7. Heath
Chapter Seven
HEATH
Water drips from the light fixtures as I stare at the wreckage all around us.
“This is a disaster,” Willow whispers beside me, her eyes wide. “What am I going to do?”
My heart aches seeing her beautiful face crumpled in worry. I wrap an arm around her shoulders, and she leans into me. I breathe in the sweet scent of her hair. Even with the musky odor all around us, her fragrance is intoxicating.
Thank goodness we got the water shut off when we did. It could have been much worse.
When a knock sounds at the door, Willow tears herself away from my side to answer it. I instantly miss the warmth of her body pressed against mine. Drew and Eliza step inside, their faces grim as they take in the scene.
“Oh, Willow, I’m so sorry,” Eliza says, pulling her into a hug. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just... processing,” Willow replies with a weak smile.
“What can we do to help?” Drew asks.
“Let’s see if we can salvage anything from my old room,” Eliza suggests.
As the two women head down the hall, Drew turns to me. “You okay, man?”
I nod, dragging a hand over my face. “Yeah. It’s just... seeing her place like this, knowing how much it meant to her to be independent...”
“It’s not your fault. You know that, right?”
I shrug. Maybe not directly. But I still feel responsible. Protective. Like I should have done more.
“I’m just glad you and Eliza are here. Willow’s going to need all the support she can get.”
“Of course. That’s what family is for.”
Family. The word warms me from the inside out. Because that’s what Willow is now. What she will be, if I have anything to say about it. For now, we just need to get her through this.
“So what’s the plan?” Drew asks. “Obviously she can’t stay here.”
“I’m going to ask her to move in with me.”
Drew’s eyebrows shoot up. “Wow, really? That’s a big step.”
“I know it’s fast, but... it feels right, you know? After everything that’s happened...”
“Hey, you don’t have to explain it to me. When you know, you know. Look at me and Eliza.”
I chuckle, remembering how quickly they fell for each other. Guess it runs in the family.
“You think Blake will be cool with it?” Drew asks. “Willow moving in?”
“Actually, Blake is moving out. He just closed on a house.”
“No shit, really? That huge place in Cooper Hills?”
I nod. The sprawling six-bedroom estate has been Blake’s dream home for years. A place to build a future. Fill with a family of his own someday.
“Damn, good for him,” Drew says. “Now he just needs to find a woman willing to put up with his workaholic ass long enough to wife her up and knock her up.”
We both laugh, but I can’t help wondering if that’s in the cards for me too. The wife, the kids, the whole picket fence deal. I never thought I was the type.
Until Willow.
“You love her, don’t you?” Drew says quietly, studying me.
“Yeah. I really fucking do.”
“Then go get your girl, bro. Lock that down. Because what you two have? That’s the real deal.”
I clap him on the shoulder, nodding. He’s right. It’s time to man up and claim what’s mine.
Another knock sounds at the door, interrupting our brotherly moment. Drew and I exchange a look before heading over to answer it together.
When I swing it open, a young woman stands on the other side, a small child perched on her hip. She looks momentarily panicked as her hazel eyes flick between our faces.
“You okay, miss?” I ask, frowning at her deer-in-headlights expression.
She blinks and regains her composure. “Yes, sorry. I’m Julie. The landlord.” She brushes a strand of honey-blonde hair off her face. “I got a call about a leak?”
She looks awfully young to be managing properties, maybe midtwenties at most. The little girl in her arms has the same heart-shaped face and pouty lips. Definitely her daughter.
“Right, of course. Please, come in.” I step back to let her inside.
Julie falters to a stop when she takes in the disaster zone that is Willow’s apartment. “Oh no, what happened here?”
I give her the cliff notes version while her daughter squirms restlessly against her.
“I’m so sorry,” she says when I finish. “My dad passed away recently. He was the owner of this complex. I’m in town for the next few weeks trying to get everything straightened out. But to be honest, I’m still trying to get up to speed on everything.”
“No worries, we get it,” Drew assures her. “It’s a process.”
Julie bounces her baby girl absentmindedly. “I promise I’m going to do my best to get this all fixed. But it might take some time to line up the contractors and approvals...”
The little girl starts to fuss, and Julie shushes her gently. I can see the stress weighing on her slim shoulders. She’s in over her head.
“Hey, don’t sweat it,” I tell her. “Willow can stay with me in the meantime. As long as she has a roof over her head, we can figure out the rest.”
“Thank you for being so understanding.” Julie’s grateful smile warms her whole face. Her daughter chooses that moment to make a grab for my beard, and Julie quickly intercepts with a mortified laugh. “No, no, sweetie. We don’t pull the nice man’s facial hair.”
I grin. “She’s cute. What’s her name?”
“Maddie. She’s not even a year old and is already giving me a run for my money,” Julie jokes as she expertly dodges sticky hands. There’s a fierce love in her eyes when she gazes at her daughter.
It stirs something deep in my chest.
Instantly, I imagine Willow holding a baby.
My dick stirs at the thought of her lush, fertile body swelling with my child. Waking up to that sweet face every morning. Making her mine in every way possible.
Suddenly I’m impatient to get this sorted so I can take my woman home where she belongs. Get started on our happily ever after.
Because that’s what this is. I can feel it in my bones. Willow is my forever.
And I’ll be damned if I waste another second without her by my side.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask, noticing the flicker of unease in Julie’s eyes. “You seem a little shaken up.”
Julie smiles sheepishly, adjusting Maddie on her hip. “I’m sorry, it’s just... This might sound strange, but I feel like I’ve met you before. Like déjà vu or something.”
I shake my head, trying to place her. “I don’t think so.”
“Maybe you’re thinking of our other brother, Blake,” Drew chimes in, a grin on his face.
Julie’s eyes widen, her face paling slightly. “Y-you have a brother named Blake?”
“Yep,” he replies. “We’re triplets.”
Julie’s swallows hard. “Triplets?”
I nod, chuckling. “We’re all pretty much identical, too.”
“This is a small town,” Drew adds, his tone friendly. “I’m sure you’ll run into Blake sooner or later.”
Julie gives Drew a weak smile, but she doesn’t look pleased. She looks like she’s about to be sick.
Before I can dwell on it further, the sound of footsteps catches my attention. I turn to see Eliza and Willow walking back into the room, their faces etched with a mix of frustration and exhaustion.
Julie straightens up, her professional demeanor returning. “Hi, I’m Julie, the landlord. I’m filling in for my dad while he’s in the hospital.”
Willow’s face softens, her eyes landing on the little girl in Julie’s arms. “Oh, hello there. And who might this be?”
Julie smiles, bouncing Maddie gently. “This is my daughter, Maddie.”
Eliza’s face lights up. “She’s adorable! And look at those green eyes—there must be a gene for it in this town. Drew and Heath have the same color.”
Julie nods, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. “Oh, I’m not from around here, actually. We just moved to town recently.”
“Really? Where from?” Eliza asks.
Julie hesitates briefly, her smile turning slightly strained. “Oh, you know, here and there. We’ve moved around a lot.”
There’s something in her tone that suggests there’s more to the story, but before anyone can press further, Julie glances down at her watch. “I’m so sorry, but I really need to get going. Maddie’s due for a nap, and I have a million things to take care of.”
She shifts Maddie in her arms, offering us a polite smile. “It was nice meeting you all. I’ll be in touch about the repairs.”
With that, Julie turns and heads for the door, Maddie babbling softly in her arms. I watch them go, my mind swirling with questions and a strange sense of unease.
Drew and Eliza exchange a glance, and I can tell they’re thinking the same thing I am.
There’s something going on with Julie, but now’s not the time to dwell on it.
“We should probably get going too,” Eliza says, gesturing toward the door. “Give you two some space to figure things out.”
Drew nods in agreement, clapping me on the shoulder. “Let us know if you need anything, bro. We’re here for you.”
I nod gratefully, watching as they make their way out of the apartment. After the door closes behind them, I turn to face Willow, my heart pounding in my chest.
She looks up at me, her dark eyes filled with a mix of emotions. Uncertainty, gratitude, and something else I can’t quite name.
I take a step toward her, reaching out to take her hands in mine. “Willow, I know this is all happening so fast, but I wanted to ask you something.”
She nods. “What is it?”
I take a deep breath, gathering my courage. “I want you to move in with me.”
Her eyes widen, her mouth falling open in surprise. “Heath, are you serious?”
I nod, squeezing her hands gently. “I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. I know we just met, but I feel like I’ve known you forever. And I can’t stand the thought of you being alone, dealing with all of this by yourself.”
She bites her lip, her eyes searching mine. “But we barely know each other. What if it doesn’t work out?”
I shake my head, pulling her closer to me. “It will work out. I promise. I’m not going anywhere, Willow. I’m in this for the long haul.”
She’s silent for a moment, her eyes filled with a swirl of emotions. And then, slowly, a smile spreads across her face. “Okay,” she whispers. “Let’s do it.”
My heart soars, and I can’t help but grin like an idiot. “Really? You mean it?”
She nods, her smile growing wider. “I mean it. Let’s move in together.”