I scowl, not liking that they’re betting against me—or for me. “I can do anything I want.”
“Damn straight, but did you tell Boone that? He likes his women to toe the line.”
“What do you know about Boone’s women?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Eh. I don’t know.” He laughs, annoyingly. “I mean, I may have a history of taking his women from under him. But that’s his issue, not mine.”
“You’ve gotten Boone’s girlfriends to cheat on him with you? That’s pretty fucked up, Mason.”
He laughs, shaking his head like this is all a joke. “I never said I was perfect.”
I look over at Boone, seeing him more clearly than I ever have before. Boone looks for the best in people—even me. He hasn’t once flat-out made fun of me for my food choices. He didn’t say yoga itself was dumb, he just said I couldn’t do it in front of everyone on the dock when they were leaving for fishing in the morning. He didn’t tell me I couldn’t wear this dress; he was just all stressed out this morning and took it out on me.
And I’m not making a bunch of excuses for him. When it comes down to it, Boone and I are very different. But maybe we’re also the same. Both strong-willed and determined, and looking for someone to be our best selves with.
“Fuck, you love him, don’t you?” Mason asks, shaking his head. “Hell, that asshole gets everything he wants.”
“Is that how you see it? Everything gets handed to him?” I ask, annoyed. “Because I’m pretty sure Boone has worked for everything he has. Can you say the same for yourself?”
I don’t wait for an answer; he couldn’t give me a real one, anyway. Instead, I return to the lobby, ready to do the best job I can as Boone’s future wife.
Chapter Seventeen
Boone
The week goes perfectly. I take guests out for fishing trips, make sure the staff are squared away, that the guests are happy. It’s fucking better than I could have hoped for.
And the icing on the fucking cake is Delta. For some reason, she and I got through the awkward start and have found a pattern. Sure, it’s only been seven days, but we’re constantly fucking, constantly smiling, and finding a groove.
She’s made good suggestions about ways we could improve guest relations—simple things, even, like having a before-dinner cocktail hour, tailor it to our clientele, cigars on the porch and whisky neat. And she thought that, instead of doing yoga on the dock, she could offer a yoga class a few mornings a week for the women who stayed back at the lodge during the day.
She starts it, and after only a day the response is great. Apparently the men liked how good their wives felt, and the women felt lighter and more positive in Delta’s welcoming company.
More than one time I’ve caught myself wishing Mom were here to meet Delta. I have no doubt they’d find plenty of common ground.
The only annoyance is Mason’s bad attitude; he’s getting on my last nerve. He’s not even willing to help with the fishing trips anymore. He just drinks beer and flirts with staff—thankfully he has enough tact to avoid the guests, but damn.
He isn’t interested in getting his act together at all. And it seems like Delta being here just ticks him off more, which I don’t get. Delta being here makes everything easier.
She’s the fucking best thing that has ever happened to me.
“You ready for tomorrow?” I ask her as we step out of the shower together. We’re running a little late, because she’s just been on her knees, sucking my cock until I came all over her gorgeous tits, and then I spanked her ass and lathered her skin with soap until she was nice and clean. Our shower was a tad longer than normal.
“I’m okay. Just ... tomorrow is the big day.”
“Do you still have doubts?” I ask, kissing her neck, wrapping my arms around her from behind, not believing for a second that she could.
Delta bites her bottom lip. “We’re already running behind,” she says, raising her hands, turning to face me. There’s a smile on her face. “Let’s talk later? Okay? Like, really talk.”
I nod, feeling a surge of adrenaline. I wanted to wait until we had more time, anyway. Tonight I’m going tell her I love her, I’m going to give her my mother’s diamond ring, and I am going to properly ask her to be my wife.
“Until tonight, then.” I kiss her lips, hard, teasing her with my cock pressed against her belly.
“You’re so bad, Boone,” she laughs, pulling away.
“So bad it’s good, right?”
“Something like that.” She laughs, drying herself off.