Chapter 156

Beau felt the weariness beginning to overcome him, felt himself drifting off to sleep. But then there was a noise that caused him to tense, to suck in a breath.

The door was opening. It creaked just a bit as it slid, nearly silent, open. For some reason, he thought it would be easier for Jeanne-Marie if he, at least for now, feigned sleep. Beau closed his eyes, allowed his breathing to become deep and even.

He could sense Jeanne-Marie moving closer to the bed, attuned to the footfalls of his bare feet on the wooden floor. At last, even without opening an eye to peek, he knew Jeanne-Marie stood quietly beside the bed. Beau listened to his breathing and could feel his gaze upon him.