All the Ghost Ops team members looked in on the families of Julio, Charlie, and Miles. Boone tried to get down to see Julio’s kids a couple of times a year. He checked in on Charlie’s widow, and had walked Miles’ former fiancée down the aisle after she’d met a new guy. The night before the wedding, she’d cried on Boone’s shoulder, still grieving for the man she’d lost.
“Their families will be looked after. Vander and the rest of the team make sure of it.” Shep paused. “The guys would be pissed if you weren’t enjoying life, living life, because of the guilt.”
Boone sipped his coffee. He knew Shep wasn’t wrong. But it was one thing to know something in your head, and another to believe it in your heart. “Then they’d be pissed at you. Hiding up here.”
Shep growled. “I’m not hiding. I’m happy. I don’t want people in my business constantly.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “And this isn’t about me. The guys would be really pissed if you let that beautiful woman who can fucking bake slip through your fingers.”
“She’s so…good, Shep. She’s been through her own crap, but she’s still sweet and light, smiles all the time.”
“Grab onto that, Boone.”
“I’ve got to keep her safe first.”
“And I’ll help you. Whatever you need.”
“Boone?” Gemma’s voice came from inside. “Can you tell Shep I’m cooking dinner tonight? As a thank you. Is there a particular meal he’d like—?”
“Spaghetti and meatballs,” Shep said without hesitation.
Boone heard the sweet sound of Gemma’s laugh. “Got it. And for dessert?”
“Apple pie.”
“Then make sure you’re hungry,” she called out.
Shep set his empty mug down on the porch railing. “I’m going to work out. I have a gym set up at the end of the barn. Sounds like I’ll need my appetite. You need anything?”
Boone shook his head. “You’ve already done so much.”
“Save me some of those muffins too.” Shep pointed a finger at him.
Boone smiled. “I’ll see what I can do, but no promises.”
“Asshole.” But Shep was smiling as he strode off toward the barn.
Back inside, Boone heard Gemma singing to a rapt Atlas as she took trays out of the oven. She set the muffins to cool on the counter, then grabbed a dog biscuit, throwing it between her hands like a hot potato. Boone noted the damn things were shaped like bones.
“Ready?” She tossed it. Atlas leaped up and snatched it out of the air.
Gemma laughed and gave him a rigorous rub. “Clever boy.”
She smelled good, looked good, felt good. Boone just stared at her. In that second, he knew he’d happily die for her. Anything to keep her safe and smiling.
Shep was right. Julio, Charlie, and Miles would want him to live. They’d kick his ass if he avoided whatever was going on between him and Gemma.
She looked up. “Muffins just need to cool. I’m thinking I’ll make some cupcakes next.”
Boone stalked over to her. He needed to kiss her. Desperately.
He hauled her into his arms and took her mouth with his.
As his tongue stroked hers, she made a gasping sound, her hands curling into his shirt. When he lifted his head, she had a dreamy look on her face.
“Boone?”
“Gemma.”
She let out a happy sigh. “I have sex tingles.”
It startled a laugh out of him. “I like the sound of that.” He pushed a strand of her hair back behind her ear. “I’ll help you make the cupcakes.”
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
He squeezed her. “Really.”
Then he kissed her again until she was clinging to him, her eyes closed and pink on her cheeks.
“You smell good enough to eat,” he murmured.
That pink flush deepened.
“So, where do we start?”
She blinked. “Huh?”
“With the cupcakes.”
“You’re really going to help me?”
“Yes. Give me a second to let Atlas out to roam, and I’m all yours.”
Gemma focused intently on pouring the last of the cupcake mixture into the trays she’d found. Thank God Shep, or more likely whoever had built the cabins before he’d purchased the place, had stocked the kitchens with every gadget and item they could think of. She couldn’t imagine Shep Barlow buying baking trays and spatulas.
“Open the oven for me, please?”
Boone opened the door. He looked far too good in the kitchen, but he made a surprisingly good baking partner.
She slid the tray in and wiped her hands on the towel tucked into her waistband. She let her gaze wander over the way his denim jeans hugged his ass. An ass she’d had her hands all over last night. A hot throb in her lower belly made her bite her lip.
As much as she wished she could pretend the world didn’t exist, that it was just the two of them and Atlas in a beautiful cabin in the mountains, baking cupcakes and having spectacular sex, she knew she couldn’t bury her head in the sand.
“After we finish the cupcakes, I want to look into Carruthers.”
Boone’s jaw tightened, but he gave a tight nod.
“We need to find what he’s after. This isn’t about ransom. He wants something and he thinks I can give it to him.”
“We’ll do some digging.”
“Thanks.” She set her shoulders back. “First, we need to prep some frosting. Cupcakes with no frosting are crime.”
Beside her, Boone nabbed a muffin and bit into it. It was his fourth one. “What do you want me to do?”
“Grab the milk for me?”
Expertly, she pulled out a bowl and started putting in the ingredients. She added the milk that Boone handed her and started mixing.
“We’ll get the frosting ready, and once the cupcakes are cooked and cooled, we’ll ice them.”
“Then eat them.” He sounded like a little boy.
“Yes.”
Gemma wanted to spoil this man. She didn’t think he’d had enough fun in his life.
Well, today he was getting cupcakes with extra frosting. She kept mixing, lifted the wooden spoon, and turned.
And hit Boone in the face.
“Oh.” She bit her lip. “I’m sorry.”
He had a streak of frosting on his nose.
“That’s assault with a deadly weapon.”
“I didn’t mean it.” Trying not to laugh, she swiped her finger along the spoon. Then she smeared frosting all over his stubbled cheek. “I meant that.”
His eyes turned hooded. “Oh, you’re in trouble now.” He stepped forward, trapping her against the counter. Then he dipped a hand into the bowl of frosting, then smeared the sweet stickiness over her lips and down her jaw.
“Boone!” Her chest hitched. She saw the heat in his gaze.
He lowered his head, licking the frosting off her lips. Then his mouth ran over her jaw. She tipped her head back, her belly filled with fizzes of desire. His mouth traveled lower.
“Boone…” Now his name was just a moan.
He shoved her shirt up and smeared frosting over her belly. Then he dropped to his knees and licked it off her skin.
She cried out, instantly wet between her legs. But she’d wanted to spoil him, not the other way around.
She grabbed his shirt and urged him up. When he stood, she spun him so that his back was to the counter.
“My turn.” She attacked the belt and got his jeans open.
“Gemma, fuck—”
She drew his cock out. It looked like the rest of him, long and hard. She stroked him, enjoying his low groan. Then she dipped her finger in the frosting. His hot, golden gaze was on her like a laser as she licked her finger. His lips parted.