Willow wrapped herself in the sheet like a mermaid and penguin walked over to the window. “Sorry, ladies. But he’s all mine.” She pulled the shade closed and spun to face her naked bedfellow. “I think you enjoyed that a little too much.”
Ash grabbed the edge of the sheet and unraveled her so they were both in their birthday suits. “Not as much as I enjoy this,” he told her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. He dipped his head, giving each of her breasts a good-morning kiss that made her ache between her legs. Then he trailed kisses up her chest to her neck, the side of her jaw, and eventually her lips.
So much for brushing their teeth.
Willow whimpered as he pressed up against her.
“We can’t,” she whispered. “We’re being kidnapped.”
As if being summoned, one of their kidnappers knocked on the front door.
Ash growled. “What are the odds of them thinking we somehow left if we don’t answer?”
“What are the odds of Beth using their key to just walk in?”
“Shit,” he whispered. “Is there a conspiracy to keep us apart now that we’re finally together?” He cleared his throat. “Wait…we are together, right?”
“I love how you can be bold enough to open the window naked and yet adorable enough to askme that.” Willow leaned up and kissed him. “We’re together, cowboy. No matter how hard they try.” She slapped him playfully on his beautiful behind. “Though I think the conspiracy is more on keeping us clothed than keeping us apart.”
He winced. “Somehow, that sounds worse.”
She kissed him one more time before letting him go and scrambled toward the bathroom and into her robe.
“Get dressed while I let them in. If I put them to work getting the coffee going, maybe we can steal a few more minutes after that.”
Ash’s shoulders sagged as he let out a sigh. “Fine,” he relented, and Willow’s heart grew about ten times its size. Here was this big, beautiful, confident man pouting like a child to be taken away from her.
“I’ll see you soon,” she told him, blowing him a kiss before running out and toward the continued knocking at the door, grinning the entire way.
When she threw it open, she found Jenna still holding Lucy. What she’d neglected to notice before was that Casey was carrying a drink holder filled with four iced coffees while Beth held the solo fifth one in her hands.
“Girls’ day!” Jenna cried as all five of them filed inside. “We have so much planned for my baby sister-in-law, don’t we Lu-lu?” And then she put the hen down on the floor.Inthe guesthouse.
“Okaaay,” Willow replied, following the train ofwomen back into house. “But why at the crack of dawn? With a chicken?”
Casey set the coffees down on the breakfast bar and pulled one free. She spun and handed it to Willow. “I don’t know if salted caramel is your thing, but this is the best salted caramel cold brew you’ll ever taste, courtesy of one Ms. Trudy Davis at Storyland bookshop.”
Willow accepted the decadent-sounding concoction, swirled the contents around in the perspiring cup, and took a sip.
“Oh mygod,” she said. “This almost makes up for you all waking us at the crack of dawn.”
Jenna waved her off. “Dawn was over an hour ago. I had to get some fresh eggs over to the farmers market. Colt’s manning the booth today so I can partake in the festivities.”
Willow let out a breath. “So Colt’snotone of the guys waiting for Ash in the barn?”
Delaney, who was visibly pregnant, lowered herself onto the couch and sunk into the cushions. “Bethie…can you bring me my pathetic decaf?” She gasped and pressed a palm to the side of her belly, then added, “The little hellion does not like when I complain about my coffee.”
Beth laughed and grabbed the one coffee clearly marked with a big D on the side and a high-octane one for herself, dropping down on the spot next to her sister.
“No,” Jenna finally replied to Beth’s question as Lucy pecked about along the perimeter of the sliding doors that led outside. “Only Ash’s brothers are out there waiting for him.” She nudged Willow’s shoulder with her own. “He told me about what happened last night. I’m sorry for all that, honey. When he left to come back here with Eli last night, he told me it was just to make sure you got home safe since you weren’t responding to his texts. I should have known better.”
Ash emerged from the bedroom fully clothed…in what he was wearing the night before since the rest of his clothes were in the front hall closet.
“Mornin’, everyone,” he called with a grin. Then he held up his loaner phone. “Apparently, I need to get my ‘better-be-covered’ ass out to the barn ASAP before they drop me at the farmers market and make me sell eggs with your brother?” He glanced at Willow and shrugged.
Willow sighed. “Guess that means it’s my turn to get dressed.” She set her coffee on the breakfast counter and briefly turned back toward her guests. “Excuse me for a few, everyone. And feel free to avert your eyes while I plant one on my guy before he leaves for the day.”
She strode toward a resigned Ash, likely with the same resignation on her face, and wrapped her arms around his waist.
