When he clears his throat, I realize I’m caught, just like the corner of my lip between my teeth. Thankfully when I get the nerve to meet his gaze, his mouth is curled as if he’s trying to hide a smile.
“Can I claim I was still slightly addled from my freakout or…”
Boone actually rolls his eyes and lets out a deep chuckle. “Please don’t ever stop surprising me.”
“I don’t think that will be a problem, because I keep on shocking myself.”
“Good, but Harlyn…” He approaches slowly, as if he’s worried I’m still in panic mode, and places the side of his knuckle under my chin, lifting so he’s sure he has my attention. “If you really don’t want to take anything, that’s fine, but my clothes are only going to go so far because we are leaving.”
“We? Where?” One of those questions intrigues me more than the other, and it isn’t about the destination.
Boone inhales as if he’s preparing to tell me something I’m not going to like. “You’re coming home with me.”
CHAPTER 19
Harlyn
The immediate elation I felt at Boone’s announcement disappeared when we had to drive past the guard shack cordoned off with police tape and surrounded by emergency vehicles. Guilt replaced it. Even now, while sitting next to Boone who shrugged into his jacket before locking up the condo and taking me to his hotel to gather his things, I can’t help but wonder what I’m getting him into.
He looks over at me as if he feels my eyes on the side of his face. I can’t help but notice that he seems too big for the connected chairs at the airport, but his size and demeanor seem to have an effect on the people around us. No one has tried to sit next to him, even though there aren’t many vacant seats, and he gets lots of looks. That’s not surprising since he is handsome, the kind of handsome that makes women think about things, like how he would look under them, or maybe that’s just me.
“You good?” His voice is pitched low and for my ears only.
“I…”
He presses his lips together and tilts his head. He appears certain he knows what I’m about to say, and he would have been right, because it isn’t the first time I’ve offered to fly across the country, or to another country entirely, so I don’t put him or anyone else in danger.
“Need to go to the bathroom,” I lie.
His eyes narrow. Damn, he is too smart.
“Really?” He couldn’t sound more doubtful.
“Yup,” I reply, committing to the untruth.
Boone looks down at his watch. “Might as well try since we should be boarding soon.”
“Meet you back here in two shakes.” I use the arms of the chairs to stand before adding, “Then we can talk about what a bad idea this is.”
“I knew it!” He makes it sound like a curse, but I just smile as I cross the thirty feet to the nearest restroom.
When I return, I stop mid-step. The seat Boone was occupying is now empty. My heart drops, but I tell myself he just went to the restroom as well and everything is fine.
“Harlyn.” I jump when I hear my name called over my shoulder.
“Good gravy, you startled me,” I accuse.
“Is that a Texas saying?” He ignores my reaction and focuses on the words I used.
“It’s a granny saying,” I counter and take the offered bottle of water he’s extending toward me.
“I like it.”
“I can’t believe I even said it.”
“Why? It’s cute.”
“Cute?” I widen my eyes at him.
