She jerked around and stared down at him. “You just about gave me a heart attack.”
“Guess I should have been louder. You could have fallen off that ladder,too,” Will pointed out. “But I would have caught you.”
“And probably injured yourself in the process.” Amy climbed down, and when she stood on the ground, she faced him with a smile and sparkling eyes. “So? What do you think?”
Even though he’d already looked at it, Will looked at all the decorations and then back at Amy. “You are going to make my daughter one very happy little girl.”
“I’m so glad. Let me show you everything,” Amy said. She paused then held out her hand to him.
Surprised, Will took it and allowed her to lead him around the clearing.
“This is where the photographer will take some posed shots of the girls. Otherwise, the rest will be candid.” She pointed to another table. “We’re going to have the girls decorate their own wings before putting them on. And Rose will do the fairy art on their face as they arrive.”
Will found his throat tightening as they moved to the last area. He couldn’t believe she had done all this for his daughter.
“Thank you.” The words came out rough with emotion.
Amy turned to look at him, her expression wary, as if unsure how to respond to his reaction. “You’re welcome. I have really enjoyed doing this. I’m almost sad it’s going to be over soon.”
“I never realized just how much Isabella has missed by not having a mom. My sisters have done their best, but you’ve shown so much love to her since the day you arrived.” He slid his free hand behind her neck, feeling the weight of her hair on the backs of his fingers. “You just exude love and light. You’re beautiful.”
Her eyes widened at his words. Her hand slipped from his, and he felt a tentative touch on his waist. He slid his other hand behind her neck and ran his thumb along her soft jawline. Though he knew what he wanted, he paused, giving her a chance to move away. When she lifted herself up on her tiptoes, Will closed the last few inches and covered her lips with his.
The rush of emotion caught him off-guard, and he poured it into the kiss, wanting so badly for her to know how much she meant to him. Her hands tightened briefly on his waist and then slid around him. He moved his hands to the small of her back, relishing once again the feel of her in his arms. He had been right. She fit perfectly there. As if she’d beenmade just for him.
Knowing things could get out of hand fast with the two of them alone in the clearing, Will broke off the kiss and buried his face in the silkiness of her hair, inhaling the soft floral scent.
“Oh. My. Word.”
The exclamation had Will jerking back because it hadn’t been Amy who had uttered the shocked words. He turned to see three of his sisters and his brother-in-law standing there staring at them. Violet and Laurel looked surprised but also somewhat amused. Cami’s expression was more concerned and Josh’s...well, Josh looked ready to kill him.
Will glanced down at Amy and winked. “Busted.”
As he released her and stepped away, Will saw a myriad of emotions cross her face. He understood the chagrin and even the regret, but the fear mystified him.
“I didn’t know you guys were coming out here,” Amy said as she turned to face the group gathered at the edge of the clearing, her arms wrapped across her waist.
“Obviously,” Violet said drolly, a mischievous smile on her face. “Sorry to have interrupted.”
“I’m not,” Josh said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Something I should know? That was my sister you were sucking face with.”
Will glanced at Amy, but she was still staring at the group. Or maybe at Cami, in particular. “I think this is between Amy and me.”
Josh took a step toward them but stopped when Cami laid a hand on his arm. “Not the time, nor the place, babe.”
Will could see the frustration in Josh’s gaze as he looked back and forth between him and Amy. Something was just...off with the reactions of Cami, Josh and Amy. Sure he and Amy had been caught kissing, but they’d been fully clothed and with no intention of going any further. Their reactions seemed more in line with having caught the two ofthem doing something far more scandalous. Something about Amy and him being together was causing concern, and he just couldn’t figure out what it might be. Clearly he needed to get to the bottom of this before things went much further.
“So what do you think of the decorations?” Amy asked as she walked toward the group. “Think this lookslike a fairy party?”
Josh slid his arm around her shoulders. “To be honest, it looks a bit like a craft store threw up all over the forest.”
Will saw Amy jab Josh in the ribs with her elbow. “You’re just jealous because you don’t get a fun party for your birthday.”
“Yeah, that’s right,” Josh said as he rubbed his knuckles on her head. “Seriously though, it looks fabulous. I had no idea you had this kind of creativity in you.”
“To be honest, I didn’t really know either. But once I started gathering ideas, I just couldn’t stop.”
“The girls are absolutely going to love it,” Laurel said. “You’ve done a spectacular job. You may have missed your calling.”
