friends.
“I didn’t mean to mock anyone,” Avery said, plucking at her nightgown as if suddenly conscious of it.
Boone relaxed. “That’s okay. I guess we’ll all have to figure out how to get along. Who says a bunch of SEALs and a pack of Austenites can’t be friends?”
Savannah broke into a sudden smile. “Austenites. I like that. And I for one am glad there’ll be a militia stationed close by, just like there was in Pride and Prejudice . Men in uniform are so delightful.”
Militia? Boone decided it wasn’t worth trying to sort that one out.
“Bossy, more like it,” Riley said.
“Direct,” Boone corrected her. “We know what we like and we go after it.” He held Riley’s gaze a moment. “I’d better get going. Riley, want to come with me? I could tell you about my plans.”
“Not now. We have chores to do and I want to paint today. That’s the reason we’re here, after all. I’ll be ready at eight o’clock tonight.”
Unhappy with the brushoff, Boone leaned closer. “I’d like you to come with me now.”
“I said no.” She folded her arms over her chest.
Boone wanted to press the matter, but he had a feeling it would backfire. “Fine. Eight o’clock. I’m happy to have met you all,” he said to the others, touching the brim of his hat. “I hope you enjoy your stay at Westfield.” He couldn’t help adding, “However long it might be.”
Riley closed the door behind him and faced her friends, seething at that last non-subtle hint Boone had tossed her way. However long it might be. She didn’t need reminding it was her decision that would determine the length of their stay, or that Russ had sold her ranch out from under her. She’d sent her uncle an e-mail last night with the subject line, “You SOLD Westfield???” She’d check for an answer as soon as she could.
“You are in trouble,” Savannah told her. “You’ve got no defenses that’ll stand up to that.”
“Boone’s definitely not brushing you off now,” Nora agreed.
Avery spoke up. “Are his friends anything like him?”
“If they are, I want one,” Savannah said. “You’re so lucky, Riley.”
“I don’t know about lucky. If I give him any encouragement, he’ll have us out of these dresses and down there living on grubs and mushrooms.”
“I wouldn’t mind getting out of my dress with a man like that, but I’ll skip the grubs and mushrooms, thank you very much. Can’t wait to hear all about your date tonight.” Avery hugged Riley impulsively. “At least he didn’t mention rent. Are you sure he won’t charge us any? Because I’m not sure we can afford it.”
The others waited to hear her answer. Again, she wondered if she should confess it all, but one look at the hollows under Nora’s eyes convinced her not to. What if Nora decided she should go back to Baltimore? She’d nearly bailed on them twice before everything was settled. Only multiple phone calls from the rest of them had kept her on course.
“Boone keeps his promises,” she said, evading the question.
“Terrific. So what should we do?” Savannah asked. “I’m not going to be able to go back to sleep.”
“Let’s get to work. We’ll pretend Boone doesn’t even exist.” Riley lifted her chin and turned toward the stairs.
“Lieutenant Rudman,” Avery corrected her. “In Regency times, it didn’t do to be too familiar with strange men.”
She was far more right than she knew, Riley thought. Familiarity with Boone in the past hadn’t ended well for her. If she was smart she’d gather her friends and leave the ranch now, no matter how much she wanted to stay and get to know Boone all over again. They could book a hotel room and have a spa weekend instead.
And then what, Riley wondered. None of them had homes to return to anymore.
They couldn’t leave without a plan, and all of them needed a break, which meant she’d better string Boone along for a few days, at least, until she’d had time to
“I didn’t mean to mock anyone,” Avery said, plucking at her nightgown as if suddenly conscious of it.
Boone relaxed. “That’s okay. I guess we’ll all have to figure out how to get along. Who says a bunch of SEALs and a pack of Austenites can’t be friends?”
Savannah broke into a sudden smile. “Austenites. I like that. And I for one am glad there’ll be a militia stationed close by, just like there was in Pride and Prejudice . Men in uniform are so delightful.”
Militia? Boone decided it wasn’t worth trying to sort that one out.
“Bossy, more like it,” Riley said.
“Direct,” Boone corrected her. “We know what we like and we go after it.” He held Riley’s gaze a moment. “I’d better get going. Riley, want to come with me? I could tell you about my plans.”
“Not now. We have chores to do and I want to paint today. That’s the reason we’re here, after all. I’ll be ready at eight o’clock tonight.”
Unhappy with the brushoff, Boone leaned closer. “I’d like you to come with me now.”
“I said no.” She folded her arms over her chest.
Boone wanted to press the matter, but he had a feeling it would backfire. “Fine. Eight o’clock. I’m happy to have met you all,” he said to the others, touching the brim of his hat. “I hope you enjoy your stay at Westfield.” He couldn’t help adding, “However long it might be.”
Riley closed the door behind him and faced her friends, seething at that last non-subtle hint Boone had tossed her way. However long it might be. She didn’t need reminding it was her decision that would determine the length of their stay, or that Russ had sold her ranch out from under her. She’d sent her uncle an e-mail last night with the subject line, “You SOLD Westfield???” She’d check for an answer as soon as she could.
“You are in trouble,” Savannah told her. “You’ve got no defenses that’ll stand up to that.”
“Boone’s definitely not brushing you off now,” Nora agreed.
Avery spoke up. “Are his friends anything like him?”
“If they are, I want one,” Savannah said. “You’re so lucky, Riley.”
“I don’t know about lucky. If I give him any encouragement, he’ll have us out of these dresses and down there living on grubs and mushrooms.”
“I wouldn’t mind getting out of my dress with a man like that, but I’ll skip the grubs and mushrooms, thank you very much. Can’t wait to hear all about your date tonight.” Avery hugged Riley impulsively. “At least he didn’t mention rent. Are you sure he won’t charge us any? Because I’m not sure we can afford it.”
The others waited to hear her answer. Again, she wondered if she should confess it all, but one look at the hollows under Nora’s eyes convinced her not to. What if Nora decided she should go back to Baltimore? She’d nearly bailed on them twice before everything was settled. Only multiple phone calls from the rest of them had kept her on course.
“Boone keeps his promises,” she said, evading the question.
“Terrific. So what should we do?” Savannah asked. “I’m not going to be able to go back to sleep.”
“Let’s get to work. We’ll pretend Boone doesn’t even exist.” Riley lifted her chin and turned toward the stairs.
“Lieutenant Rudman,” Avery corrected her. “In Regency times, it didn’t do to be too familiar with strange men.”
She was far more right than she knew, Riley thought. Familiarity with Boone in the past hadn’t ended well for her. If she was smart she’d gather her friends and leave the ranch now, no matter how much she wanted to stay and get to know Boone all over again. They could book a hotel room and have a spa weekend instead.
And then what, Riley wondered. None of them had homes to return to anymore.
They couldn’t leave without a plan, and all of them needed a break, which meant she’d better string Boone along for a few days, at least, until she’d had time to
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