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“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m just not used to men carrying me places, or even picking me up for that matter.”

“Oh damn, sorry.” Boone placed Kelsey on the ground at the base of the steps. “I didn’t think, I should have asked first. I just thought you were still a little shaky.”

“No, it’s alright, I don’t really mind, as long as you warn me next time.”

“No problem. Can you climb the stairs okay? We need to get inside. The wind is starting to pick up again and that’s probably not a good sign.”

“I think so, I’ll try anyway.” Kelsey started slowly with the first and took one step at a time with Boone hovering right at her side.

“This is your house?”

Boone smiled, seemed proud that she’d asked. “Yep, bought it a few years back and just now getting the chance to do some remodeling.”

“I like it. It’s old, isn’t it?”

“Yeah it’s a hundred years old actually. Needs a bit of work too but that’s why I bought it. I also own a construction company in my off hours so it was right up my alley.”

“Wow, a man of many talents, that’s impressive. And you said you’re a firefighter too?”

“Yes, but not a regular one although, if they needed me I’d definitely volunteer. What I do is forest fires.” He unlocked the front door and motioned for her to go ahead of him.

“Oh Boone, this is beautiful.” She did a three hundred and sixty degree sweep around the foyer area before focusing in on the living room. “That’s a beautiful fireplace too.”

“Thanks. I can’t take the credit for most of it, it was already like this. I’m just doing a little updating, you know, to modernize it. Plumbing and electrical before cosmetic.”

“Well I think you’re doing a good thing. I hate to see old houses torn down for someone to come along and build.”

“A girl after my own heart. That’s exactly what I think too.”

“What is that noise? Sounds like running water.”

“Shit, it better not be.” Boone ran for the staircase and disappeared quickly. Kelsey followed out of pure curiosity. She found him in the bathroom turning off the running water in the bathtub.

“Did you leave your water running?”

“No but I know who did.” He grabbed a hand towel and dried off as he left the room and headed for the stairs.

“Hey if you want to clean yourself up in there, go ahead. I’ll be back up in a minute.”

Kelsey searched through the bathroom unable to find a wash cloth, then found a cabinet in the hall with everything she needed to wash and treat her cut forehead.

“I wonder how I cut my head?”

Chapter Five

“That’s it, I’ve had it, I’m going to kill Pearson.” Who leaves the water running in the bathtub and just disappears? Besides the embarrassment, Kelsey is probably thinking Boone is a lunatic. “She’ll end of wishing that I’d left her in her car.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Shit, you scared me.”

She ran to his side and touched his arm. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wondered who you were talking to.”

“Myself, it’s a common thing. Oh, hey look, you cleaned up your cut.” He brushed the brunette strands from her forehead and ran a finger across the butterfly bandage she’d applied.

“Yeah it hurts a little, how did I even get that?”