2. Boone
Chapter Two
BOONE
My phone buzzes loudly on the table next to me, waking me with a start. With my eyes still closed, I paw for the phone.
"Hello?" I groan, rubbing my eyes.
"There he is," a baritone voice booms on the other end of the line. "We were starting to get worried."
I recognize the voice instantly. It's Callum Walker, my best friend.
"Just wanted to see how the move is going," Callum continues. "But by the sound of it, I would guess it was rough."
I rub my eyes and prop myself up on my elbow. "Actually, you just caught me waking up."
"Aren't you supposed to be on the road?"
"Nope. Got here last night."
He lets out a low whistle. "You got here from Texas that quick? No wonder you're sleeping in this late. How's the new place?"
I frown, peering around at what's supposed to be my new home. I've just moved from my hometown of Barton Beach, Texas, to Cooper Hills, Wyoming. And so far, things haven't been going as planned.
Everywhere I look, there's something else to clean up or fix. The walls are stained with years of grime and paint. The windows are streaked from dirt and rain. And the carpets are worn down from years of neglect.
"Not great, honestly,” I tell him. “This place is a mess. A pipe burst last night and flooded the whole bathroom. Even got some water in the kitchen."
I don't mention the problems with the central heater or the fact I almost had to sleep in my car.
"Shit," Callum says. "Want me and Cody to come by and give you a hand?"
I frown as I look around. I was hoping to get things situated on my own, but now I'm starting to think I might need some help.
"Yeah, that's probably not a bad idea," I sigh. "I could use an extra set of hands around here."
"No problem. See you in about an hour."
And with that, he hangs up the phone.
I let out a low groan as I stretch out my back, sitting up to check the time on the alarm clock radio. It's almost two in the afternoon.
Shit.
I only meant to be up here a couple of hours. Now, the day's halfway gone.
I walk downstairs to my new shop and take another look at it.
Growing up, I was always fascinated by my dad's job as a mechanic. He could look at a car and know what was wrong with it before even using any tools.
Whenever he had time, he would let me help him work on the cars in our backyard. We built an old Chevy, replaced an engine, and changed tires altogether. I loved the smell of the oil and the feeling of accomplishment after we finished each project. So, when I got out of the Marines, I knew exactly what I wanted to do for a living.
When Callum told me about the abandoned auto body shop in Cooper Hills, Wyoming, I jumped at the chance to make it my own.
Although opening my own auto body shop meant facing a lot of unknowns and starting from scratch, that same feeling of excitement I had when working with my dad on projects as a kid came flooding back to me.
Cody and Callum arrive at the auto body shop an hour later, their boots crunching on broken glass and rusty metal scraps that litter the floor.
Callum stops in front of the old furnace and frowns. "No wonder it's so damn cold in here. This furnace hasn't been used in years."
Cody shakes his head and mutters under his breath. "That's an understatement."
I shake my head again and look around the room one last time before turning back to Callum. "I guess I'm going to have to find somewhere to stay for a while until I can get this place fixed up."
"Yeah, that’s probably for the best. I would invite you to stay at the Fit Mountain Lodge. But it’s all booked up," he says.
"It's fine," I say. "I can find another place. Don't worry about it."
That's when Callum perks up. "Our sister Caroline might have room. Lucy is visiting her grandparents in Boston for Christmas."
At the mention of Caroline's name, I nearly choke. "Nah, that's okay. I wouldn't want to impose. Especially around the holidays."
But Callum shrugs me off. "Caroline's cool. You remember her from the wedding, right?"
You have no idea.
I clear my throat. "Yeah, vaguely."
I've never told anyone, but I've been in love with Caroline since the day I met her at Callum and Penny's wedding three years ago.
I'll never forget the first time I saw her. As I walked into the grand ballroom of Callum's wedding reception, my eyes were instantly drawn to her.
She was standing on the far side of the room, chatting with one of Callum's old college buddies. She had on this gorgeous purple dress that complimented her brown hair beautifully. Her infectious laughter filled the room, and I felt like I could stay and listen to it forever.
It was then that I knew she was the one for me.
Even from across the room, I could feel a spark radiating between us. We spent the rest of the night together, laughing and dancing. The way she moved, the way she spoke, and even just being in her presence made me feel something that I had never felt before. She captivated me in a way nobody else ever had, and from then on, my life would never be the same again.
At the end of the night, I kissed her. And to this day, it was still the hottest kiss I’ve ever had. We talked until late into the night, planning our first date later that week.
But at the last second, she got cold feet and didn’t show up.
I wasn’t mad at her. Caroline’s husband died a few years back and her daughter is still pretty young. I can’t imagine how tough it must be to grieve while being a single mom.
It's been three years since that fateful night at Callum's wedding reception - but even all these years later, thinking back on that night brings a flood of emotions to my heart like it was only yesterday.
I've never told anyone, but Caroline is the real reason that I decided to take Callum up on his offer to move to Cooper Hills. It sounds crazy, but I'm in love with Caroline and will do anything to be near her. I plan to fix my shop and then let her know I've moved into town.
But telling her now is way ahead of schedule.
Callum’s voice shakes me out of my thoughts.
"Cody and I are about to head to Caroline’s house in a couple of hours for a family dinner party. How about I bring you with me? You can talk to her, and we'll ask her then if you can stay over."
I open my mouth to say no and that the whole idea is ridiculous. But before I can get the words out, my back twinges again. Reminding me that any bed will be far more comfortable than what I experienced last night.
As awkward as staying at Caroline's house might be, I really need a good night's sleep.
I also really, really want to see her again.
So, instead, I give a stiff nod. "Okay. I'll go with you. We'll ask her."
"Great."
"But I'll drive my truck, so I can leave if I'm not welcome. No harm, no foul."
Satisfied, Callum smiles. "Deal."
After Callum leaves, I manage to get some of the debris cleared up before hopping into the shower.
Fortunately, the water is damn near scalding.
It feels great on my aching muscles. I change into a fresh pair of jeans and a plaid shirt. Then, I throw together an overnight bag and hop in my truck.
I arrive at Caroline's house about twenty minutes later. She lives in a fancy subdivision on the east side of the mountain. As I pull up to the house, I'm amazed at just how beautiful it is. The brick home is huge, and it's covered in bright Christmas decorations.
Lights twinkle around the windows, a large wreath hangs above the door, and the yard is filled with festive reindeer statues and snow-covered pine trees. Even from here, I can see that each window has a unique ornament hanging from it, and I'm pretty sure I spot a star on top of the chimney.
As I walk up the stone pathway, a nervous thrill runs through me.
I’ve thought about what this moment might be like for what feels like a thousand times, and I can't believe it's actually here. The whole drive here from Texas, I went over what this would be like in my mind.
I know that some people might think it's crazy that I'm in love with someone I only met once. But I know what I feel.
The only question is, does Caroline feel the same about me?
I ring the doorbell, and Caroline opens the door. For a second, it feels like the floor has disappeared beneath my feet.
I didn't think it was possible, but somehow Caroline looks even better than I remember.
She's wearing a sparkly pink turtleneck sweater and a long, black skirt. Her dark brown hair is down around her shoulders, and a few strands of gray glitter among the strands. Her lips are a pouty fuchsia color, and when her honey eyes meet mine, they form the perfect 'O' shape.
"Boone?" she breathes out, her eyes wide with shock.
Judging by the look on her face, Callum clearly forgot to tell her I was coming.
I decide to let it go for now.
"In the flesh," I reply with a chuckle. I reach out and pull her into my chest for a hug. "How are you, sweetheart? It's good to see you."
She reaches up and touches my face, then catches herself and drops it.
"W-what are you doing here?" she asks with a wary look.
Suddenly, I hear Callum's booming voice echoing from behind the door.
"Boone, you made it. I was starting to think that you froze to death in the shop."
"Callum," Caroline whispers. "Um, what's going on?
She bites at her bottom lip nervously.
"Sorry, sis," Callum says sheepishly. "I got so caught up with the dinner stuff that I forgot to tell you. Boone needs a place to stay for a few nights. He's taking over that abandoned auto body shop on Smith Street, but a pipe burst. It's basically a skating rink in there."
Somehow, Caroline's eyes get even wider. "You live here now?" she whispers.
"Yep," I reply with a wink. "Drove all the way from Texas."
"Why in the world would you want to move to Wyoming from a gorgeous town like Barton Beach?”
Because of you.
"Boone won't be too much trouble," Callum says, slapping me hard on the back. "Plus, he can take a look at your Buick while he's here."
I quirk an eyebrow at her. "Something wrong with your car?"
"There is nothing wrong with my car," Caroline replies, glaring at Callum. "It just has a little rumble to it, that's all. Perfectly normal."
I frown. "I'll take a look at it in the morning."
Caroline sighs and presses a finger to the spot between her eyebrows. “Fine. You can take a look at it,” she says after a long moment.
Callum grins. "So, I guess that means he can stay?"
For some reason, Caroline's face turns another shade of pink. But she smooths her sweater and steps to the side to let me come inside.
"Of course, he can stay," Caroline says like it's no big deal. "Come on in. We were just about to sit down and eat."
As she turns, I try to ignore the shapeliness of those hips and the way that their curves beg for my eyes.
Jesus.
I'm starting to think that this might be harder than I thought.
When I get into the dining room, the entire Walker family is sitting around the table. I see Carter with his wife, Natalie. Colt is sitting with his wife, Sophia. I also see Cody and Daphne.
Caroline, meanwhile, starts walking down the hallway.
"Let me just grab an extra chair from the basement," she says.
"I'll help," I reply, following behind her.
Caroline glances at me over her shoulder, her eyes twinkling with appreciation. "Thank you, Boone," she says softly, her voice barely audible over the festive holiday music playing in the background.
The stairs creek under our weight as Caroline and I descend down the steps.
The basement is like stepping into another world, one that's stuck in the past. There's an eclectic mix of stuff down here: furniture shrouded in sheets like sleeping ghosts, boxes stacked in precarious towers, and an old ping pong table leaning against one wall. The air is thick with a musty scent and a single bulb hangs from the ceiling, casting long, dramatic shadows.
Caroline walks up to a large side chair in the corner and bends over to lift it up by its arms. I come up behind her and place my hands over hers.
"Let me do it, sweetheart," I murmur in her ear.
Caroline lets go of the chair and turns around slowly. Her eyes search mine and she bites her lower lip nervously.
It's the absolute death of me.
One second, I'm looking into her eyes.
And the next second, I kick the chair out of the way and cage her against the wall. Then I crush my lips against hers.
Caroline melts for me instantly. She whimpers into my mouth as my tongue swipes against hers, and it's enough to make me crazy. Her fingers thread through my hair as I kiss my way down her jaw.
"You have no idea how much I've missed you, baby,” I tell her. "No fucking idea."
I slip my hands underneath her skirt and groan as my fingers coast against the softness of her bare skin. Then I lift her up by her thighs, encouraging her to wrap her legs around my waist.
"Y-you still miss me even after I stood you up?" She pants.
“Of course, I missed you sweetheart," I growl. "But we can talk about that later."
Right now, all I want is to get closer.
Our kiss is escalating surprisingly quickly. Caroline is grinding in a steady rhythm against me now as our tongues twine together, and I’m so hard I’m surprised I haven’t popped the zipper of my jeans.
I slide my hands further up her hips until I’m grabbing her by her ass. Then, I swipe my thumb across the center of her panties.
She’s soaked.
My vision goes dark around the edges as the blood rushes from my head straight to my dick. I can tell Caroline is close and all I want to do now is finish my girl off.
“God damn baby, you’re soaked,” I rasp into her ear. “Can I touch you? Fuck, please tell me I can touch you.”
“Yes, please touch me,” she whimpers back.
I yank her panties to the side and slide two fingers into her wet heat. Then I curl them inward, pumping and twirling as she clenches around me.
In seconds, Caroline is writhing in my arms.
She bites down on my shoulder. “Boone, I-I think I’m about to come,” she pants against my skin.
“That’s the idea, babe.”
Caroline throws her head back and comes apart in my arms. I keep her pinned against the wall as she comes down from her high and kiss her on the forehead.
“That was so hot, baby,” I tell her. “You look so pretty when you come for me like that.”
Caroline gives me a dazed little smile as her eyes meet mine. “It felt pretty hot.”
Pride swells in my chest and I suck her wetness off my fingers. “I’m glad to hear it, baby. You taste amazing.”
Suddenly, a woman’s voice floats into the room.
"Hang on, I think there may be some extra paper towels in the— oh! Sorry!"
Caroline squeals in surprise, and I whip my head around just in time to see Penny disappearing back up the steps.
"Oh my gosh ," Caroline groans, her cheeks bright red. She drops her forehead to my chest. "This is so embarrassing ."
Fuck.
The last thing I want my girl to feel is embarrassed. Especially when it comes to me.
Reluctantly, I pull away and place her gently back down on the ground. Then I tip up her chin until her gaze meets mine.
"I don’t think she saw anything. But even if she did, this is your house, baby," I whisper, nipping at her bottom lip. "You can do whatever you want. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."
But Caroline doesn't kiss me back. Instead, she pushes against my shoulders and frowns.
"Boone, this is…. a lot for me to deal with right now."
I sigh. "I understand. Tell you what. Why don't you go back and sit with your family, honey? I'll bring the chair. And we can worry about the rest later."
Caroline chews her bottom lip again and glances back up the stairs before she looks up at me with a small smile.
"Thanks, Boone," she says. She starts walking up the stairs, but just as she's about to disappear through the door, she pauses and turns to face me.
"I'm really happy you're here," she says.
After she leaves, I chuckle and shake my head.
Yeah, I’m keeping her.