“Oh, Will.”
He stopped walking. Memories from back then always made it hard for him to do more than one thing at a time. “At first, I hated Midas for living. He was never my cat. Always Sara’s. I kept thinking, why couldn’t he have died instead?”
Kelsey touched Will’s arm. He ignored how good the small gesture felt, ignored how much he wanted, needed, to be touched. He concentrated on his cat and continued down the hall.
“But watching him recover… It would have been easier on him if he hadn’t survived.” Will rubbed Midas. “He’s on his sixth or seventh life by now.”
Will opened the door to what used to be his sister Hope’s room. Faith still considered her old room to be hers and would want to stay there when she arrived for the wedding. Hope, on the other hand, couldn’t care less where she slept as long as her three children were within earshot. “Make yourself at home.”
“Thanks.” Kelsey placed her purse on the bed. “Like everything else in the house, it’s perfect.”
Her compliment brought a smile to his face. “I’ll carry your suitcase up to your room after I fix dinner.”
“I’m not hungry, so don’t go to any trouble.”
“I won’t.”
His gaze met hers. He wanted to leave, but something held him in place. It was almost as if a thin cord connected them when it was only empty space. Still, he hadn’t felt this way since…
No, he’d had his chance at love.
He wouldn’t get another one.
Living alone wasn’t so bad. He had his family and Midas; he had his work. Children of his own would have been nice, but that hadn’t been in the cards for him and Sara. Still, he had two nephews and a niece. And once Faith married, maybe she would add a few of her own. That was more than enough for him.
“I’ll freshen up,” Kelsey said, finally breaking the silence.
“I’ll be downstairs when you’re ready.” He stopped at the doorway to call for Midas only to watch the cat follow Kelsey into the bathroom. “Turncoat,” he mumbled, feeling both betrayed and envious at the same time.
CHAPTER SEVEN
February 1
Standing at the front door of Bill and Starr Addison’s not-so-humble abode with Will at her side, Kelsey had one question running through her mind. How had she wound up here? The obvious answer was via Will’s SUV and, to take it a step further, by his plane. But the obvious wasn’t what she was looking for.
Something was happening to her internally, and she didn’t like it. This morning she’d woken from the strangest yet most sublime dream she’d ever had. A dream of fairy-tale weddings, magical kisses, enchanted bridal bouquets, and a groom who bore a strong resemblance to Will Addison. No doubt wearing the veil yesterday had fueled her subconscious, and the kiss they’d shared had stoked the fire, but what she was imagining—feeling—still made zero sense.
She wasn’t the type to put too much meaning in dreams, if she even remembered them in the morning, but this one, she couldn’t get out of her mind. Especially the thought of a smiling Will, waiting for her at the altar. This was so odd. She never got carried away by this sort of stuff.
Okay, that wasn’t completely true. Kelseyhadgotten caught up in San Montico’s legend of the ring when the royal engagement ring was stuck on her cousin Christina’s finger. The legend claimed whoever wore the ring was the prince’s one true love, and that was exactly how it turned out. Christina had fallen in love and married the prince.
But that was a one in a million occurrence. Modern-day fairy tales didn’t happen.
A bell rang. It took a moment for Kelsey to shake off her daydream and realize the bells were real—the result of Will pressing his parents' doorbell, not a bit of magic left over from the enchanted engagement ring.
Talk about relief.
The door opened.
“It’s so good to see you again, Kelsey.” Bill Addison greeted her with a hug. He was a more mature version of his son, with salt and pepper hair. Same smile, same eyes, same charm. “We’re so happy you could help us with Faith’s wedding. Starr is excited to see you.”
At leastsomeonewas happy this morning. Kelsey forced a smile. “Thanks. I’m glad to…help.” She stared at father and son and noticed more similarities between the two, including their names. “Bill and Will? Are you both William?”
“I’m William Drake Addison the third.” Bill motioned to his son. “He’s the fourth. I didn’t want to upset Starr when all the girls called and asked for him, so we used different names.”
“Dad,” Will said in a cautious tone, playing the role of slightly embarrassed son well. “I’m sure Kelsey doesn’t want to hear this.”
“Don’t worry, son. I won’t start reminiscing about your childhood. Not yet, anyway.”
