Sand Castle Bay (Ocean Breeze) - By Sherryl Woods Page 0,101

determinedly mum on that subject, she couldn’t prove it.

At least worrying about her sister kept her from analyzing her situation with Boone to death. She knew as they got closer and closer, the complications were going to get increasingly difficult to resolve. She didn’t think he saw that. He seemed to be living in some dream world in which love conquered all...or in which she gave up everything to be with him. She wasn’t sure which. Either way, it threatened to be a problem.

When she finally pulled into the driveway at her grandmother’s, she saw that Boone and B.J. had just arrived, as well. Unaware that she was there, B.J. was already racing toward the house. Boone, however, spotted her and crossed the lawn to meet her.

“Good timing,” he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her.

“Here? Now?” she said, startled.

He grinned. “Lost my head,” he said. “Are you complaining?”

“No, but I think you might have some explaining to do,” she said, gesturing behind him.

Boone turned around to see B.J. standing there, a puzzled expression on his face.

“Hey, buddy, look who’s here,” Boone called out, his too-cheerful tone a sign of his nervousness.

Rather than running to meet them, B.J. remained where he was.

“Oh, boy,” Boone murmured under his breath. He took Emily’s hand. “Let’s go face the music.”

“Hey, B.J., don’t I get a hug?” Emily asked.

After a moment’s hesitation, B.J. flew into her arms. When he released her, though, he gave his father a quizzical look. “Dad, how come you were kissing Emily?”

“For the same reason you just hugged her,” Boone said. “I’m happy to see her.”

“You were happy to see Aunt Cheryl the other day, but you didn’t kiss her like that.” B.J. said, proving once more that he took in everything.

Emily had to swallow a chuckle at Boone’s blushing reaction. “Yeah, Boone, why didn’t you kiss Aunt Cheryl like that? And who, by the way, is Aunt Cheryl?”

“She was my mom’s friend, not a real aunt,” B.J. chimed in helpfully. “She doesn’t live here anymore, but she came home for Thanksgiving.”

Emily lifted a brow. “Is that so?”

“And she’s married to an ex-football player who’s built like a truck and she has five children,” Boone supplied. “And that is why I didn’t kiss her the way I just kissed Emily.”

“Yeah, I guess Uncle Dave wouldn’t like it, huh?” B.J. said.

“No, he wouldn’t,” Boone confirmed. “Any other questions?”

Emily and Boone waited as B.J.’s expression turned thoughtful.

“You used to kiss Mommy like that,” B.J. said, his tone wistful.

Boone sighed and hunkered down in front of him. “Yes, I did,” he said softly. “Because your mom was the most important woman in my life for a very long time.”

“Does that mean Emily’s important now?” B.J. asked.

Boone glanced up at Emily, then nodded, looking his son in the eyes. “It does. Is that okay with you?”

“Is she going to live with us?” B.J. asked.

“Maybe someday,” Boone told him. “But right now we’re really good friends.”

B.J. seemed to absorb that news, nodding eventually. “I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.”

“Yes, let’s go eat,” Boone said eagerly. “Go on in and let Ms. Cora Jane know we’re here.”

“Oh, she knows,” B.J. said. “She’s been watching out the window.”

Of course she was, Emily thought, barely containing a laugh. If they thought B.J.’s cross-examination had been awkward, it was probably nothing compared to what was in store.

* * *

Boone watched closely as Sam Castle greeted Emily as if she were a business colleague, rather than his youngest daughter. His hug was superficial, his words little more than the expected “Hello. How are you?”

Emily’s response was just as restrained, though Boone thought he saw the longing in her eyes for more. The hug she received from Jerry was far more exuberant and heartfelt. Surely Sam Castle had to see that and recognize what genuine affection looked like.

“Mother, can we eat now?” Sam asked with a touch of impatience. “Or are we waiting for Gabriella, too?”

“Gabi won’t be here,” Cora Jane said. “It might be nice, though, if we gave Emily and Boone a minute to have a glass of wine and an appetizer before we rush them in to the meal.”

Emily gave her grandmother’s hand a squeeze. “It’s okay. I know Dad wants to get back home. He gets palpitations or something if he’s away from work too long.”

Cora Jane didn’t seem impressed. She scowled at her son. “This is Thanksgiving, a time for family to be together and to count our blessings. It is not a day to