3. Caroline
Chapter Three
CAROLINE
I cannot believe I just did that.
What in the world was I thinking?
On the one hand, that felt absolutely amazing. That was one of the hottest takeout sessions I’ve had in a long time and it's been years since a man turned me on so much.
But there's another part of me that feels…guilty.
I meant what I said to Boone earlier. I'm truly glad he's here. This town desperately needs a new mechanic, and someone capable like Boone is the perfect fit. With a little bit of elbow grease, I know he'll make the auto body shop as good as new.
But there is still just a tiny part of me that's afraid of what will happen if I allow myself to feel all of my feelings for him.
As I walk back to the dining room, I catch a glimpse of myself in the hallway mirror and groan.
My hair is a mess. My lips are puffy and kiss-swollen. And my panties are soaking wet.
I do my best to smooth down my hair and straighten my skirt. Then I wipe the smudged lipstick from my cheek.
Back in the dining room, my siblings are all laughing and joking like nothing is going on. I do my best to avoid Penny's gaze as I settle into my seat.
But I can tell by the way that she's smirking at me that she has a pretty good idea about what just happened.
A few seconds later, Boone walks back into the dining room, the chair tucked under one arm.
At first, I think Boone will choose a spot on the opposite side of the table, keeping a safe distance. But to my surprise, he sets the chair right next to mine. Then he casually drapes his arms across my shoulders like it's the most natural thing in the world.
A few eyebrows shoot up around the table. Interestingly, my brothers, who I think will comment, stay silent. Instead, smirks play across their faces, but they act like nothing happens, making this whole moment even more surreal.
As the conversation around the table continues, I feel Boone's thumb gently brush against the back of my neck. His touch is feather-light and sends a shiver down my spine.
His lips coast against the shell of my ear. "You okay, sweetheart?"
I can only manage to nod in response, my voice seemingly caught in my throat.
For the next couple of hours, Boone and I find ourselves lost in the sea of my family's laughter and constant chatter. Stories are swapped, jokes are cracked, and plates of food are passed back and forth across the table.
It's chaotic, it's loud, it's essentially the epitome of my family gatherings. And though I'm physically present, my mind is somewhere else entirely.
I can barely register a word that's being said. I'm in my own world, acutely aware of Boone's every move, every breath.
When dinner is over, my brothers all head out together since they're all going in the same direction anyway.
Cody helps Daphne with her big coat and snow pants, Callum smothers Penny's forehead in kisses as she slips on her pea coat, and Carter gently wakes Natalie up from her slumber.
One by one, they all leave, waving goodbye and blowing fake kisses at me and Boone.
And then I shut the door, and we're alone in the quiet house together.
"I'll go get your room ready," I tell him.
Boone gives me a warm smile. "I'm going to run to my truck and grab my bag while you do that."
He heads outside, and my mind starts spinning as I wonder what's going on in his head. I half-expected him to bring up our earlier encounter, to question the unspoken tension hanging between us. But he didn't. Maybe I'm the only one caught up in this whirlwind of emotions.
A few minutes later, Boone returns, and I lead him up the stairs, feeling a little nervous about how messy the guest room might be.
I open the guest room door and quickly scan the surroundings.
The bed is made, at least, but there are a few stacks of books on the bedside table, and a box of Christmas decorations that I never put away is gathering dust in the corner.
"I'm sorry about the mess," I say, turning back toward Boone. "I wasn't expecting company."
He chuckles. "I'm not going to judge you, baby. I'm just happy to be here." Then he steps in front of me into the room, his eyes sweeping over the space with interest.
"It's cozy," he says. "I like it."
For some reason, I find myself feeling inexplicably pleased with his approval.
"I'm glad you think so," I reply, swallowing nervously. "Well, I'll be just across the hall if you need me. Goodnight."
As I turn to leave the room, I feel Boone's warm hand on my wrist, stopping me.
"Hang on a second," he murmurs. His touch is gentle yet firm, anchoring me in place. I turn back to face him.
"What time are you getting up tomorrow?" He asks.
I give him a curious look. "Why do you want to know?"
"Because I'm taking you to work. I saw your car when I went out to my truck. I don't want you driving it again until I take a look at it."
I blush at his sweet gesture. I can't help but think about how much I secretly love the way he takes care of me. I've been alone for so long that I've almost forgotten what it feels like.
"Oh. I leave around 9 a.m.," I reply.
Boone reaches out to run his thumb across my cheek. "Got it," he murmurs. His eyes drop to my mouth. "9 a.m. it is."
Then he tugs me against his chest and brushes his lips against mine.
He threads his fingers through the hair at the nape of my neck as he licks his way into my mouth.
Goosebumps pebble on my skin as his tongue slides across mine, and I can already feel the familiar heat building in my core again.
But just as I feel myself start to give in, I feel a pang of guilt in my chest.
I pull away and take a step back.
"Well, I'll be just across the hall if you need anything," I say a bit awkwardly as I bite my lip. "Goodnight."
Surprisingly, Boone doesn't seem to feel nearly as awkward as I do. Instead, he just smiles at me.
"Goodnight, baby," he says. "Sweet dreams."
I can't sleep the whole night.
Boone's presence in the house overwhelms me. Each time I shut my eyes, his face appears in my mind, making it utterly impossible to rest.
When I finally drag myself out of bed in the morning, fatigue hangs heavy on my shoulders, and I am filled with a familiar uncertainty again—cold feet.
I decide to shake off my unease with a quick shower, hoping the warm water will wash away my doubts. Afterward, I get dressed and grab a granola bar from the kitchen counter, my appetite practically non-existent.
Boone is still asleep upstairs. Or at least, I think he is. So, I decide to scribble a note to him telling him he doesn't need to drive me to work after all. Then I leave the note on the counter where he'll be sure to see it and slip out of the house, leaving behind the warmth of the kitchen and the man who has managed to unsettle me so.
As much as I like Boone, I can't take the bait.
I'm a single mom with a young daughter. I can't just invite a strange man into her life unannounced. There's a process to this. A series of boxes and milestones to be checked off to keep both of our hearts protected.
That's more important than anything else in this world.
Including the way I feel for Boone.
Once I’m outside, I hop in my car and head to work. The city streets are alive with activity as I make my way to the café. As soon as I push open the door, the scent of fresh coffee and baked goods hits me. It's already bustling inside. I tie my apricot-colored apron around my waist, take a deep breath, and plunge into the fray. It's going to be a busy day.
"Hey, Caroline," our line cook says, dinging the little bell by the kitchen. "We got some new customers at table thirty-two. That's yours, right?"
I plaster a smile on my face. "Yep, that's mine today. I'll head right over."
With a nervous breath, I head around the dividing wall and out into the dining room again to table thirty-two. I whip my pen out of my apron pocket and thumb to a new page of my pad.
But as soon as I lay eyes on the man sitting at my table, my pen slips from my hand, falling to the floor.
Boone Pierce is sitting at my table. He’s wearing a thick flannel shirt peeking out from under a heavy-duty parka, a knitted beanie perched on his head, and gloves resting on the table. His eyes, as blue as the winter sky, meet mine, and a slow smile spreads across his face.
How in the world did he get here so fast?
"Boone?" I say, sounding surprised and a little breathless.
He grins, rising to his feet. "Morning, beautiful."
"I... um... can I take your order?" I manage to ask, flashing a shy smile.
"How about a bagel and some coffee?" Boone replies, his eyes never leaving mine.
"Sure thing," I respond, making a note on my pad before heading towards the kitchen.
Once I'm out of Boone's line of sight, I lean against the cool wall, my heart pounding in my chest. I'm at a loss for words, my mind still trying to process the fact that Boone is here, at my job, of all places.
A part of me is flustered, another is thrilled, and yet another is terrified. Boone has a way of stirring up emotions I thought I had locked away. I need to pull myself together, for my sake, for my daughter's sake.
A few minutes later, I walk back to Boone's coffee with a hot pot of coffee and two bagels.
"I'm surprised," I say, trying to keep my tone casual as I pour coffee into his mug. "I thought you were still asleep."
Boone chuckles, the sound low and gravelly. "I'm surprised to see you here, too." He gives me a teasing look. "If I remember correctly, I thought I was supposed to be taking you to work."
I feel a rush of embarrassment wash over me.
"I'm sorry, Boone," I say sheepishly. "It was early, and you had a long day yesterday. I didn't want to bother you." Then I raise an eyebrow at him. "You got here awfully fast, though."
Boone chuckles again. "I had a feeling you might change your mind. So, I got here early to wait for you. I'm guessing you didn't notice that my truck wasn't parked out front?"
No, I guess I didn't.
I must look worried because Boone reaches out across the table, capturing my hand in his. His fingers weave through mine, creating a comforting warmth that has me looking up at him.
"It's okay, sweetheart," he murmurs, his voice so tender that it sends a delicate shudder through me. "I know you want to take things slow. And I'm okay with that. I'll take you home after your shift."
"But what about my car? I don’t want to leave it here.”
Boone sips his coffee casually. "Don't worry about that. I had it towed to a mechanic shop a few minutes ago. I wanted to take a look at it myself."
My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. My car had been acting up lately, but I didn't expect Boone to take matters into his own hands.
It's been so long since a man had gone out of his way to take care of me that I'd almost forgotten what it feels like. The feeling is unexpectedly stirring, a blend of comfort and warmth that I haven't felt in a long time.
"Thank you, Boone," I say softly.
"Of course, baby," he replies, his voice a gentle caress.
Just then, I'm flagged down by another table, pulling me out of our private bubble. As I turn towards them, Boone stands up.
"I was just about to get going anyway," he says. I look at him, suddenly realizing that he had already finished his coffee and bagel while we were talking.
Boone pulls out a wad of cash from his pocket and leaves it on the table. Then he leans down and presses a soft kiss on my forehead.
"I'll be back to pick you up when your shift is done," he says.
Watching him leave, I can't help but touch the spot where his lips met my skin.
Turning around, I spot Kristine standing by one of her tables, watching me over the heads of her customers and smiling. I flush and hurry to the kitchen to drop off the dirty dishes.
To my embarrassment, she quickly appears right behind me.
"That was him, wasn't it?" she asks.
"Who?" I turn the corner into the kitchen and set the dishes down against the counter harder than I mean to. The dishwasher turns to look at me, but luckily, he doesn't say anything.
Kristine smirks. "The guy that's staying at your house. That was him. Penny said he was good-looking, but oh boy… he's incredible to look at."
"You say that about a lot of people," I say, pushing past her and back out to the dining room. "In fact, I remember when you used to say that about Callum, too."
But she ignores this. "Did you see the way he was looking at you? Damn. He's smitten."
I stop in my tracks, my heart beating in my ears. Turning around to look at her, I ask, "He was?"
She nods vigorously. "Would I lie about that? Of course, he was. Though how could he resist that act you were putting on for him?"
My face grows hot again. "I wasn't putting on an act."
"You were flirting with him," she insists, nudging me with her elbow. "Either that, or you two just had great chemistry together. Either way, I'm rooting for you two."
I laugh politely and nudge her back even harder. "Well, have fun with that," I say. "Because there's nothing there you could root for. He's a friend of my brothers' who happens to be staying at my house. That's all it is."
And with that, I turn on my heels and head back out to greet my newest table of customers. Although I brushed her off when she said them, Kristine's words linger in my mind, feeding the flurry of emotions inside me.
Is it really that obvious?
I grip my pad and pen to my chest, wondering what the hell I'm going to do. I'm trapped between hoping Kristine is wrong about my chemistry with Boone and hoping to heaven and back that she's right.
It's too soon to tell. But I hope that allowing Boone to stay with me doesn't turn out to be a big mistake.