“Expecting someone?” Austin asks from behind the bar. It’s a Thursday night at The Ole Aces with customers busy searching for greasy food and alcohol, and I should be home relaxing after a hard day’s work, preferably with Willow by my side.
“Just King, but he’s late. I’m guessing he got caught up with Hannah.” Which I can’t blame him for. If Willow were free tonight, I’d choose to be with her rather than agreeing to hang with King to discuss custom wedding bands for him and his bride.
Austin laughs. “Bet you’re right… I envy him. A good woman can be hard to find.”Especially when you’ve got a face like mine.He doesn’t say the words aloud, but they hang in the air nonetheless. During his time in the military, an explosion left him with severe burns that forced him out of active duty. The visible scars on his face aren’t pretty, and I’m guessing the women of his acquaintance have made it abundantly clear to him that it’s an issue.
Superficial bitches.
“The right one will come along if that’s what you want. You’re a good man.”
“Like a woman will come along for you, too? How’s that app working out? King mentioned it to me the other day, but I told him if he signed me up, I’d ban him from the bar.”
Memories of my night with Willow heat my blood. I can almost taste the sugary sweetness of her mouth still.And the fucking dreams I’ve had…My cock hardens remembering this morning’s scene where Willow woke me with her soft mouth.
Too bad you had to make do with your hand when you woke up.
“Well, I met someone. I’m just not sure it’ll work out. She’s all about romantic lovey dovey shit, and I’m not.” Though that didn’t exactly stop us from making out like a couple of teens. It required all of my strength to pull away and let her go home instead of snatching her up in my arms and hauling her back to my cabin.
“I forgot about your issue with love. Why is that anyway?”
“Because he’s lived in Suitor’s Crossing for too long,” King interjects as he plops onto the bar stool next to mine. “Sorry, I’m late. Had to help Hannah with something.”
Snorting, I imagine what he had to help his fiance with was something along the lines of what I’d like to do with Willow—fuck her luscious curves into exhaustion. Austin slides a fresh bottle of beer King’s way before asking, “What’s living in Suitor’s Crossing have to do with anything? This town’s all about love.”
“And that’s the problem.” King tips the lip of his bottle toward Austin. “Rhys here has become too cynical due to being surrounded byheart sparksconstantly, instead of going the logical way and trusting in its power.”
“If tonight’s gonna turn into psychoanalyzing me, then I’m gonna head home where I can live in peace.”
“And quiet.”
“Cold and alone,” Austin adds, grinning with King.
“Both of you are ridiculous.” Shaking my head at their ribbing, I change the subject, bombarding King with a litany of questions before he has a chance to continue in his current vein. “Are you ready to go over ring designs? Will I get more than a few weeks to complete these, or will it be another rush job?”
He takes the hint and launches into his ideas for the wedding bands while Austin retreats to fill other customer orders.Thank fuck.I’ve never been grilled so much about my relationship status or thoughts on love until now.
Fuckingheart sparks.
***
WILLOW:Just finished with another bride and about to grab lunch with Luna. How about you?
Unable to resist a stupid grin from forming on my face at theHarry PotterLuna meme she sent, I fill her in on my latest project before asking if she’d like to have dinner together tonight. It’s been a few days since our date, and I’m starved for my girl—an unexpected position to be in.
I’ve never felt this drive to be near someone as much as I do with Willow. Somehow she’s become a hive of honeyed goodness, and I’m the bee buzzing merrily in her direction, powerless to refuse her call.
WILLOW:Works for me! My place at 7? Carrot would like to meet you. ;)
A swift chuckle follows the pronouncement, imagining an orange fluffball cozied up in Willow’s arms.
ME:Sounds good, kitten. See you and Carrot then.
The afternoon flies by after our conversation as a calm settles over me while melding pieces of an ornate gate together. Everything feels right in this moment. I’ve got a successful career I enjoy and a woman I could see myself spending forever with. Hell, I’m even starting to think I’d be willing to entertainher ideas of love if it means keeping her—a huge fucking step for me. Of course, wariness and doubt remain in the back of my mind, since love andheart sparksare fickle things.
She could say she loves me only to turn around and change her mind.
Willow’s not Mom.
A distinction I understand logically, but what do I really know about her? What I’ve seen so far I’m obsessed with, but maybe that’s just a first date facade. Maybe that’s not who Willow really is.
