“Maybe Willow’s idea of getting a kitten isn’t so bad.”
William’s eyebrows rose. “If you’re talking about children, your relationship must be more serious than I thought.”
Zac closed the living room door. If anyone overheard their conversation, they could take something the wrong way. And the last thing he wanted was to upset Willow.
He looked at William and took a deep breath. “I’ve fallen in love with Willow.”
“Why do I get the feeling there’s a ‘but’ in there somewhere?”
“She’s performed in front of fifty thousand people. Before Willow left Nashville, she was one of the highest-paid female country musicians in the world.”
“Willow wouldn’t have told you that, so I’m assuming you’ve been reading about her on the Internet.”
Zac sat on the edge of a chair. “Wouldn’t you?”
“I work for the FBI. I’d be crazy not to do a little research before jumping headfirst into a relationship. But it’s true what people say—don’t believe everything you read.”
“What if Willow decides to go back to Nashville?”
William sat beside him. “I imagine she’s thinking the same thing about you. If she’s looking for stability then, on paper, you’re a risky bet. You haven’t lived in the same country for more than two years. And let’s face it, working for Doctors Without Borders gives you a big tick on the humanitarian aid front, but the salary sucks. You could have earned more money working for Walmart.”
Zac ran his hands through his hair. “Are you trying to make me feel better or worse?”
“I want you to realize that no one is perfect. We’ve all made decisions that have brought us to where we are today, but that doesn’t mean we can’t change. Has Willow said she wants to go back to Nashville?”
“No, but her manager gave her a contract from a recording studio. They want her to make another album.”
“What does she want?”
“She said she’s happy with her life in Sapphire Bay.”
“But you don’t believe her?”
Zac didn’t know what to think. “Who would give up the chance to perform in front of thousands of people and earn huge amounts of money?”
“You’re asking the wrong person.” William frowned. “You aren’t projecting your insecurities on Willow, are you?”
“You sound like my counselor,” Zac muttered.
“Maybe he had a point. Instead of worrying about what Willow is doing, focus on your own life. If this is where you want to live, give Willow lots of reasons to stay with you.”
“What if it’s not enough?”
William sighed. “That’s the million-dollar question you have to ask each other. For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about.”
Zac hoped some of William’s confidence rubbed off on him. Because right now, he had a feeling Willow was about to make a life-altering decision that wouldn’t involve him.
As Willow lookedaround the dinner table, she felt blessed. She had kind and generous friends who would always be there for each other, no matter what happened.
And then there was Zac. When she was with him, she knew everything would be all right. He calmed her overactive mind, made her smile at the silliest of things, and filled her life with joy.
He handed her a bowl of peas. “You look happy.”
“I was thinking about everyone who’s sitting around the table. We’re more like brothers and sisters than friends.”
Sam smiled. “We’re better than family. If you had to spend a lot of time with my sisters, you’d go crazy.”
Megan frowned. “Are they still thinking about moving to Sapphire Bay?”
