“Are you serious?”
“Like a cancer.” Jake crossed his arms across his wide chest.
“That’s lame. How am I supposed to help if I don’t know what I’m working with?”
“Because I?—”
“Don’t say ‘I told you so.’”
“Told you so.”
“Knew it.” Rolling her eyes, Marley turned back toward her presentation. “All right, fine. Be difficult, but then I get to say it.”
“Okay, boss.” Giving Marley a mock salute, Jake gestured for her to continue.
“Okay, as I was saying, it would be much easier if I knew what I was working with, but we can start with the basics.” With the push of a button, Marley advanced to the next slide, which showed images of cats in various poses. “First. Body language. It’s really important to read their body language so you know when to advance or if you need to retreat or change your approach.”
“Right. Makes sense.” Jake nodded.
“In your case, I don’t think Gia displays fear or feels threatened.”
“That’s good.”
Marley grimaced. “However…”
“This can’t be good.” Jake braced himself for what came next.
“However—she is displaying a great deal of irritation, disgust, and—now, this isn’t on the chart—hostility.”
“Really? I had no idea.” He huffed out a sardonic laugh.If I was constantly in the spotlight, then had to come home to hide—only to find my brother’s gravesite was not how I last saw it—and reunite with my estranged family, I’d be hostile, too.
“Shh.” Marley shushed him with a finger over her mouth. Jake mimed zipping his lips. “This is going to make it harder for you to wear her down.”
Jake groaned dramatically and plunked back onto the couch.
“This is hopeless.”
“Yeah. Probably.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, kiddo.”
“Well, it would be hopeless if you were doing it alone, but you have me. Plus, Alina and Diem said they’d help! Oh, and I also saw Mrs. Bennett earlier and talked to her. She said she’d love to help!” Marley’s enthusiasm made things seem less daunting.
Jake considered the situation. Alina and Gia shared a past, so they would help Gia feel more comfortable being back in Willowbrook. Diem was new to town, having moved here from the city a couple of years ago when she inherited the Willowbrook Inn. She would undoubtedly get along with Gia. And it would be an opportunity to introduce the two and hope they hit it off. Plus, he and Mrs. Bennett knew he had the support of Gia’s family.
He hoped reconnecting Gia to the good people of Willowbrook and reminding her of all the wonderful memories she had here would increase her chances of staying.
For the first time in years, Jake felt the fire burning inside of him again. For too long, it had dulled to an ember, having lost its oxygen—but now Gia was back in town, and her fire stoked the ember.
The beast inside him had been waiting patiently. Biding its time until this moment, when she returned. Now that she was within his grasp, he would never let her go.
For too long, he’d pushed his feelings aside. He’d ignored the urge to chase after Gia more times than he could count. He’d convinced himself she was happier chasing after her dreams, despite all the scandals splashed across the tabloids. It pained him to know she was so far away, but he needed to stay in Willowbrook. In the past year, raising Marley took priority over his life. So he poured himself into being a responsible single father.
But the time for waiting was over.
He’d show her they were not only good together, but they belonged together. There was no other woman for Jake. It was always Gia. For as long as he lived, in this lifetime or the next. The truth had been staring him in the face for over a decade, and living with regret had been bitter. He’d have to figure out a way to thank the universe for bringing her back into his life again. Back to Willowbrook. Back to her family.
The sleepy town was about to get quite a buzz once news spread that Gia had returned. Willowbrook’s only celebrity, she had been the life of the town with her mischievous ways and bright smile. Gia might think the town only loved Thao, but she was wrong. Everyone loved the twins for their own unique characteristics. Of course, the town had mourned Thao’s passing—a young and vibrant life gone too soon—but Gia’s departure had left the townspeople baffled.
