Chapter Ten
Jay Bird pulled into his driveway a little after six and shut off the engine, but instead of immediately climbing out of the SUV, he sat there for a moment staring at the house.
His house. At least, that was what he had always called it. Lately, the word didn’t seem to fit quite as well.
Nothing about the place looked different from out here.
The yard was still painfully bare, according to Willow.
The landscaping remained nonexistent beyond the handful of shrubs that were there when he bought the place, and there was still far too much empty space for one man who barely used half the rooms.
Yet somehow, in less than a week, everything inside had changed. Then there was Willow.
Jay Bird rubbed a hand over his jaw. Yeah, that was the biggest change of all.
He glanced toward the passenger seat and immediately felt ridiculous. A white orchid sat there, an actual fucking flower for a woman. He hadn’t bought a woman flowers in years.
The orchid had seemed like a good idea at the time. He had passed the florist on the way home, and remembered Willow giving his house shit about desperately needing something alive in it. Moments later, he had found himself walking into the shop.
Then the woman behind the counter had started explaining what different flowers symbolized. Jay Bird hadn’t asked for the lecture, but apparently he had looked like a man who desperately needed professional assistance.
White orchids were said to represent new beginnings.
It felt oddly fitting for Willow, like something in her deserved a fresh start more than she probably realized herself.
Before he could overthink it, he’d decided she was the one who should have it, and just like that, he had bought the damn thing.
Now he sat in his driveway, staring at it like it might testify against him later.
“Get your shit together,” he muttered to himself.
He grabbed the orchid and climbed out. Before heading inside, he pulled the envelope Derek had given him from his work bag and tucked it under his arm.
He unlocked the front door and wasn’t surprised when the security panel immediately began its countdown. He punched in the code and called out before stepping farther inside.
“I’m home.”
He had learned quickly that announcing himself was better than accidentally startling Willow.
For a heartbeat, nothing happened, and then a little voice suddenly shrieked from the kitchen.
“Jay!”
Jay Bird barely had time to set his bag and the orchid on the entry table before Lily came barreling toward him as fast as her little legs would carry her and wrapped both arms around his leg.
That familiar tightness hit his chest again, and before he could think too much about it, Jay Bird bent down and scooped her up into his arms.
“Hey, peanut.”
Lily immediately looped an arm around his neck. “Jay work.”
“Yep. Jay had to work.”
“Home now.”
He smiled. “Yeah. I’m home now.” He shifted Lily onto his hip.
“Where’s Mommy?”
Lily pointed dramatically toward the kitchen.
“Momma cook taters.”
He headed toward the kitchen, but when he passed the dining table, he stopped. A vase sat in the center, filled with bright flowers in shades of yellow, pink, purple, and white.
Jay Bird stared at it for a long moment, then let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head like he couldn’t quite believe what he was looking at.
Of course, he had left the woman alone for one day, and she had already started decorating.
“Flowers,” Lily announced.
“I see them.”
“Pwetty.”
“They are very pretty.”
His gaze moved toward the kitchen. Willow stood at the counter whipping mashed potatoes in a large bowl, her back partially turned to him. She wore jean shorts and a T-shirt, and her brown hair was pulled into a loose ponytail.
He walked into the kitchen. “Hey.”
Willow turned, and a smile immediately spread across her face.
“Hi.”
Damn, her smile did something to him. That was dangerous territory, and Jay Bird quickly looked away, turning his attention back toward the stove instead.
“What smells so good?”
“Fried chicken.”
He groaned appreciatively. “Marry me.”
Willow froze.
Jay Bird closed his eyes. Well, fuck.
Then Willow grinned. “I’m pretty sure we’ve skipped several steps.”
He smirked. “Still, it smells good.” He kissed the top of Lily’s head before lowering her to the floor. “Go finish coloring.”
Lily immediately ran back toward the table.
Jay Bird walked back to the front door, retrieved the orchid, and set it on the island.
Willow’s gaze flicked to the flower, then back to him.
“What’s that?”
“For you.”
“For me?”
“Unless Lily suddenly developed an interest in horticulture.”
Willow stared at the orchid, and Jay Bird suddenly felt like he was sixteen years old.
“I thought maybe it could help with the whole personality crisis my house is apparently suffering from.”
Her eyes lit with amusement. “You bought me a flower because I’ve been insulting your decorating?”
“Partly.”
He nodded toward the vase on the table. “Tough, it looks like somebody beat me to it.”
A little pink appeared in Willow’s cheeks. “Mia picked those up for me.”
She carefully touched one of the white petals. “But this is beautiful. Thank you.”
Jay Bird laughed and her gaze snapped toward him.
“What?”
“I’m not counting that one.”
Willow narrowed her eyes. “How generous.”
“I figured flowers earn a free thank-you.”
She smiled and looked back at the orchid.
Jay Bird hesitated for a moment, then let out a quiet breath and figured he had already bought the damn thing anyway, so there was no point overthinking it now. He might as well just commit to it.
“The lady at the shop said white orchids represent new beginnings.”
Willow’s fingers stilled against the petal.
Jay Bird shrugged, suddenly very interested in the countertop. “Seemed appropriate.”
When he looked back, her expression had softened.
“That’s really sweet and thoughtful.”
“Don’t spread that around. I have a reputation.”
She laughed. “Your secret is safe.”
Jay Bird crossed to the sink and washed his hands.
“How was your day with Mia?”
“It was really good.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Yeah?”
“It was nice to catch up, and we talked about a lot.”
“Anything I should be worried about?” he asked, drying his hands.
“I’ll tell you over dinner.”
“Okay.” He looked at the food. “Do you need help?”
She pointed toward a cabinet. “You can grab the plates and silverware. Lily helped with the cups.”
Jay Bird glanced toward the table. Three plastic cups sat at wildly different angles. One was nearly hanging off the edge.
“I see.”
“She was very proud.”
He was reaching for the plates when he noticed something on Willow’s cheek.
“Hold still.”
She stiffened, and Jay Bird stopped, immediately realizing he should’ve known better.
“You’ve got flour on your cheek.”
“Oh. Probably from when I was frying the chicken.” She rubbed the wrong side.
“Other side.”
She tried again, but missed it completely.
Jay Bird smiled. “Can I?” he asked.
Her gaze met his, and for a second neither of them moved, the air between them sparking with an unknown energy. Willow finally gave a small nod.
Jay Bird slowly stepped closer, then lifted his hand and gently brushed his thumb over the dusting of flour on her cheekbone. Her skin was soft and warm beneath his touch. Jay Bird’s hand lingered for maybe half a second longer than necessary before he lowered it.
Willow looked up at him. Neither of them spoke, but the silence between them didn’t feel empty.
Willow’s brown eyes stayed locked on his, and for the first time he really saw her.
Not just as someone he was helping, but as someone slowly coming back to herself.
She already looked healthier than the woman who had collapsed outside Nova’s gym, though she was still too thin, still carrying that tiredness around the edges like it hadn’t fully let go of her yet.
Even so, there was color in her cheeks now, a softness in her expression, and life returning to her eyes.
She had laughed today. She had cooked dinner. And she had put flowers on his table.
“I’m glad you had a good day,” he said quietly.
“Me too.”
Seeing her happy made him happy.
“Jay!”
They both jumped when they heard Lily call Jay Bird’s name. When they turned, Lily stood at the kitchen entrance holding up a purple crayon.
“Broke.”
Jay Bird glanced down at the snapped crayon, then lifted his eyes to Willow, a quiet, almost wordless look passing between them as if he was silently asking how something so small had already turned into an “emergency” in their world.
“I guess a broken crayon counts as an emergency.”
Her lips twitched. “Clearly.”
The moment broke, but something lingered between them as they finished setting the table.
Dinner was even better than it smelled. Jay Bird cut Lily’s chicken into small pieces while Willow added mashed potatoes and a few green beans to her plate.
Lily immediately attacked the potatoes. “Mmm!”
Jay Bird laughed. “Good?”
“More.”
“You’ve still got half the plate, peanut.”
Lily pointed accusingly at the green beans. “No.”
Willow hid a smile. “She isn’t a fan.”
“I can see that.”
Jay Bird picked up one green bean and held it out for Lily. “Try it.”
Lily shook her head violently. “No green.”
“It’s food.”
“No.”
“One bite.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, and Jay Bird narrowed his eyes at her.
Willow watched the standoff with amusement.
Finally, Lily opened her mouth, and Jay Bird carefully gave her the smallest piece.
She chewed, though she looked like she was ready to spit it out any second. Then finally she swallowed.
Jay Bird grinned. “See? Good.”
Lily immediately shoved mashed potatoes into her mouth as if she needed to erase the experience.
Willow laughed. “I can’t believe you got her to eat that.”
“SEAL training.”
“I’m pretty sure toddler negotiations aren’t part of BUD/S training.”
Once everyone settled into eating, Jay Bird looked toward Willow.
“That envelope on the counter is from Tink. It has your ID and some documents for Lily.”
“Really? That was fast.”
Jay Bird smirked. “What can I say. That’s Tink for you.”
He then shifted to another topic. “So what did you and Mia figure out today?”
Her expression sobered, and she told him about the conversation with Mia, explaining what she had discovered about Dr. Walters and Demetri.
Jay Bird remembered that whole mess with Mia. But when Willow mentioned hearing Chen say Demetri had sent her to him, Jay Bird’s appetite disappeared almost entirely.
“So this Dr. Walters knew you were onto him,” he said.
“That’s what Mia and I think.”
Jay Bird’s jaw tightened. That meant that Willow hadn’t simply been unlucky; she had been targeted. Plus, he knew a little more about the Demetri character.
“Demetri was involved in more than your situation,” he told her. “He was behind what happened with Arianna too.”
Willow’s brow furrowed. “Arianna...Dino’s wife, right?"
Jay Bird grinned. “Look at you learning everybody. Yes, Arianna is Dino’s wife.”
She smiled faintly. “I’m trying.”
“Yeah. Dino is on Alpha Team. Arianna co-owns a restaurant and bar with her dad down near the beach. The place is basically unofficial team headquarters.”
“The one everyone talks about?”
“Yep. It is very family-friendly, and right on the water.”
Willow glanced toward Lily. “That sounds nice.”
“We’ll go sometime.”
The words came naturally, without hesitation or overthinking. Not maybe, not if you’re still here; he was certain that they would go.
“And Mia’s right about Dr. Walters and Demetri,” he added. “Neither one of them will ever be a problem for you again.”
Something in his tone must have told her not to ask for specifics. She just nodded.
Then her expression brightened. “Mia offered me a job.”
Jay Bird put down his fork. “Seriously?”
“Yep. At her clinic. She said I can work while I finish my degree, and the clinic will pay for the classes I need.”
He smiled. “That’s great.”
And he meant it. Willow looked genuinely happy talking about it, excited in a way he hadn’t seen in her before.
“She also said everyone helps with childcare.”
“They do.”
“I know. But I’ll probably need to start looking at other options too.”
Jay Bird frowned. “Why?”
“Because hopefully I won’t be hiding forever.” She gave him a small smile. “Eventually I’ll get my life back together, and one day Lily and I will be on our own again.”
Something in his chest went hard at the thought of them being on their own—meaning not here, not in this house with its scattered crayons and fresh flowers, not with Lily’s voice echoing through the rooms when he walked in, and not with Willow moving around his kitchen like she belonged there.
Jay Bird didn’t like the picture at all. “There’s no rush.”
Willow looked at him.
“I mean it. Nobody’s putting an expiration date on you staying here.”
Her eyes held his for a moment. “Okay.”
Jay Bird returned his attention to his plate.
“In a couple of weeks, once you’re more settled, we’ll get everyone together. Properly this time. You can meet the whole crew without passing out.”
Willow laughed. “That would be an improvement.”
“Lily can meet the other kids.”
“I’d like that. And so would she.”
They shared a smile, then turned their attention back to their food as the easy conversation around the table continued. For the first time since Willow and Lily had arrived, Jay Bird simply let himself enjoy the moment.