Chapter 14 #2
The last few days had changed something between us. Hell, they’d changed something in me.
Willow isn’t only the woman I rescued from the Rusty Nail anymore. She isn’t the girl with the terrible family and the debt that never should have belonged to her in the first place.
She’s become part of my days and my life in a way that would have terrified me a few years ago.
Now, it only leaves me with a feeling of peace and happiness in a way I can’t remember ever feeling before.
Once upon a time, that would have scared the hell out of me, but now...
Luke follows my gaze and shakes his head.
“What?”
Luke's grin widens. “Oh, nothing.”
“Liar.” I shoot him a look. “Just say it.”
He shrugs. “I’m just over here watching you fall in love.”
I spin so quickly, I almost spill my beer on my asshole friend who thinks he knows everything. “What did you say?”
Luke shrugs, not bothering to hide his smile. “Calling it as I see it, man.”
"Why the hell would you think that I'm falling in love?"
Luke sets his beer down and looks at me seriously. "It's been a long time since I've seen you smile like that, man. A really long time."
“I smile.”
“No. You don’t.”
“I do.” Even as I protest, I know he’s right. It’s been a long time since I’ve smiled. And even longer since that smile wasn’t forced.
Instead of protesting, he simply raises his brows. I open my mouth, then close it with a shake of my head.
“That’s what I thought.”
For some reason, that earns a laugh from the women who’ve moved close enough to overhear our conversation.
How much did Willow hear?
“What’s so funny?” Luke steps toward Lilly and wraps an arm around her waist. “You weren’t eavesdropping, were you?”
She stands on her tiptoes and kisses his cheek. “It’s hardly eavesdropping when the two of you talk loud enough for the entire mountain to hear.”
I glance at Willow, who simply shrugs. “Don’t look at me,” she says, laughter dancing in her eyes. “I’m trying very hard to mind my own business here.”
“Liar,” I mutter, my smile spreading over my face.
Beside me, Luke chuckles. “See?”
“Nobody asked you.”
“Huh. You should stop trying to prove my point then.”
Lilly rolls her eyes and leans into his side. “You two are exhausting.”
“You love me.”
“Unfortunately.”
I watch as he tilts her chin up and kisses her deeply. The gesture is so natural and easy, it resonates. Because for a long time, I’d convinced myself that men like us don’t get things like that.
We don’t get love. We don’t get that easy affection and the certainty of having someone in your corner.
But here it is right in front of me.
Watching my buddy and his fiancée, it’s hard to deny that he’s found exactly that. And so has Holt. It’s getting harder to deny that it is possible after all.
My gaze drifts back to Willow, who is watching me watch them.
Instead of glancing away, she holds my gaze and smiles. This isn’t the sassy, teasing smile from a few days ago. Or the guarded one she wore as a mask when she’d first arrived.
This one is softer in a way that makes me feel like maybe Luke isn’t completely full of shit.
Before I can think better of it. I push away from the railing and cross the porch to her.
“What are you doing?”
I reach for her hand and pull her close instead of answering her. There’s no hesitation as she lets me pull her into my side as if it’s the most natural thing in the world for her to be cozied up to me.
The feeling that settles over me is so damn unfamiliar, I almost don’t recognize it.
Almost.
But then the contentment washes over me, and I slide my arm around her waist and start to pull her into my lap as I sit in the nearest chair.
Willow's arms come up around my neck as we settle onto the chair. “This is nice,” she murmurs against my mouth.
“I can’t disagree with that.” I press my lips to hers, unconcerned with the fact that we have an audience, only caring about this woman in my arms, and how I can keep her here, when a loud metallic crash echoes from the garage.
Every head on the porch turns. Murph is on his feet, barking and charging toward the garage.
My arms tighten reflexively on Willow, as I scan for danger.
But it’s her face that captures all of my attention.
The color has drained from her cheeks so fast I almost don’t recognize her.
Her eyes are wide and fixed on the garage. For a split second, she stares, and then she scrambles to her feet.
Beside me, Luke pushes away from the railing, quickly maneuvering Lilly so she’s behind him.
Years of training don’t disappear. I see the same shift happen in him that I feel in myself, as the easy afternoon evaporates.
Willow doesn’t even look at me as she starts to move. Not toward the house and safety, but toward the garage.
“Willow!”
She doesn’t answer as she runs down the steps.
The knot in my stomach tightens. My instincts are working on overdrive, and I’m after her in a flash.
“Willow!”
This time, she stops.
She’s frozen in the yard for a second before she turns slowly. The look on her face makes my heart clench, and my stomach turn.
“Cal. It’s not…I—”
“What’s in the garage?”
Her eyes close briefly, and she inhales deeply.
And that’s the moment I know. Not because of what she says, but because of everything she doesn’t.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and shake my head.
“Cal.” She reaches for me, but I shrug her off as I move past her.