His dad left.Willow watched him, the naughty gleam in her eyes making it hard to think as he picked up the bit of fine sandpaper he’d been working with.“Is this another mantelpiece?”
He nodded, moving the sandpaper along the grain of the wood.“It’s for Blaine.He wanted another one for his home office.He’s going for an old English study vibe.”
“Kinda like The Skelly.”
“Yeah, but less gothic.”
She made an appreciative sound as she ran her fingertips over the surface of one of the fluted columns.He vividly remembered the feel of them stroking his skin last night.Still couldn’t believe it was real.“It’s so beautiful already.Are you going to carve a design into the front?”
“His family crest.”He had the design all drawn up.
“Nice.”She removed her hand and stepped back to study the piece.“You’re really talented, Tripp.”
He fought the flush creeping up his neck.Accepting compliments wasn’t easy for him, but hers filled him with pride.“Thanks.I enjoy it.”
“I can tell.”
Everything about this felt right.Her being at his home.In his workshop.The way she was so comfortable with his dad, and that his dad adored her too.The way she appreciated his work on an artistic level.She was so easy to be around, to have in his most private space.
This was exactly what he wanted.Every day for the rest of his life.If they could just overcome the invisible hurdle standing between them that she was still oblivious of, this could be his reality.
Knowing that it all might disappear once he told her tied his guts into knots.
“I thought we could have dinner in town again tonight,” he said.“Then take a walk along the water.Talk.”If the opportunity presented itself and the time seemed right, he would tell her everything.
Her smile hit him square in the heart.Made him ache in places he didn’t know he had.“I’d love that.”
He forced a smile in answer.“Good, then it’s a date.”Hopefully not their final one.He’d put off the inevitable for too long.All he could do was be honest with her and hope that her feelings for him were strong enough that she could forgive him and still want to be with him after.
If not...It was too bleak to think about.
FORTY-ONE
T
ripp’s phone buzzed in his back pocket with a message, yanking him out of his dark thoughts as he checked it.“It’s Blaine.Says he can meet us at your place in twenty minutes.That work?”
