“I seem to remember there were some distinct advantages to living in Montana.”
The gleam in Zac’s eyes made her smile. “Are you talking about the amazing scenery and friendly people?”
“I’m talking about one friendly person in particular.” Zac held her hand. “How would you feel about dating a man who has a lot of issues he needs to work through?”
“That has to be the worst sales pitch I’ve ever heard.” As soon the words left Willow’s mouth, she regretted them.
The gleam in Zac’s eyes disappeared and his face became a blank mask. “I wasn’t trying to sell you anything. I was being honest.”
She gently squeezed his hand. “I know you were. I’m sorry if that comment came across as flippant. If you were talking about PTSD, I don’t know much about it, but I’d like to learn. I’d also like to spend more time with you.”
Zac lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “I want to spend more time with you, too.”
Willow bit her bottom lip. “Before we go too much farther, I have a confession to make. I haven’t dated anyone since I moved to Sapphire Bay. I might be a little rusty.”
That made Zac smile. “You aren’t the only one. I can’t remember the last time I took someone on a date.”
“It sounds as though we’re a match made in heaven.”
“Or a disaster waiting to happen.”
Willow kissed his cheek. “I’m going to be optimistic and say we’ll both be happy.”
Zac’s hand tightened on hers. “I hope so.”
They were both taking a risk, stepping so far out of their comfort zones that it made Willow tremble. But she’d never met anyone like Zac and she doubted she would again.
Zac checked his watch.Five hours after arriving at the hospital, he was walking back to the parking lot with Willow.
Although Jesse’s blood test results had come back negative for the measles or any highly contagious virus, the doctors wanted him to stay in the hospital. Whatever had attacked his little body had left him weak and dehydrated.
Barbara had decided to stay with her son. An orderly moved a big, comfy chair into the room for her, but with the noise coming from the ward, Zac doubted she’d get much sleep.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive home?” Willow asked him.
He shook his head. “I’m okay. As long as there aren’t any issues on the road, we should be home by eleven-thirty.” He glanced at Willow. For most of the night, she’d seemed distracted. “Is everything all right?”
She zipped up her jacket. “I think so.”
That wasn’t the answer Zac was expecting. “Why do you think so and not know so?”
“That would make a good tongue twister.”
“You’re doing it again.”
Willow frowned. “What?”
“Changing the subject.”
“I didn’t mean to.” Willow stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. “I thought everything was going so well. I’m making a good income from my photography business and I’ve made lots of wonderful friends in Sapphire Bay. I’m happier now than I’ve ever been. But I let my guard down and now everything is blowing up in my face.”
Zac had no idea what she was talking about. “What do you mean?”
Willow stuck her hands inside her pockets. “Not long after we left Sapphire Bay, Megan sent me an email. Someone recorded the songs I sung at Levi and Brooke’s wedding and the video is going viral.”
“Viral?”
“More than four million people have watched the songs on YouTube.”
