Chapter 5 #2
“I’m exhausted,” Kasi said, dropping down into the chair next to hers and distracting Mila from her wayward thoughts. “I’m not sure why I ever think for one second that I can keep up with Remi on the dance floor.”
“You’ve been her friend long enough to know better,” Mila pointed out.
“I think I view it as a challenge, one I’m determined to win just once in my damn life.”
Mila smirked. “While you’re at it, why not try to outdrink her, too? Dare ya.”
Kasi laughed at her sarcasm and threw her hands up in surrender. “You’re right. You’re right. I should just admit defeat.”
“But you won’t.”
Kasi and Remi had been best friends since birth, so in a lot of ways, Mila had always viewed the woman as another sister, one of the heart. Now that Kasi was marrying Levi and becoming an official member of the Storm family, Mila couldn’t be happier.
“But I won’t,” Kasi echoed. “Where’d Nora go?”
“The original party animal?” Mila joked. “She headed out with Sadie right after dinner. The two of them had plans to binge-watch some reality show.”
Because the dance was a community event, there’d been a lot of kids here for the dinner part of the evening, including Piper.
However, as the evening wore on, most of the parents here with children had called it a night and headed home, leaving behind the younger generation, which was showing no sign of packing it in until the final song was played.
“I really like Sadie. She’s a neat kid. Remi said she’s a natural with the horses, which is high praise coming from the original horse whisperer. And Levi was worried about giving up the role of vineyard manager, but having Boone here has really set his mind at ease.”
“Maverick said Boone really knows his stuff. Said we were lucky to get him,” Mila added.
“I’m glad they’ve started coming to Sunday dinners. They’re a nice addition to the table.”
Mila nodded, though she wasn’t in total agreement.
Apart from their cooking lessons, Mila only saw Boone in passing at the farm and at Sunday dinners.
She wasn’t exactly sure why he’d started joining them on Sundays again, though she suspected it was because Aunt Claire wouldn’t continue taking no for an answer.
He’d offered excuses that had gotten him out of a couple Sundays, but Aunt Claire was made of sterner stuff, and she was determined to pull the Hansens into the fold.
Like Mila and her sisters, Aunt Claire had taken Sadie under her wing as well, so now, most Sundays, it was Mila, Sadie, Kasi, and Aunt Claire preparing the meal together.
Boone always claimed a spot at the opposite end of the table, well away from Mila, talking shop with Grayson, Maverick, and Levi. She suspected the distance was an intentional act on his part, which hurt more than it should.
Sunday dinners had always been her favorite time of the week, but with Boone sitting right there in the same room, yet too far away to talk to, they’d become downright torturous.
Kasi leaned toward her, her voice lowered. “Sooooo…I couldn’t help but notice Pastor Joshua made his way over here earlier to claim the first slow dance with you.”
Mila fought to school her features, trying not to wince.
With the exception of Nora, she hadn’t told anyone in her family that she wasn’t really interested in the man.
So it was her fault Kasi mistakenly believed Mila and the pastor were getting serious.
Although Mila wasn’t sure four dates in two months equaled “serious.” But what did she know?
Her dating experience was as limited as her sexual knowledge.
“It was just one dance,” Mila said. “He’s danced with other women tonight, as well.”
“Yes, all of them grandmothers. According to Remi, you’ve gone out with the pastor four times, and it’s obvious he’s into you.”
Oh shit. Was it?
How was it obvious? Apart from asking her to dance one time, Past—er—Joshua had spent the remainder of the dance moving from table to table, socializing with the parishioners who attended his church.
“I’m sure that’s not true,” she said softly.
Kasi clearly wasn’t convinced. “He’s a nice guy,” she said, stating the same thing Mila said when describing the man to both Boone and Nora, but Kasi obviously viewed that as a perk, not a boring fact.
“Though I’ll admit, he seems a bit socially awkward on the dating scene.
Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing. ”
It was, but Mila held her tongue.
“And it’s no mystery why he’s so smitten with you,” Kasi continued.
Mila felt her nose begin to crinkle but managed to stop herself. “Smitten. What?”
“Mila, you’re one of the sweetest women I know. People are comfortable with you. They turn to you when they need help because you’re generous—and not just with money but with your time. You’re compassionate and empathetic. I can imagine those are all attributes Pastor Joshua would find attractive.”
Mila shrugged off Kasi’s compliments, uncomfortable with the praise and annoyed that other men didn’t seem to be attracted to those traits in her…but mainly upset because she’d gotten hung up on that stupid word.
Sweet.
It sucked as much as nice.
Before Mila could figure out how to respond to Kasi without letting her depression seep out, the deejay announced it was the last dance, and Levi was by their table within seconds, reaching out for Kasi’s hand and pulling her back to the floor.
Mila smiled because she loved Alex Warren’s song “Ordinary,” but the grin faded when she spotted Past—dammit!—Joshua walking in her direction.
She glanced toward the food table, wondering if he’d change course if she started cleaning up.
Unfortunately, the older women who weren’t dancing had taken care of clearing everything away.
Hell, they’d already put a dent in taking down the decorations, so there wasn’t going to be much to do once the party ended.
She sighed, resigning herself to dancing with Joshua again, when she felt a firm hand on her shoulder.
“Dance with me.”
The deep voice belonged to the one man she’d spent the entire night longing to dance with.
She looked up at Boone and smiled.
He’d spent the evening at the table next to hers.
There were enough Storms in attendance that they’d filled not one, not two, but three tables.
When Boone first walked in tonight, it looked like he’d been heading to the seat next to her at this table.
But he’d gotten waylaid by Maverick, who waved him over to sit at his table, while Sadie sought out and found Piper.
Damn cock-blocking cousin.
As Mila stood, Boone briefly glanced in the pastor’s direction, frowning slightly.
Wait.
Was that why he’d asked her to dance? Was he just trying to save her from having to dance with the other man again?
Of course he was, she thought with disappointment.
She’d already mentioned that she found her dates with Pasto—motherfucker—Joshua boring, so Boone was clearly stepping in to save her from enduring another dance.
Just what she wanted.
A pity dance.
Regardless, Mila accepted with a nod, even though his request hadn’t been a question. Nor did it feel like her response was necessary, considering he’d already claimed her hand and was pulling her toward the dance floor.
She caught a glimpse of the pastor hesitating for a moment, before turning and asking eighty-something Edith Millholland for a dance.
Mila shivered as Boone pulled her into his arms, his large palm at her lower back, just a shade above her ass. She expected him to keep a proper distance between them, so she was shocked when he drew her closer, her chest pressed firmly against his.
Unlike—fuck it—Pastor Joshua, Boone was not leaving room for Jesus.
Throughout the night, every time a slow song played, and Boone didn’t ask her to dance, Mila comforted herself with the fact that he hadn’t danced with anyone else, either.
Up until a minute ago, she was convinced he was just one of those guys who didn’t dance.
Or at least not in public, she amended, recalling that one silly dance in his kitchen with Sadie.
So much for that assumption.
He was an incredible dancer.
Boone guided her through the slow dance with a strong, confident grip that had her melting under his control. Mila had read enough spicy romance novels in her life to have a good grasp on what floated her boat, though it wasn’t something she could ever admit to anyone.
How the hell would Kasi have responded if Mila had said she’d never marry Pastor Joshua because she longed for a man who would demand her submission in the bedroom?
How could she confess that every single night since Boone’s arrival at the farm, she’d played out some pretty hardcore fantasies of the man ordering her to her knees, commanding her to crawl to him, demanding that she—
Mila shut down that line of thought hard, because she was already getting too turned on. Her nipples were budded and ultra-sensitive, so every time they rubbed against Boone’s chest, she felt a tremor of need that had her very wet pussy clenching.
She released a shaky breath, keeping her face averted, lest Boone see her blush and know what kind of an impact he was having on her.
She’d never been this affected from just a dance. God, if the song went on any longer, there was a very good chance she could come.
Especially when his thumb stroked circles into her lower back, his thighs brushed against hers, and she felt his hot breath against her cheek.
“Thank you for saving me from…” Mila paused, wishing she hadn’t spoken. Mainly because it prompted him to shift away an inch or two, making it obvious she was speaking to his chest, unable to look at his face. Not when he was this close.
“From?” he prompted.
She shook her head, hoping he’d let it go. “Nothing. Never mind.”
Boone didn’t let her off the hook. “From the pastor?” he asked softly, mindful of the fact Joshua was somewhere nearby on the dance floor as well.
She nodded, her gaze still locked resolutely on the second button of his dark blue shirt.