Sand Castle Bay (Ocean Breeze) - By Sherryl Woods Page 0,60
willing to give it a try. How about you?”
She took a deep breath, then nodded. “I’m in.”
“And we give it our all, no looking for excuses to bail?” he prodded.
“Absolutely.”
“Okay, then,” he said softly, sounding relieved. “This might be for the best.”
“How so?”
“If this is a long-distance thing, we can keep B.J. out of the mix for now. And, by extension, the Farmers.”
Emily frowned. “I get it about the Farmers, but B.J.? You don’t want him to know we’re involved?”
“Not yet,” Boone said, then added earnestly, “We need to agree on that, Em. I have to protect him.”
She pulled away. “That sounds as if you’re already convinced we’ll fail.”
“No,” he said hurriedly. “Not at all. I swear to you I won’t hold back anything.”
“Except your son.”
“You know why,” Boone said. “It would be wrong to let him get his hopes up. When we’re sure it’s going to work out, of course he’ll know what’s going on. He’ll be thrilled to pieces. You know how crazy he is about you. And when we’re solid, I’ll find a way to deal with Jenny’s parents, a way to make them understand that being with you isn’t a slap in their face.”
Even though a part of her felt Boone was demonstrating a lack of faith in this relationship they intended to build, she couldn’t honestly deny that he was probably right to protect his son. After all, Boone had seen too many potential parents come and go. He knew firsthand the toll that could take on a boy’s emotions.
“You’re right,” she conceded. “What about my family? Are we keeping them out of the loop, too?”
“It could limit the meddling,” he suggested. “But I doubt we can pull it off. Besides, Cora Jane for one would be absolutely furious if she found out we’d been sneaking around behind her back. I don’t think I can hide it from her. How about you?”
“Are you kidding me? She’ll figure out the truth the first time she gets a good look at my face when you’re in the room.”
He laughed at that. “You could always claim it’s just wishful thinking on her part.”
“And deny her the satisfaction of knowing that her meddling might be paying off? That would be cruel. Let’s not make a big deal about it, though. If they figure it out, we’ll confirm it and leave it at that.”
“Given the fact that your sisters are probably hanging out the bedroom window over our heads right now, it’s probably a wise choice,” Boone said, raising his voice just a little.
“Blast it, Samantha. I told you that window squeaked,” Gabi complained.
“Congratulations, you guys,” Samantha called out, laughing, then made a point of slamming the window closed.
Emily gave Boone a wry look. “Want to take that drive now? Obviously privacy is not possible here.”
“Nah,” Boone said, pulling her close. “If I have my way, there won’t be any talking for them to overhear.”
She regarded him hopefully. “Is that so?”
He tucked a finger under her chin, leaned in and sealed his mouth over hers. This time there was no holding back. He kissed her as if there was no tomorrow.
“Oh, wow!” she murmured against his lips. “I remember this.”
“How about this?” he asked, slipping his hand inside her tank top.
“Oh, yes,” she said, her breath coming faster, her pulse scrambling. “Why do I feel like I’m seventeen again and panicky that we’re going to get caught?”
“Maybe because Jerry’s car just pulled into the driveway and I can hear your grandmother getting out now,” Boone suggested, laughing as he straightened her shirt. He winked at her. “We’ll definitely pick this up another time.”
For the first time since she’d arrived in Sand Castle Bay, Emily suddenly wasn’t quite as anxious to leave. Not with that promise on the table.
* * *
Boone walked into his house after midnight to find Ethan settled on the couch, his shirt and prosthesis off, a blanket draped low and a ball game on the TV.
“You look comfortable,” Boone commented, sitting down and reaching into the bowl of popcorn on the coffee table and taking a handful. “How’s B.J.?”
“Down for the count a couple of hours ago. What are you doing home? Things didn’t go the way you’d hoped?”
Boone laughed. “They didn’t go the way you’d hoped. Me and Emily, we’re on the same page for the first time in years.”
“Together?”
“We’re hopeful,” Boone confirmed. “But we’re going to move slowly.”
“Is she sticking around?”
“No.”
Ethan frowned. “How’s that going to work exactly?”
“People have long-distance relationships all the time,” Boone