Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

JULY

I cannot stop staring at him. He is so hot. Like a young hot Kerr Smith from Dawson’s Creek. Yeah, you heard me. My eyes have literally been caressing him since we began driving and I had a free moment to stare. His arms are corded and tan. Hell, even his hands are sexy.

“Is there anything you need to maybe stop at the store and get?” he asks, glancing at me for a yet again turning back to the road.

“I don’t think so. You’re so sweet for asking. Again.” I tease him since he has asked me this question four times in twenty minutes,

“Well that’s good to know. Hey, I never asked you where you are staying.” Giggling, I shake my head because both of us are nuts.

“Oh my gosh. You’re right. I got a place above the bar.”

“That is what I figured since you said you knew no one and I know there are no other places for rent. Glad I was right because we are here.” I look up and see the sign for the Saloon and I have to admit it is more old school than I was expecting.

“Not what you expected huh?”

“How can you tell?” I ask him, feeling my face warm up.

“The look of shock on your face.” Yeah he got me there. “I am shocked you didn’t know but this town is a throwback to the days when everything was simple. They are working toward modernizing it, but I think the town folks are trying to keep its basic simplicity.”

“Wow. That’s amazing.”

“Have you lived here all your life?” I ask him, walking toward the building with him. He has my suitcases in his hand.

“No. I actually grew up in Vermont. My ancestors settled here and are one of the founding families, but no, I didn’t have the privilege.”

“So what brought you back now?”

“My older cousin, Jude, runs our family business and he lives here with his wife and kids. He is mentoring me so that I can join the business as well.” Disappointment fills my gut because his words sink in like concrete. He is only here temporarily.

“Ah I see. Well, I am going to grab my key and settle in. It was nice to meet you, Boone and thanks for the lift.” I am trying to get away from him as quickly as possible because stupidly, I want to bawl my eyes out that the first guy I met, the one that made me feel butterflies is not going to be here for very long. How lame am I? He looks at me confused I’m sure because I just flipped on him like a damn night light, but he really got to me. Like really.

“Go out for dinner with me tonight. I could show you around, introduce you to some people.” He steps closer and tucks my hair behind my ear. “I could just listen to you talk.” He says that part so low I almost miss it, but I don’t. “God, you’re beautiful,” he says now closer to me.

“Boone,” I say his name on a sigh because the closer he gets the more drugged I become. I feel as if I am swaying. I drop my eyes from his to bring some sense back into my head. “I don’t know,” I say, shrugging my shoulders. “I think I should unpack and take advantage of the daylight and surf the town.” It’s true. I am so excited to get used to the new place I am going to call home.

“Sure. That makes sense. Well, I can help you with that.” He grabs my hand, pulls me over to the window. Opening the window, he encourages me to lean my head out. “Lean out the window and look around.” Heart racing because I feel like this is some sort of horror movie test where the stupid girl either does what the cool guy says, so she looks experienced, or she chickens out and makes it to the end of the movie. “Come on, July. Trust me.” And apparently I am going to be the stupid girl.

Taking a deep breath, I lean my head out, take a deep breath and look around. “Okay, now what?'' I ask him actually enjoying this.

“Well, now you’ve seen Hollow’s Hollow.” Shocked at his words I turn to look at him, but the serious look on his face makes me laugh and once again I know I can be safe with him. “So then what do people do in this town?” I am curious. I want to know everything. I am expecting him to say something like, have dances or farm or something. But no, he says something else.

“Make babies.” My head whips back toward him waiting for him to crack a smile but he doesn’t.

“You’re serious?” He nods and smirks at me.

“You’ll see.” I feel like I am blinking incessantly for a moment before he pulls me closer to him. “Don’t worry, we have plenty of time for that.” Sweet mother of mercy. I lick my lips which are suddenly dry and in need of moisture. Then his face gets serious. “Say you’ll have dinner with me, July. I can’t just walk away.” he says, leaning into my ear. “I won’t. Have dinner with me.” Oh God. I was strong before this. Now, I am weak.

“Yes. I’ll have dinner with you.” So, so weak.

“Two hours, baby. You, me, and Charleston,” are his parting words before he walks out of the door. As soon as the door shuts, I am jumping up and down squealing. Yeah. I’m just going to go with it.