Page 132 of Rumor Has It

Chapter 28

Boone

I race through the airport and out the doors. I spot my SUV at the end of the car lane. I haul ass toward it, watching as Derick gets out. I wave him off, not wanting to waste another minute.

“Hey, are they still there?” I ask with a huff, out of breath from running the length of the terminal.

He nods, looking at me in the rearview mirror. “She said she would call for a ride to the airport when they were ready.”

“Ahhh, good. That’s great. Alright. We’re good.” I pat my chest, catching my breath.

I slide my hand down to my pocket, pulling out the little black box. I wrap it in my hand, my heart thrumming to life as I think about asking her. I chuckle, unable to contain my excitement.

“You doin’ okay, sir?” Derick peeks up at me.

I hold the box up, grinning like a crazy man. “I sure the hell am.”

“Good for you, sir.” His smile is as wide as mine. “If I may?”

I cock a brow. “Seriously? Dude, you know all my business.”

“She’s every bit as beautiful as you’ve said, but what I wasn’t expecting is how much Little Miss would look like you.” There it goes, that’s my once dead heart, pounding it’s way free from the hell it’s been in.

“She sure does, sent me reeling. I can tell you that.” I stare out the window, thinking of how much she’s her mother too.

I pull my phone out and start writing notes of all the things I want to say to her. This needs to be as perfect as possible. I’ve ordered flowers and made reservations for us all.

Honestly, I couldn’t care less for all of that stuff. I just want to bury myself so deep in her that we can’t move for a week. I trot my leg as nervous energy gets the better of me.

The SUV comes to a stop, and I bound from the back. I take my keys out, hoping to surprise them. As soon as the door swings wide, I walk in, happy to be home for the first time in ten years.

“Kenzie? Rumor?” I go in search of them, since no one came to greet me. “Ladies?” I work my way through the house, calling their names in fear of scaring them if I surprise them too much.

I take the stairs two at a time, hunting each room for any sign of them. I push the door to my room open, there’s a hair tie on the nightstand. “So, you have at least been here.”

It dawns on me to check for their bags, so I hurry over, but there’s nothing anywhere. I take my phone out, rapping off a quick text.

Hey, baby. I hit send and wait for several minutes. No reply.

Where are y’all? I try again, hoping her phone’s in her purse and she can’t hear it. Again, ten minutes pass without a response.

I came out to surprise you. I decide to tell her I’m here. Hopefully she’ll see it and get back to me. But there’s nothing. My gut knots, and I try once again.

Are you okay?By this time, I’ve been here close to an hour. Derick hasn’t seen her, and she’s not answering.

Panic washes over me, and I take off to the garage. There’s no time to call for my driver, so I’ll go on my own. I hit the door to open as I climb in and rev the engine.

I pull out of my drive, squealing my tires as I go. I hit the exit, knowing just where to look. There’s only one place she wouldn’t be able to respond to me, and he better hope to God, that he’s not put his hands on her.

I slide, coming to a stop in front of his office building. Reed knows I’m well respected in this community, and I’ll bury him one way or the other. I storm through the front entrance.

The receptionist squirms when I glare at her. “Mister Hatcher, how may I help you?”

“Thorton?” I growl. She points down the hall, and I pass her without stopping. I stomp down the corridor, searching from room to room for him. All I want to do is tear him from limb to limb.

“Thorton!” I yell, stopping dead center in the damn place. “Reed Thorton, I know you’re here.”

He steps from a room on the end. “What the fuck do you want, Hatcher?”