Well, shit.He shifted his hips to adjust the insta-boner her words inspired, and when he moved into the elevator, he backed her into the corner as the door slid shut.
“You want to know what I really dream about?” He pressed closer to her until their bodies touched from chest to hips. “I dream about you and me naked on a blanket, your hair spread out like a fan as we make love under that old willow tree.” He stroked his thumb along her jaw. “So, I told you mine. Now it’s your turn to tell me yours.”
“My dreams?” She swallowed so hard, you could hear it in the quiet elevator. “I dream we—”
Ding. The door slid open, but he ignored it until he heard someone clear their throat.
Boone turned to stand in front of Luna, and she craned her neck to see around him.
“Shit.” His head dropped forward on a sigh.
“Mind if I ask what the hell is going on here?” Caleb O’Halleran, her sister’s extremely protective husband, the man who considered Luna another sister, loomed like a dark thundercloud outside the elevator. His hands were fisted at his sides, and his feet were set apart like he was preparing for battle. “You okay, Luna?”
What the fuck?
“Of course she’s okay.” Boone was disappointed. How the hell could Caleb think he’d do anything to hurt her? “Jesus, Caleb, what the fuck did you think I was doing to her?”
“Caleb, you’re being ridiculous.” Luna actually shifted to put herself in front of Boone and crossed her arms.
“Lunaaa.” Boone growled at her unnecessary show of bravado on his behalf. He put a hand on each of her narrow shoulders and gently moved her aside.
“What?” She glanced at him, clueless about what she’d just done.
“He’s growling like that because you put yourself between him and a perceived threat.” Caleb’s right eyebrow lifted. “I thought we talked about that.”
“Like I said, you’re being ridiculous.” Luna crossed her arms again and mean-mugged him.
A heavy silence hung between them for what seemed liked minutes until Caleb broke the tension.
“Ha! I’m just fuckin’ with you guys.” His entire demeanor changed in an instant, and he was back to his easygoing self. “You should’ve seen the look on your faces.” He laughed a little too hardat their expense.
“You aresucha jerk.” Luna’s words held no bite, especially when she followed them up by leaving the sanctuary of the elevator to give her brother-in-law a hug.
“Hey, kid.” He draped his arm lazily over her shoulders and gave her a little shake. “How’s it going?”
She just rolled her eyes and shook her head, though she appeared to be stifling a small smile.
“Jesus, Caleb.” Boone stepped out into the foyer and shook his hand. “For a minute there, I thought you might start throwin’ fists.”
The elevator whispered shut behind them.
“Naaah.” He gave a dismissive flick of his wrist. “Dawn and I are trying for another kid, and I’ve been practicing my mean face, just in case we ever have a daughter.”
“Well, it worked.” Boone hadn’t been excited about the idea of scrapping with Caleb.
For one thing, the man might act like a laid-back beach bum, but he was a hell of a fighter. Secondly, he would’ve hated for Luna to be caught between Boone and family.
But he wasn’t going to let anything or anyone come between them.
“I didn’t know you guys are trying to get pregnant again.” Luna’s face displayed a mixture of concern and excitement. “But aren’t you worried? I mean, Dawn had a tough time delivering Cade.”
“Her doc says she’s good to go,” Caleb said. “If she’d given us even the slightest indication something could happen to your sister, there’s no way in hell I would be okay with her taking that risk. Especially after what Jonathan went through.”
He noticed the confused look on Boone’s face.
“Jonathan’s first wife died during premature labor. She had some kind of dangerous preexisting condition she never told him about. Their baby, Ashling, almost didn’t make it.” Caleb tucked his fingers in his front pockets. “My brother was at a forwarding operating base in Afghanistan when it happened.”
“Shit.” Boone had no idea Jonathan had been married before.
