“First off…” King leans forward, meeting my eyes with his stern gaze. Sometimes I forget that he’s a decade older than me, more of an older brother to mentor me rather than a peer going through the same shit I am. “Willow is not your mom. She’s sweet and generous and would never abandon the people she loves. Secondly, the fact that you’re allowing your mom and dad to dictate your life at thirty years old is ridiculous. Man up, brother. Deal with your emotional baggage then claim your woman.”
My eyes narrow at the command. It’s easy for King to tell me what to do. He’s not the one who has to deal with his father commenting about the lost love of his life constantly. He’s not the one who gets a call from Austin every anniversary of milestones they shared—first kiss, birthday, wedding day—where his dad is drunk and melancholic.
“I’ve dealt with it.” He looks at me skeptically. “Fine, I’m a mess. Is that what you want to hear?”
“No, I want to hear you’re going after Willow come hell or high water.”
“She believes in love and theheart sparksshit. That’s what she wants. That’s what she expects from me.”
“So give it to her.” King rakes a hand down his grizzled face. “Jesus Christ, it’s not like it’s a hardship. Loving a woman can be frustrating at times, but it’s always worth it. And Willow’s one of the best. You’re gonna be a coward and lose out on her because of your fucking parents?”
When he puts it like that…
Am I being a coward?
My whole life I’ve sneered at the idea of love—its meaning worthless after seeing my parents’ version of it. But here’s King, one of my closest friends, committed and in love to the woman of his dreams. And the guys over at Olson-Keller Lumber… Well, I never thought I’d see the day they settled down, yet all three men are happily married and adore their wives.
Proof of love—ofheart sparks—has literally been staring me in the face for years. I’ve just been too stubborn to accept it. And now it might be too late for me to claim it with Willow.
“Shit… I fucked up.”
King breathes a sigh of relief and relaxes back into his desk chair. “Yeah, you did. Now what are you gonna do about it?”
CHAPTER NINE
WILLOW
“Figured I’d find you here.” A familiar voice calls from the end of the famous Suitor’s Crossing bridge. It’s Valentine’s Day, which means it’s decked out to the max with sparkly fairy lights and hearts galore, but the thunderstorm above thankfully prevents the mass of people who’d usually congregate here from visiting. Instead, they moved everything indoors at the community center.
Somewhere I should be to man the boutique’s booth, but after explaining my head space, Hannah offered to cover for me.Thank god for good friends.Because being surrounded by happy couples on a dreary day that perfectly matches my mood makes my stomach twist in knots, which is why I drove to the bridge, to be alone.
Yet Rhys still found me.
“What are you doing here?” I shout to be heard over the pounding rain bouncing off the wooden roof covering the bridge. He’s soaked from the storm—hair plastered to his head, droplets dripping down his beard. He should look like a drowned cat—a drowned mountain lion more like—instead of the attractive giant hired to model outdoor gear.
“I came to find you. We need to talk.”
“Everything that needed to be said was spoken the day I went to your forge. You made yourself abundantly clear. You’ll fuck me, but you won’t love me.”
He flinches at my harsh words. “I was an idiot.” Rhys nears where I’m leaning on the sturdy rail of the bridge and mirrors my bent position, elbows resting on the wood, gaze staring out at the rain dappling the creek beneath us.
“I’m sorry for what I said. I’m sorry for pushing you away.” A sigh of regret hovers in the air, and I force my heartbeat to remain steady instead of galloping headfirst into hope. Rhys hasn’t mentioned his views on love changing. This could just be an apology, so things aren’t awkward between us.
Shrugging in feigned nonchalance, I mumble into the scarf wrapped around my neck and chin, “You did what you thought best. Yeah, it sucked, but it’s what you believe. I knew that going into your forge. From the beginning, you were upfront about your feelings.”
“Yes, but I was wrong. Afraid of becoming like my dad—pining after a woman who deserted him and their child. Worried I wouldn’t be able to discern real love from fake.” He turns to face me, and I hold my breath, too scared to trust what I think he’s trying to tell me. “But I can’t live my life that way. Can’t live in fear. Especially when all I want is you—a beautiful, kindhearted woman with a cat who already loves me.”
A watery laugh bursts free at his mention of Carrot, my heart swelling with hope. “Does this mean you believe inheart sparks? In love?”
He cups my cheek, a tender smile shining back at me. “I believe I could fall in lovewith you. I believeyoucould be myheart spark.”
And that’s enough for now.
After all, we’ve got time to build a relationship. My mouth may have run unchecked the day at the forge, and love may alreadyfill my heart for him, but I can wait for him to catch up. Because now he’s willing to try.
“I accept your apology, and I’m sorry, too. I didn’t mean to make you feel cornered, like I expected something from you that you weren’t ready for. Blame the great sex that happened beforehand for short-circuiting my brain.”
A sly grin overtakes the seriousness tightening Rhys’s expression. “Great sex, huh? I’m curious to see what else you say when you’re overcome by my cock.”
