Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

BOONE

As soon as I walk out of her tiny apartment, I make some calls. My first call is to Susan Richards, Hollow’s Hollow’s only real estate agent. Suddenly, I am in the market for a house for my woman. She deserves the best and the tiny place above the bar isn’t it.

I make an appointment to start seeing places tomorrow, then head home. I thought today was going to suck, but I was wrong. I’ve got a date with her, and I’ll begin to make her mine. I walk into the kitchen and find Jude and Hannah kissing. She’s three months pregnant and glowing. A vision of July pregnant with my child flashes in my head and my knees almost buckle. I never thought about having kids before but now it’s all I can think about with her.

“You just went out for coffee. Where have you been?” Hannah asks when Jude lets her up for air. These two have been married since June of last year. Hannah was a mail order bride, technically. Her and her sisters came here to marry and imagine my surprise when every one of those marriages resulted in a love match. That’s what I want. I want to marry the woman I love and settle down here. While staying here wasn’t part of the original plan, I don’t want to go back home. The longer I’m here, the more I want stay.

“I had coffee,” I hedge not wanting to blurt out what’s in my head like a middle schooler.

“I wanted to discuss a potential new client with you,” Jude says, but I’m really not listening to him because all I can think about is July.

“What’s going on with you, cousin? You are distracted. You’re usually so eager to hear about work.”

“What?” I ask, shaking my head in an effort to clear it. It only kind of works.

“You’re distracted by something. What’s going on?” Jasper asks, again.

“I’ve met my wife.” Just saying it out loud makes me feel like a caveman. All I can think about is claiming her and making her mine in every way imaginable.

“OMG, that’s so adorable,” Hannah says, stirring something that smells delicious on the stove.

“Where did you meet her?” Jasper asks.

“A coffee shop in Charleston. Her car broke down and she needed a ride here.”

“Here?”

“Yeah. It was crazy. She’s moving here and I just happened to come to her rescue.

“It’s fate,” Hannah says.

“I agree,” I say.

“When can we meet her?” she asks excitedly, making me laugh.

“Soon. I’m taking her on our first date tonight.”

“Where are you taking her?”

“Charleston for dinner.”

“That’s nice. I’m sure she’ll love that. Is she from around here?”

“No, I don’t think so. I’ll learn everything about her tonight.”

“All tonight?” Hannah asks, laughing.

“All the important stuff, anyway,” I tell her.

I head to my room and take a shower. I’ve got two hours until the date that I know will change my life.

And I can’t wait.