HOLY SMOKES

nineteen. no storm day

It had been a no storm day. A day Magnolia desperately wanted to spend with Boone in bed, eating pizza and watching movies… and maybe other things. But she had a job, a job she loved.

She had been on the phone for hours, pacing the width of the room as Boone watched her, occasionally taking a picture or two. In most of them she’d stop and smile at him, even wiggling her fingers in a small wave as she talked. Some of them had been when her back was to him.

One in particular – his favorite – he had snapped just as she lifted her arms, putting her free hand on her head. Her shirt had lifted with the movement, showing off the black lace underwear she had bought the day before. Her ass was round, and there were a few linger marks on her thighs that could be seen. Hell, even his hand prints could be seen on her hips.

“Yes, thank you.” She nodded, turning once more, smiling when her eyes met his. “Yes, I’ll let them know you’ll be in touch. Thank you, again… Alright, bye.” With a sigh she came to a stop, pulling the phone from her ear then she dropped it onto the foot of the bed. She let her eyes fall closed, her head lulling backwards as she covered her face with her hands, making her shirt lift up.

But he didn’t let himself get distracted by the sliver of her stomach – and all the marks he’d left behind. He put his phone down and sat up a little straighter, “you okay, angel?”

With another breath, she stood up straighter, lifting her head up as she dropped her arms, “yeah, I just hate being on the phone.” She huffed, meeting his eyes again. A smile pulled at her lips at the still worried look on his face, “I’m okay, really.”

“I could give you a massage,” he offered, wanting nothing more than to help her.

She had already been awake and on the phone by the time he woke up. And just since he had woken up, she’d had four different calls – one with headquarters in New York to make sure the place was still standing, one with the Oklahoma office to make sure they were doing what they needed to for the multiple rebuilds, one with her mom, how had called to remind her about her father's birthday party in a couple of weeks, and one with a contractor.

She smiled warmly at him, wanting so badly to melt as he worked out all the knots that were sure to be bundled up in her shoulders. “I wish, baby. But I have more calls to make, than Kelly and I have to talk about the change of leadership. And I have to talk to the team, see where they’re at and how they’re doing.”

“It’ll be quick, promise.” He grinned, nodding his head.

She laughed, the sound bringing a smile to his lips as she rounded the bed. She leaned forward, her hands pressed into the mattress on either side of him, “we both know it won’t be quick.” She pecked his lips then she pushed herself up. “Besides, you have to met the others, Dex said something about a science segment and I think Lily said something about Cairo, but she had food in her mouth so there’s really no tellin’.”

He pouted a little, deflating against the pillows, “today’s gonna suck.”

“Yeah, it is.” She chuckled. “But if you miss me, just look at your phone. Bet you took some real good pictures.”

He smirked, one coming to mind, “oh, I got some real pretty ones.”

She shook her head a little as she dug through her bag – she and Kelly had gone shopping at a little boutique they found two towns over.

“Wear a dress for me?” He asked, pushing himself up from the bed. “Always loved you those little sundresses.”

She raised an eyebrow at him as she looked over her shoulder, “just the sundresses?”

He laughed, wrapping his arms around her waist, “I love you in just about anythin’.” He kissed her cheek, “dresses just show off them pretty little legs of yours.”

She turned, meeting his lips in a soft kiss before she went back to her bag, pulling out a white dress with tiny daisies embroidered all over it. She patted his hands and he huffed as he let her go, his eyes glued to her as she pulled his t-shirt over her head, leaving her bare all but the thin black lace underwear she wore.

He smirked to himself. He knew she had only gotten them because he made a joke about her getting something sexy and lacy. He had meant lingerie, but when he saw the black lace his brain stopped working for a good minute and a half.

“Baby, you gotta get dressed.” She told him, pulling him out of his thoughts. “Kelly’s gonna be here soon to do my hair and to cover a few of these.” She brushed her hand over neck.

“You ain’t wearin’ my bandana?” He asked sadly, and the pout on his lips made her heart hurt.

“Aww, no, baby, don’t look at me like that.” She mumbled, making her way towards him before her dress had even fallen into place around her. “None of them goes with the dress, and I gotta look somewhat professional. Got some business meetings.”

“But you look so damn good in ‘em.” He mumbled, tugging her dress into place.

She took a small breath, her eyes on his, and he looked like a puppy with his big brown eyes. She looked down at her dress, then up at him again. “Got another yell-” before she even finished, he rushed towards his bag and pulled out a yellow bandanna. It was newer than the rest, a little brighter, like he’d worn it less then the others. He had a stash of them, usually because he’d rotate them out. And his last yellow one he’d used when she cut her hand.

“Yep.”

She chuckled, smiling at him so fondly that he wasn’t sure how he had lived ten years with her looking at him just like that, “I’ll see if Kelly can figure out how to fix it into my hair, still gotta cover these up, though.” She motioned to her neck.

“I’ll take what I can get.” He hummed, leaning in to kiss her again and just as she wrapped her arms around his neck, there was a knock on the door.

“Put it away, Boone! I need her!”

“Oh, God.” Magnolia mumbled, shaking her head as she closed her eyes.

“I like her,” Boone mused, kissing her cheek before he grabbed his bag and made his way towards the bathroom. Magnolia took a breath and crossed the room before opening the door to see a smiling Kelly.

“That was quick.”

“Shut up.”

>>>>> • <<<<<

Magnolia smiled when she finally saw Boone after spending all day in meetings. She had even driven to Oklahoma City for a meeting with the head of the Oklahoma office, which had taken her and Kelly most of the day.

She stopped for a moment, just letting her eyes take him in.

A smile rested on his face as he held a beer can. He wore a white t-shirt with a camo button-up pulled over it, a pair of dark tan cargo shorts, and his usual work boots. He was leaning against the side of the caravan, with the rest of the crew. He laughed at something Lily had said, his head thrown back a little and the sight made her heart nearly stop.

She made her way towards them, only catching a little bit of what Dani was saying about how their follower count had grown, due in no small part to the work they had been doing with Magnolia’s non-profit.

A smile pulled at Boone's lips as she neared him, she was the absolute best part of his day. And when she simply wrapped her arms around him and leaned into his chest, she let you a small sigh and closed her eyes. He secured his arms around her, pulling her in closer and kissing the top of her head.

“You okay, angel?” He asked, his voice low as he rubbed her back.

And Dani made sure to snap a few pictures, which made Lily laugh so she slapped her hand over her mouth. Dexter chuckled to himself, shaking his head a little as he sipped from his beer.

And Ben sat just to the left of him, his notepad out so he could scribble down any storm terminology they spewed – he wanted his article to be factually correct.

“I hate meetings,” she breathed out, her cheek squished against his chest.

He chuckled lightly, kissing her forehead. “You're done now, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I wanna take you somewhere?”

“Is it to bed? ‘Cause I need a nap.”

He laughed, the sound bringing a smile to her lips as she tilted her head back to look up at him.

“No, when we were drivin’ around I found this spot I wanna show you.” He brushed his fingers through her curls – which had loosened over the course of the day, but his bandana was still tied around her head. “You're gonna love it.”

“Okay.” She stretched up and pecked his lips quickly, getting a few awwws from Dani and Lily.

“Oh, hush.” Boone mumbled, his cheeks slightly red and Magnolia giggled before kissing his cheek.

>>>>> • <<<<<

“Can I open my eyes yet?”

“Just a second,” Boone mumbled and Magnolia let out a small huff as she shifted on her feet. She had her arms crossed over her chest as she waited, her eyes closed, like Boone had asked before they even reached their destination.

He had even helped her out of the Bronco, making sure she didn't take a peak.

“Boone,” she huffed, growing impatient.

He merely chuckled, and she grumbled under her breath as a warm breeze blew past her. She could hear him moving things, there was the sound of fabric flapping in the wind. The clink of glass. And she could faintly smell warm vanilla, which was odd.

If she was right, they were in a field. She assumed wheat from the way the tall grass tickled her legs.

A smile pulled at her lips when Boone stopped in front of her, she could feel the warmth radiating off of him. She tilted her head back a little, keeping her eyes closed and just as she parted her lips to ask if she could finally open her eyes, his lips covered hers.

His hands made a home in her waist, tugging her closer to him as she placed her hands on his cheeks.

“Okay,” he mumbled, his lips still against hers. “You can look now.”

Her eyes fluttered up, meeting his warm brown eyes and she smiled up at him, stretching up to press another quick kiss to his lips.

Just as she fell back to her heels he took a step back and her eyes landed on what he had been doing. Her blue eyes went wide, her jaw falling open in awe as tears brimmed in her eyes.

There was a blanket laid out among the wheat, a few candles were lit and set up on the four corners of the blanket to keep it in place as the small flames flickered in the breeze.

The basket he had packed with food the night before sat in the middle of the blanket, a bottle of wine and two glasses were beside it.

And they were the only signs of life for miles.

“Do ya like it?” He asked, his voice a little shaky as he reached up to scratch the back of his neck. He was nervous.

She turned, her eyes filled with tears – the happiest of tears. “I love it.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, meeting his lips in a fervent kiss, her hands buried in his hair.

His hands gripped her hips, pulling her against him as he matched her quick rhythm. “It's perfect.” She pecked his lips again before pulling back just a little, “though the candles may be a fire hazard.”

He glanced over, his eyes wide as the reality of it set in, “shit.” He muttered, then he quickly made his way over that blanket and blew out all the candles. Magnolia laughed as she watched him, then she made her way over to him.

When she reached the blanket he smiled up at her, he was on his knees. He swallowed hard, he wasn't sure why he was nervous, then he moved one leg so his foot was flat on the ground.

He reached for her left hand, brushing his fingers over the ring that rested there, “I didn't exactly propose in the most romantic way-”

“I thought it was perfect.” She cut him off, bringing a smile to his lips.

“But you deserve better.”

“Boone-”

“This is how I should’ve proposed,” he continued. “Candles, a picnic, fancy wine, music – I forgot the music!” He huffed, shaking his head a little and glancing over at her car, the headlights were still on, their only source of light besides the moon.

She giggled, her hand on his cheek, she angled his head backwards and pressed her lips to his, “I don't need any of this, I just need you.”

He grinned, pushing himself up. He slotted his lips against hers, only for a moment before he pulled back and jogged back towards the Bronco. She laughed when Morgan Wallen spilled out of the speakers.

A moment later, he was making his way back towards her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her off her feet and spinning around, making her laugh as she held onto his shoulders.

They spent the rest of the night dancing under the stars, holding onto each other, sharing a few kisses and even more laughs.

HOLY SMOKES

we're getting closer to the end! there's only a few more chapters left!!

i just wanna say thank you to all of you for reading and i'm so happy so many of you are enjoying this book as much as i am!!

also, my new tyler fic, UNDER MY SKIN, is currently up if anyone wants to check it out. though i'm not gonna post any chapters until this book is finished.