“We won’t be too late,” she told her grandmother.
“Don’t count on that,” Boone said, nudging her in the direction of the door. “Son, listen to Ms. Cora Jane. Do what she tells you.”
“You don’t need to worry about B.J.,” Cora Jane said. “He and I will get along just fine. No need to call if you’re running late. You’ll just wake us up.”
Boone grinned at her. “Thanks.”
Outside, he pulled Emily across the lawn, and all but shoved her into his car.
“Trying to make a quick getaway?” she asked, laughing.
“I don’t want her changing her mind or B.J. asking questions about why you’re coming with me. This is a gift horse, and I’m not questioning it. You shouldn’t be, either.”
He drove to the end of the driveway until they were out of view from the house, then stopped the car. “Come here,” he commanded softly.
Emily swayed toward him.
Boone cupped her face in his hands, looked deep into her eyes, then sighed. “I hope to heaven we left those shoes you bought in the trunk. I’ve had that image in my head all afternoon.”
“I have to admit, I couldn’t envision how you were going to pull off any time alone tonight, but they’re there,” Emily assured him. “I should have known Cora Jane would conspire to give you what you want.”
He kissed her long and deep, then smiled. “I never said a word to Cora Jane. Didn’t have to plant the idea, beg, nothing.”
“Because she’s a sneaky woman,” Emily concluded.
“And you disapprove of that?”
A slow grin spread across her face. “Right this second? Can’t say that I do. Hit the gas, Dorsett. We’re wasting time.”
“Now you’re getting into the spirit of this,” he said, pulling onto the road and turning toward his place. He figured he could cut the fifteen minute drive down to ten minutes. There were plenty of interesting things he could do with an extra five minutes, especially once he had Emily out of her clothes.
* * *
It was after midnight by the time they grew hungry for something other than each other. Boone led the way so they could raid the refrigerator.
“For a man who owns three restaurants, your refrigerator sure isn’t stocked very well,” Emily commented as she surveyed the contents.
“I haven’t had time to shop this week. Besides, other than breakfast, B.J. and I have had most of our meals out. Last night he and Alex ordered pizza, made popcorn and topped it off with ice cream.” He poked around in a cupboard and triumphantly retrieved a package of popcorn. “I thought there might be some of this left.”
Emily lifted a brow. “You expect popcorn to give us enough energy to make it through a couple more rounds upstairs?” she asked skeptically. “Personally I need protein.”
“How about a couple of omelets? There are eggs and cheese and...” He peered into the vegetable drawer and emerged with an onion and a green pepper. “What do you think?”
“That should do it,” she agreed. “Any of that ice cream left from last night?”
Boone checked the freezer, pulled out the half-empty container of rocky road and held it up. “Dessert,” he announced.
Emily was already shaking her head and wiggling her fingers. “Gimme,” she said. “Spoons?”
Boone gestured. “That drawer right there. While you’re in there, grab a couple of forks and knives, okay?”
“After dessert,” she said, grinning as she spooned a healthy serving of rocky road into her mouth, closing her eyes in apparent ecstasy.
Boone chuckled. “I’m not sure you looked that thrilled when I was making love to you.”
She grinned at him. “Believe me, I was,” she assured him. “But this is pretty heavenly. Want some?”
“I think I’ll stick with the omelet,” he said, though he couldn’t seem to tear his gaze away from the sight of her face as she moaned with pleasure over each bite.
“You keep that up and I’m taking you right back upstairs,” he warned. “You’re turning me on.”
“Not really. You’re just feeling oddly competitive, wondering if you can make me moan like this.”
“Sweetheart, you did your fair share of moaning upstairs. A little begging, too, as I recall.”
“Hmm. I don’t seem to remember that.”
“Trust me.”
“You might have to prove it,” she taunted.
When Boone took a step toward her, she held up a hand. “After the omelets.”
He laughed. “I swear I don’t remember you being such a tease.”
“Because we were never really together,” she said, her expression suddenly serious. “Not like this, with a whole house to ourselves and no curfew we have to meet. This is what it’s like to be together as adults.”
“And?” Boone asked, his heart in his throat.
She set down the ice cream container and stepped into his embrace, her arms circling his waist, her head resting against his shoulder. “It’s pretty darn amazing.”
Over her head, Boone allowed himself a relieved smile. It was amazing. And to think they were just getting started.
16
Boone was clearly anxious to get back over to Cora Jane’s before B.J. awoke. Even though it was barely daylight, he was pacing the whole time Emily was showering and dressing.
“I guess I was wrong last night,” she said eventually, frowning at him. “It seems we do have a curfew.”
“I just don’t want B.J. to wake up and start asking a lot of questions. He might not make anything of me not being there when he gets up, but if you’re nowhere around, either, what’s he going to think?”
“That I’ve gone for a walk?” she suggested mildly. “Or run to the store? I’m sure Cora Jane will have the perfect cover story.”
“And when you walk in wearing the same clothes you had on yesterday, don’t you think he’ll wonder about that?”
“Not unless he’s a lot more observant that most eight-year-old boys,” Emily said, but she did her best to hurry, because Boone was clearly freaking out.
In the car, she looked over at his set jaw and knew they had to deal with this. “Wait,” she commanded before he could start the engine.
He glanced at her.
