by Kate Kisset
Had she been standing at the foot of the stage the whole show? Boone hadn’t noticed her.
“You,” she laughed, pointing, “Are. A. Player.” She raised her voice, sloshing her wine out of its clear plastic cup while people around them turned to stare.
Although she’d been coming to his shows, and they were on a friendly basis, they hadn’t had an official date since the day he saw Harrison propose to Becca at Palate in Billick. After realizing how profoundly the thought of Becca marrying someone else affected him, Boone stopped asking Nicole out.
“Let’s talk,” he responded calmly, ushering her by the elbow to his dressing room. He put on a pleasant, nothing-to-see-here-folks smile on his face as the crowd parted for them, congratulating him with pats on the back as he passed.
After what seemed like an eternity, they reached the privacy of Backstage One. Boone rushed Nicole inside, closing the door behind him.
“What’s up?”
“Are you ever going to admit you’re still into her?” Nicole set her drink on the counter.
Boone knew from the pitch of her voice that Nicole had downed more than her usual two-drink max. She wasn’t slurring her words, but it probably wouldn’t take much to set her off. The last thing he wanted was a scene.
“I see the way you look at Becca,” she smirked. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Boone appraised her, considering how to handle the situation. Was she jealous? She didn’t have any right to be.
“Please, Boone.” Nicole leaned against the wall, teetering in her heels. “Relax. I’m just telling it like it is.” She wobbled. “Just trying to be a friend here.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m not jealous, if that’s what your worried about.”
“You’re not?” He sighed in relief. “Well, good.”
She pushed off the wall unsteadily, and grabbed her cup. “Nope. I only went out with you at first because my sister wanted us to date brothers.”
“Wait. What?”
Nicole brushed the hair off her shoulder and straightened. “You heard me.” She took a sip eyeing him over the cup. “Christy begged me to go out with you, and it was fun for a few weeks. You’re a great guy, but—”
“I’m just not the right person for you?”
She grinned, lifting her cup to him in a toast. “Exactly.”
“Thank you, Jesus.” The knots in his shoulders began to dissipate. He took off his hat and ran a hand over his hair.
At least he’d tried. After Colt talked him into going out on double dates, he truly did try to keep an open mind with Nicole. “I’m glad we’re on the same page.” He closed the distance between them and gave her a hug.
“Congrats on your nomination, by the way, I know how hard you worked for it.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek before breaking from their embrace.
“Thanks. Do you want me to drive you home?”
“No, Christy’s driving. I think she broke up with Colt, by the way.”
“Oh great. He’s going to be in a good mood.” He chuckled sarcastically.
“I don’t think Colt is the settling down type.” She laughed. “And neither is my sister.” Nicole carefully set her cup on the counter, but still managed to spill some of her wine. “Towel. I think I need a towel.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it,” he said eyeing the fresh roll of paper towels right in front of her.
“Friend-to-friend, Boone,” she said, turning back to him. “You really should tell Becca how you feel.”
“Well, thanks,” he agreed, trying to keep a straight face, grateful for Nicole’s consideration. But he was way ahead of her. “Maybe I will.” He smiled, remembering last night in the car.
Nicole eyed him, as if she had to be sure he got the message loud and clear, and then left the room.
Boone let out a long sigh and after wiping up Nicole’s spill, sat down in the only chair. Enjoying the quiet, he stayed in the dressing room, and added a few more lines to Becca’s song, “Maybe It’s Me.” By the time he left Backstage One the last customers of the night were leaving.
He propped his arm on the bar, enjoying his unobstructed view of the employee closet while he waited for Becca. It didn’t take her long to file out of the kitchen with Linda and grab her things.
“Becca,” he called, rushing over just as she closed the employee closet door.
“Just the man I wanted to see,” she said, getting up on tiptoe and sneaking a kiss on his cheek. She slung her purse over her shoulder. “Congratulations on the nomination. Good show tonight. Do you have time to talk?” she asked, beckoning him to follow her.
“Of course,” he said as they made their way across the empty dance floor.
“Thanks for building my mom the panic room.”
“She told you about that?”
“No, I found it. Either way,” she said, with her eyes twinkling at him, “I can’t believe you did that. It was incredibly thoughtful of you.”
“I’m glad I could help.”
He opened the door for her, and she brushed past him saying, “You really are something.”
Becca made her way to her car and leaned against it, thankfully seeming to have all the time in the world.
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you all night.” He braced his hand on the hood of her car.
“Well, me first, okay?” Boone nodded as she unhooked her purse strap from her shoulder and set the bag on the hood. “Dang thing weighs about ten pounds.” She licked her lips and smiled. “I was very surprised to see that room in Mom’s house. I had no idea she was afraid to live alone out there. So thank you again.”
“Just because you were finished with me didn’t mean she was. I’ve always loved your mom, and I’m happy it gives her a little peace of mind.”
Becca nodded. “I love your mom, too. And congratulations again on your Country Gold nomination. Everyone thinks you’re going to win, hands down.”
“Wouldn’t that be something?” He’d been so consumed by thoughts of Becca he hadn’t taken the time to give the award serious consideration. “It’s a long shot, but wouldn’t that be insane? Thanks.”
“I’ll have my fingers and toes crossed during the entire ceremony.”
“Well I would hope so.” He beamed, taking her in, wondering if now was the right time to ask her to be his date.
“But there’s something else I need to tell you.” Her expression changed.
“And I need to talk to you too.” He glanced up at the streetlight. “I’m getting tired of having conversations with you in parking lots and bars. Why don’t we go to my place?”
She narrowed her eyes at him, and he could see the wheels spinning.
“You haven’t seen the remodel yet. You won’t recognize the house.”
“Okay,” she nodded. “What I have to tell you is important, so it would be better to not have to say it out here.” Becca grabbed her purse off the hood and fished for her keys. “I already know the way—”
“You asshole.” They both turned toward the slurring, belligerent voice. “Fucking prick.” Harrison stumbled around the corner into the parking lot, coming from the street.
“Gawd. You should call an Uber, Harrison.”
Her ex attempted to straighten. Making a monumental effort to stay upright, he approached Boone, sneering, on wobbly legs. “She broke up with me because of you, asshole!”
Boone shot a look at Becca. “You’re not together?”
She smirked, eyeing Harrison. “That was the first thing I needed to tell you.”
Chapter Fifteen
Pity mixed with disgust as she waited in uncomfortable silence for the Uber to arrive and take Harrison home. He'd never embarrassed her like this before, but as much as she tried to feel empathy for him, when he threw up in the planter box she wanted to smack him.
He was the one who proposed to her without even discussing the idea of getting married first. An
d when she said no, she tried to be kind, but Harrison threw the gauntlet down, insisting they break up, and refusing to ever speak to her again. What was she supposed to do? Marry him even though she knew it would be a mistake?
Barely able to stand, Harrison rested his forehead against The Owl’s back door, looking like he was trying to prop up the building with his head.
Afraid Harrison would fall flat on his face and break his neck, or pick a fight with one of the out-of-towners still loitering around the front of the building, Becca couldn’t leave him alone.
Boone didn't comment, and they kept to themselves until the Uber driver came and whisked Harrison home to Billick.
Finally in her car, dreading having to tell Boone she was moving to London, she followed him up the long, familiar driveway. He and his brothers lived on a fifty-acre ranch about forty-minutes outside of town. She must’ve made the same trek at least a thousand times before, but never felt this nervous.
And what did Boone want to talk to her about? How would he react to her and Harrison’s breakup?
She pulled up next to Boone’s truck on the smooth paved driveway and parked. The house took her breath away. Leaning over the wheel, she studied the large one-story with its expertly lit, immaculate garden. The sleek, modern-styled gray structure was a far cry from the charming old ranch house she used to visit.
After giving the house another cursory inspection, she grabbed her purse and got out of the car.
“I like what you've done to the place,” she kept the tone light, trailing Boone up the walkway.
“Wait until you see the inside.” He unlocked the front door and held it open as she stepped into a vast foyer leading directly into a gorgeous living room. The home’s interior mirrored the modern exterior, with smooth, clean lines, sparkling light fixtures, and furniture and fabrics in gray tones.
“Wow.” She made a full circle. “This is like something out of a magazine. Everything goes together perfectly, but it’s not too matchy-matchy. Did you hire someone to help you decorate?”
“I did. After I built the place and put all that money into it, I had no idea what to do with all the old furniture left over from my mom's house.” He laughed. “It looked hideous.”
“You’re right.” She chuckled. “I remember that bright gold couch with the red velvet flowers. Comfortable, but yeah, pretty awful.”
“Come in,” he urged, taking her purse and placing it on a console, “let me show you the kitchen. Can I get you anything? Water, a beer?”
He led her into a gleaming white kitchen that took her breath away. “This is so pretty.”
“Thanks.” He gestured to the marble topped center island and she slid onto a stool while he strolled to a massive fridge.
“What’ll it be?”
“Water would be great. If I have a beer, I’ll never make it home.”
He shot her a suggestive grin as he handed her a glass of ice water.
“Thanks.” She took a sip and watched him take a beer from the fridge. “I can’t believe how much work you put into this place.”
“Well, I decided I'm never going to leave Lonesome.” He took a drink and set the bottle down, propping his elbows on the island. He leaned in, explaining, “And since I’m going to stay right here, I decided I might as well make it the family home I always wanted. Even if I don’t have a family yet, I will eventually.”
He tipped his head down, like he was trying to find the right words, and then met her eyes. “You and Harrison were pretty close to starting a family.”
Becca choked, and quickly swallowed. “You were the one talking about having babies, not me.”
Boone pushed himself off the island. “You're the one who got engaged—not me.”
Becca straightened. “I never said yes to Harrison. I was never engaged.”
“You weren’t?”
“No. He shocked the crap out of me.”
Boone appeared stunned. Pausing a beat, he gave her a once-over. “Well, good. I’m glad. He wasn’t right for you. You would’ve been miserable.”
“What about Nicole? I know you two were dating.”
“Not for long. I stopped asking her out after Harrison proposed to you in the restaurant.”
“Ugh.” Her stomach turned. “I’m so sorry you had to see that. I had no idea what was coming, I swear.”
“It’s okay, it’s over,” he said in a gentle voice. “What’s important is right now.”
His sweet, tender expression brought tears to her eyes. “Boone, I have to tell you something.”
“Can it wait for just a minute?”
“But it’s important.”
“I know. And we’ll talk about it, whatever it is, but please, can I show you something first?”
He rarely used such a serious tone. She eyed him, trying to get a bead on his mood. Was he happy or worried? Becca couldn’t tell, “Okay.” She gulped. “Sure.”
“Stay right there.” Boone took off down a hallway.
She chugged her water, listening to him rustling around in another room while her pulse throbbed in her ears.
He came back holding a cardboard box and plunked it on the island in front of her.
Becca pushed her water to the side and studied the box. “Okay, I’m almost afraid to ask. Do you have a live animal in there?”
Boone chuckled, opening the box. “You’re half right,” he teased, digging his hand into the container and fishing out a small pink elephant.
A million memories flooded her brain as she reached out, taking the animal from his hands. She must’ve gone through twenty dollars that day at the fair to win it for him. She stroked the elephant’s faded, floppy ears and smiled. “I can't believe you still have this.” The tears she’d been holding back threatened to break the dam.
“And…” He reached into the box and retrieved a dried, crackly rose. “This,” he said, carefully placing the flower on the counter next to her.
“Lonesome’s Sweetheart Ball,” she said softly, touching the stem.
“And these,” Boone explained, pulling out a stack of Christmas, birthday, and Valentine’s Day cards.
“I’m in shock.” She thumbed through the memories thinking of all those cherished holidays with him while warm tears trickled down her cheeks. “You saved everything.”
“I tried to get rid of them. I even tossed the whole box in the garbage, and then changed my mind and went back outside in the middle of the night and rescued them. Throwing everything out felt too final.”
He came around to her side of the counter and leaned down so close she felt his breath against her cheek.
“Don’t cry, Becca,” he whispered, but she couldn’t stop because her heart was breaking.
“It isn’t over between us, Becca.”
“Boone, I...I”—how could she explain how much her life had changed in the past few days? “You have Stagecoach coming up. You’re headlining. It’s your dream.”
“Right, this month, April twenty sixth. I’d like you to be there.”
Tears poured down her face now, and the world became a blur. “And the Country Gold awards.”
“The twenty-fourth, in four days. Please don’t cry,” he said softly, kissing her tears away. “Come with me. Be my date.”
“But I c-can’t,” she wailed, trying to get the words out without falling apart. Her heart felt like it was being crushed.
“Why not?”
“I thought…” She dropped her head in her hands, and then looked into his sapphire eyes. “It doesn’t matter what I thought, Boone. I took that job.”
“The soccer pla—"
“Yes. That job in England. I leave for London on the twenty-fourth and start my new job on the twenty-seventh.”
He stared at her in silence, as if the words didn’t compute. Becca waited for him to say something, anything. The sight of his gorgeous face crumbling and his eyes watering was almost too much to bear.
“I don’t want to lose you again.” He cupped her cheeks in his hands. “I can’t,” he whispered against her lips.
“We can still be together.” She swallowed the lump lodged in her throat and tried to shake the sadness. “We can do the long-distance thing.”
Boone brightened with a glimmer of hope. “Facetime? Texts?”
“Yes, it’s only a year. We can get through this, can’t we?” Her voice cracked. “Don’t you think we can?”
“But we’ll be so far from each other.”
“But you won’t lose me Boone.”
“No, I will not, and you won’t lose me again, ever.” He straightened, scooping her off the stool and into his arms.
“Whoa.” She gasped, giggling, and clung on to him. “What are you doing?”
“You’re mine, Rebecca Barclay.” He nuzzled into her neck and sucked. “You’re staying with me every second we have together until you have to leave. Does that sound like a plan?” He laid her out on the couch, going straight for her skirt button.
“Plan,” she said, helping him, shimmying out of her skirt. There was no time for foreplay. And it didn’t matter if there was. She didn’t want it. Didn’t need it, she was already soaking. The only thing she wanted was Boone. She kicked off her tennis shoes and lifted her arms while he pulled her shirt off and unhooked her bra. And in seconds they were both naked in his living room, with only the moonlight from the glass doors to light the way.
“You,” she playfully grabbed him by the waist, “on your back.”
“I think I like where this is going,” he said, quickly shifting his position so she was on top now. Becca laughed, feeling a mixture of happiness that he was finally hers again, but still anguish that she’d have to leave him soon.
She licked her lips and straddled him, feeling him hard underneath her. Raising her eyebrows, she playfully rocked against him, angling her body, so his cock rubbed against her, just right. “You are not going to forget me.”
“Never,” he said, wrapping his arms around her, bringing her down over him for a long, slick kiss. Hot skin on skin, she pressed her breasts against his rock-hard chest, feeling his strong hands stroke down her back to her ass and up to the nape of her neck.