“It looks like a campground,” she said softly. “Are the actual sets more glamorous?”
“No. There’s nothing glamorous about a film set. It’s like any other job, where a bunch of people are trying to make things operate as expected. It’s stressful. There are always too many people giving directions, and I’ll spend a lot of my time in the trailer just waiting to be called to the set.” He looked around, feeling the same way he knew Willow did. Like their quaint small town had been overrun by outsiders.
“It all starts tomorrow, Wills. Sixteen-hour days, overinflated egos, and the pressure to be what everyone out there wants to see.”
“Don’t forget kissing Remi Divine.”
His chest constricted. The arc of her voice told him she was teasing, but he was already dreading kissing another woman, whether it was a fictional kiss or not.
He took Willow’s face in his hands and gazed into her eyes. “How did this happen?”
“What?”
“How did I fall so hopelessly in love with you that even the thought of having my mouth on someone else pisses me off?”
Her lips curved up in a sweet smile. “Don’t give me lines, Z.”
“No lines, baby. I promised only truths, remember?” He rose to his feet and brought her up with him.
She put her arms around his neck and went up on her toes. “Maybe I should wear out your mouth so you can’t kiss her.”
He lowered his mouth to hers in a kiss hot enough to join metal. “Home, baby,” he said between kisses, loving the way the word home felt so right. “I need to be closer to you.”
They kissed as they ran across the cobblestone street. Laughed as they stumbled up the back steps to her apartment, stopping only to deepen their kisses. They tore off their clothes on the way to the bedroom and tumbled down to the bed, breathless and greedy. He claimed her mouth again, fumbling blindly for a condom in his refusal to break their connection.
“Hurry,” she said against his lips.
He reluctantly broke away to sheath himself.
Trailing her delicate fingers up the outsides of his thighs with a sexy smile on her lips and love in her eyes, she said, “I love that there was only me.”
He laced their hands together as he came down over her and kissed her again. Their bodies fit together like each was the only person on earth who could complete the other, moving in perfect harmony. They gazed into each other’s eyes, and years of love wound around them, bringing the truth once again.
“I love that there will only ever be you.”
Willow was his.
Willow was home.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“WHAT CAN WE do to help?” Willow’s mother stood in the middle of Sweetie Pie Bakery’s kitchen with her hands on her hips and a determined look in her eyes at six thirty Monday morning. Beside her, Talia, Piper, dressed in her “good” jeans, and Bridgette, who had brought three floral centerpieces “to spruce up the tables,” stood ready to help.
Willow’s cavalry had arrived to help on what she hadn’t realized would be the most nerve-racking day of her life. She usually only needed help with bigger catering jobs, but she was beside herself with gratitude. Even her father had pitched in by babysitting Louie today. The funny thing was, she hadn’t realized she needed help. She’d been baking since four o’clock, and she was fully prepared for catering the set. But she hadn’t counted on the sudden and all-consuming worry about meeting people from Zane’s world. Luckily, her family knew her better than she knew herself. “T, don’t you have to teach today?”
Talia shook her head, her efficient ponytail swinging from side to side. “I got Cam to cover for me. Besides, who knows? I might meet someone nice, right?”
“Someone not tatted up,” Piper chimed in.
Willow’s eyes widened.
“No, nothing happened with Patch,” Piper said with an exasperated sigh. “Harley got all up in my face about how I’d end up on one of those gossip websites and how I was better than that. I’m going to have to knock that man down a notch. He’s always blocking me from having fun. Guys are afraid of him because he’s big and bossy.”
Bridgette slid Willow an I told you so look, but Willow was too nervous to worry about Piper and her man issues. She had worries of her own—like meeting Remi Divine.
The kitchen door blew open, and Ben burst into the room. “Oh, good, you’re still here. What can I do? I’ll go get your van if you give me the keys.”
“Benny, that’s so nice of you.” Their mother grabbed the keys from the hook on the wall and tossed them to Ben.
“Hold on.” Piper held her hands up. “Why are you really here? Does this have anything to do with Remi Divine?”
Ben feigned an irritated wince. “I’m shocked that you would think I’d pretend to want to help my sister just to see the most gorgeous actress on the planet.”
Aurelia poked her head in the door. “Wow, looks like a family meeting. I was just coming by to say goodbye before I left tow—” Her eyes landed on Ben.
“Aurelia,” Ben said too sharply for the look of pleasant surprise on his face. “I didn’t know you were in town.”
She narrowed her eyes and hiked a thumb over her shoulder. “I’m leaving. I . . . um . . .” She peered around him with a flush on her cheeks. “Willow. I . . . What we talked about? I’m in. I think. Depending on your living situation. And mine. We’ll talk.” She stood up a little taller, her eyes darting to each of the girls and their mother and avoiding Ben altogether. “Okay. I’m out of here. Love you guys.” Just as quickly as she’d arrived, she was gone.
“Wow,” Ben said. “She looks great.”
Their mother nudged him out the door. “Go get that van, honey. Willow can’t be late.” As soon as Ben was out of earshot, she turned to the girls with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. “What have I missed between those two?”
“No idea,” Willow admitted.
“Ben’s just horny,” Piper said. “Come on. Let’s get this show on the road.”
Ben brought the van around, and they loaded it up, driving the van and Ben’s car over to the set.
“I shouldn’t be this nervous,” Willow complained as they parked by the craft services tent. But somewhere on this set is my man, and he’s probably got Remi Divine draped all over him. She had no idea what Zane and Remi’s scenes called for other than a fade-to-black love scene Zane had mentioned, but it didn’t matter. All the actors and actresses were Hollywood stars, and she suddenly felt very small-town, which had never bothered her before. And that made her even more nervous and annoyed.
“They’re just people,” she said more to herself than anyone else. “Sheesh. I really need to pull my head out of my butt.”
“Right,” Bridgette said. “So what if they’ve been in People and Vogue and are regulars on the red carpet.”
“Not helping, Bridge,” Talia said.
A pretty redhead wearing shorts and a tank top and carrying an iPad greeted Willow as she stepped from the van. “Willow?”