She chuckled softly and kissed him tenderly, lips lingering before she sat up, gazing directly into his eyes.“Want to show me how the system works and then go into town?”
He stared back at her, memorizing the way she looked right now.Sated and tousled, her eyes soft with trust...and something more that he was afraid to hope was real.
“Sure.”Apprehension seeped into his gut.But he couldn’t hide the truth from her any longer.He had to come clean and then face the consequences.
FORTY-TWO
A
warm glow suffused Willow as she snuggled into Tripp’s side and laid her head on his solid shoulder.They had just finished dinner in their cozy, padded booth at the back of The Skelly.The low lighting made their spot feel even more intimate, and she was counting down the minutes until they arrived back at his place so she could get him naked again.
“Want some dessert?”he murmured against her hair.
“Why, you offering?We’re in a public place, Tripp,” she said, feigning being scandalized.Her fruity cocktail was served in a ceramic glass shaped like a Mexican sugar skull.The Skelly was the best for a reason, and they did theming right.
A low chuckle rumbled in his chest.“I meant something on the menu.”
She looked up at him.“Why, are you not on the menu?”
The side of his mouth kicked up a bit.“I am.But not here.”
“Aww, you’re shy.”She inched her hand up his thigh, swore his cheeks flushed.“That’s so sweet.”
He didn’t remove her hand, but he was a bit stiff.He’d also been quiet through dinner.Since they’d left her place, really.More so than usual.A little distant, even.She couldn’t help feeling that something was off.
Sitting up straight, she pulled her hand from his leg.“Everything okay?”
A tiny alarm bell began ringing in the back of her head when he darted a glance at her and looked away.“Yeah.You ready to go?”
Now she was concerned.“Sure.”
As he paid for dinner, she told herself she was probably worrying for nothing.Except things had changed between them fast.
Part of her worried that she’d jumped in too soon, that this level of happiness couldn’t last, but what she felt for him was too deep to be anything but the real deal.And besides, this was Tripp.He was as solid as the island itself.
He made her feel wanted.Beautiful.Cherished.
