Boone Page 11

  It was a beautiful summer evening with temperatures in the sixties and a nonexistent wind. The cruiser cut through the water like a dream. “Why a wooden boat, Boone? I picture you as more of a go-fast guy with a Formula or a Fountain. I know you like fast cars. I’ve noticed a Maserati in the multibay garage of yours.”

  “Running a speedboat on this lake would be overkill. Plus, the neighbors would hate me because they’re so loud. The truth is that a wooden boat fits Hummingbird Lake.”

  “It’s a great boat. Is the wood mahogany?”

  “Yep. Wait until you see it in the daylight. The grain is gorgeous. I managed to track down some old Connelly wooden skis that complement it nicely. I’ve actually been on the lookout for an antique boat for a winter restoration project. Love me some classic beauty.” He paused a moment, then added, “You belong in this boat on this lake, Hannah Dupree.”

  She felt her cheeks flush. She took Boone’s comment as a compliment, not a come-on, and she was rusty on reacting to those. So she let it pass without a response, turned her face into the breeze, and lifted her face toward the starry sky. The moon was a fingernail rising in the east. She picked out the Big and Little Dippers, then asked, “Do you know the constellations?”

  “Not really.” He eased the throttle back to neutral and switched off the engine, allowing the boat to drift.

  “Stargazing is actually an interest of mine. I took a class in college and got hooked.”

  He opened a box built into the transom and removed something Hannah couldn’t see. Then he sat upon the cushioned sundeck, scooted back, and lay down. He patted the seat beside him. “Come, show me.”

  Hannah hesitated only a moment before lying down beside Boone McBride. He switched on the item that he’d removed from the box and handed it to her. “You keep a laser pointer in your boat?”

  “I have them stashed about lots of places. They come in handy. So show me the stars, Hollywood.”

  She sat up. “Hollywood?”

  “Yeah. You remind me of all the classic movie stars rolled into one delicious package.”

  Oh. Well. Hannah ran from that by lying back down and speaking in a professorial tone. “I’m going to point out the Summer Triangle. We’re looking for three bright stars. The first is here. Altair, in the constellation Aquila, the Eagle. See it?”

  “I do.”

  “Next is Deneb.” She drew a line with the pointer to another bright star. “Deneb is in the constellation Cygnus, the Swan. Finally, here’s Vega in the constellation Lyra, the lyre. Cygnus is a horizontal cross of five bright stars. In dark sky conditions, Cygnus helps you find the Milky Way. There’s too much light here tonight to see it.”

  “I know of a great dark sky spot only half an hour from here. If you’re interested, I’d be happy to take you up there one night.”

  “I’m definitely interested. I love the Milky Way. It’s been many years since I’ve seen it, though.”

  “It’s a date.” Before she could protest the terminology, Boone continued, “I recall a few of the stories that are connected to constellations, but I don’t know Aquila or Lyra or … what was it? Signa?”

  “Cygnus. As far as the Summer Triangle goes, in Japanese mythology, the celestial princess and goddess Vega fell in love with a man named Altair. Because Altair was a mortal, her father didn’t approve and forbade them from seeing each other. The two lovers were separated by the Celestial River—the Milky Way. According to the legend, once a year a bridge of magpies forms, represented by Cygnus, and the lovers can be together again.”

  “That’s not as tragic as some of the mythological stories.”

  “True.”

  “So what else do you have?”

  “Hmm. Scorpius.” She used the laser to trace the star path. “Antares is the big red star. It’s something like eight or nine hundred times bigger than our sun.”

  “You do know your star stuff, don’t you? I’m impressed.”

  “It’s not very useful.”

  “Don’t knock yourself. My brain is a font of useless information. Though I do a few useful things too.”

  Hannah grinned into the darkness. From what she’d seen, she was pretty sure Boone McBride’s IQ was off the charts. “Give me an example. One of each. Start with useful.”

  “Okay. Give me a moment to think. I want it to be impressive. Hmm.” He swiped the laser pointer from her hand and began playing with it, bouncing it from star to star while humming the Jeopardy! theme song. Finally, he said, “I know how to start a friction fire.”

  Hannah narrowed her eyes. Was that a come-on? Then she remembered something his cousin Tucker had said tonight. “Your cousin operates a wilderness school. I’ll bet he taught you.”

  “I could have learned in the Boy Scouts.”

  Hannah’s lips twisted in a wry grin. “For some reason, I can’t picture you as a Boy Scout.”

  “I never liked those uniforms. But yes, Tucker taught me fire starting and dozens of other wilderness skills. Useful information.”

  “Okay, then. What’s your useless offering?”

  “I can name the capitals of one hundred and ninety countries.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep.”

  “I couldn’t name one hundred and ninety countries, much less their capitals. Why would you want to do that?”

  “It was a great bar bet in college. Plus, it made the coeds believe I was brilliant. Made it easier to get the girls.”

  “Something tells me you never had any trouble at all getting the girls.”

  He heaved a dramatic sigh. “It was a burden I stoically bore.” She snorted, then laughed. “Actually, I was pretty much a one-woman man all the way through college. I fell hard and fast for the gal I married.”

  Hannah pulled her attention away from watching the pulsing light of a satellite moving fast across the night sky and looked toward Boone. “Tell me about her. What made you fall for your Mary?”

  Hannah wished she hadn’t asked the question when Boone didn’t immediately answer. He dropped the laser pointer onto his chest, then laced his fingers behind his neck. Hannah had opened her mouth to say Never mind when he said, “She had a troubled family background. Her dad was an alcoholic and verbally abusive. She never admitted it, but I think he hit her a time or two. The night we met, we went to a frat party with our friends. While I was at the bar getting us a couple of beers, some guys cornered her and got too friendly for her comfort. I chased them off. Might have been some fisticuffs involved.”

  “Is that when your nose was broken?”

  “Noticed that, hmm? Yep, ruined my good looks. Both times.”

  “Twice?”

  “The first time I was twelve and going around with my cousins. The second time was not too long ago during a valiant matchmaking effort between Devin Murphy and his true love, Jenna. You met them tonight.”

  “The guy with the Australian accent. The outfitter’s son.”

  “Yep. Another story for another day.” Boone picked up his laser pointer and switched it back on. He idly traced star paths as he reflected. “I put the frat rats on the floor pretty fast that night. Not difficult because they were already blitzed. That fact didn’t matter to Mary. From that moment on, she thought I hung the moon. I was her hero and her champion. She introduced me to her friends as her knight in shining armor.”

  “I’ll bet that made you feel good.”

  “I soaked it up. It made me feel like I was ten feet tall.” A contemplative note entered his voice as he added, “Mary needed me. The longer we were together, the more she leaned on me, and the more I liked it. My buddies thought I was crazy, but donning that armor suited me. In hindsight, I think that’s why I was so unhappy practicing corporate law and why the move to the DA’s office worked for me. I really liked being the guy people turned to for help.” He hesitated a moment, then added, “Until it exploded in my face.”

  “Why do you—”

  “No,” he interrupted. “No more. No
t tonight. So, what did you think of Jackson’s ring bearer?”

  Hannah didn’t resist the change of subject. She laughed out loud, then said, “That was a surprise. I’ve read about people who include their pets as part of their wedding party, but this is the first time I’ve seen it. River is a well-trained dog, and he and Haley looked so cute together walking down the aisle.”

  “Let’s hope they do just as well tomorrow. I don’t know which worries me more—the fear of Haley having another out-of-the-blue meltdown or River getting distracted by a squirrel and taking off.”

  “He’s not actually carrying the real wedding rings, is he?”

  “Nope. River’s part is all for show. Which reminds me…” He sat up and slid back into the driver’s seat. “Probably ought to begin making our way home. Tomorrow is going to be a long day, and for me, it begins bright and early.”

  Hannah followed his lead and slid down from the sundeck. He put the boat in gear and idled forward, cutting smoothly through the calm surface of Hummingbird Lake. Despite his mention of his early morning, Boone took his time cruising home. They didn’t speak, but the silence between them was comfortable. Hannah relaxed and sensed that she’d sleep well tonight. She’d been mildly tense about attending the party, and even though she’d enjoyed herself, she was glad to have that event behind her.

  “This is so peaceful,” she observed. “I’ve missed nighttime boat rides.”

  He reached over and patted her hand. “I’m happy to take you out on the lake anytime you wish.”

  “Thank you.” Hannah leaned her head against the cushioned seat back, stared up at the sky, and absorbed the peace. She thought of her girls and imagined Zoe sitting in her lap with Sophia snuggled up against her side. When she saw a star go shooting across the sky, it seemed like a message from heaven.

  All too soon, Boone guided his boat into a slip of a boat dock. Hannah sat up and looked around. “I’m lost.”

  “We’re in a protected little cove that’s hidden from the main body of the lake. It’s also not readily visible from either the house or the cabin.” Boone climbed from the boat and went about securing the lines to the cleats. “I keep a few other toys here you’re welcome to use—canoe, paddleboat, a little one-man sailboat. Life jackets are in the deck box. Key to the box is beneath the fake rock just to the right of the walkway.”

  “That sounds lovely.”

  Hannah waited until he had the lines tied off to pick up her purse and rise. Boone offered her his hand. She took it and stepped from the boat. Uncharacteristically, she lost her balance, teetered, and tumbled into his arms.

  “Well now,” he murmured, his voice a deep, sexy rumble as he held her firmly against him. “Isn’t this nice. Word of warning, Ms. Dupree. When an opportunity presents itself, I’m the kind of guy who’s going to take advantage of it.”

  His signal came through loud and clear. If she didn’t do something to stop him, Boone McBride was going to kiss her.

  So long. It’s been so long—a lifetime.

  And she’d never been kissed by a man like Boone McBride.

  Hannah lifted her face, and he bent his mouth to hers. Her eyes drifted shut as his lips brushed hers, testing, teasing, his touch the softest of satin, the lightest of silk. Anticipation skittered up Hannah’s spine.

  “Nice,” he murmured, his voice a deep-throated purr before he got down to business. With his firm, hard body molded against hers, he took his time tasting and nibbling and sparking into life a yearning that Hannah had all but forgotten.

  It was an entirely appropriate first-date first kiss, steamy but not hot. His hands skimmed up and down her back before his fingers sank into her hair. He held her head, and for the first time, she realized just how large his hands were. His fingers played with her hair even as his lips moved over hers. The kiss was inquisitive but not invading. Gentle but oh so exciting. He kissed her like she was fine wine, and he a connoisseur.

  Hannah loved it. It was perfect. The approach, the atmosphere, the attention. She melted against him and allowed herself to enjoy it.

  When he finally lifted his mouth from hers, she couldn’t hold back a little sigh of dismay. His voice sounded throaty when he said, “Me too. But if I’d kept that up much longer, I’m not sure I could have kept it friendly. You pack a punch, Hollywood.”

  “So do you, Texas.”

  “Texas?”

  “Big, bold, and brash.”

  “I can live with that.” Then his left arm dropped to his side, and he stepped away. His right hand cupped her cheek, his thumb stroking softly over her cheekbone. She shivered.

  “Thank you,” he said simply. “I enjoyed this evening very much.”

  “I did too,” she replied, speaking the truth.

  He let his hand slide down to capture hers, and then he lifted it and pressed a gallant kiss to her knuckles. A knight-in-shining-armor gesture, she thought. Her lips twisted in a wry smile as, holding her hand, Boone led her up the walkway and onto a path that led, she soon discovered, to Serenity Cabbage.

  At her door, he tugged her back into his arms for a quick, hard kiss. “Good night, Hannah.”

  “Good night.” Then, because her old habits died hard, as he turned and sauntered away, she added, “Sweet dreams.”

  He paused and glanced over his shoulder. “I don’t know about dreams, but I sure intend to indulge in a sweet fantasy as I lie in bed tonight. After watching you savor that strawberry pinwheel cookie served for dessert tonight, well, I have this vision of you and me and lots of naked skin and a bowlful of that filling.”

  Hannah’s mouth gaped in shock at the picture his words created in her mind. With a wave and wicked wink, he was gone, leaving Hannah to wonder aloud. “Knight in shining armor? Or fox in the henhouse?”

  Most likely, both.

  And damn if it didn’t make him all the more appealing.

  * * *

  As the weekend’s festivities progressed, Boone’s success at compartmentalization weakened. With every hour that passed, his thoughts returned more often to the gigantic life change on his horizon. Saturday, he managed to stay in the moment at the wedding itself due to the gravity of the event. The time spent in Hannah’s company proved to be a great distraction, also. However, being around his parents and his sisters was becoming a problem.

  On the one hand, he badly wanted to tell them about the baby. It was a significant event for him, and he wanted to share. He was scared to death at the thought of being a single dad. He was excited at the thought of it. He wanted to ask his mother’s advice about feeding and diapering and sleep hygiene. He wanted to speak to his dad about the responsibilities of fatherhood and best practices for discipline. In other words, he wanted to learn Parker McBride’s secret for putting the fear of God into his children with only a look.

  And yet the circumstances hadn’t changed from a week ago. It was still in his parents’ best interests that he waited to present the adoption of his new son as a fait accompli. So he bit his tongue and bided his time and avoided looking his mama in the eyes.

  Boone woke early the morning his family was due to depart. He went for a run, hoping to burn off some of the nervous energy that had been building over the past few days. His mind was full of plans and possibilities. His parents planned to leave by eight in order to arrive at the Colorado Springs airport in time for the twins to catch a plane back to California. Boone had movers scheduled to arrive at eight thirty to switch out bedroom furniture for a crib, changing table, and other baby gear.

  He hoped he’d ordered the necessary baby paraphernalia. His experience with infants was minimal. Okay, it was next to nothing.

  He should probably get somebody with experience to review his list and tell him what he needed to add. After all, Eternity Springs didn’t have a Buy Buy Baby where he could run in and grab what he needed.

  Although, with all the babies being born here, and the tourists who shopped for their grandchildren during visits to Eternity Springs, be
t there was a market for a specialty children’s shop. The one in Redemption appeared to do good business, and the small Texas town where his cousins lived was similar to Eternity Springs in many ways.

  He made a mental note to look into the idea at a later date. Of more immediate need, who could he hit up to review his shopping list? Heaven knew there were plenty of people in town with recent baby experience whom he could approach. Eternity Springs’ recent population explosion had some folks jokingly refer to the place as Maternity Springs.

  He could call Jenna Murphy or Hope Romano or Gabi Flynn. They’d all be happy to give him advice. Or he could ask Hannah. Her experience might not be as recent as that of his local friends, but he wasn’t worried about having all the new bells and whistles in baby gear. He wanted to confirm that he had the basics covered for a newborn. Fundamentals didn’t change. Babies needed beds and bottles and blankets. Diapers and wipes and—clothes. Oh, crap. Boone halted in his tracks. He hadn’t ordered any clothes!

  That was a foolish oversight, but nothing insurmountable. He’d pick up what he needed in Fort Worth. Now to figure out what he needed.

  He worked the problem for the rest of his run, but the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee and frying bacon distracted him as he entered the kitchen and found his mother at the stove. “You’re up early.”

  She glanced up at him and smiled. “I was hoping to have a chat with you. We’ve hardly had any opportunity to visit this trip.”

  “Let me grab a quick shower, and then I’ll help make breakfast. Okay?”

  “Make it quick. Your dad will be up in twenty minutes.”

  “All right.”

  A little concerned about why his mother might want to speak to him privately, Boone took one of the quickest showers of his life and returned to the kitchen wearing shorts and a T-shirt. “Is something wrong?”

  “What? Why would you ask that?”

  “You wanted to talk to me before Dad got up. Tell me nobody is sick.”