Everything I Crave (Lupine Valley #4)

1. Chapter One

Chapter One

Gunnar

1 year earlier

I stand behind the makeshift bar at Scarlett’s wedding watching her sister, Willow. Her fiery attitude matches her long, red hair as she argues with my bartender. When she pulls out the, this is my sister’s wedding card, I intervene.

“What can I help you with, darling?” I coo at her, hoping to ease the situation.

“Ugh. Finally.” She flips off my bartender as he walks away. “I want another cran vodka,” she demands, thrusting her empty highball glass in my face.

“Sure thing,” I grit out between clenched teeth. I can’t stand when people demand things of me or my staff. Sister’s wedding or not.

I walk off to make her cran vodka, without the vodka. I add some sprite and a shot of water to the cranberry juice hoping she didn’t notice I never picked up a vodka bottle. She’s so drunk, I don’t think she will.

I watch her as I make the fake vodka and cranberry, she’s staring far off into space, a sadness in her eyes that I recognize from experience. Before I bought The Bar it’s a sadness that filled my own eyes, also fueled by alcohol. Her sadness simmers my anger at her demanding tone just a little.

I slap Bennett’s shoulder as I pass him and toss a wink his way. A sign that someone is cut off without knowing they’re cut off.

“Here you go. Cran vodka.” I hand her the glass.

She takes a sip, and heads back into the crowd, none the wiser and not a thank you in sight.

I need to find Lorelei, her mother, and let her know that her youngest daughter is cut off. I grab a tray of champagne and walk through the crowd while I search.

I’m halfway to Lorelei when I run into Scarlett.

She reaches to grab a glass off my tray, “Hey, Gunnar, the food is so delicious. Thank you for everything.”

“No problem, Scarlett. It was my pleasure. Hey, I don’t want to stress you guys out on your wedding day, but I told my staff to cut off Willow.” I shift the tray to the table next to me.

“Oh no. I’m so sorry, Gunnar. Should I have Mom bring her home?” She passes the glass of champagne to Preston, her new husband, as he walks up to join us.

I shake my head. “No, no she’s fine. She just seems a little sad and doesn’t know we switched her to virgin drinks. She’ll be fine. I just wanted you to know so you don’t get mad at me.”

“No, absolutely, I would never be mad at that. Thank you for looking out for her.” She smiles at me, and walks off, presumably to find Lorelei herself.

A few minutes later, I see Willow arguing with her mother in the driveway of Preston’s cabin while I go to the catering truck to grab more food.

Lorelei points animatedly at the car. Willow shakes her head, and runs off in the opposite direction, towards the trail that leads away from Preston’s house, and the wedding.

I sigh, knowing the weight Willow is carrying. The look in her eyes, so familiar they could be my own from not so long ago. A haunted and hollow look. I’ve seen it so many times over the years. Trying to numb the pain away with alcohol.

Except it never works.

A particularly rough deployment when I was in the military put that look in my eyes. So I have to assume something beyond getting cut off at her sister’s wedding is the reason behind that sadness there.

My staff and I have loaded up all the supplies, it's finally time to get into my truck and head home finally. I shuck off the tux coat and loosen the tie, sighing at the relief in that small gesture.

I’m almost home when I see a small figure wobbling the center line of Main Street. I stop my truck, and get out, recognizing the figure immediately by her red hair.

“Willow?” I question.

“Ooh heyyy Gunnarrr,” she slurs, wobbling back down the line towards me.

“What are you doing out here, darling? It’s a little unsafe, don’t ya think?” I reach out to steady her as she falls towards me.

“Mmmm, you smell good.” She plants her face in my chest, inhaling deeply.

“Can I give you a ride back to your Mom’s?” I start walking her to the passenger side of my truck.

“Nope.” She pops the p with her lips, full pink lips that are too tempting for her own good.

“Ok, how about to Addy or Lacey?” I open the door, and try to get her in.

She shakes her head. “Mm-mm.”

She slides off the seat I just got her into, and plants her body close to mine before I can step back.

“How about yoursss house, bigg guy?”

She makes an attempt at what I imagine would be a very seductive look if she wasn’t struggling to keep her eyes open.

“Ok. My house it is.” At the acceptance of her offer, she happily climbs into the passenger seat.

I sure as hell don't want to stand here in the middle of Main Street, arguing with a drunk Willow Harper about where she's going to sleep. I just want to get home.

I pull around the back of The Bar, my baby, and largest investment .

“Ooh are we havin moree?” she slurs.

“I live above The Bar, I renovated the upstairs into a condo.” I hop out of the truck, unhitch the trailer, and lock it up before going to the passenger’s side to get her out.

When I get there, she’s passed out, slumped over onto the center console. Laughing to myself, I scoop her up and carry her up the stairs.

I debate changing her outfit, but I can’t imagine having to sleep in this tux, so I take a chance that maybe she won’t be pissed I took her out of the dress. Grabbing an old tee from the dresser, I lay her on the bed. I slide her dress up her body, lifting her to pull it over her head. Slipping the tee on and tucking her into my bed, I wrap the covers around her before leaving her so I can shower.

Looks like I will be taking up residence on the couch tonight. I wish like hell I’d listened to my momma and bought furniture for the guest room, it would have saved me from sleeping on my couch.

I’m making myself a snack in the kitchen after my shower when I hear feet pitter pattering from down the hallway.

“Hey, big boy.”

I turn to look at Willow, shock ripples through me, along with lust.

She’s standing there completely naked. Her body is a work of fucking art. As beautiful as her voice that I haven’t been able to get out of my head since her impromptu performance at the engagement party for her sister Lacey, and future brother-in-law, Colton.

She attempts to slide her hand up the exposed wood beam to lean against it, clearly knowing what she’s doing. Except, again for the alcohol that makes her misjudge the distance between her hand and the beam, causing her to fall to the floor.

Sighing, I place my bowl of cereal down on the counter and help her up off the floor.

“Mmm, are you coming to bed with me?” She slides her finger up my bare chest. “I like this.” Her head falls against my shoulder.

“I’m taking you to bed, that's for sure.” I walk into my room and find the tee again to slide over her head.

“Hey, this iss not what I wantedd,” she pouts.

Fuck, those lips again. And with how close she just was, I now have the curiosity of whether or not they taste how they smell, like sweet cherries.

“Well, unfortunately for me, I’m not into drunk girls, so this is what you get.” I lay her down and cover her up. “I’m going to get you some water. I’ll be right back, stay in bed, and stay clothed.” I raise my eyebrow at her.

“Fine. Whatevvverrr.”

By the time I come back with her water, she’s snoring lightly. I place the glass with some ibuprofen on the table by the bed.

I run my hand through my damp hair wondering what the hell I’ve gotten myself into. I should have brought her back to Addy or Lacey. But that sadness in her eyes got me and now, there’s a beautiful, and very naked, sister of my best friends in my bed.

Fuck .