He let her go first just in case she needed any help and grabbed a towel while she walked in and turned on the water.
“Any chance you have a t-shirt I can change into? These clothes are soaked.”
“Got you covered.” He kissed her on the cheek and disappeared into his room. He heard the bathroom door squeak shut behind him so he waited a few minutes before he knocked. When she gave him permission to go in, he slowly peeked around the door as he opened it.
“Promise I won’t look, just wanted to give you a t-shirt and I found some shorts that have a drawstring if you want to use them.”
“You can open your eyes, there are so many bubbles in here I’m not sure I can see myself.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. I probably should have warned you, I have soft water so that triples the amount of suds. Learned that the hard way the first time I did laundry. Suds all over.” He motioned over the floor with his arm, making her laugh.
“I’m going to leave you to it and go find something for us to eat. Do you need anything else before I go?” He cheeks turned a little pink suddenly.
“Would you mind leaving the door open? It makes me a little nervous not having you right next to me.”
She’d left him speechless. Not an easy thing to do but this beautiful tiny bit of a thing had just crippled him, left him with nothing to say, only a smile and a nod before he left the room. He’d been humbled. And really, what had he done to deserve such a thing? Yeah, he’d rescued her but he’d have done it for anyone, that’s just who he was. Probably the reason he fought forest fires too, it was about saving the things that mattered and a human life mattered. It also puzzled him because while he didn’t know this woman, at the same time he felt like she was a part of him. How could that be? He felt the need to take care of her. Did he even know her last name?
“Oh yes, Watson, she did tell me but I’m not sure that I ever told her mine and she’d even asked. After dinner, I think we’ll sit and talk a bit. I’d like to know more about this Miss Watson.”
Boone went to the kitchen and rummaged through the frig, hoping he had food that he could make for them. He was too tired to run to the store now. Besides, Pearson had his truck. If everything turned out fine there, he was hoping his brother would stay at his parents’ house for a while.
***
Never in her life could she remember a hot bubble bath feeling so darn good. She didn’t know how long she’d soaked but she could hear Boone downstairs clanging pots in the sink so maybe he was already done cooking. For now, she was just too tired to think about what she would do. She had no car and no place to stay. Boone had already insisted she would be staying the night but she couldn’t impose any longer. She’d left New York to start a new life and she needed to get back to that plan as soon as she could.
As she lifted herself from the cooling water, he body cringed from aches she didn’t know she had.
“Lord I feel like I went through a war.”
In a way, they kind of did. It was also something she hoped she never had to go through again. Living on the east coast was so different from where she was now. Hurricanes were usually the biggest danger they had but she’d always been lucky enough to not have anything bad hit their area. But thinking about the reason she left New York, were bigger than weather. She was taking back who she was and that was a refreshing step.
And another step out of the bathtub to dry off then she slipped on the clothes he’d let her borrow. She pulled the shirt up over her face, breathing in the scent that was Boone. The scent enveloping her was almost as good as when he’d had his arms wrapped around her, comforting her, and she’d do almost anything to feel that again.
There was probably still too much they didn’t know about each other to take that step but given the chance, she’d throw caution to the wind and grab on.
“Good lord Kelsey, really?” She laughed at herself, shaking off her obvious stupidity.
“Food and a place to stay, that’s what you’re getting out of this and nothing more. Don’t make it more than it is.”
“Talking to yourself?”
“Ahh.” She clutched her hands to her chest. “You scared me.”
“I see that. I sure didn’t mean to.” Boone fought to hide a smile. “Just came to let you know I have food ready.”
“Oh great, I’ll follow you down.” She folded the bath towel in half and hung it over the side of the tub then went down the stairs behind Boone.
“It smells great.” She walked up to a smorgasbord laid out on the dining room table, set with two plates.
“Guess we can add chef to your extensive list of accomplishments.” She sat across from him and took a sip of the orange juice he’d poured for her.
“Not sure I’d go that far but I get by alright.”
While they ate, they talked about themselves. She was amazed at how jealous she was that he had a normal family. Not that he thought it was but compared to hers, they were all gods.
“Why didn’t our parents have any more kids?”
“My dad never had the time for me, let alone more kids. I guess things might have been different if a boy had come along but of course, there are no guarantees, so he just didn’t want to take a chance I guess. He spent the last 27 years being disappointed about raising a mediocre girl.”
