"Best morning I've had in years," he replied, his voice rough with sleep.
What followed was tender and passionate, a physical expression of the emotional connection that had been building between them since their first conversation. Afterward, as they lay entwined in the aftermath of intimacy, he made a confession that solidified her growing feelings.
"I've never spent the whole night with someone just to sleep," he said quietly, his fingers tracing patterns on her bare shoulder. "Never wanted to stay just for the feeling of being connected to another person. This is new for me."
The vulnerability in his admission made her realize that whatever was happening between them was as unprecedented for him as it was for her. They were both venturing into uncharted territory, both discovering what it meant to find someone who fit so perfectly into the spaces they hadn't known were empty.
"Can I ask you something?”
"Anything,” he replied.
"When this is over… when we get back from Kansas City… are you going to disappear back to Montana like none of this happened between us?" She jerked upward and held his gaze with pink flushing over her cheeks. “Not like I’m expecting you to… I mean, I don’t want you to feel… uh…”
The vulnerability she was offering was terrifying. Maybe more terrifying than her stalker. She wanted him to be part of the life she was fighting to reclaim, but had no idea what he might say.
"I promise," he said, cupping her cheek with his hand. "Whatever we are… whatever we’re going to be… you're stuck with me. We're in this together now."
The simple declaration carried the weight of a promise, and as their bodies pressed tightly together, Willow realized that whatever uncertainty she felt about the speed of their connection, she was ready to explore every possibility of what they might become together.
30
Over breakfast, Casper continually sought Willow’s face. He’d never believed in happy endings, at least not for himself. But the smile reached her eyes, reminding him why he was falling so hard for this remarkable woman. Whatever it took, however dangerous it became, he wanted to make sure she got her happy ending. And if he was lucky enough that that included him, he was ready.
They had almost finished eating when his phone rang with an update from LSIMT. His own smile dropped as he listened to Sadie's report about new flight schedules and hotel arrangements.
"They've moved our arrival time up by six hours," he said after ending the call. "And Sadie found a hotel room across the street from the screenwriters’ conference center and next to the one where the signing will be. We can access the signing venue without going through public spaces."
"More changes to keep me safe," Willow said, though her tone was filled with frustration about the precautions.
"Whatever it takes." He reached across the table to squeeze her hand.
They were in the middle of washing the breakfast dishes when the driveway alert sounded. Casper raced through Willow's house and out the front door, his tactical instincts taking over completely.
"Stay inside! Call Logan!" he ordered, pulling the door closed behind him with enough force to ensure it latched securely.
He felt certain that Willow would follow his instructions, so he hurried across the wooden planks of her front porch and down the steps. His eyes never left the small white sedan that was pulling slowly into the driveway, every detail being cataloged and assessed for potential threat.
Without giving the driver a chance to exit the vehicle, he stalked over with a purpose, communicating his serious intent. Stopping directly beside the driver's door, close enough to react instantly to any aggressive movement, he called out in a voice that carried unmistakable authority.
"Show me your identification. Now."
Through the windshield, he could see a single female driver with no passengers. The woman appeared to be close to forty, with dark hair and her face mostly hidden behind large, dark sunglasses that prevented him from reading her expression or intent.
As soon as she rolled down the window, he stepped closer, his body language making it clear that compliance wasn't optional. "ID. And remove your sunglasses immediately."
The woman's mouth opened and closed several times like a fish gasping for air, then she slowly lifted her hand and pulled off the sunglasses with trembling fingers. Even before she fumbled for identification, Casper knew he was looking at Gloria Vasquez, Willow's former assistant.
He gave no indication that he recognized her, maintaining the professional distance that would keep her off balance and more likely to reveal useful information.
"I… I’m looking for Willow Thorton," Gloria said, her voice carrying a nervous quaver. "I understand she lives here."
Casper took her driver's license when she finally managed to extract it from her wallet, noting that the address listed was in Texas.
"What is your business with Ms. Thorton?" he asked, his tone remaining officially neutral. "You don't have an appointment."
"I didn't have her phone number," Gloria stammered, her gaze darting nervously between his face and the house behind him. "I found her address online."
The admission sent a chill through Casper's professional assessment. If Willow's address was available online, their security situation was even more compromised than they'd realized.
