“Better?” Brody glanced at him over the hood of the Dodge.
“Yeah.”
“Good, but you still look like shit.”
“I could use a pot of caffeine,” he grumbled and climbed up in the dually.
“We can stop at the diner on the way.” He started the engine and backed out of the driveway. “There’s something I wanted to talk to you about while I have the chance.”
Boone eased into the leather seat, anticipating that promised coffee. “Sure.”
“I think my sister’s seeing someone.” Brody shot a glance across the cab.
“Which one?” The headache was back.
“Daisy.”
“Would it be that shocking? After all, she’s got a lot to offer and just a reminder, she’s thirty.” Boone could have inserted a lot here, like how pretty, smart, talented, sexy, amazing she was…but those weren’t options. Boone bit his tongue instead.
“Hell, I ain’t worried over the fact that she’s seeing someone. I don’t like that she’s hiding him.” Brody’s jaw tightened. “A person only hides something when they’re doing something wrong.”
Boone needed caffeine before he could think clearly—or make up good excuses. One wrong word and Brody would see right through him. “Why are you telling me this?”
“You two have been working on the concert together. I was thinking maybe she said something to you. Mentioned a name.”
Was his buddy fishing? Trying to trip Boone up? That wouldn’t take a lot this morning. “Do you think if she were seeing someone on the sly that she’d tell me? Knowing we’re friends. Nah.”
Brody shrugged. “Why would she keep it a secret?”
“Maybe she fears your reaction. Growing up you’d done a real good job scaring interested boys away. You ever think that maybe you’re the reason your sisters are single?” Boone laughed to ease the tension in the question, but honestly, it was a legitimate one.
“Poppy got married,” he quickly pointed out.
“Yeah, she is, or rather was. You put that bastard through the wringer if I remember correctly.” Brody was a good guy with a kind heart, but he could be intimidating when he wanted to be.
“That son of a bitch deserved the shit I put him through. If it weren’t for the fact that he’s the father of my niece and nephew I would have already pounded him into the ground for what he did to Poppy. Still might if he gives me reason.”
“Look, buddy. You protecting your sisters is upstanding, but at some point, you need to trust that they’ll make the right decisions for themselves.” Guilt raced through Boone. He was speaking from a biased perspective. He wanted to continue seeing Daisy and wanted his buddy’s approval. How would he ever know if he had his consent unless he told him the truth. He shifted in the seat, wondering what the best opening to that conversation would be and then his phone buzzed. Grabbing it from his pocket, he saw that Daisy had sent him a message. He clicked on it and read…
Are you still alive? D.
Yes. Where did you go? B.
Through the window. I have a boo boo that needs tending. D.
I’ll take care of it later. I’m with Brody now. B.
Oh? I’m glad he didn’t find me. That would have been a bad thing. D.
Boone hovered his fingers over the screen, trying to put his thoughts into words, but couldn’t manage it so he pushed his phone back into his pocket.
“Is that Talia?” Brody asked with a smile.
“No. It’s business.” He didn’t like lying, but he couldn’t divulge his secret to Brody until Daisy agreed.
“Do me a favor, buddy. Use that charm to find out from her who she’s seeing then let me know.”
Boone bit the inside of his cheek. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Brody.”
“Why the hell not? I won’t hurt the bastard. I’m only curious. You see, you’re right. It’s time Daisy hooked up with a man worthy of her.”
“It’s good that you feel that way.” Boone saw a light at the end of the tunnel.
“Jinx would make the perfect cowboy.”
Boone’s jaw dropped. “Jinx?”
“Yeah, think about it. He’s successful. Women go all googly-eyed over him so he must be handsome and charming. And I’ve never known him to break a woman’s heart.”
Something akin to jealousy bombarded Boone’s bloodstream. He’d never felt that emotion before and he didn’t like it. The thought of Jinx touching Daisy ripped through Boone with the intensity of an inferno. Any man for that matter. Although they were only friends with benefits and had made no indication of more, he liked her. Liked the advantages they had going. “Not only is Jinx not her type, but he won’t be sticking around. He likes his privacy.”
“I spoke to him last night and I got the feeling he has his sights set on someone and I think it’s Daisy. I saw them talking as he was setting up on stage and they seemed pretty fond of each other.”
Boone growled and covered it up with a burp. “It could be any woman. After all, just like you said, women get all “googly -eyed” around him. In fact, I saw him speaking to a few ladies last night and he seemed smitten. Chynna was one of them.”
“Chynna?” Brody snorted.
“What would be so strange about that?” Boone didn’t understand why, but he had a sudden rush of restless energy. “She’s beautiful, smart, eccentric in a cute way.”
“Hell, I agree, but I guess I always saw her with a man that had balls the size of a bulls. She’s a spitfire,” Brody said it fondly.
“And Daisy isn’t?”
“It’s in the Bloom DNA I suppose. Daisy has always been sweet though. Naïve.”
“I wouldn’t call her naïve.” He scratched his chin and sniffed her remaining scent, triggering parts of him that were still sore. “You should keep your nose out of it and let your sisters manage their own love life.”
“You’re probably right. As long as they don’t end up with someone like you.” Brody playfully punched him on the arm. “Then I’d have to kick some asses.”
A mixture of anger and sorrow crept up inside Boone’s chest. There was so much he wanted to say. “How can I be worthy as a best friend but not good enough to date one of your sisters?”
“Shit, buddy. You ain’t the marrying kind. Anyway, if Talia’s leaving her lingerie on the floor, I’m taking that as a sign that she’s got her claws deep in you, buddy. You’ve always had strict rules that a woman never leaves anything at your place, not even a toothbrush.” He chuckled and turned on the signal, pulling into the diner parking lot.
The truck hadn’t even come to a full stop before Boone opened the door and jumped out. He needed a mixture of fresh air and caffeine before he blew an internal gasket.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Long night?”
Daisy looked up from where she sat studying the phone screen and offered Chynna a weak smile. “Are one of those coffees for me?”
“Of course. I brought you an espresso. I thought you might need it after last night, but after seeing you I have a feeling the night didn’t end after the cleanup crew finished,” she teased.
Although the coffee was steaming hot, Daisy didn’t wait before sipping and then instantly regretted it when the liquid burnt her tongue. “Ouch!”
Chynna rolled over a stool and sat down next to the counter. “I know that look.”
“What look?” Daisy muttered.
“The cross between a hangover and post-sexual-fever.”
She glared at her sister, but it hurt too bad to keep her eyes narrowed. She rubbed her temples and groaned. “Shoot me if I ever decide to drink whiskey and beer together again.”
“Whiskey, huh? I don’t remember whiskey being offered at the event,” Chynna raised an inquisitive brow.
Since Boone must have decided not to return her text, she turned her phone over. “Shoot me if I ever decide to drink again.”
“You already said that.”
“I’m not surprised. Are yo
u?” She muttered and got up from the creaky stool to walk into the back to start the flower arrangement a customer had ordered.
Chynna followed, grabbed her apron from the hook and tied it on. “You look…well, like a cocktail of worry and joy. What happened to your hand?” She touched the fresh bruise on Daisy’s wrist.
Dragging down the sleeve to cover the incriminating evidence, she shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Wait. You have a bruise on your wrist that’s the size of a baseball and you’re blowing it off? Start talking,” Chynna demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.
“An accident.”
“You’re being vague. I tell you what. I’ll call Brody and let him figure it out.” She twirled on her purple Converses to grab her phone.
“Stop. Don’t call him. His persistent overprotectiveness has pushed my buttons too many times.”
“Fine, but something’s going on with you that you’re hiding. You don’t think our brother already suspects something?”
She was right. She never could hide anything from her sisters. “I got the bruise from climbing out of Boone’s window this morning.” Saying the words took a weight off her shoulders.
“Wait…you and Boone? Why in the hell did you crawl out of the window? Was the sex that bad that you couldn’t face him come morning light?” Chynna’s eyes widened.
“Honey, are you delusional?” She dramatically placed her hand against Chynna’s forehead. “You’re not fevering. Do you honestly think Boone would be terrible at sex?”
“True. However…” Her jaw dropped. “So you are Boone’s lover.” A smile burst over her face. “Daisy got laid. Daisy got laid. Daisy got laid.” She sang and did a happy dance.
“Stop before someone hears you,” Daisy whispered.
Chynna leaned in, looking serious and concerned. “You mean the flowers have ears now?”
“I hear you and it’s too loud.”
“So, sis, confess. What does it feel like to have been saddled and ridden by that sexy beast Boone?”
Daisy flushed. “My gawd, Chynna. Could you be any more barbaric?”
“Me? Barbaric? You’re the one who’s having a clandestine affair.”
Her sister did have a point. “What I can say is, I’ve gone back for more and more and I just can’t seem to get enough.” She fanned herself with the customer order form.
“I knew it.” Chynna wagged her brows suggestively.
“I’m glad you’re excited. You want to know why I climbed out of the window barely escaping death? Brody almost caught us bare assed.”
“Brody is just going to have to get it through his thick skull that you, all us girls actually, can take care of ourselves.” Chynna went to the refrigerator and grabbed an armful of roses and set them on the work counter.
“It’s not that easy. Boone cares what Brody thinks. They’re best friends. Not only that, but he’d also made a promise to him that he’d never date one of us.” She clipped the thorns off the roses.
Chynna looked like she’d swallowed an apple whole. “Wait…our brother made the Hawke brothers promise to never date one of us Bloom girls? I swear, I’m going to shoot him in the foot.”
“Chynna, I said he made Boone promise. Not Hank and Creed, at least not that I’m aware of.”
“Let me lie to myself, please. It makes me feel better to think they simply never showed me any attention because of Brody’s stupid stupidity instead of me not being pretty enough.”
“You’re silly, and beautiful. And Brody can be a pain and illogical, but Lord knows I don’t want to be the reason their lifelong friendship is destroyed.” Daisy felt the burden of the situation.
“Brody will get over it. After all, he needs to concentrate on his own love life. If you and Boone enjoy each other’s company and have an understanding, then it’s none of anyone’s business.”
“Sure, that sounds great, but we both know Brody believes in loyalty and he’d find it a betrayal.”
“Okay then, stop seeing Boone and that settles the situation,” Chynna said. Her brows knotted. “Right?”
“I don’t think I can do that. I’ve tried. I have. He’s like a bag of potato chips. I can’t stop at one,” she admitted.
“Daisy, have you fallen for him?”
“No,” she blurted.
“Sure?”
“No, Chynna. I don’t love him I just extremely like him. Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like I’m concerned and worried that my sister will get her heart broken.” Trouble etched creases around Chynna’s eyes.
“You’re being ridiculous. I won’t be heartbroken. Boone actually is a wonderful man with a huge heart.”
“And he also has a reputation.”
“You were the one who encouraged me. Remember? You helped me get all dolled up and gave me pointers. Well, they worked. You’re a genius.” She smiled.
“That’s when I thought…”
“What?”
Chynna looked two shades whiter as her gaze dropped to her shoes. “Honey, I love you, but I didn’t think…well…”
“That Boone wouldn’t be interested in me?” She laughed but it was raw with emotion. “Just a few minutes ago you said if Boone and I liked each other we shouldn’t care what people think.”
“No, I said if you enjoy each other’s company you should do what you want. I believed that until I realized you were letting your heart get involved.” She sighed. “Honestly, I think Boone is an awesome guy who is a gentleman, but he comes with risks. Right now, it’s fun. You two are sneaking around and that brings with it some excitement. Big question, how will the dynamics change when or if your fling becomes public? Will it still be fun? Will the threat of a relationship send him leaving black marks on the pavement in his haste to get away? I’m not saying you can’t get a man like Boone Hawke, because sweetheart, you could have any man you set your sights on but keeping a man like Boone seems high maintenance.”
“High maintenance?”
“I don’t know if high maintenance is the best description. Maybe…hmm…a magical spell. Women have tried and failed.”
“Now you sound like Brody,” Daisy muttered.
“Maybe he knows more than we do.”
Daisy’s cell buzzed and she stepped into the front lobby to see if Boone had finally texted her back.
It was Brody.
She read the text and tapped in a simple, “Yes.”
When she returned to the work room, Chynna asked, “Who is it? Your lover?” she teased.
“No, it was Brody. He is setting me up on a date with Jinx.” She set her phone down and went back to focusing on placing baby’s breath in the arrangement.
“A date? With Jinx? What is he up to now? Did you tell him to worry about his own dating life before he started meddling in yours?”
“No. I said I would go.” She didn’t look at her sister, not even when her gasp echoed off the walls of the room.
“What the scheming-hell are you up to? I think there’s something in the water in this town. We’ve all gone bonkers. Jinx isn’t even your type.”
“Really? He’s nice looking. Successful. And you know I like cowboys.” The words seemed unsteady even to her own ears. She shouldn’t feel any guilt for accepting a date, but that vibrating explosive-like feeling in the middle of her stomach warned her she did indeed feel something.
“Is this to make Boone jealous?”
“This is a perfect way to shift any of Brody’s suspicions about Boone and me.”
“If you say so. If you care what I think—”
“Sorry, no. I’m already overwhelmed.”
“I’ll tell you anyway. You and Boone should just be honest with Brody—with the town—because if he finds out himself there will be hell to pay.”
“You don’t think I already know this?”
“What were you thinking? That you and Boone could keep up this secret forever? We’re in Cooper’s Hawk where you can’t fart without someo
ne else smelling it.” Chynna dropped the flower she was pruning. “But what do I know?” She huffed and walked from the room.
Daisy sighed and dropped her head to the workspace. No matter what she did someone would get hurt.
*****
Boone watched Daisy. She was on her knees digging dirt and her heart-shaped bottom swayed back and forth. He became ram-rod stiff. She had a hold on him, and he wasn’t sure he liked this feeling. He’d spent most of the day thinking about her and how much he wanted a repeat of last night.
“You forgot something,” Boone finally said.
He grinned when she lost her balance and fell back onto her ass with a surprised squeal. “Boone! You scared me. I thought I was alone.”
“Sorry.” He strolled over and helped her to her feet. “You okay?”
She swiped the back of her shorts. “I’m okay. How did things go with Brody?”
Her hair was piled high on her head, her glasses were on and she had a smear of dirt on her cheek. He licked his thumb and swiped off the mark.
“Did you just give me a spit bath?” She looked at him through the veil of her lashes.
“I guess I did. Is that crossing a line?”
“I’ve had your saliva other places so I guess it’s only fitting to be on my cheek too.” She wagged her brows.
His zipper stretched to the point he thought it might break.
The sunlight was much brighter in the greenhouse making her eyes radiant. She didn’t have on a stitch of makeup and she looked youthful and glowing. The T-shirt had bleach stains and dirt across the front and the shorts had a handful of holes, one strategically located a few inches from her crotch. He wondered what color of panties she wore, that was if she wore any at all.
“So did you say that I forgot something?”
He pulled the scrap of black lace from inside his shirt and brought it to his nose, inhaling her lingering scent. “Brody found it on the floor.”
She paled. “Did he suspect anything?”
“Yes. That Talia had been there. It’d been nice if you’d stuck around long enough to say goodbye. I feel used.” He smiled.
“I had planned to say hello and good morning, but Brody deterred that plan. That was close. We have to be more careful.”
Cowboy Boone (Cooper's Hawke Landing Book 4) Page 13