by Erica Penrod
Boone put his hat on the ground, then reached up and touched her hair. “Thank God,” he said as he leaned in.
She closed her eyes as his warm lips pressed against her forehead. When she looked up, he was smiling. A warm sensation poured from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. A good sign she wouldn’t be lethargic forever.
He propped her body against one arm while he undid her hands with the other.
Her arms throbbed as she moved them forward and decided maybe numb was better.
“What …” She cleared her throat. “What happened?” she asked.
“I’ve got a cooler in the back of the truck,” Boone said. “Just a sec and I’ll grab you some water.”
Viv nodded, or at least she thought she did.
Boone was back in less than a heartbeat. “Here,” he said as he twisted the cap off. She tried to take the bottle, but she couldn’t get her hands to work. Boone lifted her head, put the bottle to her mouth, and poured slowly. Cold water spilled down her chin.
“Sorry,” he said as he wiped her face.
Viv leaned her head back against the seat. “It’s okay,” she said. “Wait … you didn’t bring a cooler to put my body in, did you?” she asked, and immediately regretted when she saw his face.
“That’s not funny,” he said as he put the lid back on the water. “Do you know how worried I’ve been … I mean … how worried your family has been about you?”
“I’m sorry,” she said. Suddenly, sleeping felt like a priority. She knew she should be asking questions, and she wanted to figure this out, but she couldn’t keep her eyelids from drooping.
“Get some rest,” Boone said. “You’re safe now.”
* * *
Boone hesitated to leave Viv in the car as he checked into the Marriott in Jackson Hole, but he didn’t have much of a choice unless he wanted to carry a comatose woman into the lobby. He hustled through the parking lot, checking for any signs of Alexandra, but he was confident she wouldn’t make another appearance today; she’d had her theatrical exit. Boone knew Alexandra wanted her message read loud and clear by him and by Amanda, so there would be time to deliver the threat.
Once he got the room number and key, he jogged to the car. He drove to the nearest entrance to the room and parked, grateful she hadn’t wakened to find him gone. He carried Viv up the stairs to the room, where he gently placed her on the bed and pulled off her boots. Her body curled into the pillow he tucked beside her, and he prayed she was lost in peaceful slumber and not a nightmare.
He grabbed a bottle of water from the mini fridge and collapsed into the chair. His adrenaline plummeted, and an exhaustion he’d never known came over him. His mind wanted to shut down while his heart slowed down, now that she lay sleeping right before his eyes. Boone didn’t know worry could weigh so much. Risking his own life was one thing, but Viv’s was another, and it was an anguish he’d never experienced before. Twisting the cap from the bottle, he took a sip of the cool water as he watched the steady rise and fall of her chest.
Rust-colored curls spilled on the pillow around her, and mud-colored lashes rested on the soft skin below her eyes. Tiny freckles ran across the bridge of her nose, something he hadn’t noticed before.
A slight moan escaped as she rolled to the side, making Boone’s stomach toss at the thought of her in pain because of him. He got out of the chair, pulled up the blanket, and laid it over her. She exhaled, and her body appeared to relax again, which consoled him. He sank into the chair again and wondered what he would’ve done if something worse had happened to her.
She slept on the bed for another two hours before she began to stir. Boone sat and waited, resisting the urge to wake her. He wanted to know she was okay. Heaven only knew what kind of concoction had been administered to her, but knowing Alexandra, the potion had some kick; she never did anything halfway.
Viv opened her eyes and saw him. Boone held his breath, wondering if the memories would come rushing at her. Would she be angry? Would she blame him? And if she didn’t, should he tell her this was all because of him? Heavy questions felt trapped in his lungs, he was suffocating—until he saw a smile pull at the corners of her lips as she tried to sit up.
“Easy there,” he said as he dashed to the bed, forgetting anything but the need to comfort her. “Let me help you.” He adjusted the pillows to support her back. “Are you feeling any better?”
Rubbing her eyes, she yawned. “Don’t know yet,” she said. “Give me a couple minutes.”
“Okay,” he said. He sat on the edge of the bed and let her stretch. Meanwhile, his insides coiled into tight knots. She could have been in shock earlier today, unaware of an internal injury. He’d debated taking her to the ER, and maybe he should have. He watched for any indication that he needed to get her to the hospital.
“How long have I been asleep?” she asked, wincing as she moved her arms. “What day is it?”
“It’s Tuesday and you’ve been sleeping for about three hours or so. Are you hurt anywhere?” he asked.
“No.” She rotated her neck around. “Just stiff and sore.”
“Do you think you need to see a doctor?”
“No. I’m okay,” she said. “But I have a lot of questions and my head is foggy. Do you want to just start explaining or wait for me to get enough strength to grab your ear and make you talk?”
Boone exhaled. He’d rehearsed the story over and over in his mind. Even though she was right in the middle of this mess, the less she knew the better. “You were kidnapped by my former employer to get back at me. They flew you to Wyoming, contacted me, and I came to get you.”
Hoping she’d be satisfied, he waited for her response.
“You mean I got kidnapped and I ended up in Wyoming?” She frowned as she smoothed a piece of hair behind her ear. “That’s terrible.”
“I know—”
“I mean that’s terrible. I get kidnapped and taken to Wyoming?” She huffed. “That makes a terrible story. Why couldn’t it be somewhere cool, like a private island or something?”
He put his hand on her knee. “And maybe next time Chris Hemsworth could rescue you.”
Viv had a faraway look in her eyes, and she bit her lip like she was deep in concentration …
“Thor,” he clarified. “Chris Hemsworth plays Thor.”
Viv rolled her eyes. “Duh … I know who Chris Hemsworth is. I was just picturing Thor in a cowboy hat.”
Boone playfully shoved her leg. “I can see you’re feeling better by the second.”
Viv’s smile faded. “Chris helps … But seriously, what’s going on?”
“I told you. I used to work for Alexandra, and she was angry with me. I got involved with the wrong woman, and now I’m paying for it.”
“I might be naïve when it comes to relationships, but I’m almost positive kidnapping doesn’t usually follow a bad breakup.”
“You need to call your dad,” Boone said. “I talked to him when we got to the motel, and he wants you to call him.”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“I’m not.” Boone stood up. “There’s nothing else to say, really.”
“Bullcrap!” Viv spat, then rubbed her temples in instant regret. She took a deep breath. “There’s a lot more going on here than you’re telling me.”
“You’re right,” he said. “And it’s none of your business.”
Red shot through her cheeks. “I was just kidnapped by your crazy ex-girlfriend, and it’s none of my business?”
His conscience kicked at him. Lying to her wasn’t who he was—at least, not who he used to be. “It’s over,” he said as his body squirmed, wrestling with the truth. “I don’t know why she took you. I don’t even know you.”
“You made that very clear,” Viv said as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Her quiet voice disconcerted him. “I mean nothing to you.” She picked at the edge of the pillowcase. “But you’re right. We don’t know each other. How could we? We just
met.” She looked up at him. “We mean nothing to each other.”
His heart slammed into his ribcage. Everything she said was true, so why did her words feel like a vice? He struggled for air. You didn’t care this much about someone you met seventy-two hours ago. Did you?
“Just call your dad,” Boone said as he walked over and turned on the television. “He’s been worried sick about you.”
Boone was glad he’d spoken to Eli first and had the chance to calm him down before his daughter called. Once he understood she was okay, his voice dropped into a deadly tone. He wanted to know who took her and listed off a dozen ways he’d make them pay. Boone hung up and called Hal, explained the situation, and told him he might want to keep an eye on Eli.
“Yeah, right,” she said. “Because I’m not there to do the chores and neither are you.”
Boone shook his head. “You should’ve seen him. I’ve never seen that kind of fear before. Of course, I don’t have a child.”
Viv stared at him like he was the one on drugs.
“His skin went grey; his eyes were bloodshot and full of fire. I even saw him wiping at them a time or two.”
“My father?”
“He wouldn’t sit down, cussed and called anyone he could think of for help. You need to talk to him.”
“I can’t,” she said.
“Why not?” he asked. She was a stubborn girl.
“Because I don’t have a phone,” she said.
“Oh.” He pulled his from his back pocket and tossed it to her. His thoughts flashed back to the moment he saw her in the road, not knowing if she was conscious, and remembered the way his body trembled at the sight of her. The intense need to protect her overwhelmed him.
“Thanks,” she said, without looking at him.
“You’re welcome,” he said as he got up and went to the sink. He turned on the tap and splashed his face with cold water. Grabbing the hand towel, he dried his skin and stared at the man in the mirror … wishing she didn’t mean anything to him at all.
Chapter 11
If Viv thought being kidnapped was about the worst thing that could happen to her, she was wrong. Boone said less than twenty words to her on the ride home, and after filing a police report, she found herself held captive by a panicked father.
“Boone, I want you to move into the house with Viv,” Eli said as he escorted Viv into the kitchen. “I don’t want her left alone in case that woman’s crazy enough to show up here again.”
“Yes, sir,” Boone answered.
Viv’s head spun, either from the drugs, Boone as roommate, or her father’s parental behavior—she didn’t know which.
Moving over to the Royals’ might have been the better option, but she didn’t want to give Alexandra the satisfaction of scaring her out of her own home. Viv made her own decisions, and when and if she moved, that choice wouldn’t be made out of fear.
Boone left and showed up twenty minutes later with a duffel bag in one hand and several shirts and pants on hangers in the other.
“She’s in your hands now,” Eli warned Boone.
“I’ll take care of her.”
Viv rolled her eyes as her father walked out the door. Some protection they were. She’d been kidnapped in broad daylight with both of them home.
She sat at the kitchen table and watched as Boone carried in a few other belongings. “Do you need some help?” she asked. Not that she intended to help him, but felt like she had to offer as some sort of housewarming gift.
“No,” he said. “Which room is mine?”
“The one on the right. It was my father’s. There’s clean sheets in the hall closet, and he’s moved most of his stuff over to Amanda’s, so there should be room for your things.”
“Okay, thanks,” he said, and disappeared around the corner.
The moon peeked through the kitchen window, reminding Viv of the late hour. Her body’s internal clock was completely thrown off by the long hours she’d spent sleeping while under the influence. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she promised herself more than the Gatorade and bag of pretzels from the convenience store they stopped at just outside of Cobble Creek, Wyoming.
Opening the cupboard, she saw a can of tomato soup. Grabbing the soup and an open package of saltine crackers, she began preparing her scant meal. She sat down and watched as the bowl heated in the microwave. Tapping her spoon on the table, Viv debated about asking Boone to join her. Offering something to eat would be the polite thing to do, but he was a grown man and could take care of himself.
“Uughh,” she said as she got up and walked into the hallway between the two bedrooms and bathroom. The door to her father’s room was halfway open. She tapped her knuckles against the wood paneling.
“Boone?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he answered.
She leaned her head into the room. “Do you want—”
Her words caught in the back of her throat as Boone pulled a T-shirt down over his head. His sand-colored skin rolled over the hills of muscle until it rippled over his washboard abs.
“Do I want what?” he asked as he picked up his duffel bag from the bed.
Grateful for the crappy lighting in the room, Viv prayed her flushed cheeks weren’t visible. “Soup,” she said. “I’m heating up some. Are you hungry?”
“No,” he said, staring right at her. “I’m just going to go to bed. It’s been a long day.” She didn’t miss the way he insinuated his long day was her fault. Like she had begged to be rescued.
“Fine,” she said, stepping back into the hallway. Leaning her head against the wall, she closed her eyes. Her heart raced as she put her hand to her chest. He was a jerk no matter what he looked like without his shirt on. Not a complete jerk, because he did come rescue her from his psycho ex-girlfriend. But really, what choice did he have, leave her with those people?
The microwave timer beeped, saving her from thinking about the man in the other room.
In the kitchen, she sat down and stared into the bowl as she stirred the hot soup. Her life was a mess and a miracle. What she had to figure out was how many unanswered questions she was willing to leave piled in the corner of her mind.
“See your future in there?” Boone asked.
Viv looked up and tried not to focus on the way his jeans hung low on his hips, or notice the way his bare feet shuffled across the floor as he wandered over to the fridge.
“Yeah,” she said. “And it’s not looking too good: red and cloudy.”
Boone pulled out the gallon of milk, and Viv pointed to the cupboard on his right. He opened the door and took out a glass.
“I thought you were going to bed,” she said.
“I was, but decided maybe a glass of milk might help me sleep.”
“Did you want some hot chocolate?” she asked as she lifted the spoon to her mouth.
He shook his head. “Hey, I’m sorry.”
The spoon slipped from her fingers and hit the table.
“I know you deserve to know everything about what happened to you these last couple days, but I can’t tell you.”
“What? Why?” Frustrated anger filled her stomach, and she pushed her bowl away.
His bare feet shuffled. “I want to tell you, but I can’t. I really can’t.”
She pushed her chair out and stood up. “Don’t.” She held her hand up. “I don’t want to hear another excuse or ‘you’re just too young to understand’ or ‘trust me because I’m the man and I know best.’ I’m so sick of people thinking I can’t handle things.” Grabbing the bowl, she dumped the steaming soup down the drain. “Let me guess. The less I know the better.”
Boone blocked her exit with his body. He held on to her arms and looked in her eyes.
Viv gasped; her attraction to him took her breath away.
“I … it’s just that …” He reached up and gently swept a curl behind her ear. His sky-blue eyes searched hers as his hand caressed her jawline and lingered on her chin. He studied her mouth a
nd she saw him swallow. She felt herself flying, ready for her lips to land on his.
“You need to keep your distance.”
She crashed to the ground and landed in a pile of confusion.
“You just have to stay away from me,” he said as he left her standing in the kitchen.
Her body trembled as she remembered his touch and then shook with rage as his words shocked her into reality. In the middle of the storm, a clear thought appeared: Boone was just like her father.
* * *
“And then he said I need to stay away from him,” Viv said as she slammed the dishes in the sink. “We live in the same freaking house! How’s that going to work?”
Joye picked up a plate and examined it for chips.
“Sorry,” Viv said. She thought a couple hours of working with Lucas’s horse earlier today would’ve been enough to calm her. Apparently not.
“No harm done. Especially after what you’ve been through.” Joye returned the plate to the sink and hugged her. “I’m just happy you’re here and you’re safe. But how about you let me worry about clearing tables tonight?”
Viv nodded. This was her last night working at Joye’s, and she didn’t want to spend it thinking about Boone … or Alexandra. When she told Lou and Joye about her chance to train for Lucas, they were thrilled for her. She offered them two weeks to find someone else, but Joye said they had someone fill out an application just that morning and that wouldn’t be necessary. The only stipulation was that Viv needed to check in at least once a week for a hug and a slice of pie.
“Okay,” Viv said. “I’m sorry. I’ll get it together.”
Joye laughed. “I wouldn’t count on it.” She winked at Viv. “Not if that man—you know, the one you can’t stand—is still waiting for you when you get home.”
“He’s not waiting for me,” she said. But she couldn’t deny the thought of Boone being there made her stomach dance. The problem was she didn’t know if her belly tango was caused by anticipation or trepidation.
