing me to blush deeper. Sucking a lump in my throat his eyes stay trained on mine where he nuzzles his against mine smiling.

"You know, I'd like to meet your ex sometime." My sister interrupts making me yank my head away tucking hair behind my ear.

Beau jerks his head forward, taking his gaze off of me. "Carla?" According to my sister he had said he was divorced and has a daughter.

"Yeah, I'd love to know how she put up with all your chitchat." My sister flipped her hair over her shoulders. "Also Mallory isn't interested in a boyfriend at the moment."

He shakes his head in disagreement. "Ooh, I don't think that's a good idea." He draped his arm on the back of the seat where I locked eyes with him seeing him send a wink at me. "So you'll let her make decisions for you, Mal?"

"Don't call her that. You have to earn it!" Jenny nearly spun around in her seat.

"Jen, calm down. He's not bad." I replied defending him where a smirk crossed his lips that makes him even more attractive in my eyes.

She didn't like my answer and I knew I would pay for it. We brought some guy back to the station that was running down the road in only his underwear so we got him some more clothes. "My office now." My sister grabbed me by my arm, dragging me inside her office and locking the door quickly.

"Jenny, what's going on right now. We have work to do." I asked, throwing my hands away from my sides not understanding why we needed to have a conversation right now.

She leans her back against the desk. "Don't play dumb, Mal. I can see right through your whole "He's not that bad" thing in the car this morning."

"I don't know what you're referring to, Jen."

"Well you wanna know what I think, little sis..." She slowly stepped up, getting in my face where we could almost feel the others' breath. "I think that you have met him already once before and you like him."

"No I don't, Jenny." I blurted out, biting my lip.

Jenny waved her index finger in my face knowing that I was lying. "You're doing that thing again. So you're lying, Mallory!" Growing up everytime I was lying I would bite my lip and so it became a tell.

"I'm not having this conversation now, Jenny - oh geez!" Spinning on my boots I quickly turned the door handle exiting the room but I accidentally tripped over my own feet. I screamed waiting for my body to make impact with the floor but the opposite happened.

Someone grasped my arms securely yet gentle at the same time. Whipping my head up my cheeks flushed red immediately when I realized who came to my rescue. "Beau..."

"Mallory..." He whispered in that deep Texas accent. "Can we talk about something? Say over beers tonight?"

He helped me to stand on my own two feet so I brushed my hands down my shirt getting the dust off. "Uh sure. But let's go right now."

"During our lunch break?" Beau questioned as I headed for the front door.

Swinging it open I snatched his sheriff's hat from his desk placing it on my head smirking over my shoulder at him. "Yeh haw yes cowboy. Let's go." Beau shakes his head chuckling in amusement.

Comments really appreciated ❤️