Chapter 16
KENNEDY
Imoved closer to Boone, sensing he was upset. "I was hoping you'd like the idea or at least come around to it, especially since I asked that you be the one to design the trees and furniture in the room."
He glanced around the tub where everyone was chatting excitedly about options for the hotel. "I wasn't prepared for everyone to like the idea so much."
I nodded. "I'm a little surprised too."
His gaze returned to me. "You obviously have a knack for knowing what businesses need."
"It's a feeling I get. I've always been good at coming up with ideas that work."
"You've built quite a reputation for yourself. I researched you online the other day."
I smiled. "That's always good to hear. I try not to read online reviews and just go by the feedback I get from my clients directly."
He let out a slow breath. "I'll let everyone else decide what they want to do."
I nudged his shoulder with mine, wishing we were alone so that we could talk about it more. "Are you going to be okay if they want to move forward with it?"
He sighed. "I'll have to be. Everyone gets a vote, but it's majority rules in our family."
I nodded. "That's a fair way of handling things."
"So it doesn't really matter if I'm on board or not."
"I care what you think, and I'd love for you to be okay with it." I'd prefer that he supported what I decided, but I understood that this was a hard decision for him. "Especially since I'd like you to create the log benches and the trees."
"I can do that."
"Yeah? That would be great."
"If that's what everyone decides to do, then I'll build whatever you need."
"I've already talked to the photographer in town, Wynter, about taking scenery images for the rooms. She was excited about it."
He looked at me with renewed respect. "Once you get an idea, you run with it, don't you?"
"I trust that my instincts are pointing me in the right direction."
"What else do you have in mind for the inn, Kennedy?" Clara asked her.
"Scenic photography for the rooms. That's about it so far. I haven't had a strong feeling one way or another on the furniture."
"I could see how using custom furniture would look amazing, but I'm not sure how economically feasible it would be," Clara said.
"I wouldn't charge a ton of money. It's for family," Boone said.
"Just the cost of wood and labor is expensive. You shouldn't undercharge either," I said.
"It would be a big job, and I couldn't work on anything else while I was doing it," Boone said.
"Wouldn't we handle it the same way you did with the brewery?" Callum asked.
"I would think so," Malcolm added.
"I charged what I would for any other project. I didn't give Rowan and Beck a discount," Boone said.
"Then why would you give a discount for the inn?" I asked, trying to understand his reasoning.
"We had an investor for the brewery. It wasn't all on the family. The inn is different."
"We'll look at the numbers to see if it's feasible, depending on what Kennedy recommends," Malcolm said reasonably.
I could tell this subject was bothering Boone, so I changed it. "What else should I see while I'm here?"
Clara jumped in, talking about Telluride for restaurants, shopping, and even a play that was showing at the theater there, and the Wilde Ski Resort for skiing.
There were so many things to do, and I didn't have to do all of them to render a decision.
But I wanted to spend more time with Boone and his family.
They were excited about my ideas and open to the options. Malcolm was more reserved, but he wasn't rejecting my ideas outright. But I could understand why Boone was upset. He'd held onto the idea of his furniture in the inn for so long; it was hard to see other options.
My work might interfere with our relationship, and if it did, I'd have to be prepared to walk away. My business came first.
We sipped different brews, and when the pizza was delivered, we got out and dried off, eating our slices while sitting on the couch.
I almost wished that I could be a permanent part of this family. They were welcoming to me, even though I was sure not everyone was happy I was here. They were polite and open to my suggestions.
After we ate the pizza, we headed back to Boone's place. It was quiet in the truck cab on the drive.
He parked in front of his workshop. "I talked to a few contractors today about building a house."
"That's wonderful, Boone. I'm so happy for you." I was truly excited for him, but it meant that his home was most definitely here. It was a good reminder that we couldn't be anything beyond this.
"I researched how to create a website. That was overwhelming, so I reached out to Beck's sister, Gina. She's the one who built Clara's online store."
"You worked on a lot of different things today." He'd made decisions that solidified his home and business here in Colorado. I didn't know what I expected. That made the most sense. His home was here. This was where his family lived, and he was close to them.
We never discussed being anything more or making our relationship long-term. If that occurred, one of us would have to move, and I didn't see that either of us were willing to budge on our home base.
I had no reason to feel this way. I had no business caring what he decided to do with his life.
I should be happy for him. He was moving on with his life, building his business and his home, not relying on his family as much as he had in the past. I could relax and do what was best for the business as a whole without feeling like I was crushing Boone's dreams if I went with something new.
He glanced over at me. "It was time. I've been waiting for my parents to make a decision on the furniture in the inn, and I've been in a bit of a holding space.
I wasn't moving forward or backward. Now I feel good about making decisions that will move me forward regardless of what my family decides. "
"I think that's good." He was moving in a healthy direction, and I should too.
I needed to figure out what to do about the furniture, make my recommendations, and move on.
I was already getting emails in my inbox from other businesses that wanted to work with me.
I'd never gotten this involved with a client before.
I should be creating space, breaking off whatever this was with Boone, and moving on. But I couldn't seem to do that.
Instead, I got out of the truck and followed him up the stairs to the deck where I waited for him to unlock the door.
Once we were safely inside his apartment, he placed his hands on my cheeks and kissed me.
I could feel that his energy was different tonight.
He was feeling more confident and sure of himself.
He'd made decisions that boosted his confidence that he was moving in the right direction. He was doing the right thing. It was my turn now to move my life forward and head back to Florida.
This was what I wanted. Something temporary and fun. Something I could easily walk away from. The only problem was that there was nothing easy about any of this. Every day, I felt more entrenched with Boone and the Harts.
I was moving into dangerous territory, one I wouldn't be able to come back from if I wasn't careful.
His lips moved over mine slowly, as if he had all the time in the world.
He lifted me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. Then he lowered me onto his bed and moved over me.
He was kissing me, lifting my shirt up so he could move his hand underneath.
His large palm felt warm and comforting on my stomach, but when he moved it, he lit a fire underneath.
My muscles quivered, and my breathing turned erratic as I waited for him to make his next move.
He shoved my shirt up higher so that my bra was exposed to him, his gaze reverent. "I'll never get enough of you."
And wasn't that the truth? This thing between us was so explosive; it was addicting. We couldn't continue whatever this was from opposites ends of the country. This was all we could have, and the moment felt bittersweet.
I touched the side of his face, needing contact with him.
He pulled down the lace cup of my bra, then lowered his head, sucking on my nipple. I arched into his mouth, wanting more.
We both knew this couldn't last. We were moving in opposite directions. But right now, in this moment, we were one, moving in sync and making each other feel good.
He switched to the other nipple, sending a bolt of lightning to my clit. I needed more friction. I wanted to feel him against my body.
He must have sensed my growing desperation because he lifted up, removing his shirt, then shucked off his pants.
I removed my clothes, and once we were naked, he rested his body over mine again.
Except this time, I felt his bare skin against mine.
He was hot everywhere, and I needed him inside me now.
He slipped inside slowly, keeping his gaze on me as he moved deeper. There was something between us tonight, something that felt bigger. Almost as if you could reach out and touch it. I wanted to remember this moment. I wasn't sure when I'd ever experience anything like this again.
I felt every ridge of his cock, and he seemed impossibly larger. Every thrust felt bigger, like it was leading to something earth-shattering. My heart was beating out of control, and I couldn't seem to hold onto any one thought.
I was so close to letting go, yet I didn't want to. Not yet. I wanted to be suspended in this moment for as long as I could.
He was moving inside me with slow deep thrusts, each one striking a different note. "I love this. Can't get enough."
What was he saying? Was he trying to say that he loved me or just sex with me? My mind was splintering in two. Did I want him to love me?
But then he dropped his head and sucked one nipple into his mouth, and I was lost to the sensations. The feeling of him inside me, the scrape of his teeth against my nipple. "Boone."
"I got you," he said as his hand moved lower, his fingers pressing on my clit. I cried out, pleasure flowing through me. He quickly followed me over and rested his head against mine.
It was always intense between us, but this was something more. We were moving into something else entirely. I felt warm and tingly all over. I wanted to cuddle up with him and stay. That was the scariest feeling of all.
I wanted to stay here forever.
That was crazy.
This time we didn't have to move apart to take care of a condom, but I felt the stickiness between my thighs. "I should clean up—"
"I'll get it." He moved first, getting up to go to the bathroom. I heard the water running. A few seconds later, he returned with a wet washcloth. "Let me."
I spread my legs for him, allowing him to clean me. It felt intimate, tender even. When he was done, he tossed it to the side of the room and gathered me into his arms. "Stay tonight."
"I always do."
He kissed my temple. "I feel like I'm asking for more for some reason."
"Why is that?" Why did this feel different? Were we catching the feelings we promised ourselves we wouldn't?
Was this something more than either of us saw coming? No matter how we felt, it wouldn't change anything.
"I don't know." He sounded as perplexed as I did.
I had to be able to walk away from him. The last time I hooked up with someone I worked with, it was a disaster.
I was fired, and my reputation had been in tatters.
It was hard to build my business on the remnants of that situation.
People didn't take me seriously at first, assuming that Shane had been the one to make the suggestions at my previous hotel.
I had to rebuild my reputation, and I didn't want to make that same mistake again. Then there was the geographical distance and the fact that he'd only asked me to stay the night.
"I'll stay every night with you until I have to leave." Why did the thought of leaving hurt so much? This was supposed to be purely physical. I wasn't supposed to get attached or feel anything.
But it felt good to be with him now, secure in his arms. I'd worry about everything else on another day when I was back in Miami. When I was staring at my view of the ocean, I'd feel good that I'd helped another hotel and added one more job to my record.
Eventually, I'd forget about Boone. Our time together would fade into the past like everything did. This wasn't different from any other relationship.
Besides, business came first. That was the hard lesson I had learned. My security came before anything else.