“It already has. I wrote eighteen pages today.”
She went up on her tiptoes and set her lips against his in a kissas diaphanous as sunshine. The magnetism between them built with a glorious rush of intensity—
“Ready?” came Willow’s voice, followed at once by the creak of the door that led to the shop. “I’m here to pick you up—”
Britt only had time to jerk a few inches away from Zander. His arms remained behind her. One of her hands bunched the fabric of his shirt.
Willow’s face slackened comically. Quickly though, a grin burgeoned on her lips. “Well, well, well.”
Maddie rushed to a stop at Willow’s shoulder. She gaped at them with excitement.
Britt and Zander stepped sheepishly apart.
Britt wouldn’t have minded keeping the change in her relationship with Zander to herself for a little while longer. At the same time, she was sensible enough to know that hiding the truth from people who were as close to her as Maddie and Willow would quickly cost her more effort than it was worth. She was too busy being blissful right now to bother with secrecy.
“We had plans to help Mom and Dad put Bradfordwood back to rights this afternoon.” Willow pointed a thumb behind her shoulder. “Now that all the wedding guests have gone. Remember?”
“Oh. That’s right.” Her focus on Zander had obliterated everything else from her head. Shoot. She’d been looking forward to mountain biking with him. “I’d forgotten. Sorry that I made plans with you, too, Zander.”
“No problem.” He pulled his car keys from his pocket. “We’ll go mountain biking another time.”
“You’re not going to stay and face this firing squad with me?” Britt joked.
“I have faith in your ability to face firing squads without my help.” He winked and closed the door behind him.
“You and Zander are together?”Willow asked.
“We are.”
Maddie released a squeak of delight.
“Since when?” Willow wanted to know.
“The wedding reception.”
“It’s about time,” Maddie said.
“Oh my goodness.” Willow hugged Britt. “This is thebestnews.”
“Are you happy?” Maddie asked.
“Very happy,” Britt said.
Willow clapped.
“I just don’t want you to get too worked up,” Britt said. “This is all very new. We’re just enjoying ourselves.”
“Except you know you can’t just enjoy yourself with Zander, right?” A trace of seriousness seeped into Willow’s demeanor.
“I know.”
“He loves you.”
“So he’s told me.”
“He has?” Maddie asked.
“Yes, once. However, we’ve been a couple for less than two days, so I’m hoping you’ll understand why I’m not quite ready to print wedding invitations.”
