Boone darted a quick glance at Grace. Although it was awkward, he needed to bring up the other matter. He cleared his throat and turned his gaze back to the road. “I also need to say I’m sorry for putting you in the midst of a family squabble. I hope it wasn’t too uncomfortable.”
He could feel the heat of Grace’s gaze. “I would think it was a whole lot more uncomfortable for you, what with Honor putting your business out there.”
“Honor thinks I sabotaged her plans to elope with her high school boyfriend based on my own...er, situation. That’s far from the truth. As a law enforcement officer, I had no intention of allowing my baby sister to marry a petty thief. This guy had a rap sheet for breaking and entering, as well as underage drinking.”
“So were they in love?”
Boone shrugged. “They were eighteen. Who even knows what love is it at that age?” He let out a sharp laugh. “I didn’t know squat about love when I was their age.”
“Hmm. I see,” Grace said in a cryptic voice.
“What do you see?” Boone asked, feeling a little prickly. It was still a touchy subject for him since he hadn’t yet been able to mend their relationship.
“I see why she’s so upset with you. Not only did you get in the way of her plans, but you failed to acknowledge that she loved this man. That must have stung like crazy. To lose the man you love and to feel discounted by your older brother. Then to be sent away. That’s a lot to swallow.”
Boone shocked himself by not driving off the road into a ditch. Grace was siding with Honor? The way she made it sound, he came off looking like the bad guy. That was a first. More times than not he was hailed as a hero in town for saving Honor from disgrace and a teenage elopement. Not to mention how he’d paid for four years of college and a year of grad school.
Grace continued. “What I also see is that your sister is still immature, ungrateful and a tad on the rude side. She’s also very sad. I could see it in her eyes.”
Honor was sad? That gutted him. He felt partly, if not fully, responsible. Over the years he’d tried to justify his actions by telling himself that he’d rescued her from a life of ridicule and poverty and disgrace. But he’d never paused to ask if she was really and truly in love with Joshua.
He let out a ragged breath. “I hate to think of her that way. Before...she was always Little Miss Sunshine. The brightest light in the room.”
“I’m sorry about...well, you know. What Honor said about your girlfriend stepping out on you. Clearly, she spoke out of anger, but it was all kinds of wrong for her to bring that up.”
Grace didn’t know the half of it! He wasn’t about to tell her the nitty-gritty details of Diana’s grand deception or how it had affected him. It might fall under the category of “too much information.” At the time it had felt as if his heart might shatter. He’d come to realize that his pride had been hurt more than anything. It was hard to hold your head up high as a law enforcement officer when the whole town knew you’d been played for a fool. Now at least he could discuss it without feeling as if a knife was lodged in his back.
“It’s water under the bridge. Diana actually did me a favor. I’d been looking at engagement rings for a few months before I discovered she was running around with a high school buddy of mine. Finding out someone betrayed you and lied to you over and over again is difficult to process. It was painful, but it’s better I found out before we walked down the aisle, right?”
He cast a glance at Grace. She resembled a deer caught in the headlights. For a woman who appeared to have an opinion about everything, she seemed at a loss for words. Rather than speak, she simply nodded her head. They settled into the silence, with Grace peering out the window as he navigated the snow-packed roads with all the finesse and care of a man who’d grown up in Alaska and knew the inherent dangers of the wintry weather.
“You don’t owe me any apologies, Boone.” Grace’s voice cut into the silence. “You came to find me in the woods and took me to your brother’s house for medical treatment. After all that he’s lost and with everything he’s going through, Liam didn’t have to open up his home to me. But he did. That means a lot to me. What happened between you and Honor was real. Frankly, I wish my family was more like yours.”
Grace’s voice sounded so poignant, it stirred something deep inside him.
“Your family doesn’t hash things out?”
“No,” she said in a quiet voice. “They stuff everything down so they won’t have to deal with it. But it only serves to create distance between us. We’re like pieces of drift ice, all floating near each other without ever connecting.”
Boone pulled into the Black Bear Cabins and put the car in park in front of Grace’s cabin just as she voiced her truths about her family.
“I’m sorry about that,” he said, turning toward her. “Connections with the people around us make our lives better... They make us stronger.” In profile, her expression appeared contemplative. She didn’t look in his direction. Instead she gazed down at her lap and fumbled with her bandaged fingers.
“It’s no big deal,” she muttered.
He reached out and lifted her chin up with his fingers. “Isn’t it?” he asked, instantly realizing he was in way over his head now that he’d touched Grace. The feelings she evoked in him were akin to a punch in the gut. An electric current flowed between them. Her full, ruby lips parted as if she knew instinctively where this was going. He moved toward Grace so that their faces were within inches of each other. The urge to kiss her was undeniable. Just as he was about to lower his head to plant a kiss on Grace’s lips, the sound of someone screaming her name shattered the tranquillity of the moment.
Grace closed her eyes in anticipation of Boone’s kiss. The truth was, she’d been wanting this kiss since the first time she laid eyes on him.
“Grace. I think Sophie is trying to get your attention.”
Boone’s voice jolted her out of her reverie. He wasn’t kissing her. Why wasn’t the sheriff of Love kissing her?
Her eyes fluttered open. Instead of gazing in her direction, Boone was staring at something outside of the passenger side window. Then she heard it. “Grace! Grace!” Sophie’s voice washed over her like a trombone.
She turned to look out her window. Sophie was standing there, snow falling all around her as she waved her arms in the air and screamed out her name. Grace let out a sigh. Sophie looked so endearing and sincere. Grace couldn’t even be upset with her for busting up the romantic mood between her and Boone.
Grace turned back toward Boone. If she wasn’t mistaken, he looked a little irritated. There were slight shadows under his eyes and a look of fatigue stamped on his face. It had been a long day for both of them.
“I guess we should call it a night,” Boone drawled, his dark eyes glinting in the light from the cabins.
“Thanks for everything,” she said, suddenly feeling shy in the aftermath of their almost kiss.
It had been an almost kiss, hadn’t it? Unless of course she’d read the whole thing wrong. Oh, no! She’d closed her eyes and parted her lips. What must he think of her?
“Let me get the door for you.” Boone stepped down from the truck and quickly made his way around to her door. Once he opened it, he took her hand as she stepped down.
“Oh, Grace. I’ve been so worried about you.” Sophie reached out and wrapped her arms around her. Although she’d never considered herself a hugger, it was nice to be greeted so warmly by Sophie. After so many years of feeling like she didn’t matter, she suddenly felt as if she did. This sensation might even trump the discomfort and fear she’d experienced being lost in the Nottingham Woods.
“Thanks for sending the cavalry to the rescue. If you hadn’t raised the alarm, I’m not sure what might have happened.” She shivered at the thought of it. It was nice, she realized, having connections with people who cared
about your well-being. She’d never had a security blanket before.
Sophie beamed at her. “I’ve got your back. What are girlfriends for?”
“Ladies, you should get inside,” Boone advised. “Grace shouldn’t be exposed to frigid temperatures right now.” After waving at Boone, Sophie tugged on Grace’s arm and led her toward the porch.
All of a sudden Grace remembered something she’d forgotten to tell Boone. Something important. She turned around and called out to him. “Boone. Wait.”
He stopped in his tracks as she walked over to him. His big brown eyes were full of curiosity. “You’re a great big brother. Any girl would be blessed to have you.” The words came out in a rush. “I just wanted to tell you that.” Even though she believed he could have handled things better with Honor and her boyfriend, she admired the way he loved and protected his little sister. It was clear he had her best interest at heart. He needed to know that.
Boone nodded in acknowledgment. He grinned at her, showcasing a pearly smile. “That means a lot. Thanks for telling me. Good night, Gracie.”
With a self-conscious grin, she walked toward Sophie, who was standing on the porch with an all-knowing smile on her face.
Boone had called her Gracie. No one in her life had done that since her grandfather. Not ever! She wasn’t a Gracie! Or was she? Ever since she’d arrived in Love, she hadn’t felt like Grace Corbett of New York City. It was the oddest feeling. It was as if she’d reinvented herself the moment she arrived in Alaska. Gracie was kinder and gentler and more open to the world around her. She prayed to God and, even though she wasn’t certain of it, she thought He might be listening.
So much had happened today. She felt as if a door had been pushed wide open. Now she knew what made Boone tick. His love for his family and his desire to protect them defined him. And much like herself, he’d been betrayed by the person he loved. She’d tried to summon the courage to tell him about her own heartbreak, but she hadn’t wanted to see the look of pity in his eyes when she told him about Trey and being jilted at the altar. As humiliating as that had been, it was even worse that her own family had tossed her aside in the aftermath. It made her feel guilty knowing he’d laid it all out there for her while she’d kept quiet about her own past.
Finding out someone betrayed you and lied to you over and over again is difficult to process.
Boone’s words were now seared into her consciousness. He’d been burned before by a woman who’d lied to him. And even though there was a world of difference between herself and Diana, she was operating in a really murky area. She was pretending to be something she wasn’t.
It didn’t feel great allowing Boone to believe she was in town as a participant in Operation Love. She wasn’t in town to find love. Not even close. She was here to study the residents of this lovelorn town and to write a series of articles about her findings for the Tribune. That was her truth in black and white. There really weren’t any shades of gray in this situation.
She hadn’t expected to meet someone like Boone. He was heroic and strong, and he’d stepped in on several occasions to rescue her. There was a tenderness about him that he tried to hide. But she saw right through his rough edges. They’d almost shared their first kiss tonight. And even though she wanted to lock lips with Boone more than she wanted her next breath, she knew it would only lead her further astray from her goal. For the next six weeks she needed to keep her eyes on the prize and not on the handsome sheriff of Love!
Chapter Seven
“Why don’t you just take a picture of Grace? It might last longer,” Declan teased. His blue eyes were filled with amusement. Little crease lines surrounded his mouth and eyes as he teased Boone for watching Grace work in the Moose Café a couple days after her adventure.
“Don’t you have a sightseeing tour lined up?” Boone asked, his eyes straying right back to Grace. She looked prettier than ever today, even though she was wearing a brown T-shirt with a moose on it. He shook his head and chuckled. Cameron and his corny Moose Café T-shirts!
Declan took a bite of his sandwich and washed it down with a glass of milk. “They canceled. Plus, it’s way more fun to sit here and watch you get all goo-goo eyed over the new girl.”
Boone gave Declan his most forbidding scowl. “I’ve never been goo-goo eyed in my life.”
“There’s a first time for everything,” Declan said, his lips twitching with mirth. “I like this Grace Corbett. She mellows you out.”
Boone shifted his gaze back toward Grace. He watched as she gracefully placed one hand on her hip. She had a pot of coffee in the other. Boone knew he should be listening to Gunther and Abel as they read their love letters aloud to him and Declan. He’d agreed to give them his opinion. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Grace as she moved from table to table refilling coffee cups. Perhaps he was getting his fill now since she hadn’t been at work yesterday. Cameron, feeling guilty that he hadn’t stepped in and stopped Jasper from being Grace’s tour guide, had given her the day off work to rest. It was a good thing, too, since she still had a few bandages on her fingers.
He’d been forced to face the cold hard truth yesterday when he’d arrived at the Moose Café and realized he wouldn’t be seeing Grace. The ache inside him had been acute. He’d felt deprived of her company. His thoughts had drifted in her direction all day long. He’d never admit it to his best friend in a million years, but he was right. He was goo-goo eyed over Grace Corbett. For so long he’d prayed for the Lord to send him a woman who could move his heart. Never in a million years had he expected God to send him a woman like Grace.
She was a beautiful city girl who seemed to be a mass of contradictions. Girly, but as tough as nails. Sweet, but sassy. Smart, yet impractical when it came to wearing high-heeled shoes in Alaska. Friendly, yet a bit guarded.
As Grace moved toward their table, her eyes locked with his. He felt a warmth spreading across his chest. An awareness flared between them. Not for the first time, he kicked himself for not planting a kiss on Grace’s lips the other night. The past two nights he’d lain awake thinking about it. He’d imagined how it would feel to kiss her, and if it was something Grace wanted as badly as he did. If he was reading the signals right, she felt something for him. Something he wanted to explore.
“Roses are red, violets are blue. I can’t wait to spend some more time with you.” Gunther beamed as he finished reading his letter and placed it down on the table. “What do you think? I’m going to give it to her right before the ice-skating social.”
Abel shook his head vigorously. “It’s real solid. She’ll love it.”
Lionel pulled up a chair, sat himself down and gave Gunther a thumbs-up.
“I think she’ll be mighty pleased with that prose,” Boone said.
“Sounds like something I got in second grade on Valentine’s Day,” Declan muttered as Boone lightly kicked him under the table.
Grace reached for a coffee cup and began to fill it up. “Gunther. You’re hoping to land the girl of your dreams. Am I right?”
“Yes, Grace. Wanda is my everything. She thinks I need to be more romantic, so I want to show her that I can rise to the challenge.”
She pointed her finger at Gunther’s poem. “No offense, but that right there is not going to seal the deal.”
Gunther frowned. “No?” His shoulders sagged. “What’s wrong with it?”
Grace shook her head and looked around the table at each of them. “You men just don’t get it, do you? Letters are incredibly romantic.” She sighed “There’s nothing like receiving a nice, crisp envelope in the mail and being able to sit back and lose yourself in someone’s flowery sentiments about you. Women want to be romanced. Wooed. Courted. We want someone to make us feel as if we’re the earth, moon, sun and the stars.”
“That’s the way I feel about Wanda,�
�� Gunther said. “I’ve waited my whole life for someone like her.”
Grace bestowed a stunning smile on Gunther. “Then tell her. Use your words and show her how she makes you feel. Here.” She placed her hand over her heart. “I’m a pretty good letter writer if you need some help.”
“Would you?” Gunther leaned forward in his chair, his expression radiating excitement.
“Of course I will. I’ll have to wait for my break, though. The boss can be a bit of a grouch,” she said in a stage whisper. Boone wanted to laugh out loud at the comical expression on her face.
“I could use some help, too,” Lionel piped up. “Don’t leave me hanging. I’d love to do something to get Anabel’s attention.”
“Oh, Lionel. I’d never leave you in the lurch,” Grace said, reaching out and touching Lionel’s arm. “I’d love to hear all about your courtship. How you met, what made you think she was the one, where you see things going.”
Boone didn’t like the feeling of possessiveness sweeping over him. It annoyed him to no end. He shouldn’t have the sudden urge to knock his friend’s chair over, should he? Why should his gut tighten at the sight of Grace sitting next to Lionel, Abel and Gunther as she helped them with their love letters?
He tried to look away, but he found his eyes glued to the graceful curve of her neck and her onyx locks. A woman like Grace was all wrong for him. He imagined that a city girl like Grace would expect a man to buy her expensive shoes or take her on shopping sprees. He was a simple man with a very ordered, uncomplicated life. Any woman who thought she could lead him around by the nose was in for the surprise of her life.
So why did the mere sight of Grace cause his belly to clench up? And why was he filled with so much regret about not kissing her the other night?
The one thing he didn’t regret were the emotions roaring through him. It had been ages since he’d experienced anything remotely like this. And it made him feel more present and more alive than he’d felt in years. As much as he loved his siblings, he’d sacrificed his own personal life under the weight of all their issues. Although he didn’t regret a moment spent caring for them, he often wondered if he’d deliberately focused on their lives rather than on his own. Had it been his way of staying out of the danger zone?
An Alaskan Wedding Page 9
