Imagining Love on Willow Road (Island County Series Book 13)

by Karice Bolton

Walker cocked his head slightly. “It’s good to see you again, Harmony.”

  I pressed my lips together. “Good to see you too, Walker.”

  Walker glanced at his cousin and smiled before turning his gaze to mine. “Would you be interested in grabbing a drink with me later?”

  I opened my mouth and quickly shut it as I thought about the mattress man waiting for me in a couple of hours.

  “Maybe another time. I have a date.” I smiled, and so did Walker, but the chemistry was only revving up.

  It was as if everyone in the room had drifted away except for the two of us.

  “A date.” He nodded. “Wow. Well, he’s a lucky man.”

  “Or I’m the lucky woman.” My smile widened as I felt his eyes drift over me until I remembered I was wearing a cape and had foils in my hair.

  Walker’s gaze met mine. “I’ll be staying at Ashley’s, so if you ever want to take me up on a drink, the offer stands.”

  “Thanks.” I gave a quick nod. “I’ll remember that.”

  “It was good seeing you, Harmony.” He drew a breath as he glanced at his cousin.

  I wished I knew what was running through his mind.

  “Nice to see you too.” I adjusted in my chair, trying to cross my legs and look somewhat in control of the situation as I brushed my hands along the cape.

  Ashley clapped her hands. “Now that we’ve established more than once that you two both feel that it was great seeing each other again, why don’t you two enlighten Shannon and me as to what in the world is going on here?” She chuckled. “I mean, there’s enough electricity in here to power the state of Washington.”

  I blushed as Walker laughed and nodded.

  “Attraction was never the problem.” He grinned.

  I wondered what was.

  “Not to interrupt the love connection, but I need to start rinsing,” Shannon said.

  Relief filled every inch of me as Walker and Ashley stepped aside.

  I expected them to leave.

  They didn’t.

  “I can’t get up from the chair until you two” —I motioned with my hands— “vamoose.”

  Shannon began to explain. “Harmony spilled tea in her lap, and I hosed her off outside, so—”

  Walker’s brows shot up in surprise, and he laughed. “Now that I wish I’d seen.”

  I tilted my head and rolled my eyes. “You would.”

  “Come on, people,” Shannon warned. “I don’t want Harmony’s hair to fall out on my watch. Spin around or step outside.”

  Ashley and Walker quickly complied and turned around to face the windows while I hopped up from the chair and spun around to make sure my granny pants covered rear wasn’t exposed to the world.

  By the time I collapsed into the chair for Shannon to start rinsing, Ashley and Walker had wandered over.

  Walker leaned against the wall next to the row of sinks. “So, who’s this lucky man who gets to see you tonight?”

  For some stupid reason, butterflies fluttered around in my belly as Walker’s gaze connected with mine.

  Here I was with my head hanging backward in the sink and my eyes watering from the lights above, and the one man who could cripple me emotionally was asking about my love life.

  “He’s umm . . .” I looked at Shannon as my mind raced with what to say.

  “Her date is a world-renowned sleep expert,” Shannon informed Walker as she pulled the foils out of my hair. “People go to him from all around to get a better night’s sleep.”

  Walker smiled. “Wow. Fancy.”

  I giggled. “Yeah. Super fancy.”

  Walker smiled. “I never thought you’d be into the scientific types.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked as Shannon began rinsing my hair.

  This was usually a relaxing moment, but I had six eyes staring at me, and one set was Walker Malone’s.

  “You usually always went for the bad boys or—”

  I laughed, cutting him off. “Walker, that was a long time ago. People change.”

  He nodded as his blue eyes stayed on mine. “They do. We do.”

  “What about drinks after your dinner out tonight?”

  Ashley’s eyes widened.

  “You want me to hurry through dinner with a man I’m seeing tonight so that I can have drinks with you?”

  Walker nodded. “Yeah. That’s what I’m asking.”

  “How do you know I’m not having drinks after dinner with my date?”

  Shannon turned off the water and exchanged a look with Ashley as she wrapped my hair in a towel and sat me up.

  “I just know.”

  “Cocky, as always.” I shook my head as Shannon hovered over me, holding the towel turban firmly in place.

  “I’ve never been cocky.” His smile melted me. “Just confident.”

  Ashley rolled her eyes.

  “The answer is no.” I shook my head. “I wouldn’t do that to someone else.”

  “He wouldn’t have to know.” He slid his hand in his jeans pocket.

  Shannon gasped, but I didn’t take the bait.

  “I know.” I turned to look at her. “The nerve.”

  “No . . . we kept the bleach on too long. I’ve gotta fix this.”

  Shannon dashed off to grab toner and whatever else she had in the cupboard as Ashley grimaced.

  “It’s not that bad.” Ashley glanced at Walker. “Just more cheetah than zebra.”

  I groaned and slid back into the sink, wondering how much worse the day could get.

  Chapter Four

  By the time I’d gotten the message from Maddie about where to meet the mystery mattress man, I’d barely had enough time to go home and change.

  And I certainly hadn’t had enough time to shake off the Walker effect.

  Yet, here I sat at Mud Flats waiting for my surprise date, Clayton, while wondering what Walker was doing with his evening.

  I shouldn’t care.

  I knew deep in my heart that Walker Malone meant nothing but trouble for me.

  But I couldn’t stop thinking of him.

  When we first met, I was a confused teenager going to my violin lessons, taking my prep exams for the SATs, and doing everything under the sun to make my parents happy.

  What I didn’t realize until Walker was that there was no making my parents happy.

  Ever.

  Nothing had ever been good enough for them.

  And I tried . . . oh, how I tried.

  When they decided they wanted me to become a lawyer, I was only fourteen. I eagerly agreed and did everything they’d laid out for me so I looked like the perfect student that every Ivy League school in the country would clamor over.

  So, when Walker opened my eyes to experiences, I knew I could never go back to being my parents’ obedient puppet.

  “Is there anything I can get you besides water while you’re waiting?” the server asked, holding a pitcher. She was perky and in her twenties. I wondered if I looked that lively back then. I doubted it.

  I nodded and brought myself back to reality as I drew a breath. “A glass of red wine sounds good.”

  “Absolutely.” The server spun on her heels just as the hostess wound through the tables with a man behind her.

  Please let that not be Clayton.

  Please let that not be Clayton.

  His eyes connected with mine, and my heart fell to my toes with disappointment.

  It also made me wonder what Maddie thought of me. Between the man’s greasy blond hair and matching blond mustache and energy that was about as sizzling as a pool of cold water, I was confused.

  I wasn’t someone who ever judged a book by its cover, so I silently scolded myself as they approached.

  Truth be told, Clayton was cute, but he just wasn’t . . .

  For me.

  In any way, shape, or form.

  “Harmony?” Clayton asked as they approached the table.

  He pulled out his chair and sat down.

&nb
sp; “That’s me. I hope you’re Clayton.” I smiled and took a sip of wine the server just brought over. “Or my date tonight will be really upset.”

  His brown eyes dully stared at me and my failed attempt at a joke.

  “You have another date?” His blond brow rose as he looked around the restaurant.

  “Um . . . no.” I shook my head. “Just you. Bad joke.”

  The server took his drink order, and he also ordered a couple of appetizers.

  “I’ve always liked this place. They have the best fries.” He cracked his knuckles and stretched for the ceiling. “I’m sorry I was late tonight. I had a huge deal come through at the last minute.”

  I cocked my head slightly and wondered if someone had ordered a whole bunch of king-sized mattresses or something.

  “Biggest deal of my life to date,” he continued.

  “Wow.” I nodded, glancing at the ink-blue water outside and secretly wishing I could jump in and swim away. “That’s pretty great. We’ll have to celebrate.”

  The server brought back Clayton’s drink, which was turquoise, and he took such a big sip that the glass went half-empty.

  He sat back in the chair and stared at me. “Sold fourteen new mattresses to a boutique hotel that’s opening on the far end of the island.”

  Even though he said he was excited, he didn’t look thrilled. He didn’t look anything.

  Clayton smoothed his blond mustache with his fingers and licked his lips before he polished off his drink and waved the server over for another one.

  “That’s quite impressive.” I nodded, sucking in a breath and not letting it out.

  “Yeah. The hotel group wanted the base model, but I upsold them. Explained that guests would appreciate a more refined mattress.”

  When I realized I wasn’t going to pass out, I slowly let out the air I’d been holding in and grinned.

  “I didn’t even know Fireweed was getting another hotel. Interesting.”

  Clayton nodded and started toying with his yellow whiskers, which creeped me out. “A benefit of selling mattresses is what I learn about people’s sleep habits.”

  I took a sip of wine and debated about following Clayton’s lead and polishing the drink off, but that would only make tonight worse.

  “So, Maddie told me you like to cook?” He blew air out of his mouth. “I’m terrible at it, so that could be a good thing.”

  I cocked my head and decided to take that sip of wine after all. “How so?”

  “You could have dinner waiting for me when I get home.”

  I nearly spat out my wine with laughter.

  When I brought my gaze to his, I realized he was serious.

  “Actually, I’m a chef.” I bit my lip to feel pain and make sure I wasn’t just in a bad dream. “So, my nights are generally filled with making my customers’ meals.”

  His expression fell as if I’d just ruined the deal. “That’s too bad.”

  “Not really. I love my job. I love creating, making people happy, and—”

  “Cooking for a living sounds horrible.” He shrugged. “Well, at least you could cook me a good breakfast when I woke up.”

  I nodded, utterly grateful when the server brought over the appetizers so that I could order another glass of wine.

  “I tend to sleep in,” I informed him.

  I piled some nachos on my plate.

  He eyed me suspiciously. “Hopefully, on a good mattress.”

  “It works for me.”

  “You know, I could come over and try it out sometime. Make sure it’s up to par.”

  Ew. Just ew.

  “You know, I think I’m good.” I nodded and took a bite of the nachos that were out of this world. If nothing else, at least I’d eat well at Mud Flats tonight.

  “The offer will always stand.” He winked at me, but the gesture looked more like a fly had landed on his lashes.

  “Great.” I scooped some crab cake onto my plate when the server delivered my wine and took our orders.

  I wasn’t sure what was more awkward between Clayton and me, the conversation we were having or the silence in between.

  Since Clayton had no interest in me, maybe I could turn the evening around and learn about him.

  I smiled and watched him shove far too many nachos into his mouth.

  “How did you get into the mattress field?”

  “It runs in my blood,” he said between chews. “Deep in my blood. My father used to work in a mattress factory before memory foam became a big thing.”

  I nodded. “I see.”

  “It’s a gift passed down. I can look at a body type and immediately tell whether they should be sleeping on a soft mattress or a firm one.”

  “Ah.” I nodded. “That would take talent.”

  “I can tell that you should be sleeping on a firm mattress.”

  My brow arched. “And why’s that?”

  He smirked. “Just trust me.”

  I held in my sigh and wondered how minutes could stretch into days as I stared at the man in front of me. I knew I shouldn’t have come tonight.

  In fact, I’d give just about anything to be in my kitchen, slaving away over a hot grill right about now.

  I looked at one of the sailboats bobbing in the Puget Sound and wondered what would happen if I tried to swim to it.

  Would I make it?

  Did I care?

  It had to be less painful than this, even in fifty-degree water.

  “So, Harmony. Am I right?”

  I brought my attention back to his.

  “Right about what?”

  “Firm.” He licked his lips. “You need firm. For pushing.”

  I noticed a group of females sitting a couple of tables away from me gasp as they all turned their heads toward the front of Mud Flatts.

  Maybe Anthony Hill, Fireweed’s local rock star, was rolling in. He always managed a few gawkers wherever he went, which was why he didn’t go out that much.

  I glanced in the direction the women were looking when every single part of me froze. I didn’t have to see him to feel him.

  Walker Malone was in the building.

  I let out a slow whistle, which Clayton caught, and he let out a laugh so piercing I flinched.

  “You’re feeling it too? We could make that firm mattress of yours soft all night long.”

  I whipped my gaze back to Clayton’s. “What? What are you talking about?”

  “I saw you lick your lips as if you’re more than ready for me.”

  I cringed and shook my head precisely when Walker Malone strode into the room. He’d changed into jeans and a blazer, and everything about him hollered for me to pay attention.

  “I’m right, aren’t I?” Clayton prodded.

  My lips puckered in disgust, and Clayton grinned just as Walker’s gaze caught mine from across the room.

  Walker’s cool stare stayed on mine as my breath hitched with something I didn’t recognize.

  Something that stalled every single thought in my mind.

  Something that scared me but also pulled me in.

  I drew a breath.

  “I can see it,” Clayton continued. “You want me. You want me now.”

  I tore my gaze away from Walker’s and stared at my date.

  “Why don’t we forget dinner and test out your mattress?” Clayton wiggled his brows as I pushed down the nachos I’d loved earlier.

  I drew a breath and glanced in Walker’s direction, but his back was already facing me and he was sitting at the bar, talking to the beautiful bartender.

  Some things never changed.

  “You ready?” Clayton asked.

  I scowled and shook my head. “For what?”

  “To get out of here.” He started to stand, and a snort-laugh echoed into the dining room.

  “Not on your best day, buddy.”

  Clayton turned red and sat back down, and unfortunately, Walker turned around on his stool.

  The man was holding a drink and smi
ling as he watched me. I tried to pull my gaze away, but Walker knew he had me and raised his glass in my direction.

  I drew a deep breath and hid a smile as electricity shot through me. Every single part of me magnetized in Walker’s direction.

  Just like before.

  When he changed my life in every way possible.

  I ripped my gaze away from Walker’s as the server brought over our dinner.

  I usually loved food, but I didn’t care that a pile of Mud Flatt's famous fries were in front of me.

  Clayton cleared his throat. “I think I’m just going to take mine to go,” he told the server.

  “Are you serious?” I asked. “Because I wouldn’t sleep with you on the first date?”

  “Babe, I’ve got skills, and I don’t have to waste my time on someone who doesn’t want to utilize me.”

  Walker stood from the stool and polished off his drink.

  I let out a grateful sigh, thinking Walker was about to leave until he smiled and began making his way over.

  Clayton started to stand.

  “You’re not going anywhere,” I commanded.

  “So, you do want me?” Clayton’s eyes hooded, and he looked as if he’d just injected some serum, which only turned my stomach at the thought of what was running through his mind.

  “Harmony.” Walker’s voice boomed through the restaurant, and several females turned in his direction.

  I smiled and brought my gaze to his.

  “Is this the world-renowned sleep expert you told me all about this afternoon?” Walker was clearly amused.

  “I didn’t say anything about any of that.” I grinned and shifted in my chair. “Shannon answered your question.”

  Walker’s beautiful smile nearly melted me on the spot. “You just never corrected her.”

  “Precisely.” I brought my wine glass to my lips and watched Walker’s gaze drop to my mouth, which did all kinds of crazy things to me until . . .

  Clayton cleared his throat and started up again. “I am good at what I do.”

  Walker whipped his sharp gaze to Clayton’s. “And what is it, exactly, that you do?”

  “I am a mattress expert.”

  Walker’s brows shot up in surprise.

  I guess he was expecting something different.

  “Interesting.” Walker nodded. “And how do you become a mattress expert?”

  “Honestly, I just had to sell a whole bunch of mattresses. In my first month at Island Mattress, I crushed all previous sales records.”