3. Heath
Chapter Three
HEATH
I follow Willow’s blue hatchback in my truck, cringing as she takes a curve too fast.
Christ . I scrub a hand across my beard as I turn out onto the main road.
I knew I shouldn’t have let Willow drive herself to the restaurant, but she didn’t want to leave her car at the park overnight. After everything that’s happened in the last hour, I’m honestly just relieved she’s safe.
Willow’s stubborn as hell, always wanting to handle things on her own. It’s one of the things I admire about her.
But part of me is glad this shit went down today. It gave me an excuse to step in and be there for her. To show her what it’s like to have someone to lean on.
I’m not naive. I know this impromptu dinner date doesn’t mean she’s falling into my arms. But maybe, just maybe, it’s a sign that she’s starting to let me in. Even just a little.
After the heat that flared between us at the opera house, I’m desperate to pick up where we left off.
To show her what it means to be mine.
A few minutes later, I steer my truck into the packed Chocolate Moose Café parking lot, pulling up behind Willow’s car. Then I throw my truck into park and jog over to her driver’s side door before she can open it herself.
She rolls her eyes but flashes me a smile. “I can open my own door, you know.”
“Indulge me.” I flash her a grin, holding out my hand.
For a moment, she just looks at it, hesitating. Then, to my surprise, she slips her small hand into mine. I feel it like an electric shock, heat zipping up my arm.
Hand in hand, I lead her into the diner, opening the door for her. As we step inside, triumph surges through me that she hasn’t pulled away.
Progress.
The hostess leads us to a corner booth and I slide in across from Willow. She shrugs out of her ranger jacket, revealing the khaki uniform underneath. It should be boring as hell. But on Willow, with her lush curves, it's sexy as sin. I feel my body tighten, my mind conjuring all the filthy things I want to do to her.
I force my eyes to the menu. "So what's good here?"
"Everything." She grins at me over her menu, dark eyes sparkling. "But I usually go for the chocolate chip pancakes. Breakfast for dinner is the best."
"A woman after my own heart." I wink at her. "I do love a good pancake. Among other things."
Her cheeks flush and she looks quickly back at her menu. So goddamn adorable. I just want to–
The waitress appears, breaking my train of thought. We place our orders and I lean back, letting my eyes drink Willow in. "So, I gotta ask. What made you want to become a park ranger? I mean, besides the irresistible allure of hanging out with mountain lions."
Willow's eyes cloud over for a moment. "My mom," she says softly. "She was a ranger here too, when I was a kid. Single mom, raised me and my brother Beau on her own. I really looked up to her, you know?"
I nod, sensing there's more to the story.
"Every summer, she'd bring us to work with her. Let us help out, learn the ropes. I just fell in love with it - being outside, taking care of the park, the animals. I knew right then I wanted to follow in her footsteps." A wistful smile touches her lips.
"She sounds like an amazing woman," I murmur.
"She was." Willow swallows hard. "We lost her last year. It's been tough but...being here, doing this job, it makes me feel close to her still. Like I'm honoring her memory."
My heart clenches. I reach across the table and take her hand, rubbing my thumb over her knuckles. "I'm so sorry, baby. I can't imagine how hard that must be. Your mom would be so proud of you though. Look at the incredible woman you've become."
She blinks back tears and squeezes my fingers. "Thank you, Heath. That means a lot."
We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, hands still intertwined. I'm in awe of her resilience, her grace in the face of loss. A fierce protectiveness surges through me. I want to wrap her in my arms, shield her from anymore pain.
Willow clears her throat. "Sorry, didn't mean to bring down the mood. I just...I don't usually talk about my mom much."
"Don't apologize. I'm honored you shared that with me. And hey, for what it's worth...I think you'd make an incredible mom yourself someday."
Shit. The words are out before I can stop them.
Her eyes widen in surprise. "Oh. Um, thanks. I do want that, you know? To be a mom."
I swallow hard.Images begin flashing through my mind - Willow, glowing and rounded with my child. Chasing giggling toddlers with her smile and dark curls. Cuddling a baby, our baby, in the soft lamplight.
It's a dangerous line of thinking. This is only our first date. But looking at her now, so open and vulnerable and perfect...I know without a doubt that I want that future. With her.
Quickly, Willow adds, "But I could never do it alone like she did. I'm in awe of single parents."
I force myself to keep my reply casual. "Well, when you do become a mom someday, you'll be fantastic at it. And definitely not alone.Your kids will be the luckiest in the world."
She blushes prettily and looks down. "I hope so. But that's a long way off yet. Let's just focus on getting through this dinner in one piece first, shall we?"
"Deal." I grin at her as the waitress arrives with our food. "But I meant what I said. Any guy would be beyond lucky to build a life and family with you."
And that lucky guy is going to be me.
The rest of the meal passes in a flirty, lighthearted blur. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed someone’s company this much. Willow is whip smart, with a dry sense of humor that keeps me on my toes.
Before I know it, we’ve settled the check and are heading out to the parking lot. I’m not ready for this night to end, so as we reach her car, I catch her hand in mine. Her skin is soft and warm.
“I had a really great time tonight, baby,” I say, rubbing my thumb over her knuckles.
She looks up at me through those long, dark lashes and smiles. “Me too. Thanks again for rescuing me.”
“Anytime. I mean that.” I take a step closer, drawn to her like a magnet. “I’d like to see you again. Soon.”
“Oh yeah?” A playful smirk dances on her lips. “How soon are we talking here?”
“Tomorrow?” I suggest hopefully. “I could come by your place after work. Bring dinner. We could eat, talk...” I trail off, letting the implication hang in the air. “Cuddle?”
An adorable pink blush stains her cheeks at the word ‘cuddle.’ But she doesn’t back down. “Hmm, I suppose I could pencil you in,” she teases. “Say seven-ish?”
“It’s a date.”
I can’t stop grinning. She agreed to a second date. I’m so fucking gone for this girl already.
Unable to resist any longer, I pull her flush against my chest and capture her mouth with mine.
She melts into the kiss instantly, her sweet curves fitting perfectly into my hard planes. I swipe my tongue along the seam of her lips, and she opens for me with a soft sigh.
She tastes like mint and honey and pure sunshine.
I skim my hands down her back to palm her delectable ass through her khaki uniform, and she makes a kittenish sound and nips at my bottom lip in response.
Fuck. If we weren’t in a very public parking lot right now...
Somehow I find the willpower to pull back, breathing hard. Her eyes are glazed, and her lips red and wet from my kiss. It takes everything in me not to dive back in for more. But I don’t want to push too far too fast.
“Good night, sweetheart,” I murmur, pressing one last soft kiss to her forehead. “Sweet dreams.”
“Night, Heath,” she whispers back.
I make sure she’s safely in her car before jogging to my truck, grinning like a fool. I just kissed Willow Rogers. And I’m going to see her again tomorrow.
Fuck yes.
Twenty minutes later, I stride into my log cabin, a permanent grin etched on my face. My brother, Blake, lounges on the couch, looking up from his phone with a smirk.
“Hey, man. Just getting back from Gabe’s?”
I shake my head, still beaming like a fool. “Nah, I was on a date, actually. With Willow.”
Blake’s eyebrows shoot up. “Willow? Eliza’s roommate?”
“Yep.”
He slaps my back as I plop down beside him. “Damn. Another Donovan triplet bites the dust. First Drew, now you... Must be something in the water.”
I chuckle, remembering Willow’s pink cheeks, her breathy little moan as I kissed her senseless. “When it’s right, it’s right. You’ll see, once you stop pining for that chick in Vegas.”
Blake’s smile falters, and I instantly regret my big mouth. Shit.
“Ancient history,” he says with forced nonchalance. “I’m over it.”
But I can see the hurt in his eyes. He hasn’t been the same since that trip a little over a year ago. Hasn’t so much as looked at another woman. It kills me that some girl could affect my brother so deeply, then bail like it meant nothing.
Time to change the subject. “So, how goes the house hunting? Find a place yet?”
Relief flashes across Blake’s face, and his shoulders relax. “Actually, yeah. Just put an offer on a sweet six-bedroom in Cooper Hills Estates. Inspection is next week, so I should be out of your hair soon.”
“No rush, man. Mi casa es su casa.” I stretch my arms overhead, joints popping. “But I am beat. Think I’ll grab a shower and hit the hay.”
“Gotta rest up for your next date with Willow,” Blake teases, waggling his brows. “Get in a few hours of sleep between all that lovin’.”
“Fuck off.” I laugh, punching his arm. But as I head down the hall, visions of Willow dance behind my eyes.
I strip down and step into the shower, cranking the water as hot as I can stand. Steam fills the glass enclosure as I duck my head under the spray, letting the pounding heat soothe my muscles.
But my mind races with thoughts of my girl. The sweet scent of her hair. The soft press of her lips against mine. I groan, desire lancing through me sharp and needy.
What I feel for Willow... It’s like nothing else. A connection so visceral it steals my breath. I want to learn every inch of her satiny skin. Bury myself in her lush, responsive body until she’s gasping my name. Claim her so completely that she never doubts she’s mine.
My cock throbs insistently and I wrap a hand around myself, squeezing the rigid length. But I force my fingers to stillness. I want to wait—make our first time perfect.
Gritting my teeth, I focus on washing away the day’s grime. But my dick stays stubbornly erect, aching for the one woman it wants.
I shut off the water and towel dry, then pull on a pair of low-slung sweats. Padding into my bedroom, I check my phone.
No new messages.
I open up my text thread with Willow, thumbs hovering over the screen. I want to tell her how much tonight meant to me. How much she’s come to mean to me.
But I don’t want to scare her off. So I keep it simple.
Me: Had an amazing time with you tonight. Sleep well, beautiful. Can’t wait to see you again tomorrow.
I hit send before I can second-guess myself further. Then I set my phone on the nightstand and slide under the covers.
As I drift off, it’s to fantasies of Willow in my arms, in my bed. My dreams are filled with her sweet sighs and breathless pleas.
Soon, I vow. Soon she’ll be mine in every way. And I will never let her go.