She nodded, burying her head against his shoulder.“I did.It took me a while longer though to realize I’ve been using what I do as an excuse.”
As they took their seats, Laura got up, lifting her glass.“To Hunter and Willow.I’m so glad you’ve found each other.”
Amidst her family’s wishes, Willow’s eyes found Hunter’s.His looked suspiciously bright.
Leaning toward him, she stroked his face.“You crying?”
“Told you I cry easily.”He kissed her.
“Eeww,” Luke groaned.“Does this mean Hunter and Aunt Willow will be kissing all the time now too?”
“Oh, yes.”Hunter said, his eyes on her.
Leaning into him, Willow listened to her family talking.She still had many questions for Hunter about his plans, but there would be enough time for hashing out details later.
A loud knock on her door stopped the conversation.Her mother got up and walked to the front door.“Our party is about to get a whole lot bigger.I phoned Annie just now.”
She opened the door.Stunned, Willow got up slowly.Hunter’s parents, his sister and her fiancé, all the O’Sullivans, including Janice plus the Millers were standing on her doorstep, wrapped up in coats and scarves.Everyone was carrying something.
“Oh, my goodness,” Willow laughed and turned to look at Hunter.He had the same dazed expression on his face she probably had.
Her mom smiled.“I knew your family would also love to be here to celebrate with us, Hunter, and I couldn’t invite them and not our friends, could I?”
The next moment, her small house was filled with her family and friends.
Hunter pulled her closer.“They will all go home at some point, won’t they?”
“Of course they will.Now behave,” she teased him as they moved to welcome everyone.
Chapter Twenty
In the end,it made more sense for Willow to go with her mother into town and stay there until the next day.It definitely hadn’t been what Hunter had in mind, but he understood why.
The dress she’d bought for Willow was there, and apparently her sisters-in-law were all going to have a sleepover at Arlene’s tonight.Tomorrow morning his mom and Jade would join them.Everything sounded good, but he still didn’t like it.
Willow’s brothers stayed behind as everyone else left.They’d offered to help him clean the kitchen.He’d hoped to talk to them before the next day and hopefully he’d find a gap before they left.
When they were putting away the last plates, Luke opened the conversation.“You need a groomsman?”he asked.“I know what to do, I’ve been one for Uncle Becket and Uncle Cooper.”
“Thank you, Luke, I’d appreciate that.”He turned to Willow’s brothers.“I was hoping the three of you would also agree to be my groomsmen?”
“I don’t know,” Becket said, looking at his brothers.“Do you think we should?”
Hayden shrugged, his face unreadable.“I don’t know if I want to do that.He’s taking our sister away.”
“But she can’t cook,” Cooper said.“So maybe we should cut the poor man some slack.”
Grinning, they all slapped him on the back.Maybe a tad harder than was strictly necessary, but he’d take it.
“Of course we will,” Hayden said.“And I’d like to talk to you about your new ranch.I’ve been thinking for a while about acquiring extra land.Maybe we could work together?That is of course, if you’re interested.”Luke had fallen asleep next to him and he pulled a throw over him.
Relieved, Hunter nodded.“I was going to suggest the same thing.You see, I’m going to stay involved in our ranch back in Colorado…”
As he explained his thoughts, they all found a seat again and soon they were talking plans.Becket found a bottle of brandy in one of Willow’s cupboards and by the time they finally left, it was very late.
Hunter took a shower in Willow’s bathroom and got into her bed afterward.Staring at the ceiling, he sighed.How was he supposed to fall asleep with Willow’s scent all around him?He missed her.
His phone rang.Quickly switching on the bed light, he sat up.It was Willow on a video call.
