Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Boone looked down at the beauty in front of him, trying to figure out what the fuck was wrong with him. He didn’t flirt, didn’t call women darlin’, and he sure as shit didn’t let his inner caveman out. That asshole had been locked away for years.
However, he was suddenly overwhelmed by something he hadn’t felt in a very long time.
Something he hadn’t allowed himself to feel…by design.
Attraction.
And not some run-of-the-mill, oh-she’s-pretty attraction. Nope, this was a dick-twitching, chest-beating, feral kind of attraction. The kind that had his mind and body in perfect agreement, screaming at him to get the woman naked in his bed and under him immediately.
Fuck. Me.
The caveman was back in full force. He’d kicked the fucker out over a decade ago, not just locking the door behind him but barring and painting right the hell over it until he couldn’t tell there’d ever been a door.
Now, dammit, as he stared down at this lovely woman, with her light brown eyes and cute upturned nose, the caveman had broken down the door, barging in like the bastard he was.
Every single one of Boone’s instincts were insisting he not just protect and care for her but claim every inch of this woman—body and soul.
He didn’t have a clue how long the two of them stared at each other, but it stretched well beyond social normalcy.
Something his daughter noticed.
“Um…hello?” Sadie said, in that recently acquired smart-ass tone that drove him up the damn wall. Of course, it also had the desired effect, because it helped him pull his head out of his ass.
After all, she was one of the main reasons he’d exiled the caveman.
He dropped the woman’s hands and took a step back, putting a proper distance between them.
Clearing his throat, he forced himself to offer her a polite handshake, even though the idea of touching her again was…
perilous. Shit. His long-dormant cock was awake after an eternal hibernation.
His jeans were loose, but not enough to hide a full-blown hard-on.
He needed to get his shit together, and fast.
“I’m Boone Hansen. This is my daughter, Sadie.”
The woman’s expressive eyes widened, making it clear she recognized his name.
“Oh! Of course. I should have known. Levi said you were arriving this weekend. I’m afraid I’ve lost track of what day it is.
Curse of the holidays, right?” She accepted his hand, and Boone felt the slight shiver that went through her.
She felt the attraction too. It was evident in the flush in her cheeks that grew more pronounced and the way she subtly, quickly darted her tongue over her lower lip. Then she offered him a sheepish grin as she pulled her phone out of her pocket and turned off Wham blasting out “Last Christmas.”
Boone was amused that she was still listening to holiday music, despite the fact he was usually sick of the crap before December even hit.
“I’m Mila Storm. My family owns Stormy Weather Farm.”
Shit. She was one of the Storms. That made his attraction even more problematic. Boone had been hired by Levi Storm to work in the vineyard, and the man had explained that the farm, as well as the businesses on it, were run by his large family.
Boone was looking forward to this job because, at last, he would be the vineyard manager rather than just the assistant, something he never would have achieved in his last place of employment.
The owner of that vineyard held the role of manager, and he’d been grooming his son to take over when he retired.
With no room for advancement, Boone jumped at the offer when Levi contacted him to see if he’d be interested in working on Stormy Weather Farm.
He and Levi had met more than a few times over the years at trade shows and conventions, and they’d struck up an acquaintanceship, emailing from time to time with questions about crop concerns, etc.
As Mila released his hand, she turned her attention to his daughter, giving her an adorable wave. “Hi, Sadie.”
Sadie smiled at Mila and said hello. He was sure the greeting seemed pleasant enough to Mila, even though Boone knew Sadie’s smile was forced and there was an edge to her voice.
He blew out a long, slow, quiet breath, counting to ten in his head. He’d been doing that a hell of a lot lately in regards to his young daughter. Now, as always, he dug deep for patience, something that was in thin supply these days.
Boone shoved his hands in the pockets of his jacket, warding off the cold. Then he scowled as he considered Mila’s ruddy cheeks. How long had she been out here in the elements? Where were the men on the farm? Why the hell were they letting her climb a ladder to take down holiday lights?
He considered asking all those questions, then realized he’d already come on too strong, demanding she take care before standing.
“Levi said he’d greet us and give us a tour of the farm, but we got here earlier than expected.
Didn’t hit any traffic and we managed to get out of Williamsburg without any issues.
” Boone didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot, so he’d made sure to leave plenty of time for the three-and-a-half-hour drive.
“That’s no problem at all,” Mila said. “If you want, I can show you the cabin where the two of you will be living, then text Levi to meet you there. That way you can take some time to unwind before his tour of the farm.”
“I don’t want to put you out. If you give me directions—”
“Oh, it’s no problem at all. I’d be happy to do it.”
Boone couldn’t think of a way to turn her down without appearing rude, even though it was probably wiser to put some distance between him and the beauty until he was able to shake off whatever the fuck this was. “Okay. We’d appreciate that.”
“It’s not far from here.” Mila bent down to pick up the ladder.
“I’ll do that.” Boone beat her to it, hefting it off the ground before leaning it against the porch to unfasten the last of the strand of lights. He handed them to her as she deftly wrapped it around a piece of cardboard. He noticed the neat, feminine writing on it that said, B&B Front Porch.
Mila thanked him, blushing again as he lowered the ladder, then asked her where she wanted him to put it. She directed him to the far side of the house, where he rested it against the wall.
“One of my cousins will put it away later,” she said.
“The cabin’s not too far from here. If you have room, I can just hop in your truck with you.
If not, I’ll run inside and tell my uncle Rex I’m borrowing his.
I’ve gotta go in any way to get the keys to your cabin.
I stashed them there a couple days ago for Levi to pick up when he met with you. ”
“We have room in the truck.”
“Cool. I’ll be back in two secs.” Mila was true to her word, dashing inside the B&B, returning almost instantly.
Boone gestured toward his truck, walking around to the passenger side to open the door for Mila.
Glancing toward the backseat, he caught the way Sadie rolled her eyes at his gesture, and it occurred to him his daughter had probably never seen him open a door for a woman…
because there were no women in his life.
Mercifully, Mila didn’t notice Sadie’s rude reaction.
God save him from twelve-year-old girls. Up until the beginning of seventh grade, his daughter had been sweet as pie. Since then…not so much.
Climbing behind the wheel, he followed Mila’s directions, traveling farther along the mountain as she explained they’d be living in one of the cabins her family had previously rented out to fall foliage seekers, bird-watchers, nature lovers, and anyone else looking for a serene, scenic getaway.
“Don’t you guys worry,” Mila said over her shoulder, glancing toward the backseat, though neither he nor Sadie had expressed any concern. “I picked you out a good one. The best one, actually.”
“You picked it out?” Boone asked.
“One of my duties on the farm is to maintain the rental cabins. I guess you could call me the landlord-slash-maid,” Mila said with a laugh. She continued chatting, pointing out where each of the dirt roads attached to the main one led. Not that he was listening. He was too distracted by her.
Boone tried to figure out how old Mila was. If he had to guess, he’d put her in her twenties, though he didn’t think she was newly out of her teens. Not that it mattered. Whatever her age, she was too young for his forty years.
The second he had that thought, he kicked it out because attraction or not, he wasn’t starting anything with pretty Mila Storm.
He didn’t do relationships. Been there, done that, burned the fucking T-shirt.
He’d made that vow ten years ago and nothing had shaken his resolve since.
Which was why he was equal parts surprised and annoyed by the way Mila fired needs in him that he was usually much better at controlling.
“And that lane leads to the farmhouse where my cousins live. Seven men—well, six, now that Levi has moved in with Kasi—all under the same roof. My sister Remi calls it the frat house.”
God, she had a pretty voice. Soft and lilting with just a touch of a southern accent.
Boone snuck a glance at the passenger seat, trying to figure out what it was about Mila that had captured his attention.
She was certainly a lovely woman, but he’d met countless beauties in his life.
She had a cheerful, friendly demeanor, a gorgeous smile, and one of those personalities that reminded him of something his grandmother used to say.
Mila was the type of person who’d never met a stranger.