Chapter 8
A few days later, Boone was almost coming out of his skin. That sweet kiss in the nursery was playing over and over, on a constant loop in his head. The feel of her skin, the fragrance of her hair. The way she’d breathed his name as if he’d mattered.
He tried to set it aside, to label it as an anomaly. They should talk about it. But he didn’t know how to bring it up. She was so focused on her work and he figured that focus kept her mind off Spratt and the continued manhunt.
Besides, maybe it had been closure for her, but it had only opened up a Pandora’s box of need for him. She’d tasted the same. No, better. Everything had been enhanced by the beach air, ocean salt, warm sunlight, and citrus trees.
And then there was the new, bitter awareness. Some ornery piece of him despised that teenager for kissing her in that same spot. Boone refused to call it jealousy. That was absurd. Borderline obsessive and he wasn’t. He couldn’t be jealous of some kid he’d never meet. Still, it bugged the hell out of him that some other guy understood the wonder of kissing Nina in the nursery.
Following that incredible kiss with the family dinner that felt like a meet-the-parents event blended with a strategy session left him reeling. Because the six of them had had a great time, making Boone feel welcome, despite the reasons that brought him into Nina’s life.
Her dad and mom, Nico and Roxy, were gracious and grateful for his presence. They shoved food at him as if he was in training for an ultramarathon, all of it delicious. Nash and Jess were easygoing and friendly. Boone appreciated the way Jess backed him up on the real risks involved.
Like Jess, he wanted the entire family to be alert and cautious, but not paranoid for Nina’s safety. But he had to wonder if any of them would be as open and welcoming if they knew the truth.
Another topic it felt weird to bring up. If Nina wanted to forget their one-night-stand, he should let her. If being together now didn’t rekindle anything on her side of the equation, what was the point of pushing?
Better for both of them if he could be satisfied with handling the protection issues and maybe come out of this as friends.
What a waste of sizzling chemistry.
Except after that kiss, she didn’t seem to notice the sizzle or share his interest anymore.
Resigned, Boone polished off the last of his eggs and toast, trying to keep his questions locked down. Trying not to stare at Nina.
The more time he spent with her, the less he knew what to believe. All week, she claimed she wasn’t a breakfast person, but during their singular night in Charleston they’d talked when the band took breaks. He recalled her saying her favorite food was waffles and she had shared fond memories of Saturday morning breakfasts with her brother while arguing about cartoon heroes and villains.
So today, intent on doing something nice for her, he’d gotten up early to make waffles. When she walked into the kitchen, she’d gaped at him as if he’d kicked a puppy. Utter horror crossed her face before she turned and rushed back toward her bedroom.
Special breakfast plan scrapped, he whipped up some eggs, making enough to share if she was so inclined. She wasn’t.
He didn’t feel right getting pushy about it though. Technically, he was a guest in her home. Her food habits and preferences weren’t any of his concern unless it involved going out and maintaining a safe perimeter.
What would it take for him to remember his role here? He was her protector, his sole duty was to keep Spratt from harassing or harming her.
Boone admired her bravery. Not many folks would stay in place, dangling themselves like bait to help trap an escaped convict. He wouldn’t allow her trust to be abused.
Still, day by day she woke up pale. The bleak contrast to the glowing, vibrant woman he’d danced with a few weeks ago was troubling. Granted, a few weeks ago she wasn’t worried about being found and possibly attacked by a criminal with notoriously vengeful tendencies.
“Do you need to go anywhere today?” he asked, cleaning up his breakfast dishes. When she didn’t reply, he turned to find her staring into her coffee cup, clearly lost in thought.
“Nina?”
She gave a start, looking up and blinking rapidly. After a moment, she gave him a sweet smile that made him want to tuck her back into bed until she looked more like herself.
If only she’d let him get away with that kind of move. She was independent and determined and knew how to look out for herself. His concern was building that she might come to resent him the longer this dragged on. A result he’d have to guard against.
“Sorry,” she said. “Lost in thought. What did you ask me? ”
“Do you have places to be today? Other than the shop.”
She shook her head. “No. It’s just Molly and me and the normal routine. Henry will handle any deliveries for today.”
So far, so good in Boone’s opinion. “No special events or contracts to deal with?”
“Not today.” She smiled again, her fingers curling around her mug. “What about you?”
He dried his hands and draped the towel over the dishwasher handle. “My job is you.”
“You know what I mean,” she pressed. “If I’m rooted in one location, how are you going to entertain yourself?”
She wasn’t wrong. He was going to need a distraction. Pleasant as it would be, he couldn’t justify staring at her all day. “I’ll come up with something.” He could be proactive about the search for Spratt, checking with Jess or even scheduling time with one of the Guardian Agency researchers.
There was also the leaky faucet in her workroom and plenty of deep cleaning he could help with around the shop. If she gave him permission.
“Have you heard anything?” Her voice was so quiet. “He hasn’t made any moves, has he?”
There was only one person who worried her and Boone wished he could take her far away from the threat of Spratt. “No. As far as I know he’s still in the wind.”
“Bastard,” Nina swore, adding a rapid-fire string of creative curses.
Boone busted out laughing, then held up his hands. “Sorry.” Damn it. He’d promised her he wouldn’t laugh when she cussed. “It’s just—” When she swore it was a hilarious contradiction.
“Rude?” she supplied.
Well, yeah. He sucked in a breath, held it. “I don’t mean to be rude,” he said. “And I’m not belittling your feelings. I agree with the sentiment one hundred percent.”
“Yeah, that’s so obvious.” She shook her head. “You promised.”
“I did. I’ll do better.”
Her skeptical glare nearly made him laugh again. With a beleaguered sigh she pushed back from the table and carried her coffee mug to the sink.
Boone pretended not to notice that most of the coffee went down the drain. He did his best to get back on track. “If it’s a typical day, maybe you could rest a bit. Like, maybe go in late and let Molly handle things?”
“I’ll be fine.” She patted his shoulder absently as she walked by. “A typical day leaves me plenty of room to rest, I promise.”
That was complete nonsense. He’d been observing for a few days now. The woman packed more into her workday than most people would in a week. And he could see it taking a toll on her. The Spratt mess only made it worse. “Why are you lying to me?” he snapped.
She’d been bent over, putting on her shoes, and lost her balance, startled by his demanding tone. He reached out, steadying her, but she shook off his attempt to assist.
“What exactly do you think I’m lying about?”
He was done. Just couldn’t take it anymore. For days, she’d been like this. Pale and tired, not eating. And perpetually distracted. She needed a break, space to relax and recuperate. Could he convince her to go to a safe house? “You don’t feel good,” he began. “It’s more than the stress. You look miserable.”
He saw the spark in her eye too late. He was pissing her off, but he couldn’t stop himself.
“Thank you for that glowing assessment. ”
“I mean it, Nina. If you need sleep, go back to bed. Molly can handle the shop. Or call your friend to help out. I’m concerned,” he pleaded now. “I want you to take care of yourself.”
“I’ve been taking care of myself long before you came around. I built a business apart from my parents and their connections. You might not know it, but being a florist of our size is rarely profitable. Island Bloomers is turning a solid, consistent profit.”
“Good!” And he meant it. He wanted her to succeed. To be happy. But wasn’t it also important to feel happy and strong and content? “Is that success worth sacrificing your health?”
She opened her mouth and snapped it shut again. “I was fine until Spratt decided to target me,” she said after a moment. “With you here, I’m supposedly safe.”
“You are safe,” he vowed. “I won’t let him anywhere near you.”
Her breath caught and he saw a sheen of tears in her eyes before she blinked them away. “Thanks for that.” She lifted her chin. “I know I look like crap and I’m trying to let things go.”
He hadn’t meant to be a jerk. “Nina.”
“Forget it.” Her smile wobbled. “We need to get downstairs and open the shop.”
“Sure. Because it begins and ends with business for you,” he groused.
She planted her hands on her hips. “Why are you picking a fight?”
He didn’t have any idea. He just knew he couldn’t keep wandering around, pretending he didn’t want to hold her or kiss her or comfort her. He wanted to give her more than protection. He wanted to be more to her. And in a perfect world, he’d receive some small sign that she felt something more for him.
“Nina, that day— ”
“No.” She shook her head. “Don’t go there. Not now. It may not be fair to you, but I’ve decided not to talk about that. Ever. I’m trying to be the mature person in an awkward situation.”
Did she really believe he was being childish? Well, he wasn’t giving her much maturity at the moment.
“Let me get to the shop,” she said, her voice flat. “Thank you for watching over me. I can’t explain how much peace of mind it gives me knowing you’re around. I appreciate your concern for my well-being.”
None of those words rang with sincerity. More like a litany she was reciting to soothe his pride.
“Nina.”
“This,” she wagged a finger between them, “is temporary, right?”
He nodded. It was supposed to be temporary.
Ideally, they’d catch Spratt, lock him up, and Nina would be out of danger. Boone would go on to the next assignment and they’d never see each other again. That’s how his job was supposed to work. But he’d never protected a former lover. And that’s what she was to him, no matter that it was one incomparable, anonymous night.
“So that makes this awkward situation just something to get through. That’s my focus.”
Great. Her focus was getting through a stressful, short-term crisis. When it ended, she expected him to be out of her life. Message received. Loud and clear.
“Fair enough.” Better all-around if he stopped making her journey harder. Resigned, he said, “Let’s get you to work.”
He opened the door, checking the landing and stairs while she locked the apartment door. Then he led the way down to the ground floor. He would stand between her and any risk until he was transferred to another assignment.
He stood aside as she unlocked the door that led to the shop .
Molly’s cheerful greeting for Nina was immediate. Confident all was well inside, Boone checked the lock at the apartment door and crossed the backroom to the exit. With a wave for the two women, he left. He waited a beat until he heard Nina throw the lock, then started his circuit of the area.
Everything looked good. At this early hour, the area behind the line of shops was practically deserted. The only other activity he heard was in the bakery next door. Nothing out of place, no unknown folks hanging around. Which would normally be a good thing. It was a good thing.
Unfortunately, it only gave him too much time to think about Nina and whatever was going on with her. Though she insisted it was just the situation, his instincts pinged constantly that there was more to it.
As a protector, he often had to deal with people who weren’t in the best of moods and completely stressed out. Nina was both of those things. He had training and experience to cope and do the job regardless of a charge’s mood.
Her happiness was constantly in the back of his mind, one step removed from her safety. Never had he been so invested in someone else’s happiness. At least not with anyone other than his sister and her family.
Maybe it was because he’d seen Nina several times during his previous assignment as a protector for the band she enjoyed so much. She would sing along and dance with joyful abandon. Or, more likely, it was because he knew what she looked like when all her defenses were down and pleasure and passion rolled through her.
Indescribably gorgeous.
Though his bosses would scold him, seeing her happy had become a core element of this assignment, a secondary objective he refused to ignore. He should probably get over himself and just be thankful he got to see her at all.
Deep down, he wanted more for her, whether or not she booted him to the curb after Spratt was caught. Boone turned onto Central, scanning the square. The heady aroma of freshly baked breads and pastry tickled his nose.
It wasn’t enough that his mouth watered at the first whiff of Lila’s phenomenal baking. No, his thoughts went right back to Nina. She couldn’t keep operating on a few sips of coffee and the water bottle she always had with her. She’d been pale before her long workday had even started.
Walking into the bakery, he greeted Callie, recalling her name from Nina’s introductions on that first afternoon. She struck him as a little skittish again today, though she was clearly trying to maintain eye contact.
He asked a few simple questions about the items in the display case and her confidence grew as she shared her knowledge. By the time he’d made his selections, she was almost at ease as she finished the sale.
He even got a smile as she handed over his change.
“Hey, Boone!” Lila walked up to the counter. “How nice to see you. Didn’t Nina cook this morning?”
“She doesn’t need to cook for me,” Boone replied, feeling protective. “I’m a grown up.”
Lila laughed. “She’s always saying breakfast is the key to her endless energy.”
Again, not adding up. That wasn’t at all what she’d told him. “Well, it’s not part of her job description.” Uncomfortable, he changed the subject. “Everything smelled so good I couldn’t resist coming in.”
“Then we’re doing something right.” She grinned at Callie .
“Repeat business is the goal,” the younger woman added right on cue. Nudging the sampler plate toward him, she said, “Cherry and almond today. Have one of each.”
“Thanks.” He was happy to oblige her. After one bite of the cherry, he knew it would be a challenge to resist further temptation. “How does anyone stay fit with you guys right here on the island?” he joked.
“Island breezes,” Lila teased. “Relaxing counteracts the calories.”
He chuckled. It was as good a theory as any other. Maybe it was the walkability of the small town or the nearly constant hum of various events and things going on. “I’ll take your word on that,” he said. “Have a good day, you two. If there’s any trouble just give a shout.”
Lila’s smile dimmed and she scooted around the display case to walk with him toward the door. “Travis is on high alert, Boone. He’s part of the team monitoring access points around the island. Everything is clear so far,” she assured him. “Of course, I’ve been obvious about the upgraded security measures around here.”
“Every deterrent helps,” he confirmed. He appreciated that Lila didn’t bother hiding her cameras. They were all visible, especially out back. According to Jess and Nina they were all operational. “Your setup makes my job easier. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” Lila smiled as another customer entered the bakery. “Have a good day and come back soon.”
From behind the counter Callie waved as he left.
It was only a few steps to Nina’s shop and he held up the bag as he walked through the open door. “Who needs a snack?”
“I smell Lila’s croissants.” Molly set her knife aside and rushed toward him. “I smell them all day every day really,” she admitted. “Possibly in my sleep too.”
Boone took out a chocolate croissant and handed it to her .
Her eyes went wide. “My favorite! Boone, you’re the best! Thank you.” She gave a happy bounce on her toes.
“You’re welcome. Enjoy.”
“Are all bodyguards this thoughtful?” she queried around a mouthful of the flaky pastry.
“I guess we must be,” he said. It probably wasn’t true, but the Guardian Agency policy was to train everyone to be attentive to the person as well as the situation. Being aware of the charge’s needs was as essential to success as keeping that person out of danger.
Molly closed her eyes and took another bite. “Mm. Thank you,” she said again. “If I ever need a bodyguard, I want it to be you.”
“I’m sure Jess can make a note,” Nina said. She grinned at Molly, but the expression faded as she shifted her attention to him.
He approached her design table and opened the bag, but she waved him off. “No thank you. I’m not ready for chocolate.” She picked up a stem of white daisies and studied the arrangement in progress.
“Which is why I got you a plain one.”
Her gaze darted to him and though he wanted to push, to urge her to eat, he simply cleared a spot for the croissant. Deciding on a strategic retreat, he stepped away. “I’ll put these in the back,” he said. “Do you mind if I take a look at that drippy faucet?”
Her eyebrows dipped low. “You can do that?”
“Sure.” He felt her following him and when he glanced back, she was holding the croissant instead of her knife. He kept her talking, asking about the leak, her schedule, and any tools she had around. Between answers, she nibbled on the pastry.
By the time he was ready to get to work on the repair, she’d finished and there was some color in her face again.
He felt like a damned super hero.