Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
WILLOW
With my hands planted on my hips, I slowly turn around and survey the entire space.
Jace and I spent the earlier part of the week painting the walls and the trim.
The floors have been cleaned and the old check-out counter removed.
Jace helped me empty out the entire space so I can look at it as a clean slate to figure out where exactly I want things to go.
And now I’m at the point where it’s time to piece things together with a mess of shelving units I’ve been trying to work on all afternoon by myself.
The Harvest Festival is a little less than a month away and there’s still so much left to do.
Jace helped me figure out how to set up the store, although it still feels like something is missing.
I haven’t had the time or the focus to reach out to any companies to collaborate on things.
I need to find a designer to come up with a cohesive theme for merchandise.
There are still so many things I need to decide on and mentally, it feels like I’m running out of space.
This store has been a welcomed distraction from my inability to get into veterinary school, although it still lingers in the back of my mind like a thorn in my side. Being a vet was always my dream, but dreams do change. And I can’t help but feel like maybe it’s not mine anymore.
All I think about is what I could be doing with the store. How I can keep my grandma’s legacy and her dream alive. Perhaps what she always wanted has now morphed into my own dream.
Being in the maple business was never part of my plan, and now it feels more fitting than putting time and energy into going back to school.
In a way, it makes my degree in biology feel like a joke, like it was a waste of time, but sometimes you have to do things to realize it’s not what you want to do.
I am grateful for the chance I had to leave this small town for a while and meet other people from all walks of life.
My phone vibrates in my back pocket and I welcome the distraction.
It’s a message from my best friend. Talking daily, even if it’s just to check in, has always been a non-negotiable of our friendship, although I miss the conversations we used to have.
I know Mia has a lot going on in her life and I can’t fault her for that.
All I can do is support her from afar, as she does the same for me.
Mia
Hey bestie. Guess who’s coming to the lake house next weekend?
Willow
Oooo, tell me it’s Daddy Dean?!
Mia
I swear to god, if you keep calling my dad that, I might actually have a stroke.
Willow
LOL you know I’m joking, come on!
Mia
I know, but he’s my dad! It’s gross to think about lol
Willow
You’re right, you just make it too easy sometimes.
Mia
Don’t you have your brother’s hot friend there to distract you now?
My stomach does a somersault as I play back that moment in the shop with Jace a few days ago.
The way he caged me in. The way his hand lingered just above my eyebrow when we both knew damn well that the paint was gone.
His eyes fixated on my mouth and I swear, if he weren’t who he is, I would have thought he wanted to kiss me.
Shaking my head, I push the thoughts away and look back at my phone.
Willow
I wish he would distract me.
Mia
Why won’t he? Because of your brothers?
Willow
I don’t know. He’s so damn hard to read and I don’t think he’d ever think of me that way.
Mia
Are you kidding? He’s crazy if he doesn’t.
Can’t you make a move on him?
Willow
And possibly be rejected? I don’t think my ego can handle that right now.
Mia
That’s your problem. Leave your ego out of the equation and just do it.
I’m coming to the lake house for the weekend. Let’s go out.
Willow
Where are Caleb and Tella?
Mia
He’s taking Tella to see her grandparents on her mother’s side. They invited me to go along, but I think it’s something they should do without me.
Willow
Are you coming for the whole weekend?
Mia
Just for Saturday night.
Willow
Let me know when you get in and I’ll come pick you up.
Mia’s family has a house on the lake on the outskirts of the Hollow. With her father’s job coaching the Aston Archers, he mostly stays in Aston and Mia only comes every once in a while. Normally, she has Caleb and his daughter with her, but not this time.
Mia
Okay! Love you, see you Saturday!
Willow
Love you!
Locking my screen, I tuck my phone in my back pocket just as the bell above the door dings, drawing my attention away from the empty walls.
My feet spin, my body turning as I throw a glance at the front of the store and see Jace as he steps into the space.
My heart thumps faster in my chest as I allow my eyes a long second to roam as he looks behind him to make sure the door shuts.
He’s wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, matching joggers, and sneakers. I’m not going to lie, I don’t think this man could look bad in anything he wears, but I do like this athletic look he’s got going on right now. And to top it all off, he’s wearing his white baseball cap backwards.
“Hey,” he says, turning back around to me. A smile spreads across his lips as his eyes meet mine. His footsteps are light, yet his strides are purposeful as he walks across the store and stops right next to me.
“Hey,” I say softly, my forehead scrunching. “What are you doing here?”
Jace plants his feet and crosses his arms over his chest, raising one eyebrow. “Have you been here since this afternoon?”
“Yeah, I stopped by the market and grabbed a salad earlier and came here.”
“Have you eaten since?”
I shake my head. “No, I kind of forgot to,” I admit with a shrug and gesture to the mess of shelves on the floor. “I got a little distracted.”
He purses his lips as he looks down at the floor and back to meet my gaze.
“Come on,” he says, reaching his hand out for mine.
His hand is so big, his fingers long and strong.
There are little calluses at the base of each finger.
There’s no reason to be reluctant. It’s just Jace.
Harmless and hot Jace Miller who almost kissed me the last time we were this close.
My palm slides against his, his skin warm as I thread my fingers through his. “Where are we going?”
“To get you food.”
Jace turns around and tugs on my hand. I let him lead me through the store to the front door. “It’s not that big of a deal. I can just eat when I go home later.”
He doesn’t bother to look at me as he pulls open the door and guides me through. “This isn’t up for debate, Will. You’re going to run yourself into the ground that much faster if you’re starving yourself.”
My arm stretches and pulls on my shoulder as the space between us grows from his long strides. Jace glances over his shoulder and realizes I’m struggling to keep up. He shortens his strides and falls into step beside me, at a comfortable speed for my shorter legs.
“What are you hungry for?”
My stomach growls just as I’m about to protest again. My lips purse, and Jace turns to look at me, his eyebrow arching as if he’s daring me to argue. “Hm… I don’t know. I’m not picky.”
He snorts, shaking his head. “Yes, you are.” The corners of his lips tip up just a little. “You have a habit of thinking things that have any spice are spicy.”
“I mean, if it makes my tongue feel like it’s burning, I think it’s safe to say it’s spicy.”
Jace lets out a soft laugh, his fingers squeezing mine.
“I have an idea of what you might like.” We reach the corner of the street and he pulls me onto the road to walk across before any cars come.
He stops short beside his truck parked along the curb.
“The diner is closed. Are you okay with going back to my house?”
My eyes widen slightly as I stare at him for a moment. “Yeah,” I admit, half shaking my head. “You don’t have to cook for me, though.”
The smile that cracks his face could stop traffic. He rolls his eyes as he pulls open the passenger’s side door. “Get in the truck, kid. It’s not really cooking.”
“Then what is it?” I ask, my eyebrows tugging together.
“Guess you’ll have to get in the truck to find out,” he says, enunciating the get in the truck part. He tilts his head to the side, lifting his eyebrows as he holds the door open. “What’s it gonna be?”
Fixing my gaze on his, I don’t make a move at first. Jace stares back at me with a burning intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. His gaze is unwavering, his body as still as a statue, as he keeps his hand firmly planted on the door.
I’m the one who breaks first.
My chest expands as I suck in a deep breath and let out an exasperated sigh as I climb into the truck. Jace chuckles softly and bites back his grin as his eyes meet mine once more before he closes the door.
Damn him and the effect he has on me.
And damn me for giving in to it.
Jace’s house is just as I remember it from when we were younger, except some of the family photos are missing. It looks like his parents picked and chose what they took with them and left the rest for Jace after he bought the place.
“I’m glad you were able to work something out with your parents to keep the house,” I say as I kick off my shoes at the front door and crouch down to pet Dr. Grey. She’s like a dog with the way she greets us at the door.
“Yeah, me too.” Jace glances down at me with a ghost of a smile on his lips, just as a small warm body presses against my back. “There’s Snoop,” he says softly.
The white and grey cat steps around to the front of me and both cats push up against my legs, purring loudly as they volley for my attention. “Oh my, I didn’t know they were both so friendly.”
Jace’s mouth twitches as his gaze is warm on mine. “She hides from most people.” He motions for me to follow him after a moment. “Come on,” he says, as he begins to walk down the hall.