And Ash hadn’t even hesitated to answer.
Every day.
Maybe it was more than being too exhausted to hate. Maybe there was more to his side of the story. Either way, they were sharing a house and writing a song, and Willow was ready to let go.
But did she forgive him?
She might have been talking to her brother, but when she glanced across the table to where Ash sat at the far end, she found him looking directly back at her, offering her a tentative smile.
“Yeah,” she told her brother. “I think I do.”
Chapter 9
Through the flicker of orange and blue flame, Ash continued to steal glances at Willow from the opposite side of the stone firepit. The whole lot of them had grown quiet as wineglasses were topped off and Beth connected a Bluetooth speaker to her music-streaming app.
“I call it my perfect night playlist,” she’d told them. It even contained a song here and there by Ash himself and a few of his favorite Willow Morgan tunes.
Except every Willow Morgan tune was his favorite, even the ones that hurt to hear.
Ash was the only one not hitting the after-dinner wine. He wanted a clear head tonight, wanted to avoid any missteps with this unplanned reunion with his brothers…and with her.
He noticed Willow shiver despite the heat of the licking flames. Without realizing what he was doing before he did it, Ash was circling the group, sliding out of the unbuttoned plaid shirt he’d been wearing over his tee, and draping it over the back of her Adirondack chair and thereby her shoulders.
“Fire’s getting a little too warm for me,” he toldher as she stared at him with wide, dark eyes. Then he continued up the path to the main portion of the patio where he poured himself another glass of Jenna’s sweet tea even though he wasn’t thirsty.
By the time he turned around to deal with whatever looks were thrown his way following his unplanned gesture, Colt was out of his chair and halfway to him.
“Was wondering when this part of the reunion would take place,” Ash mumbled under his breath.
“Did you say something?” Colt asked when they were in speaking distance. He poured himself a cup of sweet tea as well, clearly wanting the rest of the group to think this was simply two thirsty men around the watering hole.
Except Ash knew none of them were thinking that.
“Nope,” Ash replied. “Just thinking out loud. But I’m guessing you have something you want to say to me.” It wasn’t a challenge. Just a statement of fact. Whatever Willow’s brother wanted to say to him—or possiblydoto him—Ash told himself he had it coming.
“This is your brother’s house,” Colt began. “And for better or worse, my sister is working with you for the next several weeks, so I have to make peace with that. But I have to ask what the hell it is you think you’re doing.”
Ash took a sip of his tea. “Do you mean right this second? Drinking some delicious sweet tea.”He might have had it coming, but Ash Murphy wouldn’t be Ash Murphy if he didn’t push a button or two. His best defense was always offense.
“Don’t,” Colt told him, unamused. “Okay? Just don’t.”
Ash sighed. “She looked cold. I gave her a shirt. That’s it. Transaction complete.” He nodded at Colt’s own long-sleeved button-down with a T-shirt peeking out from behind his collar. “You could have done the same, but you didn’t.” He shrugged. “So I did.”
Even in the dim moonlight, Ash could see the other man’s jaw clench. “She might forgive you, Murphy. But that doesn’t mean I have to. And that doesn’t give you license to mess with her again. I don’t like you working with her, and I sure as hell don’t like you living with her, but I guess thetransactionworks in her favor. But you need to swear to me that all you are after is the song and whatever it’ll do for you professionally.”
Ash wanted to give Colt the answer he wanted, but all he really heard in the guy’s meant-to-be threatening big brother speech was one single word.
“Wait…” He felt like he could hear his heart beating in his ears. “Did you say Willowforgivesme?”
“Are you two gossiping about me?” Willow’s voice sang out from over her brother’s shoulder.
Never in his life did he wish Willow Morgan would disappear from view, but right now, hewanted—no,needed—Colt to confirm what Ash thought he’d heard.
Except Willow stumbled, catching herself with a hand on her brother’s shoulder.
“Whoops!” she said with a laugh. “I probably should have said no to that last glass of wine.”
Ash had to fight every instinct, every twitch of his muscles, to not go to her, even if she was now wearing his shirt.
