Willow laughed and set her plate on the table. “You’re a big pain in the ass for such a tiny person, but thank you for watching out for me.”
“You’re my little sister. I’ll always have your back. Are you sure everything’s okay? He’s really late, and Sweetwater isn’t big enough for him to get lost.”
“Spider-Man!” Louie sprinted toward the side yard with nine screaming friends on his heels.
Talia sidled up to Willow and Piper as they headed for the side yard. Butterflies took flight in Willow’s stomach as a tall, broad Spider-Man came into focus and lifted Louie into his arms. She would know that athletic build anywhere.
Ben’s laughter sailed across the yard from where he and their father were heading toward the mayhem.
“Mom! It’s Spider-Man!” Louie yelled to Bridgette, who was looking at Willow with an approving smile.
“Oh my God,” Piper said with awe. “I’ve never seen Louie so happy.”
“The only one missing from this party is your man, Willow,” Talia pointed out.
“Not anymore,” Willow said more to herself than to her sisters.
Spider-Man looked over the kids’ heads, locking eyes with Willow. He lifted his shoulders in that simple, honest shrug that was so very Zane it made her warm all over.
“I concede,” Piper said. “He might have just won me over.”
“Me too,” Willow whispered. His voice sailed through her mind. Then stop pushing me away and let me show you the man I can be. The man I will be for you.
She was done pushing. So very done.
“WHAT YOU DID for Louie was amazing,” Bridgette said to Zane as she hugged him goodbye after the party. “He’ll remember this day forever.”
“He’s a great little guy.” Zane reached for Willow’s hand, glad to see things between her and Bridgette seemed to be okay. “If you have time while I’m in town, why don’t we all get together? We can do something kid friendly.”
The smile Willow flashed made him want to suggest it again and again.
“Or we can have Mom and Dad watch Louie and we can do something adultish,” Bridgette suggested.
“I’ll call you, Bridge.” Willow hugged her, and Zane heard indiscernible whispers pass between them.
They both came away smiling, which he took as a good sign, and Willow reached for his hand again.
“Thank you for being so good to Louie,” she said as they walked down the driveway toward their cars. “I’ve never seen him so happy.”
“I’m sorry about being so late. I thought I could get a costume at Walmart in the next town over, but they only had kids’ sizes. I had to call a buddy from the city, and he met me halfway.”
“You had someone drive halfway from New York City? You must have really good friends.”
“Why does that surprise you?” He nudged her shoulder with his. “You know I’m a good guy.”
“Yeah. I do.”
“So you’ll stop all the nonsense and give me a chance?”
“Haven’t I already shown you that?” When they reached her car, she hooked her finger into the waist of his jeans and pulled him closer. “On the counter in my bakery kitchen? On the prep table? In my office?”
His body had been humming all afternoon from their sexy tryst. “Maybe you should refresh my memory.” He backed her up, trapping her against the car.
“Do I have a choice?” she teased.
“Always.”
She shook her head with a sweet smile on her lips. “Not when it comes to you I don’t. I never have.”
His mouth came down gently over hers in a kiss so warm and wonderful he never wanted it to end.
“Let’s go by Ben’s and get your stuff,” she said between kisses.
“It’s in my car.”
“Geez. You could at least pretend like it was my choice.”
He laughed as she climbed into her car. “Babe, I know you better than you know yourself. How many times do I have to say that before you realize it’s true?”
Her smile faded, and she ran her finger along the edge of the steering wheel, avoiding his eyes. “I told Bridgette.”
“I know you did.”
Her eyes flicked to his. “How . . . ?”
He cocked a brow.
“Right.” She smiled again. “You know me.”
“I told Ben.”
“You said you might.” She reached up and grabbed his shirt, tugging him down to eye level. “I’m scared, Z. You need to know that. Like, scared-to-death scared.”
“I know that, too, sweetheart, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you know you can trust me.” He gave her a chaste kiss. “We’re playing by my rules, remember? Let go of all the bullshit, and one day you’ll wake up and realize I’ve been the frosting on your cupcake all along.”
She laughed. “You’re such a weirdo.”
“What does that say about you? You’re engaged to a weirdo.” He glanced up at Bridgette’s house. “I used to think the houses here were nondescript, but they’re really cute as hell.”
“You were in such a rush to get out of Sweetwater and on to bigger, better things, you snubbed your nose at a lot of things.”
“I never snubbed my nose at you.” He leaned in for another kiss.
She sighed. “Hashtag truth.”
“Now who’s the weirdo?”
“Definitely you. Think we can watch one of those movies on your playlist tonight?”
He closed her car door and leaned in the window, taking another kiss. “We can try.” He winked and walked toward his rental car.
“What does that mean?” she called after him.
He glanced over his shoulder. The passion between them transcended words. We’re so right together. What the hell took me so long to figure it out?
CHAPTER TWELVE
WILLOW HAD FORGOTTEN that in all the years they’d been friends, Zane had only been in her apartment once, and that was last night when he’d dropped her off. It had been dark, and he’d been solely focused on her. There was no way he’d noticed anything else. She rarely thought of him as a wealthy actor, but it was hard not to realize it as he was standing in her one-bedroom apartment, which she was sure paled in comparison to the mansion he must live in. Piper and their father had done an amazing job of making it feel open and airy when she’d renovated, by adding cathedral ceilings and keeping the kitchen open to the living room, separated only by a breakfast bar. The recessed lighting, cream-colored walls with white moldings, and neutral furniture gave the space a cohesive feel. Of course, Willow being the pastry lover she was, she’d added mint and peach accent pillows for a splash of color.
What would Zane think of her cozy nest?
His gaze coasted to the windows overlooking the lake and fell to the couch below, where the yearbook she’d been poring over last night like a lovesick teenager sat like a beacon to her heart’s desire. Her pulse kicked up. Could she casually pick up the yearbook and slip it beneath a pillow without him realizing it?
“Love your place, Wills.”
“Um, thanks. Why don’t you put your stuff in the bedroom?” She motioned to the door to their right and moved in front of him, hoping to block his view of the couch.