Love in the Dark

by 12 Book Boxed Set (epub)

  “Hey, y’all! Thanks for comin’ out tonight to help us celebrate the grand opening of Havenbrook’s very first bar.” A bright smile swept across her face as hoots and whistles burst from the crowd. “Now, I know y’all’ve been promised somethin’, so I won’t take up more of your time. I just want to welcome everyone”—she grabbed the white cloth draped over the sign and yanked it down, revealing the logo beneath—“to The Willow Tree.”

  Claps and hollers sprang up around her, but Willow couldn’t pay attention to any of them. Her gaze was fixed on the sign Nola had revealed. Letters spelling out The Willow Tree were punched out of steel, and beside it was a logo with a beer bottle as the trunk of the tree, leaves sprouting from the top and spilling out on either side.

  Her heart thrummed in her chest, her eyes filling with tears, her throat clogging with emotions so deep she could hardly breathe. Finn. Finn had done this—one last thing to show her how much he loved her, even after he was gone.

  And now, she was going to have to walk by it every day, was going to have to see it outside her window at work, and ache. Ache knowing she’d lost the love of a lifetime not once but twice. Knowing she’d never, ever get it—

  “Are those good tears or bad?” a voice whispered right in her ear. A voice she’d know anywhere.

  She spun around and there stood Finn, in the middle of Havenbrook Square, like it was the most normal thing in the world. “Finn, what—”

  “Come over here with me for a sec?” He held out his hand and tilted his head toward the other side of the square where no one lingered.

  She looked down at his hand and bit her lip, then looked back to find her sister and Avery. They were already swallowed up by the crowd, but Willow could still make them out. Avery smiled at her, and Mac gave her a thumbs-up. So she did the only thing she could. She slipped her hand into his, exhaling as his fingers closed around hers, his grip steady and firm. Comforting. Easing an ache in her chest that’d been there since she’d told him goodbye.

  When they were away from prying ears, he pulled her to a stop in front of him, their hands still connected between them. Then he just stared. Ran his eyes over every inch of her, cataloging each one of her features while she did the same for him. His hair was wild—like it got when she’d been running her fingers through it—his jaw covered with several days’ worth of scruff. Light bruises marred the skin beneath his eyes, as if he’d been sleeping about as well as she had. Which was to say, not at all.

  She wanted to throw her arms around him, feel his wrap around her. Wanted to kiss him and tell him she loved him and she’d missed him. But she had so many questions, she didn’t know where to start. So she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “You’re supposed to be in California.”

  His lips quirked up at the side, and he reached out tentatively, his hand inching closer to her face. When she didn’t flinch or pull away, he swept his fingertips down her face from her temple to her chin. “Why would I be there when the woman I love is right here?”

  “But you… Everyone said you’d gone—”

  “You listenin’ to all that blatherin’?” He shook his head. “Just went back to pack up, sweetness. And to get Momma, but we were comin’ back. We were always plannin’ to come back.” He slipped his fingers around her neck. “I couldn’t leave you again, Willowtree. No threat was great enough to get me to go this time.”

  But last time, it had been. She and her daddy’d had a long talk, where she’d listened as he’d confessed every detail of what he’d done all those years ago. Her momma had sat next to her, anger and disappointment cloaking every bit of her body. He’d told them of what he’d done back then, and what he’d tried to do now. She hated her daddy for forcing Finn’s hand. For making him choose between jail time for a crime he didn’t commit, leaving his brother to fend for their sick momma, or leaving Havenbrook with enough cash to help his momma get better but leaving Willow behind. She couldn’t begin to fathom having to make that choice—between the love of your life and the person who gave you life. She wasn’t sure she could.

  She squeezed his hand. “My daddy told me. All of it.” She took a deep breath, dropping her eyes before meeting his gaze once again. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen before, when you tried to tell me. I’m sorry—”

  He tutted, pressing his thumb to her lips to silence her. “Now, you’ve got nothin’ to be sorry about. This was all on me. I made a mistake—a whole damn lot of them, actually—and this lands squarely on my shoulders.”

  “But Daddy—”

  “He had a hand in it, yeah. He was the one who put everything in motion, but I was the one who walked down the path.” He removed his thumb from her mouth and slid his hand around so he cupped her face. “I wanna get that right out in the open. I don’t want to keep any more secrets from you. If we’re gonna make this thing work—and, Jesus, I really want to make this thing work—I need you to know everything. Will you let me tell you?”

  If that was what they needed to start fresh, she’d do it. The truth was, she’d already forgiven him. But it seemed like he needed to get this off his chest, so she simply nodded.

  Blowing out a deep breath, he relaxed his shoulders. “I wish things had gone differently. I wish I hadn’t had to leave in the first place, but I can’t say I’d go back and change it if I had the chance. It allowed Momma to get the treatment she needed—something I’m not sure we’d have been able to do while stayin’ here. And I wouldn’t chance that again, even if it meant I had to rip out my own heart and leave you behind.”

  He stepped closer, bringing their bodies flush. Brushed his thumbs along her jaw as he lowered his head to stare directly in her eyes. “But I want you to know, Willowtree, I’m never, ever leavin’ again. If you say yes—if you want to do this thing with me—I want you to know what you’re signing up for. This is it. Me by your side for the rest of my life. I love you. So damn much. Have always loved you. And this time, it really will take Jesus himself to pull me away.”

  She’d believed him the last time, and he’d taken her trust in him and ripped it to shreds. But things were different now—she could see that in the way he looked at her. And he’d proven it, hadn’t he? He hadn’t succumbed to her daddy’s threats a second time. Had given back every bit of the money her daddy had paid him off with. Had come back, put everything he had on the line for another chance with her, despite the possible outcome. Because that was what you did when you were in love. Soul-crushing, mind-bending, all-consuming love.

  She licked her lips, her gaze dropping to his. She wanted to feel those on hers with an ache she could hardly ignore. “I just have one question.”

  “Anything. You can ask me anything, and I’ll be honest with you. I swear it.”

  “How’d you get everyone to keep quiet about this? About the name of the bar and about you bein’ back in town?”

  His entire body must’ve been coiled tight waiting for her question, because everything in him seemed to relax on an exhale as he smiled. “Bribed every one of those meddlers with a free first round.”

  She breathed out a laugh and shook her head. “And Mac and Avery?”

  “One round wasn’t enough for them, so I’m afraid I’m indebted to them both indefinitely.”

  She tsked. “Tough luck there. I sure hope it was worth it.”

  “Oh, sweetness. Don’t you know by now you’re worth absolutely everything to me?”

  He leaned down, pressed his lips to hers. And she did know. Knew it was the same for him as it was for her. Knew it’d take a force of nature to tear them apart again. Because as soon as their lips touched, everything inside her shifted into place. Settled and calmed, while at the same time sparking anew and coming to life.

  A life she couldn’t wait to share with Finn.

  Epilogue

  At nineteen, Finn never could’ve imagined his life would look like this. Ripped from the only girl he’d ever loved, with a sick momma, a brother just as lost as he was, and a f
ire burning under his skin to simply survive, he’d had no idea just how far they would manage to come.

  And just who’d be by his side once he got where he was going.

  He glanced at Willow across the bar. She still took his goddamn breath away every time he caught her eye. Every time she tipped her lips up in his direction, every time she reached for him, every time he woke in the morning with her cradled in his arms.

  He figured he was the luckiest bastard on the planet.

  They’d had plans tonight—a trip to the tree house to celebrate three months of business ownership. It’d been a rough three months—lots of long hours and stumbles as they’d found their footing with employees and figuring out how to run a business. But Willow had been there with him, had stood by his side through it all. Hadn’t complained when he’d had to work sixteen-hour days, when the only time she’d seen him had been for fifteen minutes on her lunch break.

  And finally, tonight he was taking an evening off. The three owners had agreed they’d each have a night off this week to decompress and celebrate their success…away from the bar.

  But fate, it seemed, had different plans for him tonight.

  Willow looked up and shot him an apologetic look, but he merely shrugged. He wasn’t asshole enough to demand they go out while her sister drowned her sorrows in vodka—who knew Miss Prim and Proper was a hard liquor kind of girl? Sure as hell not him. But he didn’t blame her for downing one shot after another.

  Hell of a way to find out your husband was fucking his assistant—surprising him at work in a last-ditch effort to save their marriage. That was what he’d overheard her say to Willow anyway. What a scumbag. Rory could be a lot to handle, but she was good people when it came right down to it. And any asshole who didn’t see that wasn’t welcome in his establishment, plain and simple.

  There’d been rumors floating around about Sean and Desiree before now, but given Finn’s history with Havenbrook and the busybodies working their mouths overtime, he hadn’t put a whole lot of stock in it. At least, not until he’d heard the story directly from the horse’s mouth. Well, the horse was now nose-deep in a shit-ton of vodka and well on her way to a nasty hangover come tomorrow.

  “Hey, man.” Nash took a seat a couple spots down from the sisters and lifted his chin in their direction. “What’s doin’ over there?”

  Finn lifted a brow as he poured Nash a glass of his usual. “You ain’t heard already?”

  “Heard what?”

  Finn rested his elbows on the bar top and leaned forward, dropping his voice to be sure it didn’t carry. “Sean’s been sleepin’ with his assistant. Rory walked in on it tonight. Was headed there to surprise him with a night out, I guess.”

  Nash glanced over at Rory, still dolled up in a pretty black dress, her hair loose and lips painted bright red, and let a string of curses loose under his breath.

  “My thoughts exactly,” Finn said. “I’m torn between tellin’ her to slow down so she doesn’t get a bitch of a hangover tomorrow and giving her the whole damn bottle.”

  Nash reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet, shuffling through his cash. “How much?”

  “For what?”

  “The bottle of whatever she’s drinkin’.” He tossed a couple twenties on the counter. “Gimme a shot glass too, would you?”

  Shit, was he going to have two drunk asses on his hands before the night was over? Though, if anyone was going to get drunk with Rory, there were worse people than Nash King to be by her side.

  Finn grabbed the bottle of Grey Goose he’d been pouring for Rory and passed it, along with a shot glass, to Nash. He slid off his stool and walked toward the sisters, Finn following behind the bar, eavesdropping as Willow chatted with her sister.

  “Shut up, Rory. I’m serious,” Willow said firmly. “I’m not gonna leave you alone at the bar drinking your night away just because I had plans.”

  “Not just any plans. Plans to have amazing sex with your hot boyfriend.”

  Finn choked out a laugh and tried to cover it with a cough. Well, shit. Maybe he’d given her too much to drink already.

  Willow didn’t even glance his way, too busy staring at her sister, her eyes nearly bugging out of her head. “Oh my word, you’ve had enough liquor for one night. Hell, I think you’ve had enough for the whole damn year.” She reached for the empty shot glass in front of Rory, but her older sister slapped her hand away.

  “Leave it! Listen to me now, I’m the oldest and I know best.” Rory sniffed, tilting her head up—and nearly falling off the stool in the process. “And what’s best is me getting shit-faced right here in this beautiful bar I helped design in secret. All ’cause I was too worried about what my lyin’, cheatin’ asshole of a husband would think about me doing somethin’ I loved. When that dickface was out doin’ someone else.”

  “Oh shit,” Finn said under his breath.

  “Rory. Honey. Why don’t we get you on home? You can stay with me and Mac tonight. I’ll have Momma get the kids, and you don’t have to worry—”

  “Oh Lord, the kids,” Rory moaned, looking close to tears.

  Willow shot him a panicked look, and Finn could only shrug in response because…yeah, no, he definitely didn’t have any idea how to handle that pile of shit.

  “Hey, ladies. I’m not interruptin’, am I?” Nash slid onto the stool on Rory’s other side, setting his glass right next to hers before pouring them each a shot. He lifted her glass and held it out to her, brows raised as he waited for her to take it.

  “What’s—” Willow started, but Finn placed his hand on her arm.

  “Just give it a minute,” he murmured.

  Rory shifted her gaze from Nash to the glass he held out and back again. Finally, she took it, and he clinked his glass with hers, then they both downed the shot.

  “You can go ahead with whatever you had planned, Will,” Nash said, pouring them both another. “Been a rough day, and I could use a few more of these.”

  Finn didn’t buy the lie—Nash never had rough days. The man was as easygoing as a golden retriever and never let much get to him.

  Fortunately, Rory was too far gone to notice anything. “Yeah, Will, you heard the man. Go make out with your boyfriend. Have the kind of amazing sex I’ve never experienced. Do it for both of us, all right? I’mma have a few drinks with this hot man who isn’t fucking his assistant.” She turned to Nash, eyes narrowed and lips pursed. “You’re not fucking your assistant, are you?”

  “Don’t have an assistant, princess, so that’d be a no.”

  “Perfect. No assistant-fuckers allowed in this part of the bar.” She gestured wildly around them, nearly knocking over the bottle of vodka. “This is an assistant-fucker free zone, people!”

  “Oh Lord,” Willow said. “Rory, let’s—”

  “C’mon now,” Finn said, tilting his head to the side. “Let her be, and come over here with me for a bit.”

  She looked like she wanted to argue, but she finally slipped off the stool and walked around the bar to meet him at the back. “Okay then, but you just remember I told you so when she’s hating herself tomorrow for how she’s acting right now. I’ve never in my life heard her drop an f-bomb, and she just dropped four of them in a minute! I’m so worried about her, Finn. I’ve never seen her like this.”

  Just then, Rory’s laughter rang through the bar, and Willow whipped her head in that direction. Nash was staring at Rory, his lips quirked up at the side as she cackled about something he’d said as if it were the funniest thing she’d ever heard.

  “See? She’ll be all right. You can take her home and coddle her a bit later. But let her be for just a little while.” He glanced around, checking to make sure Drew and Nola had everything out there under control. Nola stood by one of the high-top tables, chatting with a group of people, and Drew stood behind the bar, restocking.

  Perfect.

  He tugged Willow’s hand toward the office and walked backward, hoping like hell she�
��d follow him. “Come back here with me. I wanna show you somethin’.”

  She glanced over her shoulder at her sister once more, finally seeming to be reassured when Rory was still laughing. Turning back to face him, she smirked. “Is this somethin’ in your pants by any chance?”

  He gasped, bringing his hand to his chest as he opened the office door and guided her through, then shut it behind them. Leaning forward, he whispered, “There you go, bein’ a bad influence again. All I wanted to show you was this beer mug penholder Drew bought, and all you’re thinkin’ about is my cock. Such a dirty girl…”

  Willow tipped her head back in laughter, the sound soothing his soul like nothing else ever could. She slipped her arms around his waist, tucking her hands into the back pockets of his jeans. “I’ve missed you. Sorry I couldn’t get away tonight.” She shot a worried look toward the door again, so Finn did the only thing he could to distract her.

  He cupped her face and brought his lips to hers, starting the kiss slow and sweet. But things never stayed that way for long, not when they had the kind of chemistry they did. Soon enough, she had her legs wrapped around him and he was gripping her ass, grinding her down on his aching cock. Christ, he wanted her. Wanted her with every fiber of his being. But now wasn’t the time. She had too much on her mind, and he knew she wouldn’t be able to lose herself when her sister was in so much pain.

  So he calmed himself down. Loosened his grip on her ass until he was just kneading it gently, a companion to the slow glide of his tongue against hers.

  With three small, chaste kisses, he pulled back enough to look her in those eyes that he wanted to see every day for the rest of his life. “That’s all right, Willowtree. We’ve got all the time in the world.”

  Thank you for reading SECOND CHANCE CHARMER!