Boone

by Emily March

  “Cool. I’ll trade you a cinnamon roll still warm from the oven for one little bundle of love.”

  They did the switch, then Hannah peeked inside the box. “Oh, Sarah, that smells sinful. Boone is in for a treat when he comes looking for breakfast.”

  “I say you snooze, you lose. You should have it, Hannah. Now, while it’s still warm.”

  She was tempted. Sarah must have read it in her expression because she encouraged her by saying, “Tell you what. I admit to being partial to my own cinnamon rolls. Why don’t we split it?”

  “Deal. How do you like your coffee?”

  “Black, please.”

  The two women went inside, and Sarah settled into the rocker with the baby in the sunroom facing the lake while Hannah made fresh coffee. Hannah cut the roll in two, plated the halves, placed the plates and two cups of coffee on a serving tray, and carried it to the sunroom. By then, Brianna had sucked her bottle dry. Once she gave another good burp, Sarah placed the baby in the bouncer, which sat in the middle of the sunroom’s table.

  “I had one of these when my son was born. We both loved it. Baby stuff has seriously improved in the years since I had Lori. Of course, that was many years ago.”

  “My youngest was born eight years ago, and I thought her baby swing was pretty spectacular. The one Boone bought makes it look like a horse and buggy compared with a Ferrari.”

  “How many children do you have?” Sarah asked, her smile friendly as she speared a bite of roll with her fork.

  It was a natural question to ask. After all, Hannah had introduced the subject by mentioning Zoe—something she couldn’t believe she’d done. Telling Boone was one thing, considering the circumstances under which they’d met, but to mention her so casually to Sarah?

  Was Hannah’s broken heart truly beginning to heal?

  Well, Sarah was watching her expectantly, so now was not the time to explore that question. Instead, she summoned up her strength and stated, “I had two daughters. I lost them both along with my husband in an accident three years ago.”

  “Oh, honey, no.” Sympathy welled in Sarah’s violet eyes. She reached across the table and touched Hannah’s arm. “What a tragedy for you. I’m so sorry.”

  “Thank you.” She signaled the subject was closed by licking her lips and then asking, “This roll is either heaven or the most sinful thing on earth. If I were to settle here, I’d need to establish some firm boundaries about how often I’m allowed to visit Fresh.”

  Sarah picked up her coffee mug and grinned over its top as she quipped, “Many have tried, few have succeeded. So you’re thinking of staying in Eternity Springs permanently?”

  What? I blabbed that too? “No. No. I have no plans. Still trying to figure life out.”

  “Hmm. What about Boone? Is something—”

  Crash. “Yelp. Yelp. Yelp.” In the great room, Ranger darted away from the brass table lamp, now lying in the middle of the floor, giving Hannah an excuse to hop up from the table and evade Sarah’s interrogation.

  Startled, Brianna let out a wail.

  Instinct had Hannah immediately turning back to the baby, but once she realized that Sarah had Bree, she focused on the lamp disaster.

  The lightbulb had broken, the lampshade bent, but the base appeared undamaged. Hannah retrieved a broom and dustpan from the kitchen and set about cleaning up the mess, a challenging task since Ranger had decided he needed to help and kept tangling himself around her legs, yipping and nipping at the cord. “Stop that, Ranger. Down. Stay down.”

  Boone walked into the house just as Ranger managed to knock the dustpan from Hannah’s hand and send the glass shards flying. “Ranger!” the man snapped. “Bad dog.”

  Unfazed, the puppy ran to him to say hello by jumping and nipping and yipping. Boone let out a long, heavy sigh, bent down, and scooped him up.

  “Uh … hello, ladies.”

  “Hi, Boone,” Sarah said. Then she waved Brianna’s arm and added in high-pitched voice, “Hi, Daddy.”

  Hannah folded her arms. “Gotta love a man who manages to squeeze a half-hour nap into three full hours.”

  “Guilty as charged, and I humbly beg your pardon.” He eyed the lamp and then winced. “It’s been that bad, has it?”

  Hannah sniffed. “Brianna is an angel. Ranger hasn’t been bad. He’s just a puppy. It’s not his fault that you don’t have the sense God gave a goat.”

  “I know. I know. Ranger and Bree at the same time is a bit too much.”

  “Ya think?”

  He flashed that boyish grin that lately seemed to make Hannah’s heart give a little flutter. “No worries, though, because I figured out what to do to fix it.”

  Hannah sent Sarah a droll look and stated, “Now, why am I not surprised?”

  Sarah asked, “Are you sending the puppy back to Mac?”

  Hannah shook her head and said, “No, he won’t do that.”

  Simultaneously, Boone said, “No, I wouldn’t do that.”

  Sarah settled Brianna back into her bouncer. “So how are you going to fix it?”

  “He’s cooked up a scheme,” Hannah said. She had a sneaking suspicion that she knew exactly what it was too.

  “It’s not a scheme. It’s a solution to a problem. I’m going to hire a night nanny for Ranger.” He turned a puppy dog look toward Hannah. “Want the job?”

  Bingo.

  When Hannah didn’t immediately respond, Sarah scoffed. “A night nanny for a dog?”

  “Why not? It makes perfectly good sense. These first nights away from his mother are hard ones for Ranger, and he’s going to require attention. I physically can’t give him the attention he’ll need because I’m already sleep-deprived thanks to Bree. The last thing I want is to stretch myself too thin and have an accident of some sort. Last night I scared myself. A night nanny takes care of that problem. And since I have help with the baby during the daytime, I’ll be able to work with Ranger on the training he needs.”

  His smile hopeful, he asked, “What do you say, Hannah? The pay is good. Really good.” He paused, waggled his eyebrows, and added, “Comes with benefits.”

  Hannah snickered.

  “I’ll bring him over to the Cabbage every evening just before I take over daddy duty solo.” Oblivious to their audience, Boone sauntered over to Hannah and placed his hands on her hips. “What do you say? Will you be our night nanny?”

  “For how long?”

  “I think it’s usual for puppies to cry at night for a week or two, but Ranger is a smart dog. He might make the transition in a few days.”

  “What if I say no? Do you have a backup plan?”

  “I always have a backup plan, but I hope I won’t need it. Say yes, Hannah. Please? I want you.”

  Yes, well, she wanted him too, didn’t she?

  “Okay. But I’ll need a crate and food and whatever else he needs before you bring him tonight.”

  “Deal. We’ll do that after our lunch date.”

  “You still want to do lunch?” she asked, surprised.

  “I do. As long as…” He turned toward his babysitter. “Sarah? Are you good holding down the fort here for a few hours this afternoon?”

  She’d been watching Boone’s and Hannah’s exchange with avid interest. “Of course. That’s why I’m here.”

  “I’ll pick you up at noon?” Boone asked Hannah.

  She shook her head. “I’ll meet you at the Moose. I have an errand or two I’d like to do this morning, so I’ll be on my way.”

  “Okay, then.” He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “See you at noon. Thanks a million for the assist this morning. I wouldn’t have made it without you.”

  “Glad to help. Just don’t make a habit of it.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Smiling, Hannah crossed to where Sarah sat holding Brianna. She bent and kissed the baby on the back of her head, then said to Sarah. “It was nice visiting with you. The cinnamon roll was spectacular. I hope you enjoy your
baby day.”

  “I plan on it.”

  “Cinnamon roll?” Boone repeated in a hopeful tone.

  Hannah laughed. “You snooze, you lose, McBride.” She was grinning as she exited the house and shut the door behind her.

  Inside, Boone spotted the bakery box and sighed to see it empty. Sarah said, “So, you want her, do you? As something more than a dog sitter.”

  “Definitely more.”

  “Are we talking something permanent? Is the most eligible bachelor in Eternity Springs off the market?”

  Boone dragged his thumb through the dribble of icing at the bottom of the bakery box, then licked it off. “Yes, I think so. If I can persuade her to hang around, then I think it’s a real possibility.”

  “Oh, wow. A scoop! A baby, a puppy, and a wife! Is this public news? Can I share?”

  “That would be premature. I’m not one hundred percent certain I’ll be able to pull this one over the finish line.”

  Sarah shook her head. “You’re Boone McBride, Eternity Springs’ own silver-tongued, silver-eyed juggernaut. I’m betting on you. And I can speak for the entire babysitters’ brigade that we are ready to assist in any manner possible. We excel at interventions when they’re necessary.”

  “Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “So when should we plan for a wedding? And where? Here? Texas? Her hometown?”

  “I’m not going to rush her.”

  But he was going to charge his batteries. He’d need 100 percent power to light her way to life, happiness, and love.

  Probably wouldn’t hurt to have a backup battery, come to think about it.

  He and Hannah were meant to be. He’d known it the moment she’d asked him to make love to her. Call it kismet or karma or fate or even a sprinkle of Celeste Blessing angel dust, meeting her that morning up at Lover’s Leap had been more than chance. It had been destiny. Be a light.

  What he hadn’t realized was that illuminating someone else’s world would light up his own life too.

  Boone scraped one more puddle of icing off the bottom of the box and took the delicious sugar hit. “I won’t rush her,” he repeated, “but I’m thinking a candlelight service here in Eternity Springs on New Year’s Eve.”

  “That’s moving at a snail’s pace where you’re concerned. A New Year’s Eve wedding sounds fabulous. I suggest you phone Celeste this morning and book the Honeymoon Cottage at Angel’s Rest.”

  “I’m on it.” Boone watched through the window as Hannah Dupree, dressed in black and mismatched socks, walked the path between his home and Serenity Cabbage. “I’ll get Tucker’s wife to work on finding the perfect wedding gown for Hannah too.”

  “Wait a minute!” Sarah exclaimed. “Your cousin Tucker? When did he get married?”

  “That’s a whole different story, but it’s a good one. Why don’t you hand me my baby, and we’ll sit outside in the sunshine and rock for a bit? I’ll tell you all the grubby details about Tucker and Gillian’s romance.”

  He did exactly that, and had her in stitches about the wedding vows that the Elvis impersonator had instructed Tucker and Gillian to exchange. After he’d told the entire story, and with Brianna snoozing peacefully in his arms, he brought the conversation around to the earlier topic. “Sarah, about those interventions you mentioned. Do you think our babysitters’ club would be willing to play matchmakers from time to time?”

  “Honey.” Sarah patted his knee. “This is right up our alley. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Hannah raved over her sandwich at the Mocha Moose, and afterward, she and Boone spent a couple of hours exploring available commercial properties should he proceed with his retail shop idea. Despite the successful date and Sarah’s enthusiastic support for his romantic endeavors, Boone uncharacteristically second-guessed his decision to persuade Hannah to marry him.

  Was this relationship happening too fast? Should he apply the brakes?

  Sarah was right. A baby, a puppy, and a prospective fiancée were a lot to tackle in a week.

  Could he be wrong about his feelings?

  Uncertain and uncomfortable because he rarely suffered doubt once he’d charted a course, Boone scheduled a video conference consultation for later that evening with two recent experts on the subject of love and marriage—his cousins Jackson and Tucker. After showing off Bree and introducing Ranger to the family, he posed his problem.

  “Wait just one minute,” Jackson said, holding up one hand palm out. “Before we get started, I want to take a moment to savor what’s happening here, Tucker. Mr. Know-It-All is coming to us for advice, and not advice on just any topic, but on women.”

  “It’s a miracle,” Tucker agreed.

  Boone flipped them the bird. “The miracle is that both of you losers found fabulous women who are willing to put up with you. In my defense, I’m not at the top of my game because I’m running on fumes due to nighttime feedings that average every two hours, so I’d appreciate it if you’d quit busting my balls and tell me what you got for me.”

  Tucker snorted. “Fine. Fine. Fine. I’ll take point. You are looking for a romance battle plan. You got a name for your operation?”

  “A name? Why do I need a name?”

  “It helps. Believe me. You’ve called looking for advice. Take my advice. Give it a name.”

  “Did you have a name for your plan to win Gillian?” Jackson asked.

  “I did. I came up with it when I spied a critter as Gillian and I were hiking the canyon.” He paused dramatically. “Operation Horny Toad.”

  While Boone and Jackson snickered, Tucker continued, “I also think you need a two-pronged strategy. If you can get Hannah to fall in love with Eternity Springs, it’ll make it easier for her to fall for you.”

  Boone bounced the eraser of the pencil he held on his desk. “I agree. That’s why I enlisted the help of the babysitters’ club.”

  Seated on the lanai of the hotel where he was honeymooning in the South Pacific, Jackson observed, “Actually, he needs a three-pronged plan. It’ll help him if Hannah falls for Brianna too.”

  “Good point,” Tucker agreed. He was using the computer in his office at Enchanted Canyon Wilderness School in Redemption, Texas.

  Jackson continued, “The problem you have, Boot, is that new babies have a way of dominating everything. Juggling romance and parenthood is gonna take some planning. Hannah needs to know that you want Hannah for herself, not because you want a mother for your child.” He paused a moment, then asked, “I have that right, don’t I? You’re in love with her?”

  “It’s only been three weeks,” Boone hedged.

  Both his cousins snorted. Jackson said, “When was the last time it took Boone three weeks to make any decision of consequence?”

  “Good point,” Tucker repeated. “You’re in love with her.”

  It was the reassurance Boone had wanted from the men who knew him the best.

  “I am. You’d tell me if you thought I was making a mistake, right?”

  Jackson nodded. “We’d tell you. You wouldn’t listen, but we’d tell you.”

  “We’re not telling you,” Tucker assured him. “Hannah was a hit with everyone at the wedding. You two were quite the topic of discussion with the Texas contingent. Maisy invited her to visit Redemption this fall once the weather cools off.”

  “I told Hannah we should go in October.” Boone rubbed his tired eyes. He’d managed to nap for an hour after his date, but he was still sleep-deprived.

  Sleep deprivation was probably why he was having this moment of insecurity.

  The cousins spoke for only a few minutes more before signing off. After all, both Tucker and Jackson were newlyweds and had better things to do than talk to Boone.

  After ending the call, Boone kept his seat for a few minutes, bouncing the pencil eraser and planning. Soon he had a battle plan, but he still needed a campaign name. “Horny Toad,” he muttered, his lips twisting in a rueful grin. Yeah,
he could definitely go with something along similar lines. Operation Stiff Stick. Blue Balls. Only something more refined. Something about light maybe. Operation Blue Lantern.

  Oh well. Something would come to him. In the meantime, he had arrangements to make.

  He found Sarah in the nursery, preparing to give Brianna a bath. “Want me to do that?”

  “Oh, please allow me. Bath time is too much fun.”

  “Be my guest. Now, about our list of babysitters. Do you have someone to suggest I contact for overnight care on Friday? I’d like to take Hannah glamping.”

  “At Brick’s river camp?” Sarah asked, referring to Brick Callahan. “Ooh, good romance move, McBride.”

  “I think so. I checked the weather forecast. Supposed to be a cloudless night. Hannah has a thing for stars.”

  “Well, if she didn’t already, I expect after a night with you she will.” Sarah considered the list of overnight babysitter volunteers. “I wouldn’t ask any of our shopkeepers. They all need to be fresh for Saturdays in June. I think Caitlin Tarkington put her name down for overnights. Her day care is closed on Saturdays. I’d try her first, and then maybe Hope Romano.”

  “You don’t think any of them will judge me for being away from Brianna overnight so soon?”

  “No. Not at all. In the cause of romance, the wives of Eternity Springs are all on board.”

  “Perfect. I’ll make my calls and then run the pup over to Hannah. I promise to be back before the end of your shift at nine.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Five minutes later, all the arrangements were set. As he secured the leash to Ranger’s collar, he heard Sarah talking on the phone. “Yes, Cam. I will. And don’t let Devin leave without the Star Wars Lego sets we’re donating to the camp. They’re in that box in the mudroom.”

  Star Wars Lego sets. Boone wore a self-satisfied smile as he scooped Ranger into his arms and headed for his back door. Operation Lightsaber commences.

  * * *

  By Friday, Hannah was a bundle of excitement, anticipation, and nerves. Tonight was the night. Boone had invited her on an “overnight excursion,” and she’d accepted. He hadn’t told her where he intended to take her, though he had explained that he had arranged thirty-six hours’ worth of both child care and dog sitting. He was picking her up after Brianna’s sitter arrived at nine. They would drop Ranger off at Lori Timberlake’s vet clinic on the way to … wherever.