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I shook my head, scared to face the men after not seeing them for a week. “I don’t think so. I think I’m sick again.”
“Come in!” Bea’s voice rang out through the house and I heard the front door open a second later.
“Memphis?” Boone’s voice rang out. “I’ve been sent to collect you. Okay, that’s a lie. I fought for the privilege, but you didn’t need to know that.”
Bea shoved me out of the bathroom and I stumbled into Boone’s sight. He stood at the door, not more than a foot inside. I let out a sigh at seeing him again. He was so handsome.
“Boone. Hi.” I took a step closer and twisted my fingers together. I felt like a fool for how I’d been acting, and worse, I felt immature.
“Hey. Are you feeling better?” The look in his eyes said he didn’t buy my bullshit, but he didn’t call me out and I appreciated that.
I took a step closer. “Yes, thank you.”
He grinned and crooked his finger at me. “Come here, beautiful.”
I rushed into his arms, thankful for his willingness to break the tension. I crashed into his chest harder than I’d meant to and wrapped my arms around his waist. “Hi.”
He reached down to cup my ass and lifted me into his arms. “Goodbye, Beatrix. You’re terrible at spying.”
I heard her laughter before the door shut behind us. Boone held me tight and walked towards the house.
“You can put me down. I’m too heavy for you to carry me. Also, where are you taking me? I’m in pajamas.”
He grunted. “Who says you’re too heavy?”
“Me! You’re going to hurt yourself.” I leaned back to search his face and saw only happiness.
“Likeyouhurt yourself? No, wait, you were sick.” He raised his brows at me. “Sorry, I got mixed up with all of Beatrix’s excuses.”
I scratched my fingers into his beard and stared at his mouth. I was embarrassed, but I’d been trying my best to protect myself. Not that I could admit that, though. “What’s important is that I feel better now.”
He laughed. “You’re right. That’s what matters. Moving on from things you clearly aren’t ready to talk about, there’s a surprise waiting for you at the house. That’s where we’re going. And your pajamas are fine.”
“What kind of surprise?” I spotted Pete working in the flower beds on the left side of the walkway and waved. “Hey, Pete!”
Boone growled. “I could plant flowers if I wanted to.”
My face jerked back to face his and I frowned as I searched his tense expression. “Are you jealous of Pete?”
“If I were a jealous man, I’d be jealous that both of my brothers got alone time with you before you went MIA. And maybe I’d be jealous of the attention the gardener gets. But, thankfully, I’m not a jealous man.” He lifted his mouth. “Now kiss me before I go back and rip Pete’s arms off.”
I cupped his face and leaned closer. “I spent a lot of time thinking about what our alone time would’ve been like. If that helps.”
He kissed me and held me tighter before pulling back and groaning. “The surprise is waiting. I hate it right now. Just so you know.”
I went back to scratching his beard but froze when I saw what waited inside the normally bare dining room. “Oh, no.”
28.
***Boone***
Fourhourslater,Iwas in a bad mood and thinking of drinking myself happier. I’d been waiting to get close to Memphis for over a week and when I finally got a few minutes with her, she was snatched away and put through hours of beauty and hair to get ready for the gala we were taking her to. It’d been Remy’s idea. He’d thought we needed to show her that we cared about kids after a conversation they’d had. I didn’t give a shit about whatever they’d talked about. I just knew that I didn’t appreciate having to wait so long to spend any time with her. I didn’t know if there’d ever been a time that one woman had held me so captivated, but Memphis had my attention and it didn’t feel like it was going anywhere.
I glared at Remy and considered the pros and cons of kicking his legs out from under him, just to see him fall. “I’m going to remember this.”
He cast an exasperated look at me and sighed. “Jesus, Boone, you need to relax.”
I scoffed. “Are you not going insane? I’m not a patient man.”
