“You’re not limping,” he noted, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“You’re right,” she replied, realization in her tone. “Huh. You know what? I don’t think anything could hurt me today.”
He beamed at her. “And you called me your guy. In front of everyone,” he whispered, as if the room weren’t small enough for everyone to still hear.
“I did, didn’t I?” she mused. “Guess I felt like claiming what was mine in case anyone got the wrong idea after your little window display.”
“Hoo boy!” Jenna called. “There ain’t nothin’ little about that earlier display!”
His cheeks darkened, and Willow gasped.
“You’reblushing!” She craned her neck to glance back at the five women who were definitelynotaverting their eyes. “Look at that, ladies! Country music’s Mad Man Murphy is blushing!”
“You didnotjust call me that.”
She clasped her hands behind his neck and pulled him down to her. “I did. And your sudden attack of modesty is adorable.” She kissed him and ignored theoohs,ahs,and low whistles from their small audience.
“Tell me we get to sleep in tomorrow,” he pleaded. “I don’t even want to see a.m. on a clock.”
She kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear. “We’re not leaving the bed tomorrow.” She unclasped her hands and straightened to her full height. “Have fun with your brothers,” she told him.
He sighed and kissed the top of her head. “Only because you asked me to.” He offered a salute to therest of the room, grabbed his well-worn straw hat from the small table by the door, and headed out into the sun.
Her cheeks warm and every part of her feeling all tingly and light, Willow turned toward her guests to find them all still staring. “There is no such thing as personal space around here, is there?”
She was greeted with a chorus of, “Ha!No,” and “Absolutely not,” and “Welcome to small-town living.” But despite the unwelcomed morning interruption, Willow suddenly felt surrounded by a sisterly kind of love she hadn’t experienced before.
“I guess I should go get dressed then,” she added and made to pivot back toward the bedroom door.
“Wait!” Jenna called. “Can I…uh…borrow your phone? I forgot to tell Colt something really important about running the tent today.”
Willow’s brows furrowed. “Sure but…don’tyouhave a phone?”
Jenna laughed. “Of course. But I left it in Delaney’s minivan.”
Delaney rested her decaf iced coffee on her pregnant belly and pouted. “I can’t believe I’m a minivan person now.”
“Hey!” Casey chided. “Don’t knock that sweet ride. It’s got automatic doors and super-comfortable seats. Plus, we all fit!”
Delaney perked up. “It is comfortable as hell. I can’t believe it’s going to have two car seats soon!”
Willow padded into her room, unplugged her phone from the charger, and then brought it out to Jenna, making sure to unlock it before handing it over.
“He’s saved in my contacts under ICE Morgan… You know…in case of emergency?” Willow only had three ICEs in her life, her adoptive parents and Colt. Somehow, though, she felt like after this visit to Meadow Valley, that might change.
“What?” Jenna asked, taking the phone. “Oh…right. Your brother…the guy I’m callin’ with your phone.”
Willow’s brows furrowed, and then she laughed. “How much did you drink last night, Jenna?”
Her sister-in-law laughed. “I guess more than I thought.”
Lucy abandoned her exploration of the back door and strutted her way over to Willow’s bare feet. The hen gently pecked at her bruised pinkie toe that Ash had carefully retaped the night before.
“Ahhh,” Jenna mused.
“Ahwhat?” Willow asked.
“She can tell you’re still healing and that you might not be ready. Otherwise she would have pecked the hell out of you.”
