20. Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Gunnar
Fuck, it’s been a long few days. My body is exhausted from the physical labor during the day, and showing Willow how much I love every inch of her incredible body at night, sometimes during the day too.
Memories of taking her bent over that kitchen island while she wore a sundress with no panties are burnt into my brain.
At this point, I’ve replayed it so many times, it’s my favorite memory.
We’re finally going home to Lupine Valley, and she’s curled up in the passenger seat writing in her notebook. I have my hand on her thigh, and the windows down. I couldn’t think of a more perfect moment if I tried to conjure one in my mind.
If one thing happened over the last few days, it’s that I fell fast and hard for Willow Harper.
I know when we get back I need to talk to Lorelei. She needs to know that I only want to take care of her daughter and make her happy .
“You’re thinking awfully hard over there.” She squeezes my hand. “What are you thinking about?”
“You.” I smile at her.
“Oh yea? About how amazing I am?” She chuckles.
“Exactly that.” I wink. “Thank you for everything these last few days. You didn’t have to offer to help my family, but you didn’t hesitate.”
“It’s what Harpers do.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal, but it’s a huge deal to me. “Besides, someone has to help Emma wrangle you boys.”
That’s true, although Emma gets into her fair share of trouble herself.
I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles before we settle back into an easy silence for the rest of the ride home.
I’m getting ready for work when I get a text message from Colton.
Colton: You finally back with your kidnapped date?
Me: What? Kidnapped? I didn’t frigin kidnap her!
I wonder if Willow told her family the same story she told my sister at the hospital. I roll my eyes at her feisty attitude.
Colton: I’m kidding, dude. The women were about to call the cops when they hadn’t heard from her for a few days, they even went and bothered Mack.
Me: Sorry, things went downhill pretty fast.
Colton: You better work on your game then. These Harper women require a lot of work.
Colton acts like it’s a hardship, but I know he wouldn’t trade his life with Lacey and Oliver for anything.
As proven by the fact I have a new bar from helping him win her over on their first official date. Being a step-dad suits him, and I know he’s looking forward to the court date in a few weeks when he gets to adopt Oliver and officially be his Dad. His excitement is only second to Oliver’s.
I finish getting ready for work, and find Willow waiting for me in the living room, watching some reality show on TV.
“Ready, darling?” I ask.
She jumps up and I follow her out the door to go downstairs. We have a busy night tonight with the band coming in. They always draw a big crowd, especially now that there’s a chance Willow might sing with them.
I swear there is nothing more beautiful than watching her on stage doing what she loves.
I kiss Willow, and head into my office to catch up on paperwork before the crowd gets busy.
Mack doesn’t miss the kiss, and I catch the sly smile on her face. Even though she’ll never admit it, she’s happy for us.
When I finally finish my paperwork, the band is here setting up. I walk out to the patio to say hi to them and check in.
“So, when are you going to relent and let her go so she can come tour with me?” Johnny asks.
I look at him confused, because I didn’t know that he asked Willow to tour around with him.
“She’s amazing, you know I’m not letting her go without a fight.” I laugh with him.
“I guess as long as you let her sing with me I’ll leave you be. This is our busiest spot now and I think it’s because people come to see her sing.” He winks and walks back to the stage to set up.
“Gunnar!” I turn around to see who is calling me, and find Willow at a table with all her sisters and the guys. I head over to talk to them.
“So you finally returned my sister, huh?” Addy says.
“Yea, I figure we should come back to work.” I wink at Willow.
“You know Mom is dying to get to you, right?” Scarlett asks .
“I know, I know. I owe her a visit.”
“Um, absolutely not, I am an independent woman. I don’t need my Mom’s approval to date someone!” Willow puts her hands on her hips.
Everyone laughs, because we all know she’s wrong. Lorelei gives permission, or she meddles. End of story.
Willow gets called up to sing with the band for their first song, and the girls go up to the small stage with her.
“You finally gave in and locked that down?” Porter asks me.
I sit at the table. “Yup. I had to.”
“Don’t we know that feeling.” He laughs.
Brad and Lauren walk in the gate to the patio and Colton waves them over. Lauren goes to join the girls at the stage and Brad sits next to me.
“Speaking of locking it down.” Preston eyes Brad.
“What?” Brad asks.
“Please, don’t act stupid. When are you going to lock Lauren down?”
“She doesn’t want to be locked down. Not by me anyways.” He looks like he regrets that fact more than he lets on.
I laugh now. “Sure, man. You’re losing it if you think she doesn’t want you. I hear more than anyone thinks I do during girls’ nights.”
“What do you know?” Colton leans forward, becoming more of a gossip than his future mother in law .
“Enough to know that our boy here, better make a move.” I wink at Brad, and get up, pushing my chair in.
“I doubt it. Trust me, there isn't anything she wants with me."
“Guess you better grow a pair and find out if I’m telling the truth.” I slap his shoulder and walk away to chat with some other customers.
The next few hours pass by in a busy blur. Willow only gets to sing a few songs with the band, but people are dancing and drinking, not fighting. Every bar owner’s dream is to have a busy night without a drunken fight. It might be that Brad is out there, people tend to behave more when he is here.
Even though the night was an easy, but busy one, I’m glad it’s over. People are leaving since last call was twenty minutes ago and the band is already packed up and loading their van.
“See ya, man! Let us know when you’re free for golf!” Colton yells in from the patio door.
“See ya! I’ll definitely let you know!” I wave to each of them as they pass by the open door, and Willow follows behind them before coming inside.
“Everything is all set out there and cleaned up.” She sets her tray on the end of the bar, and takes off her apron.
Walking over to me, she wraps her arms around me. I place my large hands on each side of her hips as she presses herself into me, and I lean down to take her mouth with mine .
“Bossman, no fucking the employees.” Bennett walks by us, laughing at me on his way to drop dishes in the kitchen.
“That was only a rule for you! I know how to keep my dick in my pants!” I yell back.
“No he doesn’t!” Willow calls out.
I glare at her.
“What? You can’t.”
She wiggles out of my grip and leaves me, giggling, and heads into the kitchen to help Mack clean up.
I am sweating by the time we get back upstairs. People might have been happy and drinking, but I swear they spilled half of what they ordered tonight. I will have to pressure wash the patio tomorrow morning.
I find Willow talking to Mack in the kitchen. “Alright, everything is done, everyone ready to go home?”
“Ugh, yes, please.” Willow drapes herself dramatically in my arms. “I’m so tired.”
We say goodnight to Mack and Bennett, and I lock up behind them. I meet Willow back in the kitchen and she’s standing at the door with our food, leaning on the door frame with her eyes at half mast.
I scoop her up and whisk her away upstairs. I place her on the couch, and set our to go containers on the table.
“So, can I ask you something?” I ask, desperate to find out why she lied to the band .
“Sure,” she answers around a mouth full of food.
“Why did you tell Johnny that I wouldn’t let you go tour around with them for gigs?”
She gulps loudly, swallowing to prepare before answering and she looks at me embarrassed.
“I wasn’t ready to sing outside the safety of The Bar, but I didn’t want to burn a bridge, or dredge up all my drama if they didn’t know about it. You were an easy out. And it made sense with me being the newest employee.”
I rub her back. “I’m sorry, you can use me as an out whenever you need to. Maybe just tell me next time so I don’t have to lie on the fly, it’s not a strong suit of mine.” I kiss her cheek.
“I’m so sorry, I should have told you, but it’s good to know you can’t lie.” She laughs. “I’ve been writing a lot though, and getting my confidence back. I kind of wanted to ask you if I’d be able to book a spot to sing on the patio? Just to test out my new songs?”
“Of course! I would love that and so would everyone in Lupine Valley. What better audience than the people who love you most?”
“Yea? While we’re at it, can I ask one more favor?” she asks timidly, which has me nervous because she is anything but timid.
“I want to get back on my social media with new content. I want to post more videos of my newer stuff. So I was hoping you’d let me post that one of us singing together? ”
“You think it’ll help you?” I know nothing about social media, but if she needs it, it’s hers.
“I definitely think it will.” She winks.
“Then go ahead. Whatever you need to do.”
We settle into a comfortable silence, eating our food, and watching our show. After some time, Willow falls asleep on my lap. I lean back into the couch, enjoying the quiet happiness I feel with her.
And in this moment, it hits me that I’m not just falling for her, I've already fallen in with love her, and my life is far better with her in it.