Chapter 3 #2
Mila wasn’t sure what Uncle Rex said in response, because she’d managed to force herself to look at Boone.
He’d showered before coming, and he was wearing a different shirt.
He’d arrived at the farm in a warm flannel, but this shirt was a nice light blue button-down, and he’d exchanged his faded jeans for a crisp new dark denim pair.
His eyes drifted over to the girls in the corner, and Mila saw his shoulders relax.
Then he turned his attention to her.
His eyes slid down, taking in all of her, as she’d just done to him.
His gaze felt like a touch, her body reacting to it as if he were stroking those large hands over her curves.
She’d also put some thought into her outfit, exchanging her bulky winter sweater for a silky blouse and swapping out her comfy, loose-fitting jeans for the skinny pair that meant she couldn’t eat much at dinner.
It was worth it as Boone’s gaze lingered.
“Mila.” Boone nodded his head just once, and she felt herself flush because damn if she didn’t like way he said her name. It was the same way everyone else did, but somehow he made it sound like both a compliment and a command, two things that shouldn’t go together.
“Hi, Boone.” She bit her lower lip, hoping no one else in the room caught the breathiness of her greeting.
Mercifully, Remi chose that moment to crash into the room. Or at least, that’s what it always felt like. Remi did nothing quiet or subtle. “Hey, you must be Boone,” she said, crossing the room, her hand outstretched.
Boone took it, smiling. “I am.”
“I’m Remi Storm.” Then she gestured over her shoulder to Nora, whose entrance had been overshadowed. “And this is my sister Nora. You already met Mila.”
Remi had been home when Mila returned from showing Boone and Sadie the cabin, and she’d hit her with a million and twelve questions about them.
Mila held her breath as Nora and Remi both spoke to Boone, part of her terrified that perhaps they’d also feel an attraction toward him.
Because how could they not? The guy was sex-on-a-stick hot.
The three of them—or actually, just Remi—conversed for a few minutes, the conversation seeming nothing more than friendly as her youngest sister offered to take Boone and Sadie on a trail ride the following weekend to show them around the mountains, proclaiming they’d yet to see the prettiest views on the farm.
Sadie and Piper overheard the offer, both girls coming over, clearly excited by the invitation.
“Can we go, Dad?” Sadie pleaded.
“I have a very gentle horse, perfect for new riders,” Remi reassured him.
Boone considered it for a moment, then nodded. “Sure. I haven’t ridden a horse in years.”
“Can I go too?” Piper asked.
“If it’s okay with your parents, then of course.”
Mila grinned when the two girls bumped shoulders enthusiastically, acting like they’d been friends forever.
Boone saw the reaction as well, and Mila’s heart began to thud when his gaze returned to her. Her analytical mind went wild, trying to figure out what she was seeing, because she couldn’t tell if it was gratitude, desire, or indifference. Maybe all three, which made no sense.
Boone hadn’t been on the farm more than six hours, and she was already completely lost in her head. At this rate, Mila would be completely insane by dawn.
One by one, more of the family appeared, each of her cousins introducing themselves to Boone and Sadie. Jace, her youngest cousin, joked that there’d be a test after dinner, regarding who was who.
“Dinner’s ready,” Kasi announced from the doorway.
“Oh my goodness,” Aunt Claire exclaimed. “I completely lost track of time. Kasi, you are a dear for setting it all out.”
Everyone filed into the dining room, taking seats around the huge farmhouse table.
Because the family was so large, Uncle Rex had commissioned a local carpenter to build the table, which seated twenty.
Tonight, they all fit, but on quite a few occasions, they had to set up a smaller “kids’ table” to ensure everyone had a spot.
Sadie and Piper sat next to Mila, the two girls still chatting away.
Mila had to stifle a laugh as Piper began filling Sadie in on who the hottest boys in their class were.
Boone had selected the seat directly across the table from Mila, so she caught the way he briefly closed his eyes when he heard their conversation.
When he opened them and looked at her, Mila offered a quick “girls will be girls” shrug that was met with an amused smirk.
The food was passed around, everyone helping themselves to the beef stew and bread. Boone devoured the dinner like it was the best thing he’d ever eaten in his life.
“This beef stew is delicious, Mrs. Storm,” Boone said to Aunt Claire.
Aunt Claire lifted one finger, wiggling it. “No, no, Boone. I insist you call me Claire. And that compliment belongs to Mila. She made the stew. My assignments for tonight were the bread and pie.”
Boone’s gaze slid to her. “You’re a woman of many talents.”
Mila brushed off the compliment with a wave of her hand, lowering her head and praying no one saw the way she was blushing.
She kept her eyes locked on her bowl for a few minutes as the conversation continued to flow around her, Sam talking about some of his goals for Gracemont, now that he’d won the mayoral election.
Starting tomorrow, he was officially the mayor.
When she raised her eyes again, she realized Boone was still looking at her, and, once again, she was overwhelmed by the wealth of emotions he was shooting in her direction.
She couldn’t understand how this man, a virtual stranger, impacted her so strongly, making her want things—dark and dirty and oh-so-sexy things—she’d never experienced.
Mercifully, Grayson pulled Boone’s attention away, discussing the grapes they’d been growing and what wines they currently had on hand, aging in oak barrels. Mila listened, mesmerized by Boone’s deep voice and the passion with which he discussed his work.
Unfortunately, she had to stop eavesdropping when Aunt Claire pulled her into a conversation she and Gretchen were having regarding this year’s Valentine’s Dance.
Typically, most community events happened in Gracemont Community Center, but it was shut down prior to the holidays due to a leaky roof.
Rather than cancel the town’s annual Christmas party, they’d held it in her family’s new event barn.
The party was such a success, the town council proposed holding the Valentine’s Dance there as well, so they could take their time repairing all the issues at the aging community center instead of just the roof.
Mila listened with half an ear as Gretchen and Aunt Claire discussed the decorations. Typically, she offered a ton of input, but tonight, she couldn’t focus enough to do more than agree with their suggestions.
The second Mila reached adulthood, Aunt Claire had begun dragging her to all the ladies’ auxiliary meetings, the local women in charge of organizing community events.
As such, Mila had planned more Harvest and Valentine’s dances, Christmas parties, and Fourth of July picnics than she could count.
Not that she minded. It was the only time she could truly indulge her love of catering.
The whole time she spoke with Gretchen and Claire, Theo had his arm wrapped around the back of Gretchen’s chair, occasionally resting his hand on her shoulder or stroking her hair, as if he couldn’t stop himself from touching her.
Every time he did so, Gretchen leaned closer to him, gazing at him with such love, Mila found it difficult to look away.
Gretchen had arrived at Stormy Weather Farm in September, after escaping an abusive relationship, so it had taken some time and effort for her cousin to earn the skittish woman’s heart and trust.
Theo bent his head lower, whispering something into Gretchen’s ear. She grinned, then he gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Mila longed for that kind of closeness, dreamed of finding a man who would be so enamored of her, he couldn’t make it through dinner without giving her a kiss or running his fingers through her hair. Her gaze slid across the table to Boone…and she realized he was watching Theo and Gretchen as well.
When he turned his attention to Mila, his brows were furrowed, his eyes troubled.
Shit. She needed to stop staring at the man like some lovestruck teenager.
For the rest of dinner, she worked overtime to avoid making eye contact.
Once the meal wrapped up, the guys rose, clearing the table, taking over the kitchen duties. Aunt Claire was a firm believer in the concept that the cooks didn’t clean. Once the dishes were done, and leftovers were packed away and distributed for everyone’s lunches tomorrow, people began to leave.
Boone probably would have followed suit, but Sadie had begged him to let her go to the stables with Remi, Piper, and Lark to see the horses.
He’d agreed, clearly pleased that Sadie had found a new friend.
Remi promised they’d be quick, but Mila knew that was a lie.
Remi loved her horses and loved showing them off, so she suspected they’d be a while.
Eventually, it was just her, Boone, Aunt Claire, and Uncle Rex left.
“Okay, Superman,” Aunt Claire said to her husband, pointing at his foot. “I knew you should have stayed in the living room with it reclined. Your ankle is swollen again. Time for bed and ibuprofen.”
Uncle Rex didn’t put up a fuss, which told Mila he was likely in quite a bit of pain.
“Mila, why don’t you and Boone wait in the living room for the girls to come back? It’ll be more comfortable.”