Love Me Forever - Juliana Stone Page 0,23

took a long pull from the beer he’d given her. “That was a long time ago,” she replied and shrugged. “I’ll admit I was a little thrown when you came back to town, and I might have been a bit dramatic about things, but I’m over it.” She glanced his way. “I’ve been over you for years, Boone.”

“I don’t believe you.”

The surprise on her face made him grin, and his grin obviously infuriated her, because she shoved him, and he damn near ended up in the lake.

“You’re just as arrogant as ever.”

“Not arrogant, Pops. Just calling it as I see it.”

“Don’t call me that,” she practically spat at him.

“Why are you so angry?”

“Am I not allowed to be angry?” Chest heaving, she glared at him.

“You can be whatever you want, darlin’. I’m just wondering why you’re so angry if you’re over the past.” He waited a beat. “If you’re over me.”

She made a noise that sounded distinctly like disgust, and Boone realized he was fucking this up royally. “Look, Poppy—”

She actually gave him the hand. “Don’t ‘Poppy’ me, and don’t talk. I’ve got the floor now.”

He opened his mouth to reply, but she held her hand higher.

“I’m angry because you…you’re just…” She finished the can and shook her head. “You’re just so…” She narrowed her eyes. “What’s going on with you and Emily Davenport?”

Okay, she was switching gears faster than a NASCAR driver, and because the dip in her bathing suit top lowered when she leaned toward him, he was finding it hard to keep up. He tore his gaze from her chest and looked up.

He frowned. “What’s Emily got to do with things?”

“She’s vulnerable right now, Boone.”

“I’m not an idiot.”

“That’s up for debate.”

He was quiet for a few seconds. She really wasn’t making this easy, and it burned to realize she thought so little of him. “I know Emily’s had a shit deal, but we’re just friends. Nothing more.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

He kept his annoyance to himself and concentrated on the fact that her eyes had darkened, that her voice was smoke over glass, and he was pretty sure her nipples were saluting him, but didn’t want to chance another look in case she used her right hook.

“You spent the night at her place. So I guess you’re friends with benefits?”

What? “I didn’t spend the night at Emily’s.” Confused, he fell silent.

She swore and said a bunch of things that would make a sailor proud. “I saw you, Boone. I saw you at her place this morning, cutting her grass and being all domestic. It’s a crap move to do that with someone like Emily. Someone whose heart is broken, though we both know that’s something you’re an expert at.”

His annoyance vanished and morphed into something darker. “I don’t like where you’re going with this.”

“And you think I do?” She leaned forward. “I’m just looking out for Emily is all.”

Slowly, he shook his head. “You’re headed down the wrong road. Maybe you should try being honest. This isn’t about Emily, and it sure as hell isn’t about me being a good friend and helping her out with some landscaping, which, if you’d bothered to ask, she’d confirm.”

Poppy didn’t respond, and he kinda forgot where he was going with things, because all of a sudden, the need to kiss her was a powerful thing. Especially when she ran her tongue over her lips.

“What is it about, then?” she challenged, jumping to her feet in a surprise move. Poppy took exactly one step before she stubbed her toe on an uneven deck board, which made her hop on one leg as she continued her impressive sailor rant. Standing precariously close to the edge of the dock, she hopped once more, then toppled sideways. Boone reached for her, but Poppy shoved at him because God forbid someone actually help the woman, and then she teetered on that one foot for exactly two seconds before she went over, taking Boone with her.

The shock of cold water did nothing to cool him down. When his head broke the surface, he was so close to her, he felt the heat from her skin. She was treading water, but Boone had no problem standing and keeping his head above the surface.

Quick bursts of air fell from between her lips as she floated a few feet from him. But Boone wasn’t letting her get away that easily. He moved forward and didn’t stop until the smooth, slick feel of her was between his legs.

“What are