Ordered By The Mountain Man(7)

She smiles. “Sorry, maybe that was awkward.” She laughs uneasily as she takes me in. But I’m already annoyed.

Mason was a motherfucker all day on the boat, puking his guts all over my deck, and I don’t want him to swoop in and give her any reason to look at him.

“So, how am I supposed to tell you apart?” she asks.

I look down at my inked arms, evergreen tress covering them. When I look back up, she’s watching me closely, a hint of a smile playing across her face.

“Easy enough. Just make sure you both wear short sleeves for a while, okay? I don’t want to end up with the wrong man.” She laughs uneasily, and I don’t join her. There’s nothing funny about her hooking up with Mason. “Anyways, I’m Delta.”

“What kind of bullshit name is that?” I cross my arms as I stand in front of her. I like how tall she is—nowhere near my stature, of course, but not some little girl. Delta is a fucking goddess.

She squints as she takes me in, her eyes grazing over my body. I gather from the way Dirk was laughing that they were getting along just fine. I also gather that maybe it was kind of a dick move to ask about her name that way.

Tact has never been my fucking strength.

“Wow ... so you’re friendly and hot.” She laughs, rolling her eyes, and I notice that she glances over at Mason. Taking in a deep breath, she starts again. “Right. So, Boone, since you’re so curious, a delta is the point where a river divides,” she explains, her tone friendly enough, even though I deserve something much more curt. “My mom was from the south. Mississippi. Anyways, she wanted to name me something that reminded her of home. She thought it would make her feel closer to the people she loved, even if they were far away.” She shakes her head apologetically. “Now I’m rambling.”

“So do your parents know that you’re here, with me?”

“What?” She pulls back, shaking her head with less regret. “No, my mom passed away when I was young.”

“Fuck. Sorry,” I tell her, feeling like shit for bringing this up within five seconds of meeting the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen.

She crosses her arms. “So, what kind of name is Boone anyways?”

“Come again?”

“Boone. Is that some made up name?”

“Boone was my father’s name. He and my mother died last year.”

“Oh.” She bites her bottom lip, looking to the sky. “This is awkward. I’m sorry. I was planning my exit while riding in Dirk’s truck. But then Dirk parked, and I realized he wasn’t my husband, and I got all flustered. And now we’re talking about dead parents and their names … and being a mail order bride is the weirdest thing that I’ve ever done, which is saying a lot, but I don’t want it to feel creepy. And maybe now it does?” She takes a deep breath, shoulders back, and smiles. “Can we start again?”

I stare at her, not at all having expected a woman so sexy and direct, not at all shy or scared. Delta is not fucking messing around.

“You thought you were sent here to marry Dirk?” asks Mason with a wide smile, taking the steps two at a time. “We do love Dirk, but it might break my little brother’s heart if you didn’t want him.” He stops beside me, clapping my back. “Though now that I’m getting a good look at you, maybe you and I should take a test drive before you marry my brother.”

I shove him away. He always makes things about him, always has to be the one getting the attention.

All the while being an irresponsible ass.

And I’m the grown-up.

I watch Delta watch him. She doesn’t seem swayed by his carefree attitude. In fact, her eyes are all over me. We keep our eyes on one another, and I feel a connection between her and me.

Damn, Monique from the agency knows what she’s doing. I never expected such a gorgeous woman to come my way, let alone one that I was so immediately drawn to. Yet here Delta is.

“I did think Dirk was my fiancé,” she says, looking over at Dirk and smiling. “To be honest, I was pretty scared. No offense, Dirk.”

“None taken, darling,” Dirk says, kissing her cheek. “Frankly, I’d be scared if you were mine, too. Don’t think I could handle such a pretty young girl. Now, I’m going to take these bags to your room now, all right?”

She nods, then turns back to Mason and me.

“So you were planning your getaway?” Mason asks her.

“Something like that,” she murmurs, still looking at me. “But I’m glad I didn’t leave.”

“Since Boone’s an ass who doesn’t see the need to introduce us,” my brother says, “I’ll take it upon myself. I’m Mason, Boone’s twin brother.”