Page 7 of The Story We Wrote

“No hole in the roof. Bugs are still to be determined.” Boone’s voice took over the space. He stepped further inside.

“I can manage.” I turned towards him, smiling from ear to ear. “Thank you, Boone. You have no idea the stress this took off my shoulders. I don’t know how even to begin to show my thanks.”

His eyes met mine, blueish green staring right through me. “No need. You’re the one doing us a favor.” We both had a lot to gain and a lot to lose if this didn’t work out. It was my priority to make this the best damn business investment the Cassidy’s ever made.

***

Boone and I didn’t hang around long after that. We made our way back to the main house, where his parents sat on the porch.

Jill sat in one rocking chair while Dan sat in the other. “What did you think?” Jill asked.

“I’m speechless. I’d love to accept the offer, as long as you didn’t change your mind when we were gone.” I tried to joke and Jill gave me a sympathetic laugh as she stood up to approach me with open arms.

“We would love to have you! You can start as soon as you’re ready.” I accepted her warm embrace, wrapping my arms tightly around her small frame.

“Thank you again,” I whispered in her ear while she held me in the hug. We exchanged phone numbers so I could contact her when I was ready to start working and move in.

Boone walked me to my car, which was quite gentlemanly of him. “Give me your phone,” Boone said, and I paused before opening my car door.

I reached into my purse, fishing out the device. Without hesitating, I handed it to him, and he began tapping on the screen.

When he finished, he said, “I added my phone number. Let me know if you need help moving.”

Grabbing my phone back, I smiled at what was on my screen. His contact read, “Hot Neighbor,” which he was totally right about. Hiding how true I thought that was, I sent a quick message to him so he would have mine as well. I felt like I was living in a movie; my high school self would be envious.

On my way home, I made a phone call to Wilders to tell them I’d be moving out sooner than planned. I didn’t need to live in the apartment past the shop’s closing. With Boone’s help, I would start moving into the cabin on Cassidy Ranch as soon as possible. The beginning of this new chapter in my life needed to start while I still felt on top of the world.

Five

Aspen

The week following dinner at Cassidy Ranch had been a blur. Between closing the shop and moving my stuff into the cabin, I had little time to decompress. Boone had been beyond helpful. If it weren’t for him, I’d still be stuck on the stairs hauling down the last box of books.

I worked up the courage to call my parents and told them about the move and new job. Of course, the questions started, which justified my reasons for keeping this change from them. That was the worst part, if I was confident in a decision I was making, I could always count on my parents to shut it down or make it sound stupid. At twenty-five, I found myself appeasing them at the expense of my own happiness. I wasn’t confident in my own choices and didn’t have the strength to stand up for myself.

When everything happened, moving in with them was never an option. I’d sleep on Penny’s couch before I dragged my sorry ass back home. Minimal phone calls and a visit here and there were what kept our relationship alive. I was the youngest, whichintensified the need to protect. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my parents. They provided everything I needed and gave me a stable childhood, but the intense control I experienced as a kid bled into my adulthood. It presented as low confidence and needing constant validation from those around me. I understood their questions and intrusion came from a good place, but it doesn’t make it any less stressful.

I was sitting on my porch swing tonight, drinking my favorite red wine and reading a book, the same smutty cowboy romance I’d been reading all week. Wes Ryder could respectfully get it.

The sun was setting, which meant Boone would be coming back home soon. I learned his routine in the few days I’d been living next door. He did, in fact, wake up earlier than most. I’d yet to witness one of his parties or see him in his boxers on the front porch, and that was a shame. However, this was my first Saturday night on the ranch, and something told me I might finally get to experience my first Boone Cassidy bonfire.

My legs were tucked beneath me; a blanket covered my exposed skin from the crisp night air. During the day, the May heat in Texas can be a bit much; however, at night, there was a coolness to the air. My hair was thrown up in a low bun, little pieces falling out to frame my face. I craved nights like this, where the sun cast a beautiful hue on the horizon while mountain ranges decorated the view. There was no way anything could get better than this.

The sound of an engine caught my attention as it came up the driveway. There was an access road that led to this side of the ranch and forked in two. One way took you to the cabins; the other took you to the stand. The stand and cabins were walking distance away. Though, there was enough space that it wasn’t a nuisance. I paused my reading and watched Boone’s truck approach his cabin. I waved towards him as he climbed out. Dirty boots and hat in hand, he strode towards me. I waswrong when I said nothing could be better because seeing Boone dressed like that wasdefinitelybetter.

Immediately, I covered myself more with the blanket. I had my pajamas on, which consisted of a worn t-shirt, no bra, and shorts that could probably pass as underwear.

Boone took a seat next to me. The swing moved back and forth as his body flopped down. “How are you settling in?” He asked, laying his hat on his bent knee. Relaxing back, his arms draped over the back. This man was hot, plain and simple. I didn’t need to come up with fluffy or creative words to describe his appearance becausedamn.

Boone looked at my shirt. It was clear I had nothing underneath. When he looked back at my face, I blushed furiously at his masculine attention, the kind of attention I wasn’t particularly used to.

“It’s going well,” I said, laying my book open on my leg to keep the page. “It’s quiet out here, peaceful.”

I took a moment to let my eyes wander in the distance, bringing my glass of wine to my lips. I felt Boone shift, and the pressure on my leg lessened. I realized then that Boone grabbed my book, opening up to the page I left off on. I didn’t make a move to grab it, instead I froze. Watching as he read a few pages, the anticipation was gnawing at me. Luckily, I didn’t leave off at a sex scene or love confession. When Boone was finished, he placed the book back on my leg the same way he retrieved it.

“What was that for?” I asked.

“That was the book you were reading when I came into The Coffee Cup,” He said. “I was curious. The guy on the cover looks a little like me, minus my mustache.”

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