situation. Get SWAT in there.”
“Lauralee, if we hadn’t already explored every last avenue we have time for, I wouldn’t be asking you to step into this role with me.” The amber in his eyes seemed to glow brighter, imploring her as much as his words.
“This is really the only way?” she asked.
He nodded. “Ross thinks so, and I do too.”
Boone glanced at the clock on the wall, laying on the pressure.
“How would we get married on such short notice?”
“We’ve got that handled, Lauralee. Does this mean you’ll do it?” Irritation burned beneath his usual baritone. He sounded rougher and angrier. Even those times she thought him serious—like when he shoved his laundry on her—were mild in comparison to his voice now.
She scrubbed her hands over her face. “I need five more minutes, Boone. Then I’ll give you an answer.”
His chest swelled as he inflated it with a deep breath. Then he gave her a nod and walked out of the office, leaving her alone to make her decision.
Marry this man and save the woman, or refuse and hope he found a way to do it without her?
Chapter Two
Why was Lauralee taking so damn long to give him a simple answer?
And why was he getting so irritated that she hadn’t said yes yet? It wasn’t as if he wanted to marry her, even for a job.
Had five minutes passed yet? He didn’t give a damn if not—he walked back into the office and stared Lauralee down.
“Well?” he barked out.
She said nothing, and he saw for the first time that her freckles stood out more on her paler complexion. She might be affected by the demands he placed on her, but didn’t she see this was bigger than her—bigger than both of them?
“Look, I’ve already got an appointment set at the JP to get hitched on the way out of town. If you’re not with me, then I need to find someone else fast.”
Lauralee slashed her hand through the air. “Fine, I’ll do it on one condition—that you never lay a hand on me.”
Glancing over the curves he hadn’t considered very enticing anyway, he held up three fingers. “Boy Scout’s honor.”
Relief passed over her face, leaving him more annoyed.
“Go home and pack. We leave in…” He checked the clock on the wall again. “Thirty-six minutes. Meet me at my truck. Oh, and where’s that jacket I gave you earlier today?”
Her lips twitched. “In the corner of your office.”
He strode in and glanced around, his gaze landing on the duffel in the corner. Now he saw why her lips had twitched with amusement. She’d just thrown his bag in the corner, unopened. What did he expect—his momma’s loving service?
When he walked into the main office again, he fixed her in his stare. “Gold or platinum?”
“What?”
“For a ring. What do you prefer?”
She gave a wild shake of her head, making the bun on top wobble. “Surprise me!”
He had a hell of a lot to do between now and the time she met him at his truck. Not only did he need to pack a few things and meet with Ross again to hook up a method of communication, he actually wanted to say goodbye to his family.
On his way to the house, it struck him how mad his momma would be if she found out he was getting hitched without her present. Fake or not, she’d want to be there to pass out hugs and well wishes.
His stomach hung out somewhere around his heels. Was this really the only way?
No going back now. He managed to convince Lauralee and judging by her reaction, that was no small feat.
Following his nose to the scent of fresh bacon frying, he came across his mother standing at the range.
She paused in flipping the long strips in the frying pan to look up at him. She instantly sobered. “Oh no. I recognize that look on your face, Boone Lindell Wynton.”
Christ, he’d earned all three names?
She narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re about to do something I won’t like.”
That was true, but surely if it was for work, that changed things?
“I can’t tell you what’s going on, Momma. You know the rules.”
She grunted. “When will you be back?”
Though she was used to her sons leaving for WEST Protection by now, not one of them wanted to see her downturned lips.
He walked up to her and kissed her cheek. “Soon as possible.” How long would it take to find a way to free Black’s wife?
How to keep her from hearing