“Carter says that his uncle, Falcon’s dad, wasn’t big on school.” Erika leans to whisper as though she is sharing family secrets. “And he thinks Falcon might have a touch of ADHD, maybe even be a bit dyslexic, and that’s why he was always skipping school.”
Falcon’s feelings towards Ms. Bubbleworth hit me hard. Had Falcon felt he was doomed because he was different? For me, school was pretty easy. I have a loving and supportive family. But I understand that school is not for everyone. There are different learning styles. Even for me, with all my advantages, I still feel now that I would have liked to have different options.
And I can’t imagine what Falcon must have experienced while he was deployed overseas. Suddenly I feel a bit sick in the stomach at having judged Falcon when I first saw him. Though he was nasty to me before I left his place. Deliberately trying to scare me to get me to leave. But I can’t deny that that moment was also thrilling. To have Falcon say those words in a deep, husky voice. It made my knees go weak. And it may have featured in a few sexy dreams over the past couple of nights.
“Are you okay, Willow?”
“Oh, yes.” I smile at my friends. “I‘m just thinking about the run in I had with Falcon.”
“Falcon is hot. If I wasn’t madly in love with Carter, I wouldn’t mind having arun inwith Falcon.” Erika pretends to fan herself.
Annie shakes her head, “Well, all three of the cousins are in town today for the Spring festival.”
“They are?” I ask loudly.
Both girls laugh at how eager that sounded.
“I mean….” I try to think of an excuse.
“It’s fine, I think we understand.” Annie grins at Erika. “Thorne made Falcon bring his baby goats and they have some animal pens set up in the town square with our donkeys.”
“Is Ridge there too?” Erika asks.
Ridge is the middle brother. He arrived back in town around the same time as Falcon, but only a few people have seen him.
“Thorne has told them they both have to be here.” Annie says with a little shrug that tells us she doesn’t really believe that Ridge will show up.
After leaving the girls I make my way straight towards the town centre. Because I want to see the cute baby goats again. And Annie and Thorne’s donkeys. Oh, who am I kidding? I want to see Falcon. I want to get to know him better. I want to feel that rush of excitement again. I even want to see if he actually would push me up against a wall and kiss me breathless.
Chapter 5
Falcon
I shouldn't have come to town. Thorne thinks he knows best but being around all these people is making me feel antsy. And Ridge says Thorne’s thinking is off because he is in love. I feel like everybody is looking at me. Talking about me. I’ve never liked being the centre of attention.
The only thing that.made me agree was the hope I might see Willow. That girl has been haunting my thoughts and dreams.
I shouldn't have said those things to her. Not that it wasn’t true. I would like to get my hands on Willow’s curves. But it was meant to scare her. To remind her that we are so different. But it backfired on me. Because as soon as I got close to her I knew I was in trouble. Her perfume was sweet and intoxicating. Like a meadow of flowers and freshly cut fruit. She smells of summer, and hope. Watching her eyes go wide. The way she squared off with me. The little O of her mouth when her jaw dropped with surprise.
God she is beautiful. And was that attraction I saw in her eyes? Just for a moment did she sway towards me when we were so close to each other? Just the thought that Willow might be even a little bit attracted to me has me feeling hot all over.
I look around and see a couple of kids leaning on the fence. I'd insisted we bring a little wooden shelter for the mumma goat and her babies. I don't like them being on display like this. The whole town looking at them and pointing at them. But because there is only one side of the pen where the goats can be seen, kids are pushing up against it.
“Don't lean on the fence, kids.” I try and keep my voice light but the two boys look up at me with fear and turn and run. An older woman tuts loudly. “Are you qualified to be looking after animals?”
“How about you mind your own business, Mrs. Groves.”
I turn at the sound of a girl's voice and there is Willow, looking magnificent as she walks up beside me. The woman narrows her gaze on the both of us before turning away.
“Thank you.” I say to Willow. Feeling suddenly awkward after she has been on my mind so much and now she is here in real life.
“It’s no problem. I'm going to stand here with you so people stop staring at you.”
She crosses her arms and stares off with a few people who pass us by.
It feels strange to have her on my side, all protective, just like she was about the chicken.
“People will think it's weird that you're here with me.”
