Zero Forks - Cat Johnson Page 0,31

was not possible.

So I’d deal with the changes. I’d deal with Boone. And I’d deal with this wedding. And Greg. And Jana.

The dinner Boone had cooked for me churned in my gut.

“I’m going to start the dishwasher.” He hooked one beefy arm toward the appliance in question, then turned away, treating me again to the back view that was as good as the front.

He was an impressive male specimen. No doubt about it. And distracting as hell. One look at his muscles scrambled my thoughts.

Maybe I should bring Boone as my date to this wedding, where I could definitely use a distraction. Ha! That would show Greg. I could imagine his face now seeing me walk in with Boone.

It might also shut up all my relatives who loved to ask when I’d be getting married. Maybe stem the murmurs about how I was getting old. How I’d never have children. Probably never get married. How I’d die a spinster, alone.

My blood pressure rose as I anticipated the looks, the questions, the whispers that my attending the wedding alone would cause.

I blamed Kim for putting the idea of Boone being my date for the awards ceremony in my head. That had to be what was making inviting him to the wedding seem like a good idea.

But no. I couldn’t bring him as my plus one. Could I?

I glanced at Boone again. He caught my gaze and smiled his trademark happy-go-lucky smile. The one that said he was up for anything, anytime.

Hell, maybe I could.

I glanced at the date on the card one more time, then back up at him. I eyed the wine bottle, sitting right next to me. It was more than half empty.

I’d had enough wine to make this seem like a good idea. Tomorrow, that might not be the case.

Clearing my throat, I said, “Boone. What are you doing a week from Saturday?”

He glanced up and his grin spread wider. “My schedule’s wide open.”

I reached for a pen and the response card.

Yup. This was definitely a bad idea. And apparently, I was doing it anyway.

ELEVEN

Boone

Once again it took the better part of the day to finish just my basic chores at the farm, thanks to my little shadow.

But I did get it all done so my dad was happy and Stone couldn’t ride my ass. It was all good.

Even Stewie picking up a fist full of horse manure today couldn’t dampen my good mood.

Pretty much nothing could erase the smile from my face. I was going to a family wedding with Sarah. If that invitation didn’t have potential for romance written all over it, I didn’t know what did.

I managed to leave the farm early enough to run to the grocery store and grab some necessities for dinner.

Tonight’s menu was fresh Italian bread and pasta, which I had to buy at the store, served with fresh tomatoes, basil and garlic, all of which I’d grabbed from the farm stand.

At least that was the adult’s menu. I figured it would pair nicely with Sarah’s nightly glass of wine.

For the rug rat, I’d put some butter and parmesan cheese on the spaghetti and Stewie would be happy. It’s what I usually served my little cousin when I babysat, without any complaint.

Easy peasy. In fact, I was so good at this, I even amazed myself.

And for doing such a great job—and for managing to contain Stewie in the grocery store while only giving in to buying one candy bar—I decided to treat myself and the kid to a visit to the bakery.

I hadn’t seen Bethany in a few days. More importantly, I hadn’t indulged in one of her honey buns in just as long. I could pick up a few for dessert tonight. I was pretty sure Sarah had never had one.

A person couldn’t live in Mudville and not have tried one of Bethany’s signature honey buns. That would be a mortal sin.

“Hey, Stewie. Want to walk over and visit my friend?” I asked after stashing the grocery bag in the truck.

“Yeah,” he answered, although he was so busy trying to open the wrapper on the candy bar I probably could have asked him anything and gotten the same answer.

Purposely not helping him unwrap the treat he shouldn’t be having before dinner anyway, I locked him down with a grip on the back of his neck and steered him toward the sidewalk, well aware of how slippery and fast this kid could be.

I couldn’t have him running into traffic after a