Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I swallow, my heart pounding in my chest. What am I doing?
I remind myself to look away, but my gaze flicks back to him again. It’s almost like I can’t stop myself. His movements are so fluid, so purposeful, and I feel something stir inside me that I haven’t felt in... well, forever.
I can’t remember the last time I felt attracted to someone. Really attracted. Dustin didn’t stir anything in me like this, and after everything, I never thought I’d feel that kind of pull again.
But with Boone, it’s different.
I’m still standing here, rooted to the spot, when he looks up and catches me watching. His eyes meet mine across the distance, and for a second, everything freezes. I feel the heat rush to my cheeks, and I know I’m blushing.
Great. Just great.
But instead of looking away or giving me a hard time, Boone’s lips curl into a smile. That smile. It’s subtle but genuine, and for some reason, it feels like it melts all the resolve I had left.
"Morning," he calls out, his voice low and warm, carrying across the distance between us. "You need something?"
I force myself to move, walking toward him, trying to act like I’m not affected by what I just saw. “Uh... no, I was just... you know, enjoying the view.”
Boone chuckles, a rich, deep sound that makes my pulse quicken. “You want breakfast?”
Breakfast. Right.
I look at him, still trying to regain my bearings. “I guess. But, uh, only if you’re making it.”
His smile widens as he leans on the axe, his eyes gleaming with something playful. “Well, now I’m obligated. I’m a pretty damn good cook.”
I laugh, though it’s a little shaky. “We’ll see about that.”
His grin doesn’t fade, and I catch myself smiling back before I can stop it. There’s something about him that feels... easy, even though everything inside me is anything but. The tension I’ve been carrying with me starts to loosen just a little bit.
“Come on inside then, I’ll get something together,” he says, nodding toward the door behind me.
I follow him back inside, and as I walk past him, I can’t help but notice how his muscles shift under his skin, how his presence fills the space. He’s breathtaking.
As we step into the warmth of the cabin, I remind myself again: he’s my bodyguard. Nothing more.
But that doesn’t stop my heart from racing just a little faster.
Chapter 7
Boone
I get to work on breakfast while Aubree sits at the kitchen table, her hands wrapped around a mug of coffee, staring out the window. The silence between us is comfortable, but there’s something a little too quiet about it. I’ve learned over the years that sometimes it’s best to let the quiet linger, to let the tension settle before you break it.
I pull a few eggs from the fridge, crack them into a bowl, and start whisking. It’s nothing fancy, just scrambled eggs and toast, but it’s enough to get the day started right. I move with precision, my mind wandering a little. I’m used to solitude, but there’s something about having Aubree here that’s different. It’s not uncomfortable—far from it—but it’s unfamiliar, and I can’t quite shake the feeling that she’s watching me, even though I’m focused on the stove.
“You know,” I say as I season the eggs, “I’ve cooked for myself a thousand times, but never like this. Never for someone else.”
She looks up from her coffee, her eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before she quickly looks back down. “I don’t expect you to be some kind of gourmet chef or anything. I’m just happy you’re feeding me.”
I chuckle at that, a grin tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Gourmet, huh? That’s setting the bar pretty high.”
“Well, knowing my mother she’d hire a bodyguard with high standards,” she teases, her voice light and easy. It’s the first time I’ve heard her sound genuinely relaxed since I met her. It’s nice to see her like this, even if just for a moment.
I slide the eggs onto a plate and toast the bread, flipping the toast with a quick flick of my wrist. I pour two glasses of orange juice, setting them on the table beside her. “Here you go, gourmet breakfast.” I place the plate in front of her, taking a seat across from her as I grab my own plate.
She picks up a fork and takes a bite of the eggs, chewing thoughtfully. “Okay, I’ll admit. Not bad. I mean, considering you’re a security guy and not a professional cook.”
I laugh, the sound coming out easier than I expect. “I guess I have a few hidden talents.”
She raises an eyebrow. “I’m sure. You seem like the type who can handle anything.”
I shrug, not one to brag. “Just doing my job. That’s what matters.”
For a while, we eat in silence, the clink of our forks on the plates the only sound. The food is simple, but it’s the most relaxed I’ve felt in days. There’s something about her, something easy and real. It’s different from the usual tension that comes with guarding someone, but I can’t put my finger on why.