“Nah. Hit me with a cherry Coke too.”
I smile, enjoying taking my friend over to the dark side of yumminess with me.
“So let's talk about the uber famous hot guy that is hiding out.” She is trying to dig into my dating life. Turnabout is fair play.
“I don’t know.” She picks at the napkin on the table. “I think he was only looking to get lucky.” That sucks. I could tell Glory was into him when she was blowing up my phone with texts about him.
“You know when I left Syn City I was sure I was going to find me a sweet country boy.”
“Let me guess. With a side of alpha? How's that working out for you?”
I snort a laugh. To be honest, I don’t know what I am looking for in a man. The one Glory just showed me comes to mind. I squash that quickly.
“It’s the worst. I was thinking about getting on one of those dating apps. I want to fall in love.” I let out a sigh. It really is my dream. Maybe that’s why I’m not driven about other things like a career. I’ve always dreamt of getting married and having a family.
“You should do it. I’m gonna write about your experience.” Oh no. This could turn out bad. Glory has gotten us into a few sticky situations. Don’t get me wrong, we had fun along the way to those situations, but they haven’t always turned out in our favor.
“Only if you get on the app with me.” Glory cringes at the idea. I narrow my eyes on her.
“Fine.” She throws her hands up. I knew I’d get her to agree. Glory would do just about anything to get a good story.
“Let’s try this one,” I suggest. It seems popular. We start filling out the form. My favorite thing is long walks on the beach—that’s why I moved here—but that sounds so cliché.
I jerk my head up when a big man slides into the booth next to Glory. I’ve never seen him before. He’s handsome but he doesn’t compare to the boy I’d married all those years ago. No one ever does. But I can see why Glory would be head over heels for him.
“I thought this was broken?” He taps her phone. Glory’s head jerks up with a look of surprise on her face.
“Corby?” she squeaks, turning the phone face down. That doesn't look suspicious or anything. Glory is normally chill when she is doing something sneaky. She’s always the one everyone can count on to remain calm and pretty much get us out of anything. I think this man has her off her game. The man starts to go for her phone again, but Glory pushes it across the table to the other side out of his reach. I can’t help but smile.
“Um, who is this?” I ask curiously.
“Corby O’Neal,” he introduces himself.
“Corby O’Neal? Like the author?”
He nods. “What are you two up to?” His eyes bounce between us and the phone.
“Nothing,” says Glory quickly.
“We’re signing up for a dating app,” I say at the same time as her. She kicks me right in the shin under the table. “What’d you kick me for?”
Glory wrinkles her nose, staring at me. The look that says that I need to zip my mouth shut. I bite the inside of my cheek, trying not to laugh. There is clearly something going on between the two of them. It’s cute he’s getting jealous over her. That means he is into her.
“I think she doesn’t want me to know you two are signing up for a dating service, but I’m sure it’s just research for an article, right?”
“No, we’re tired of being single,” Glory informs him as she lifts her chin in defiance.
“But you said—” I stop talking when she kicks me again.
“Glory’s not single,” Corby says with pure confidence. Glory’s eyes go wide. She looks confused. That would make two of us.
“I thought you said—” I’m cut off again before I can dig for some details of what’s going on here.
“She’s mine.” He stretches his arm across the back of the booth. Glory freezes.
“Glory?” I wait for an explanation.
“I...we...I’m...” Glory stammers. I think these two need some time alone to sort this out. The man is hot and charming. He is also clearly into Glory. And she may be trying to fight it, but I know that girl like the back of my hand, and she wants him just as bad.
“I think I hear my mom is calling.” I scoot toward the end of the bench.
“No. We haven’t finished the application yet,” Glory says, but even to me the protest sounds weak. I shake my head.
“Call me if you need anything.” I give her a look letting her know she better call me and tell me what’s going on.
With that, I make my exit but not before stopping at the counter to get my desserts to go. I’m going to need them to fill out this dating application. Something in the back of my mind tells me not to do it. I shake off the thought. I want someone in my life. Seeing Glory and Corby together was adorable. He was staring at her like she hung the moon. It made me realize how badly I want that for myself.
Maybe I’ll find that one day. Once upon a time I already thought I had.
3
Lennon
I feel like a creep as I watch Willow stroll down the street. I rushed over here with no plan. She’s going to think I’m a stalker if I just pop up on her. Unless I can accidentally run into her. Willow stops at a flower shop, looking in the window for a moment before moving on down the street again. I swear it feels as though I’m dreaming. I can’t believe I finally found her.
Where is she going? The whole time she’s walking, she smiles, saying hi to anyone that passes her. Pure sweetness pours from her. She is even more beautiful than I remember. Her cheeks are full, making her dimple seem deeper. Her sandy blond hair is shiny. With each step she takes, her ponytail bounces along with her.
I had no idea a sundress paired with a pair of sneakers would be my thing. I reach down, adjusting my cock. It’s been hard since I laid eyes on her again. She’s all grown up. We both are. I wonder if she’ll even remember me. It’s been so long.
She stops to sit down on a bench and begins to play with her phone. Is she waiting for a ride? I have so many questions that I need answered, but I know I need to calm down. The information I got on her said she didn't drive. She also lives in the next town over.
One of my PIs got to her faster than I did. He tracked her to her home above the Sweet Shop. I’m pretty sure the girl she was with was the same Glory that works for the Cherry Falls Gazette. Her close friend. She’s the one that’s going to do a story on my upcoming benefit. I have yet to meet her in person, but Glory isn’t a common name, so I’m thinking it’s her.
It took everything I had not to go inside the diner. Instead I watched and waited. I was mesmerized by every little movement she made. It felt as though they talked for an eternity.
Finally, Willow had slipped out of the booth, leaving her friend with the man that had joined them. I'd almost broken down and gone into the diner when he showed up. The jealousy had hit me hard. But then the man put his arm around Glory, and I relaxed.
I told them to follow her when she exited the building and hopped into a car. Glory had driven them to the diner, and now my girl is on her own, wandering down the damn street.
I run my hand down my face because I’m being crazy. It's broad daylight out, and this is one of the safest places on earth. I get out of my car and head her way with no real plan. She looks up from her phone when I sit down on the other side of the bench. Her eyes go wide. Fuck me. Does she remember me? I look a hell of a lot different now. I bet I’m twice the size I used to be. I was always big, but when I hit seventeen, I grew significantly.
“You’re Lennon Carver, right?” She holds out her hand for me to take. How does she know my name? I can’t recall if I told her my last name all those years ago. “I’m Willow Crimson.” I take her hand. Her skin is the softest thing I’ve ever felt before. Something sparks between us. Our eyes are locked on each other. Memories of that day in the chapel rush back to me. Suddenly she pulls her hand away. Did she feel that too?
“You know who I
am?”
“Yes. My friend Glory told me about you. It’s really great what you’re doing.” She beams at me. Her smile feels like sunshine on my face. I don’t know how that’s possible, but it is. “If you need any extra hands I’d love to help.” Perfect. She’s handing me an opportunity to spend time with her. I couldn’t have asked for this to go more perfectly.
“I would love that.” She does an excited bounce on the bench, making her ponytail sway. My fingers itch to reach out and grab it. I bet it’s as soft as the rest of her. “Do you by chance need a ride home?”
She glances back towards the diner. “Yeah, but I’ll figure it out. I bailed on my best friend. She’s trying to avoid the man of her dreams, and I’m not going to help her do it.” A small giggle comes from her, going straight to my cock. She is so damn sweet and definitely innocent.
“I'll take you.” I stand, holding my hand out.
“No, it’s fine. I don’t want to make you go out of your way.”
“Please.”
“Are you sure it’s not a bother?”
Fuck no it’s not. “Promise.” She reaches up, taking my hand. I grab her to-go bag to carry it for her. I lead her across the street over toward my car. I open the door for her, but she hesitates to climb in.
“Is this a tank?” She finally hops up into the passenger seat.
“I live over in the Wild Ridge Mountains. My place is a little off the beaten path, so I need something that can get around if need be.”
I shut the door and run around to the other side. “It’s really nice.” She fiddles with some of the buttons. “What’s it called?”
“A G-Wagon.”
“I don’t know how to drive, but if I did, I think I’d like something like this.” She can consider it done. Everything I own is hers for the taking. I mean, she is my wife. Maybe not legally, but I’ll be resolving that little issue soon enough.
“I can teach you.”
She jerks her head over to look at me. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to. I’m retired and have a lot of extra time on my hands.”
“Okay. What the heck. I want to learn.”
“We’ll make it a date.” I wink at her as I pull away from the curb. She drops her eyes, her cheeks turning pink.
“I live above the Kissme Sweet Shop. I work there too. In fact I bet I can get some sweets to bring to your event if you’d like.”
“That’s a great idea. I was planning to use all local business to get the event together.” She does that same little bounce in her seat, smiling. Her dimple is on full display. “Will you tell me about you? Have you always lived here?”
I want to keep her talking. When I found out who she was, I read everything I could get my hands on about her. But her voice is soothing, and I want her to be the one to tell me about her life.
“Not much to tell. I only recently moved here. I used to live in Syn City with my parents. I had to break away. They can be helicopter parents sometimes. Not that I blame them. I was really sick when I was younger. Leukemia. The doctors still to this day don’t know how I survived. I’ve been in remission.” I reach over, taking her hand, needing to touch her. I could have lost her. My stomach tightens. Now that I’ve found her, I’ll never let her go again.
“You’re a survivor. I can see it in your eyes. You’re a fighter.”
She smiles at me. She’s more beautiful than I remember. Sexy and all woman. She filled in. Her eyes are full of life.
“I knew if I wanted to have a life I had to get out from under my mom and dad. If they could, they would keep me locked in the house and cover me in bubble wrap.” She lets out a laugh.
How is it possible that even her giggles are turning me on? I have to say that I can relate to her parents. I want to take her home with me and keep her there forever too. That way I could have her all to myself and not have to share her with anyone. All that sweet innocence of hers would belong to me.
All too soon we’re pulling up to her place. “You can park in the back.” She points. I follow her directions to the back of the bakery.
“I’ll need your number to get in contact with you.”
“Right.” I pull out my phone, punching it in as she says it. I hit call, and her phone rings.
“Now you have mine too. You can call me for anything. Even if it’s just for a ride.”
“You’re so sweet.”
I’m not sweet. I want to be that for her, but my mind is coming up with all kinds of fantasies that include her and would have her running from me. I don’t know where they are coming from, but they’re there, and she’s in the center of them all.
“Here.” She pulls out one of the boxes in her bag. “Something sweet.” My eyes drop to her mouth. I can think of something else that would be sweeter than any other treat. Something that I would love to eat. Fuck me. Get it together. I’m not some horny teenager. She brings out the side of me that’s been buried away. When she’s around, I have no control over my body.
“Thank you again.” She gives me one last smile as she slips from the car. I watch her let herself in and wait for the door to fall closed behind her. Letting her out of this car is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.
Patience, I remind myself. We’re playing the long game here. Soon she will be mine.
4
Willow
I smile down at my phone when Lennon sends me another text. It’s a food menu this time. It contains all finger foods. He’s going to have servers moving around the event, passing them out to everyone.
I told him I didn't think he should do a formal sit-down meal. Anyone is allowed to come. He’s hoping that will bring in the locals. I told him a sit-down meal might be a little stuffy for this crowd. People around these parts don’t really do a ton of fancy stuff.
Lennon: What do you think of these?
Me: You’re making me hungry!
Lennon has been texting me for the past few days. I was enjoying not only talking with him but getting to be a part of the charity work he’s doing. I’ve always wondered how I could give back. I survived, and I feel like it’s not only my duty to help but also to inform people.
I know I would not be here if it weren’t for donations. My family was able to get me the best treatment because of the kindness of others. The thought of being able to give that to someone else warms my heart. I may not have a ton of money, but that’s not the only thing people need.
It wasn’t only leukemia that was driving me, but all the other kids I’d gotten to know when I was in the hospital. Seeing parents struggle to make ends meet trying to do anything they could for their child. It could be heartbreaking.
Me: I’m still at work.
Lennon: I think you need to try all of them. That way you can make an informed decision. What time are you off?
Me: In a couple of hours.
Lennon: See you then.
I can't help the huge smile that’s on my face after reading his last message. He didn’t even give me a chance to turn him down. To be honest, I didn’t want one. I enjoy his company. There’s something about him that seems familiar and comfortable. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that he’s so damn handsome.
“Glory!” I jump up from my chair when I see my best friend come in the front door of the bakery. I’m on break at the moment. I hug my best friend so hard.
“I’m fine,” she reassures me. Glory’s new man had some stalker wreaking havoc all over Cherry Falls. Of course Glory was hot on their tracks. I also gave her a tip I overheard the local police say. I’m just thankful everything worked out and that they are safe.
“I’m keeping an eye on her,” Corby says, wrapping an arm around her. She melts into him.
“I want you to meet Chris.” Glory runs her fingers through the little boy's dark hair that is standing next to her.
“It’s nice to meet you.” He tucks into Glory’s side.
“How about you get us some treats so I can talk to Willow for a
moment.” Corby kisses the top of her head before he scoops Chris into his arms, making his way to the display case.
“You went from saying that you and Corby are not a thing to shacking up and adopting a kid together.” I laugh. You never know what you’re going to get with Glory, and I love that about her.
“That’s the plan. For now we are fostering, but Corby is throwing his weight around to speed up the process. Almost losing someone you love can put a lot of things into perspective.” Glory looks like she is glowing right now. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this happy.
“I’m so happy for you.” I give her another hug, thankful that everything worked out for them.
“Now it’s your turn.” She drops down into one of the chairs. I follow suit.
“What does that mean?” She's about to get me into something. I can see it in her eyes. I wait patiently for her to tell me what she has up her sleeve.
“Did you finish filling out the dating app?”
“I kind of forgot,” I admit. It totally slipped my mind. Lennon has distracted me and that app hasn’t seemed as important.
“I figured as much. So I went ahead and did it for you. Even scoped out a few men that I think will be compatible with you. You have two dates this week. You’re welcome.” She smiles big. My mouth falls open. “I thought you wanted to do this? To get yourself out there.”
“I do want to find someone.” Falling in love is the last thing I have on my bucket list that I’ve yet to do. But it is my most desired.
“Then go on the dates.” I lean back in my chair. “It will be good for you.” She’s right. I need to put myself out there. I feel like men are always sticking me into the cute or quirky girl next door category.
“Okay,” I reluctantly agree. My mind wanders to Lennon. I wouldn't mind going on a date with him. But the man is way out of my league. He’s freaking loaded and has a brilliant mind. I’ve enjoyed talking to him.
209 Wedding Lane Page 2
