In the early morning light that shone through the window at Boone’s side of the bed, Kelsey saw a figure standing over them that startled her. Boone woke when she jumped in his arms, burying herself deeper into his warmth.

“Are you okay?” He looked to where eyes were fixated.

“Holy shit Pearson, get the hell out of here.” He sent an arm flying in his brother’s direction.

“Hey big brother, just thought you’d want to know I made it home and that things are really a mess outside this morning but mom and dad are fine.”

“Great, thanks. Can you get out of my bedroom? Go down stairs, I’ll be down in a few minutes.” He raised and eye brow when Pearson just stood there. Then he motioned with his hand.

“Go, I’ll be down.”

His brother smiled at them both and disappeared out the door. Boone jumped out of bed and closed his door, then climbed back in beside Kelsey.

“Sorry about that, he has absolutely no sense of privacy. I think I’ll make him sleep out in the barn from now on.”

“You can’t do that, he’s your brother.” She swatted at his chest, then rested her hand amongst the hairs and muscle.

“Now you sound like my mother. He’s only here because I can’t tell her no.”

“Your mom sounds great. I hope to meet her sometime.”

“Well there’s always today? I can’t even imagine what my brother told her about you but if we don’t go see her, she’ll show up here.”

“I’m game if you are? Does it make you nervous to take a girl to meet your parents?”

“Not really, my mom isn’t one to pressure me about that kind of stuff, she’s very accepting. She’s just not patient. If you want, you can jump in the shower and I’ll go talk to Pearson, then make us some food?”

“Thanks.” Boone hesitated, before he started to walk away.

“Is there something wrong?” Kelsey sat up in bed, covering herself with the sheet.

“I was just wondering what would happen now. I mean, what will you do from here. Are you going to stick around Waylin or were you going somewhere else?”

“I really hadn’t thought about it actually. I don’t have a car or my cell phone so I guess I’m at a standstill. I just don’t want to be a burden to you. Maybe you can drop me off at the hotel in town I stayed at before?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. You can stay here, I mean if you want. I have a phone and you can use my truck.”

“I can’t take advantage of you like that Boone. I’ll be ok at the hotel and I’ll make arrangements from there.”

Boone sat down on the bed, kissing her quickly but thoroughly, bringing back memories of everything they’d experienced together in the wee hours of the morning.

“Listen, I know we haven’t known each other very long but after all we’ve been through, I think I’d be lost if you left. I’m not usually one for just jumping headfirst into things like this but it’s a weird feeling I have. I can’t shake it.”

“You aren’t the only one Boone. That’s exactly what I did when I left New York. And truthfully, I don’t want to leave. I feel comfortable with you. “

He kissed her again. “I’m glad to hear that. I do have a spare room if you’d be more comfortable there than in my bed but I’d rather you be right where you are now.”

“You’re too funny. I guess we’ll just take that one day at a time but in the meantime, I do need to make a few phone calls. While I was hiding from my parents in New York, I was getting a teaching degree and I need to call the university and get my records and certificate. My plan was to find a job at a school in the west.”

“That’s a good plan. You’re already in the west, and we do have a couple schools here. I don’t know anybody there anymore but I do know the administrative office is always open so you could go talk to them. My mom might even be able to give us a name. She knows everybody in this town.”

“Then it’s settled, I guess you’re stuck with me. Never know, tornadoes and I don’t seem to see eye to eye, I might need a rescue every now and then. Are you okay with that?”

“More than good with that. Can we go back to bed?”