Tucker snorted. “Fine. Fine. Fine. I’ll take point. You are looking for a romance battle plan. You got a name for your operation?”
“A name? Why do I need a name?”
“It helps. Believe me. You’ve called looking for advice. Take my advice. Give it a name.”
“Did you have a name for your plan to win Gillian?” Jackson asked.
“I did. I came up with it when I spied a critter as Gillian and I were hiking the canyon.” He paused dramatically. “Operation Horny Toad.”
While Boone and Jackson snickered, Tucker continued, “I also think you need a two-pronged strategy. If you can get Hannah to fall in love with Eternity Springs, it’ll make it easier for her to fall for you.”
Boone bounced the eraser of the pencil he held on his desk. “I agree. That’s why I enlisted the help of the babysitters’ club.”
Seated on the lanai of the hotel where he was honeymooning in the South Pacific, Jackson observed, “Actually, he needs a three-pronged plan. It’ll help him if Hannah falls for Brianna too.”
“Good point,” Tucker agreed. He was using the computer in his office at Enchanted Canyon Wilderness School in Redemption, Texas.
Jackson continued, “The problem you have, Boot, is that new babies have a way of dominating everything. Juggling romance and parenthood is gonna take some planning. Hannah needs to know that you want Hannah for herself, not because you want a mother for your child.” He paused a moment, then asked, “I have that right, don’t I? You’re in love with her?”
“It’s only been three weeks,” Boone hedged.
Both his cousins snorted. Jackson said, “When was the last time it took Boone three weeks to make any decision of consequence?”
“Good point,” Tucker repeated. “You’re in love with her.”
It was the reassurance Boone had wanted from the men who knew him the best.
“I am. You’d tell me if you thought I was making a mistake, right?”
Jackson nodded. “We’d tell you. You wouldn’t listen, but we’d tell you.”
“We’re not telling you,” Tucker assured him. “Hannah was a hit with everyone at the wedding. You two were quite the topic of discussion with the Texas contingent. Maisy invited her to visit Redemption this fall once the weather cools off.”
“I told Hannah we should go in October.” Boone rubbed his tired eyes. He’d managed to nap for an hour after his date, but he was still sleep-deprived.
Sleep deprivation was probably why he was having this moment of insecurity.
The cousins spoke for only a few minutes more before signing off. After all, both Tucker and Jackson were newlyweds and had better things to do than talk to Boone.
After ending the call, Boone kept his seat for a few minutes, bouncing the pencil eraser and planning. Soon he had a battle plan, but he still needed a campaign name. “Horny Toad,” he muttered, his lips twisting in a rueful grin. Yeah, he could definitely go with something along similar lines. Operation Stiff Stick. Blue Balls. Only something more refined. Something about light maybe. Operation Blue Lantern.
Oh well. Something would come to him. In the meantime, he had arrangements to make.
He found Sarah in the nursery, preparing to give Brianna a bath. “Want me to do that?”
“Oh, please allow me. Bath time is too much fun.”
“Be my guest. Now, about our list of babysitters. Do you have someone to suggest I contact for overnight care on Friday? I’d like to take Hannah glamping.”
“At Brick’s river camp?” Sarah asked, referring to Brick Callahan. “Ooh, good romance move, McBride.”
“I think so. I checked the weather forecast. Supposed to be a cloudless night. Hannah has a thing for stars.”
“Well, if she didn’t already, I expect after a night with you she will.” Sarah considered the list of overnight babysitter volunteers. “I wouldn’t ask any of our shopkeepers. They all need to be fresh for Saturdays in June. I think Caitlin Tarkington put her name down for overnights. Her day care is closed on Saturdays. I’d try her first, and then maybe Hope Romano.”
“You don’t think any of them will judge me for being away from Brianna overnight so soon?”
“No. Not at all. In the cause of romance, the wives of Eternity Springs are all on board.”
“Perfect. I’ll make my calls and then run the pup over to Hannah. I promise to be back before the end of your shift at nine.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Five minutes later, all the arrangements were set. As he secured the leash to Ranger’s collar, he heard Sarah talking on the phone. “Yes, Cam. I will. And don’t let Devin leave without the Star Wars Lego sets we’re donating to the camp. They’re in that box in the mudroom.”
Star Wars Lego sets. Boone wore a self-satisfied smile as he scooped Ranger into his arms and headed for his back door. Operation Lightsaber commences.
* * *
By Friday, Hannah was a bundle of excitement, anticipation, and nerves. Tonight was the night. Boone had invited her on an “overnight excursion,” and she’d accepted. He hadn’t told her where he intended to take her, though he had explained that he had arranged thirty-six hours’ worth of both child care and dog sitting. He was picking her up after Brianna’s sitter arrived at nine. They would drop Ranger off at Lori Timberlake’s vet clinic on the way to … wherever.
He’d instructed her to wear clothing appropriate for outdoor activities and bring something “nice” to wear to “dine” at an elegantly rustic place. Or rustically elegant. He wasn’t sure of the appropriate term.
He had her hooked at that.
He also had her making her way to the Angel’s Rest Boutique for something to wear. Thursday afternoon, Hannah had stepped inside the shop to find Celeste working the afternoon shift. She introduced Hannah to another customer, her cousin Angelica Blessing, who had long fire-engine-red hair and a devilish twinkle her eyes. A McBride family friend, Angelica had traveled from Texas, where she managed the bed-and-breakfast the McBrides owned in Enchanted Canyon. “I believe we met at the McBride wedding, didn’t we?”
“Briefly, yes. It’s nice to see you again.”
“Right back at you. I’m stoked to meet Bree. I’ll be the first of Boone’s Texas family to meet her. That’s buckets of fun for me. I’m also playing nanny for the weekend while you and Boone are off scr—”
Celeste interrupted in a warning tone, “Angelica!”
Her eyes sparkled, and she gave her hair a toss. “Stargazing.”
Celeste sighed and stepped out from behind the checkout counter. “How can I help you today, dear?”
“Well, I was wondering…”
“The sundress? I put it back for you.”
“You did?” Hannah laughed. “You had more faith in me than I had in myself.”
Angelica waved a dismissive hand. “That’s Celeste’s MO. I’ve seen that dress, and you’ll definitely knock Boone’s socks off. And the rest of his clothes too.”
“Angelica.” Celeste sighed.
A day later, as Hannah carefully folded the sundress, she recalled the moment she’d first tried it, and the image of herself in the boutique mirror. Celeste had told her the dress was right for the woman she was becoming.