Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
Ronin
The sound of her voice made my heart race. But when I saw her for the first time, it was over for me. She was the one.
I just hadn’t believed it yet. Especially when she said she wasn’t the one on the phone.
Yet every time we went to the sanctuary, I prayed she’d be there and I’d have a chance to be close to her.
Why?
Because she made my heart beat in a way no woman had ever before.
Despite her words, I had a feeling I was right about her being the one I called by mistake. There was no way two woman made me feel such an impossible feeling.
And honestly, I couldn’t believe any of it. How could meeting one person change your life so completely?
When she revealed she did lie, I couldn’t blame her. I was an asshole. I doubted I would’ve wanted to know me either.
To my surprise, she still said yes to a date. I couldn’t wait.
Amylee and I arrived at the rescue center early that Saturday morning, excited and eager to see Willow released.
“Do you think she’ll visit us, daddy? Like in our backyard?”
“I think she will. She’ll remember who nursed her back to health.”
“I think so too. So we have to make sure we put the bird feeder out when we get home.”
“Yes, don’t let me forget.”
“I still feel a little sad.”
I reached over and rubbed her arm. “I’m sorry, darling. It’s normal. You’ll miss her.”
Amylee nodded her head and swiped a tear away. My poor baby.
We carried in a tray of coffees and muffins for the staff and set them down on the front desk where Joelle sat.
Her eyes widened. “Wow, for us? You two are such sweethearts!” She burst into a smile and insisted on giving us each a hug. “Let me call for the others. They’ll want one of those muffins.”
My daughter managed a small smile and held up her own bag. “So yummy!”
“Aren’t they?” Joelle beamed as she picked up the phone and paged a few other volunteers.
There was only one I wanted to see.
And when she walked out, in jeans and a tight V-neck shirt hugging her ample curves, I was blown away by her beauty once again.
“Hi you two! You brought presents?”
“Yes!” Amylee smiled even wider and pointed to the box. “Muffins! And yucky grown-up coffee.”
I chuckled at my daughter’s antics while admiring the beautiful woman standing in front of us. She left me God damn speechless. Her long hair hung in a braid down her back, a few stray pieces around the sides.
She picked up a coffee and a muffin and beamed at the two of us. “Thank you so much. These muffins are the best in town.”
“I know, right?” Amylee responded.
“So how we are feeling about today?” Imogen asked Amylee.
Amylee spun in a circle, though a frown rest on her lips. “Happy for Willow, but a little sad for me.”
I chuckled. Oh the things my daughter said.
“It’s okay to be sad. I am a little bit too. But I bet Willow will visit. Birds remember who helped them.”
“Really?” Amylee’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “I hope so!” She jumped up and down.
“Okay, let’s get going. Everyone is waiting for us.” Imogen grabbed the bag of muffins, and I picked up the tray of drinks. We followed her to the backyard, the rest of the staff and volunteers waiting.
“Hi everyone.” Imogen said. “You remember the two amazing people who found our special Willow?”
They nodded and waved.
Another woman stepped forward. She held a cage and wore a name tag saying Barbara. “Here’s Miss sweet Willow. Are we ready to let her be free?”
Chatter erupted as we all said our goodbyes to Willow. We took turns walking over to her cage and saying a few words, wishing her well. Barbara unlocked the door to the cage, opened it, and held the cage high. “Be free, Willow!”
The small group erupted into cheers as Willow flew off into the sky. Imogen kept her eyes on me, and I grinned as I hugged my daughter close. I wouldn’t have been able to get through this without her there. And I planned on telling her just how I felt later at dinner.
After dropping Amylee off at my parent’s house to spend the night, I headed home to get ready for my date. I hadn’t spent that much time on my looks in a while, but I cleaned up well, choosing a pair of dark blue jeans and a classic black polo shirt.
I stopped at the local florist before heading to Imogen’s place. She texted me the address early and the GPS lead me up the mountain for a good ten minutes before finally pulling onto her street. It was quiet, peaceful, not many other cabins around, similar to the street I lived on with my parents.
When I pulled into her driveway, she stepped through the front door, ready to go.
I still parked and got out, hurrying over to her to offer her my arm.
All I could think about was how gorgeous she looked, a tight-fitting burgundy wrap dress hugging her curves, putting them on full display.
Her hair fell down her back in loose waves, and her touches of makeup enhanced her face without using too much as to steal from her natural beauty.
A light cotton candy like scent filled my nose and my dick stirred in my pants. I wanted to wrap her around me and never let go.
I pictured myself peeling her dress off, inch by inch.
“Ronin? Are you okay?”
I swallowed hard and prayed my now swollen dick wasn’t noticeable. “Sorry, yes, I’m good. You look amazing.”
“Thank you.”
I held her door open and waited until she slid inside before closing her door. I hurried over to the other side, going from behind the truck and stopping to adjust myself. Otherwise, I’d look like a teenage boy unable to control himself.
For some reason around her, I couldn’t…no matter how hard I tried.
With a steady, deep breath, I slid behind the wheel, her scent taking over once more.
This was hopeless.
I needed her. I needed her now.
I turned my head towards her and found her watching me, her eyes darkening as they fell to my lips and slid back up to my own.
My breath caught in my throat.
The tension in my truck grew so thick, it was ready to burst open and explode.
“I know this usually happens after the date,” I grunted out. “But I can no longer wait.” I reached a hand across the middle console, grabbed the side of her face and pulled her towards me.
Then I kissed her, deliciously hard and oh so fucking good.
I’d never be the same again.