Chapter Seven #2
“Don’t buy it, sorry. You always call me back. Even during the busiest time on a ranch, you call. I know something is up. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong, I just didn’t get around to it.”
“So what?” She inhaled sharply. “It’s a woman, isn’t it? I knew it. Tell me about her.”
“There’s nothing to tell …”
“Don’t believe you.”
Sighing, he rubbed his neck. “Okay, there is someone, but it’s a temporary thing. She’s an artist and has an upcoming exhibition in Seattle in two weeks by which time I’ll be back in Colorado.”
Silence. Not a good sign. It meant she was thinking all sorts of crazy things.
“Don’t tell me it’s another woman with mental health issues?”
Hunter rubbed his neck. His sister had made no secret of the fact she hadn’t liked the way Linda had treated him. “No, she’s not. Complicated, yes, beautiful, yes, but not deranged.”
Silence again.
“You have feelings for her.” A statement, not a question. His sister didn’t have Willow’s sixth sense, but she was no fool.
“I think she’s very smart and talented but as I’ve said, I’m leaving soon and she has places to go.” He’d reached Willow’s house and stopped.
“What I’m hearing is that you have feelings for her and not only because she’s smart and beautiful.”
The front door opened, and Willow stepped out. His heart missed a beat at the sight of her. Damn, she did something to him. “It doesn’t matter. She’s not interested in anything long term. I have to go, we’ll talk soon.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Putting his phone away, he got out of the truck. “Morning,” he said as she reached him.
“I thought you’d changed your mind.”
“And miss out on your mom’s cooking?”
“Is that the only reason?”
He bent down and kissed her. It was all he’d been thinking of since he’d woken up. “You know exactly why I’m here, Willow.” He was slightly out of breath. “And if we don’t leave now, we won’t leave at all.”
For a brief moment, something flashed in her eyes, but she turned around and walked to the other side of his truck. He was there before she could open the door.
“I told you I …”
He kissed her again.
“You can’t keep kissing me,” she gasped as he lifted his head.
“For a few more days, I can. Come on, fiancé, get in, I’m hungry.”
Gritting his teeth, he helped her into the truck. Touching her did nothing to assuage the other hunger inside of him but he simply couldn’t help himself.
*
Lunch was strained to say the least. Willow’s sisters-in-law, bless their merry chattering, tried their best to keep the conversation going, but it was difficult when their husbands weren’t talking but kept looking daggers at her fiancé.
Hunter, his big hand covering hers most of the time, ignored their obvious displeasure while being attentive and sweet and funny, keeping all the women around the table entertained.
When they’d finished lunch, her mom got up. “Hunter, I need your help in the kitchen, please.”
Swallowing a groan, Willow waited. It didn’t take long.
“Why is Grant here?” Hayden asked.
“Sweetie,” Laura touched his arm. “He’s engaged to your sister, of course he’ll be here. Surely, you’ve noticed he can’t take his eyes off Willow? And have you seen her beautiful ring?”
“I’m not like you and Coop,” Hayden grumbled, “but even I know something’s off. I just know it. Willow, he has a ranch in Colorado waiting for him, you know that, don’t you?”
“I know,” Willow nodded.
Becket leaned forward, his face also marred by a huge frown, “Just a few weeks ago, you were still telling everybody you’re never getting married. What happened?”
Willow chuckled. Her brothers meant well, she knew that. “He kissed me.”
Cooper fixed his eyes on her for a minute, but he didn’t say anything.
“So what? You’re getting married and moving to Colorado just because the guy kissed you?” Becket frowned.
“I’ve told you I’m focusing on my exhibition at the moment.” That much was true. “We enjoy being together but any discussion about the wedding or our future will have to wait until after Christmas. I don’t know why you’re behaving like three-year-olds.”
With that, she got up and, picking up a few plates, left for the kitchen.
*
“You shouldn’t mind the brothers,” Willow’s mom was saying.
Hunter chuckled. “Mrs. Weston …”
“Please, call me Arlene?”
“Thanks, Arlene. Don’t worry about it. I get why they’re behaving this way. I also have a sister.”
She smiled. “I’m so relieved, they can be a bit much. So, what have your parents said about your engagement?”
Hunter was still frantically thinking what he could say, when Willow walked in, all smiles. “Hi, babe.” She took his arm. “I knew you’d give my fiancé the third degree, I’m here to rescue him. We’re going home. Thanks for a lovely meal, Mom.”
Before her mother could say another word, Willow was dragging him toward the front door.
“Sorry about that, I’ve tried to warn you,” she whispered as they closed the door behind them. “Can we go home? I’ll make coffee.”
As they drove away, he picked up Willow’s hand and laced his fingers with hers. The only times his heart settled down was when he could touch her, feel her warm skin underneath his, and could forget about the fact he was leaving soon.
When he dropped her off, he wouldn’t stay.
The more time he spent with her, the more he became aware what an extraordinary human being she was.
Not only was she so beautiful, he lost his breath every time he looked at her, but she was also talented, nice, funny, warm, and so obviously adored her family.
She made time for her friends, even though she was working long hours to finish paintings for her exhibition.
He loved watching her with Luke, Hayden’s son. It was clear the two of them were very close. It was going to be difficult enough to end this fake engagement as it was, if he were to make love with her, he’d never be able to walk away.
As he parked in front of her house, she quickly opened her door and jumped out. “Goodbye, Hunter. You’re nearly on your way back to Colorado. You just have to survive one more event with me next week!”
He slowly got out and escorted her to the front door. “No, there are two more events, remember? The Garden of Lights on Friday evening and the dance on Saturday evening.”
“We don’t have to do the Friday evening thing, really.
I’ll have to pack anyway, so we have a good excuse not to go.
We’ll show our faces at the dance Saturday evening—we don’t even have to stay long.
I’m leaving early Sunday morning for the airport.
Just hang in there, you’ll be rid of me very soon. ”
She unlocked the front door and opened it. “Goodbye, Hunter. Thanks for the ride.”
With his last bit of self-control, he turned on his heel and walked away. With every step toward his truck, the hole inside him opened up wider. He wasn’t sure if he would ever survive never being able to see Willow again.