by Cat Johnson
He came right up to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and hauling me close. He planted a big kiss on my lips before saying, “Hey, baby. So sorry I’m late.”
I recovered from the shock and managed to say, “It’s okay.”
Boone’s left arm remained wrapped around me as he angled himself to face Greg.
“Hey. I’m Boone, Sarah’s boyfriend. And you are?” he asked.
After a moment of shocked silence, the asshole said, “Um, I’m Greg.”
“Good to meet you, but if you’ll excuse us, my girl looks so amazing, I’m gonna go show her off.”
Boone grabbed my hand and steered me away from Greg so fast I had trouble keeping up. We got to the bar and he stopped, blowing out a breath. “Fuck. I need a drink. I’m shaking from holding back and not clobbering that asshole ex-boyfriend of yours.”
I was shaking too, but Boone’s hand around mine helped.
He glanced down at me as we waited for our turn at the bar. “I guess I need to explain what I’m doing here. I hope you’re not too mad. I know you uninvited me.”
I bit my lip and tried to hold back the tears. “I was wrong to uninvite you. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Really?” He turned to face me, taking both my hands now.
“Yes. Thank you for coming and saving me. But how did you know about Greg? Or what he looked like?”
Boone cringed. “Yeah, about that. Don’t hate me, but I did some cyber stalking on social media.”
“Mine?” I’d deleted every picture there was of the two of us together after the break-up. And then had pretty much ignored all my personal social media accounts completely since then.
Well, except for a few sad nights in the beginning when I gave in and stalked Greg’s accounts, but I was happy to say I hadn’t done that in weeks.
Boone nodded. “I started with yours, which led me to your cousin’s, and then to her groom’s. There’s an old group shot on his from when you and dickhead were still together. You and he were tagged. That’s what led me to the asshole’s page. I knew he’d be here and that would be hard for you. I wanted to know what he looked like so I didn’t clock the wrong guy by mistake.”
I couldn’t help it. I actually smiled at the thought of Boone punching Greg. When I could control my inappropriate reaction, I said, “You can’t actually hit him, you know.”
“I know. But it’s fun to think about.” His gaze remained on mine. “Don’t deny it. You kinda like the thought too, don’t you?”
I couldn’t deny it. I finally gave in and admitted, “I kinda do.”
He grinned wide. “I knew it.”
Our turn had come up and without even asking me first, Boone ordered me my favorite kind of wine and himself a beer.
It struck me how well he knew me. It was almost like we weren’t pretending to be girlfriend and boyfriend. It was like we really were. Or at least, could be, if I hadn’t acted like an idiot.
Drinks in hand, Boone led me to a corner table, set down his beer and pulled the chair out for me. “Sit and I’ll get us some food.”
I guessed we were going to proceed with the evening as if nothing had happened. As if I hadn’t made the huge mistake of pulling away from him.
He was inhumanly kind and too forgiving. I wasn’t sure I deserved his forgiveness. But I was sure I wouldn’t be able to eat a bite. I was still shaking.
I shook my head at his offer. “Thank you, Boone, but I’m really not hungry.”
He leveled a gaze on me. “What have you eaten today?”
“Um . . .”
“That’s what I thought.” He moved to go, but I reached out and stopped him. “Boone.”
He glanced back. “Yeah?”
“I’m so, so sorry about the other night.”
Instead of the ever present smile and cheery attitude, Boone actually looked somber. “It’s all right. But next time something is wrong, you tell me and we’ll talk about it. Don’t push me away again. Okay?”
Being faced with a serious Boone was strange. And a little too intense. But I deserved his censure and more.
I nodded. “Okay.”
“Good.” The smile was back as Boone left me.
His good mood was infectious. I found myself smiling too, mostly with relief and a little bit of hope, as I watched him move across the room.
“Sarah, I didn’t see you in the church. I saved you a seat.”
Uh oh.
I’d cleared hurdle one, but there was still another. My mother.
“Mother. Sorry. I sat in the back. I didn’t want to make a scene crawling over everyone to sit with you.”
“If you’d arrived earlier you wouldn’t have had to.”
“You’re right, as usual.” I turned my attention to my father. “Hi, Daddy. How are you feeling?”
“Eh, good enough your mother wouldn’t let me stay home.”
I smiled. There was no question which parent I favored most. “I hear you. I tried desperately to come down with something but no good. I’m too darn healthy.”
My mother frowned. “That’s not very nice. It’s your cousin’s big day.”
“I know. It’s such a big day I’m pretty sure she won’t even remember who was here and who wasn’t.” I heard my father chuckle.
Boone’s hand came around from behind me as he set a small but laden plate on the table. “I got you some tiny egg rolls since I know they’re your favorite.”
My mother’s drawn-on eyebrows flew high. “And how would you know what her favorite is? Who are you?”
“Hi, I’m Boone. And I know because I live with her.”
I hid my eyes beneath my hand and waited for the explosion.
It didn’t come. Instead, my father extended his hand. “I’m Sarah’s father, John.”
“Very nice to meet you, sir.” Boone shot my mother one of his panty melting smiles. “That must mean you’re Sarah’s mother. It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”
“Yes, um, you too.” She looked about to explode with a hundred questions.
I needed to cut her off before she unleashed them on Boone.
“Um, I’m sorry. Were there napkins over there?” I asked. “I’m just afraid of getting messy.”
“Jeez. Can’t believe I forgot them. Stay here. I’ll be right back.” Boone shot off, gone in a second.
I knew he’d be back just as fast, which didn’t leave me much time.
“Who—” my mother began.
“Mom. Please. Don’t make a big deal out of it. He’s just the live-in help I hired to watch Stewie.”
Even as I said it, I knew that wasn’t true. Calling him just the help was a betrayal of Boone and what we had together. I had to tell her the truth and face the consequences, no matter what they might be.
“And we’re seeing each other too. It’s still kind of new.”
“Really?” my mother exclaimed, while my father looked like he’d rather be anywhere else than here. “And exactly how old is this boy?”
Here we go.
I braced myself and said, “He’s twenty-six.”
She pursed her lips and nodded. “Well, good for you.”
What?
Had I fallen off my high heels and hit my head? Because my mother could not possibly be on board with this relationship.
Could she?
Boone set a few napkins on the table as well as another plate full of assorted appetizers. “I brought more, in case your mom and dad are hungry.”
He was a charmer. Just maybe, he’d charmed some niceness into my mother. And if that were the case, I was holding on to Boone and never ever letting him go.
I glanced up at him.
Boone caught me staring and smiled. It sent a spear of heat through me.
I crooked a finger to him. He leaned low and I whispered, “Shalene is with Stewie for the night. What do you say you and I get a room?”
His eyes widened. “Fork, yes.”
I laughed at his obscenity subs
titute.
There’d be plenty of forking tonight. And I couldn’t wait.
TWENTY-FOUR
Boone
“Mmm, mmm. I do love that little sundress you’re wearing.” I watched her walk down the staircase as I considered turning her right back around and taking her to the bedroom.
Sarah frowned at me as she reached the bottom step. “Don’t suck up to me, Boone Morgan. I’m still annoyed with you.”
“Noted,” I said, fighting a smile.
She shot me a glare. “Next time you get the bright idea to invite my parents over for the day, talk to me first. Then, don’t do it. You have no idea what we’re in for. My mother is going to pick this town and this house apart. And we’ll be lucky if she stops there and doesn’t move on to you and me.”
“They deserve to spend time with Stewie. He’s their grandchild and now that your father is better, they want to see him. It’s understandable.”
She scowled.
“It’ll be fine. You’ll see,” I continued, trying to appease her, even though seeing Sarah angry made me want to bend her right over the kitchen table.
Although, to be honest, I kind of always wanted to do that.
She shook her head. “You’ll see. I’m right. It’s going to be hell.”
I grabbed her around the waist as she tried to stalk past me to the kitchen. “How about we make today a little more interesting with a wager?”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “It’s going to be interesting enough already but okay, sure, fine. What did you have in mind?”
My mind ran wild with ideas. So many things I could ask for. Amazing, tantalizing things. One in particular came to mind.
“All right. If I’m right and today goes smoothly with your parents you have to use that toy you have hidden in the bedside table drawer in front of me.”
Her eyes flew wide. “You went in my drawer?”
“I needed somewhere to hide the mega-size box of condoms from Stewie, so yeah, I did. Believe me. I had no idea it was your sex toy drawer.”
“It’s not—”
I cocked my brow high and cut off her denial.
“I only own one,” she mumbled.
“Don’t worry. We can go shopping and remedy that.” I grinned. “Now, if, by some chance, today goes badly, what do you get?”
She had to think a little too hard about it for my liking. Apparently, she had no unfulfilled fantasies when it came to me. I wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.
Finally, she met my gaze. “There is one thing I want.”
“Yes . . .”
“Can you get your friend who owns this house to let me keep it for longer?”
My heart rate sped like a horse out of the gate at Saratoga. I swallowed and tried to keep my cool. “How much longer?”
“For the whole six months my sister will be away. Maybe seven, in case she’s delayed.”
I drew in a breath, fighting how excited I was at this news. “You know, you’re going to need someone to take care of Stewie during that time too.”
She nodded. “Mmm, hmm. Know anybody who’s available?”
“Fork, yeah, I do.” I swung her up into my arms and spun her around.
It didn’t matter whether I won or lost today’s little bet, I was a winner either way. Sarah was sticking around for six whole months. Maybe seven.
“Your front door is wide open.” Her mother’s voice had me setting Sarah down and turning.
“Mrs. Connelly. Glad you found the place okay.”
“Hello, Mother. The door was not wide open. I unlocked it an hour ago when Boone’s friend dropped off dessert.”
“Store-bought dessert? Humph. I would have made something if you’d asked.”
Sarah shot me a glance ripe with a silent I told you so.
Time to take control of the situation.
“Definitely not store-bought. My friend’s a baker and her stuff is amazing. Wait until you taste it. Can I get you two something to drink? Or do you want a tour of the house first?” I asked.
“The house needs a paint job,” she said.
I nodded. “The exterior does. Yes. I’ve been concentrating on the inside. I’ll get to the outside soon enough.”
“You’re a painter and a nanny?” she asked as her husband moved to check out the stained glass in one of the living room windows.
“Among other things.” I smiled even though I could see I was well on my way to losing the bet. “So, what would you like?”
“What I would like is to see my grandson,” she said.
“That I can do.” I turned toward the back door and saw Sarah had already slipped away into the kitchen and was currently filling a glass with white wine.
I leaned close and whispered on my way past, “Might want to throw some OJ in there. It’s barely noon.”
“I’m saving the orange juice for the vodka when I finish this bottle of wine.”
“Alrighty.” I nodded.
Definitely should have asked her before I invited them for a visit today. Lesson learned.
I opened the back door. “Stewie! Come in. Your grandma and grandpa are here.”
He looked at me like he had no idea who I was talking about.
Sarah leaned past me, glass in hand. “Nanna and Poppy.”
That spurred him into action, his little legs running toward the house, and I realized I didn’t know as much about this family as I’d thought.
“My mother refused to be called grandma. Said it made her sound old,” Sarah explained.
Yup. Today was going to be interesting.
I slid the back door closed and turned to see Sarah’s mother bent over talking to Stewie. “So you’re going to have so much fun at Nanna and Poppy’s house when you come and stay with us.”
Stewie shook his head. “Don’t want to. I like it here.”
“Your mommy wanted you to stay with us. But Poppy got sick. Now that Poppy is better, we can take you home with us today.”
Whoa. What was this? They were going to take Stewie? Today?
I shot Sarah a glance. She’d gone pale, her face showing she was as disturbed by this as I was.
If they took Stewie, she’d have no reason to continue commuting three hours a day to work and back from Mudville.
And I wasn’t crazy enough to believe that after only a week’s worth of incredible sex that she’d pick up her life and stay here just for me.
“Nonononono!” Apparently, Stewie didn’t like the idea any better than the rest of us.
I didn’t know what to do about Sarah’s mother, but I did know how to handle the kid. I scooped him up in my arms and ran up the stairs.
In his room I sat him on his bed and squatted down so I was level with him. “Hey. Listen to me. We’re gonna work this out. Okay?”
The tears in his eyes nearly broke me. This wasn’t just a temper tantrum. He was genuinely upset.
“Don’t want to leave.” His little voice trembled.
“I don’t want you to leave either.”
He reached out and wrapped his arms around my neck. “Love you, Boone.”
That was it. Now I had tears in my own damn eyes. “I love you too, buddy.”
“Don’t let them take me.”
“I won’t.” And now I was making promises I couldn’t keep. I drew in a breath and let it out, pulling away from Stewie enough I could look him in the eye. “Can you stay up here and play with your toys for a few minutes so the grown-ups can talk?”
He nodded as if he trusted in me completely. I only hoped I could prove worthy of that trust and figure this out.
I was halfway down the stairs when I spotted Sarah in a face-off with her mother. “He’s happy here.”
“He’s three. He’ll be happy wherever he is.”
Sarah shook her head. “No. Stewie’s staying here. With me.”
Her mother laughed. “I don’t know why you’re even arguing. You’re turning forty. It’s obvious you don’t want children of your own.
And you hired help to take care of him. So why don’t you let someone with some actual experience take over?”
I stopped halfway across the living room, not moving as I watched Sarah draw in a breath and shake her head.
“Mother, I’m not going to argue with you. Stewie’s not going anywhere. That’s all. You can visit him whenever you want but he’s staying here until Liza gets home. Now, let’s try and have a nice day together. Shall we?”
“I’m not—” her mother began.
Sarah’s father placed a hand on his wife’s back. “The boy’s happy here with Sarah. He’s staying here. Case closed.”
Once Sarah recovered from her obvious surprise that her father had stood up to her mother, she smiled. “Thanks, Daddy.”
The man turned and found me, frozen in place as I watched the family fight. “I’ll take that drink now.”
“Yes, sir.” I was ready to down a few myself after this.
I had completely misjudged today and I’d so lost this bet.
No vibrator sex for me, but Sarah and Stewie were staying and that was all that really mattered.
“I’ll help with the drinks.” Sarah followed me to the kitchen.
I didn’t need the help, but she no doubt needed some time away from her parents.
In front of the fridge, I grabbed her and pressed a hard kiss to her lips.
I broke away and shot a quick glance at the doorway to make sure the coast was clear before I said, “You were amazing in there. You kept your cool but you were firm and decisive. Just perfect.”
“Thank you.” She smiled. “And I win the bet.”
“Yeah, you do. But you should know I would get you this house and stay here with Stewie for as long as you want me to whether I lost or not.”
Her lips twitched. “And you should know if you whip out that vibrator tonight, there’s no way I’m saying no to using it with you.”
My heart swelled, along with someplace else.
I’d been hoping she’d say that. I cupped her face between my hands and leaned in for another kiss.
“Oh my God! Is that a pig on a leash walking down the road? Now I know I’m really in the sticks.” Her mother’s exclamation put a halt to our kiss.
“Petunia must be out for a walk,” I said.