Sand Castle Bay (Ocean Breeze) - By Sherryl Woods Page 0,75
in a mall food court.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” he said before he could change his mind. He couldn’t allow Jodie’s hostility to rule his life. If she got wind of him being with Emily, so be it. She needed to get used to the idea sooner or later and it might as well start now.
Of course, if him being with Emily infuriated his former mother-in-law, it was likely to be nothing compared to what she’d have to say about B.J. being along. Still, B.J. was his son, and a shopping trip was about as innocuous an outing as the three of them could possibly take.
“I’ll pick you up at ten, as soon as I drop Alex off. We’ll make a day of it. You game?”
“For shopping?” she asked with a laugh. “Hon, you are talking my language.”
Boone had a feeling he’d opened more than one can of worms with his invitation. Giving his credit card a serious workout was probably the least of it.
* * *
B.J. flew across the yard when he spotted Emily and threw his arms around her. “You’re back!” he announced happily. “Dad, look who’s here.”
Boone grinned. “I heard. I figured you’d want to stop by and say hello.”
“Are you back for good?” B.J. asked hopefully.
“Only for a couple of days,” she said, hugging him tightly. “Now, stand back and let me get a good look at you. I think you’ve grown at least an inch since I left.”
“Dad says it’s at least two inches this summer. All my school pants are too short.”
“Then you definitely need new ones,” Emily said. “Ready to do some serious shopping?”
“I am,” she confirmed, her gaze on Boone, who was smiling, even though she thought she could detect a hint of worry in his eyes.
“Awesome!” B.J. said with a first pump. “Dad says we can eat in the food court and I can have pizza and tacos.”
Emily feigned surprise. “Really? That’s a lot of food. Think you can handle it?”
“Sure,” B.J. said confidently. “I’m a growing boy. I need lots and lots of food. That’s what Grandma Jodie says. But she thinks I should only eat vegetables and fruit and stuff like that. She’s a veggie...” He glanced at Boone. “What is she, Dad?”
“A vegetarian,” Boone explained.
“Ah,” Emily said. “That can be a very healthy lifestyle.” Just a little tough on a kid, whose friends were eating pepperoni pizza, burgers and fries. Still, she wasn’t about to criticize his grandmother’s choices. That was a surefire way to stir up trouble with Jodie Farmer.
“Son, why don’t you run inside and say hello to Cora Jane?” He glanced hopefully at Emily. “She’s home, right? Doesn’t she go in a little later on Saturdays?”
“She’s here,” Emily confirmed. “She claimed she took the morning off to spend a little time with me, but the truth is, I think she’s worn herself out the past few weeks getting the restaurant back into full operation.”
B.J. dutifully scampered off, leaving them alone. Boone took a few steps toward her. “I want to kiss you,” he murmured with only inches between them. His breath fanned across her cheek.
“Then do it,” she said, her gaze locked with his. “We have maybe five minutes before B.J.’s back. Grandmother will keep him occupied for at least that long.”
Boone grinned. “Five minutes, huh? It will have to be some kiss.”
“I’m sure you’re up to it.”
“I guess we’ll find out,” he said, pulling her into his arms and sealing his mouth over hers.
Emily swayed into his embrace, letting everything go except the sensations he stirred in her—the desire, the heat, the familiar scent of citrus and pure male.
“Much better,” she murmured as the kiss ended. “I was so afraid we weren’t going to sneak in even one kiss on this trip.”
“It’s going to get better,” Boone promised. “We won’t always have to sneak around.”
“I hope not, because I’m not sure I can do that,” Emily told him candidly. “It feels too sleazy, as if we’re ashamed or something.”
Boone touched her cheek. “Maybe you’re just looking at it all wrong. Sneaking around could be kind of exciting. It used to be. Remember when we were afraid of getting caught?”
“We were teenagers,” she said, though she smiled at the memory. “Adults shouldn’t have to do that, especially not single adults. We shouldn’t need to explain ourselves to anyone.”
“I’m just trying to be respectful of Jodie’s feelings,” Boone said, “as out of line as they might be. Why stir up trouble if