Shaking his head, he opened his suitcase before heading to the bathroom.Family came first; he needed to make another plan.
That was of course if Willow was prepared to acknowledge she felt something for him.A more stubborn woman was yet to be born.
While he was getting dressed his phone rang again.It was Jade, his sister.She hadn’t been home when he’d left, that was probably why she was phoning.
“Hi, sis.I don’t have time to talk right now…”
“Neither have I.Wilder and I have just arrived at the airport, we’ll see you later.”
“What airport?”
She giggled.“Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, if you are insisting on the name.”
“What?You mean you’re here in Seattle?”
“Of course.You need backup.Wilder and I are it.We may be late, but we’ll be there.”
Before he could say anything, she’d ended the call.Groaning, Hunter shook his head.The evening was not turning out as he’d hoped.He loved his sister to bits, but she was not going to take any nonsense from the Westons.
Chapter Fifteen
By late Fridayafternoon, as Willow walked toward the gallery, the strange restlessness she’d been aware of over the last few days had changed into an odd nervousness she didn’t understand.
Everyone in her family was fine, she’d texted her sisters-in-law to make sure.She was excited about the exhibition but not nervous, so why she felt like this, she had no idea.
As she entered the gallery, she checked her watch.Her family had already arrived in Seattle, they should be here soon.She was excited but also nervous about their reaction.Her mom would love all her paintings, but she wasn’t sure how Hayden and Becket would react to her newest work.
Eden rushed forward the moment she saw Willow.“Ooh, Willow, I can’t tell you how excited Greg and I are.Here, let Tony take your coat.”
“Thanks, Tony,” Willow said as she handed her coat to Tony.She’d met the young man a few times.He was studying art and worked part time in the gallery.
Eden’s eyes widened.“You look absolutely stunning, Willow.I love the bling top with the short satin skirt.You do have such nice legs.”
“Thanks, Eden.You look very elegant yourself.”
“Willow!”Greg called out as he hurried toward them.“Did you tell her?”he asked Jade.
“Tell me what?”
Greg was beaming.“Every single painting has been sold in the course of the day.”
Willow inhaled sharply.“Not every painting, I hope?”
Greg grinned.“Not ‘Spring’ or the two portraits, of course, but I do have an offer on all three.The client is coming tonight, you still have time to decide.”
As more and more people entered the gallery, Willow caught a glimpse of her brothers towering above everyone else.For a moment her eyes searched for another tall, well-built figure before she sighed.Hunter wouldn’t be here.
He was on a ranch in Colorado, many, many miles from here.
*
Hunter hadn’t beensure what to expect at the opening of an art exhibition.If you wanted information about livestock markets, he was your man, but visiting art exhibitions?He’d never felt so out of his comfort zone as he was at this moment.
His eyes fell on a waiter with a tray of champagne.Grimacing, he moved through the crowd.Of course they would have champagne.This was certainly no place for beer and belching cowboys.
He was within touching distance of the waiter when he noticed people were staring at him.Openly.What the hell?He’d showered and changed and okay, yes, black jeans were probably not what one was supposed to wear to something like this, but damn it, it was clean.
As he was moving forward, his eyes focused on the tray in the waiter’s hand, someone tapped his shoulder.His heart lurching, he turned around, but it wasn’t Willow.A tiny woman with pitch black hair, her eyes brimming with mirth was looking up at him.
