“For now,” he mutters under his breath. The two words are so quiet that if I weren’t hyperaware of everything he says or does, I would have missed it.
My stomach does a somersault as I push another forkful of pancakes and syrup into my mouth, not asking him to repeat himself.
I’m not sure what he meant by that, but I have a feeling I’ll find out sooner or later.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
JACE
Today was my last day at the vet clinic and I feel like a weight has been lifted. It hasn’t been a difficult task, but I’m ready to get into things at the rink with Harrison. I’m meeting him for coffee, although he’s running late, so I just decided to wait for him in the small store.
The rich aroma of coffee and the warmth of the building wrap itself around me as I step inside. It isn’t busy and there’s no line, so I walk directly to the front counter and order a hot drink along with a danish.
As I collect my things and spin around, that’s when I see her. I would recognize that long blonde hair anywhere. A smile drifts across my lips and I can’t help myself as I walk over to where she’s sitting near the back door. She doesn’t notice me as I approach so I take the opportunity to lean against the doorway and observe her.
She rolls her shoulders back in a stretch. Her blonde hair cascades in waves down to the center of her back as she tips her head back. I couldn’t stop watching her even if I wanted to as she lifts her arms, collecting her hair and wrapping a hair tie around it, securing it on the top of her head.
Willow’s spine straightens then and she throws a glance over her shoulder. “I thought I could feel someone watching me,” she says, a soft laugh following her words as she spins around to face me. “Whatcha doin’, creeper?”
I bite back a grin, scrunching my face up as I tilt my head to the side. “Excuse me?” Pushing off the trim, I close the distance between us and lean my backside against the edge of the table she’s sitting at, setting down my drink and pastry. “I’m not a creeper.”
“Were you not just standing there watching me?”
I can’t seem to not watch you anymore…
I press my lips into a flat line. “When you say it like that, it does sound creepy.”
Her face lights up, lips stretching across her teeth as laughter bubbles from her. “If it were anyone other than you, it would be.”
Ducking my head, I shake it from side to side as my own laughter mixes with hers. “Well, it’s a good thing it was me then, huh?”
“I’d say so.”
She sits up a little straighter in her seat as the laughter dissipates, and a slow, steady silence wraps around us. I keep my focus on my hands for a moment, threading them within one another before cracking my knuckles.
“Sit and stay a while.”
I glance up and am met with her gaze already on me.Man, I wish I could.
“I’m meeting Harrison to go over plans for the rink.”
A smirk tugs on her lips. “Speaking of, I figured out how I can repay you for all your help.” She twists her hands in her lap. “I can help you out in the rink, assuming there’s something there that I’m able to do.”
I blow out a breath. “You don’t have to pay me back, kid.”
Her expression changes from hopeful to annoyed, and she narrows her eyes on mine. “Are you ever going to see me as anything other than your best friend’s kid sister?” As soon as the words escape her, her eyes widen and a pink tint creeps across her cheeks. “I didn’t—I just mean I’m not a kid anymore, Jace.”
My breath catches in my throat. “Trust me,” I say. She’s avoiding looking at me now, so I reach out and tip her chin up with my finger, causing her gaze to find mine again. “I know.”
“Then stop calling me that.”
I swallow hard, giving her a nod. “Sorry.”
“Thank you.” She lets out a deep breath. “You promised you would let me pay you back.”
Goddamn, she’s relentless.
“Okay, fine. You can help at the rink somehow. I don’t know how soon we will need help since the contractors will be handling a lot. We still need to meet with a lawyer, and closing is in two weeks.”
