Page 9 of Mountain Gift

Reluctantly, I pull away and place her gently back down on the ground. Then I tip up her chin until her gaze meets mine.

"I don’t think she saw anything. But even if she did, this is your house, baby," I whisper, nipping at her bottom lip. "You can do whatever you want. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."

But Caroline doesn't kiss me back. Instead, she pushes against my shoulders and frowns.

"Boone, this is…. a lot for me to deal with right now."

I sigh. "I understand. Tell you what. Why don't you go back and sit with your family, honey? I'll bring the chair. And we can worry about the rest later."

Caroline chews her bottom lip again and glances back up the stairs before she looks up at me with a small smile.

"Thanks, Boone," she says. She starts walking up the stairs, but just as she's about to disappear through the door, she pauses and turns to face me.

"I'm really happy you're here," she says.

After she leaves, I chuckle and shake my head.

Yeah, I’m keeping her.

Chapter Three

CAROLINE

I cannotbelieveI just did that.

What in the world was I thinking?

On the one hand, that felt absolutelyamazing.That was one of the hottest takeout sessions I’ve had in a long time and it's been years since a man turned me on so much.

But there's another part of me that feels…guilty.

I meant what I said to Boone earlier. I'm truly glad he's here. This town desperately needs a new mechanic, and someone capable like Boone is the perfect fit. With a little bit of elbow grease, I know he'll make the auto body shop as good as new.

But there is still just a tiny part of me that's afraid of what will happen if I allow myself to feel all of my feelings for him.

As I walk back to the dining room, I catch a glimpse of myself in the hallway mirror and groan.

My hair is a mess. My lips are puffy and kiss-swollen. And my panties are soaking wet.

I do my best to smooth down my hair and straighten my skirt. Then I wipe the smudged lipstick from my cheek.

Back in the dining room, my siblings are all laughing and joking like nothing is going on. I do my best to avoid Penny's gaze as I settle into my seat.

But I can tell by the way that she's smirking at me that she has a pretty good idea about what just happened.

A few seconds later, Boone walks back into the dining room, the chair tucked under one arm.

At first, I think Boone will choose a spot on the opposite side of the table, keeping a safe distance. But to my surprise, he sets the chair right next to mine. Then he casually drapes his arms across my shoulders like it's the most natural thing in the world.

A few eyebrows shoot up around the table. Interestingly, my brothers, who I think will comment, stay silent. Instead, smirks play across their faces, but they act like nothing happens, making this whole moment even more surreal.

As the conversation around the table continues, I feel Boone's thumb gently brush against the back of my neck. His touch is feather-light and sends a shiver down my spine.

His lips coast against the shell of my ear. "You okay, sweetheart?"

I can only manage to nod in response, my voice seemingly caught in my throat.

For the next couple of hours, Boone and I find ourselves lost in the sea of my family's laughter and constant chatter. Stories are swapped, jokes are cracked, and plates of food are passed back and forth across the table.

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