Page 13

WILLA

M y shoes are nearly silent as I walk across the lawn to the edge of the trees. I don't want to go into the forest for fear of getting lost, so I just walk along the edge, slowly breathing in the greenery.

I take a moment to watch a couple of sparrows that are squabbling at the birdfeeder. Is it weird that Hux and I haven't disagreed once? We have different opinions on lots of little things, but for the important stuff, our values seem to line right up.

My head is spinning as I walk slowly to the far end of the yard.

"The lady of the house?" First off, it is wildly old-fashioned for his mother to think that way.

Then again, my own father doesn't think that I’ll amount to anything unless I have a piece of paper that says I completed some arbitrary chunk of education.

My goal was to get through the summer, do a ton of reading, work in the café and make jewelry. And now Hux comes into my life out of the blue and shows me how I can increase my skills and make a real career from my jewelry-making, while also satisfying my parents.

It’s too good to be true. He's too good to be true. And yet, he's the most real, solid person I've ever met.

So why are you hesitating, girl ?

I glance back to where a lark has scared off the sparrows. It's a bit chilly on this shady side of the yard, so I change directions, slowing down even more as I amble along the edge of the trees.

Maybe I can't trust anything that happens so unbelievably fast. Not to mention easily – everything I’ve ever done for myself has been a fight. Admitting that I wasn’t cut out to be a doctor. Putting off university. Moving away.

For my very first relationship to be so easy breezy? It’s…odd.

Hux is so gorgeous, so charming, so sweet… It's like I've fallen under his spell. What woman wouldn't want to live in a gorgeous house right on the edge of a picturesque lake on a beautiful mountain? It's gotta be every craftsperson’s dream.

…And again, too good to be true.

The tips of my shoes are beginning to get damp, and I hug my arms around me as the evening breeze whips my hair around.

"Here we go." My chin snaps up to meet Huxley's deep brown eyes. "You're going to catch a chill, Angel." He helps me into my coat, then wraps an arm around me, leading me to the truck. "I've already got your purse in there and packed you up a snack and some dessert for later."

"I didn't mean that I wanted to leave," I explain quickly. "I just?—"

"I know, Willa. You need some space. I totally understand. Let me drive you home and you can decompress. Take a hot bath or read or something."

We've only driven a half mile when he reaches out to squeeze my hand. "I'm sorry if I overwhelmed you, Angel. It's okay. I'm a bit overwhelmed myself. I mean, what kind of relationship comes out of nowhere like this and turns out to be completely perfect?"

My shoulders drop an inch as I exhale. "So, you get it."

He squeezes my hand gently again before releasing it.

“I’d like to think so, baby. This is moving ridiculously fast, and I certainly don't want to scare you away.

There's no reason to rush anything. Like my grandpa always says, we can take our sweet fancy time.

" His eyebrow raises. "Okay, fancy was the f-word he used when grandma was around.”

My laugh is louder than usual. I don't even care. And by the time we get to my house, I feel like the tension has completely dissolved.

Hux walks me to the door, then glances over to see my aunt's car in the driveway. "I'm gonna chance it anyway, if that’s okay with you."

His hand presses against my lower back as he pulls me close, his lips searing mine with a hot, wild kiss that almost feels out of control. Like the heat between us cannot be contained.

The low growl in his throat, the way he grips me so tightly with his hungry mouth on mine… I forget where I am for a moment until I step back, my head reeling.

"So gorgeous," he murmurs. "You have a nice, chill evening, and I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay."

He kisses my forehead, then spins me around to face the door before lifting the back of my hair. As his lips brush that sensitive spot between my neck and my shoulders, a deep shudder rolls through me.

His lips move until they’re hovering beside my ear. "I love you, Willa. Have a good night."

By the time I snap my head around to stare at him in disbelief, he's climbing into his truck, flashing me a quick wink before driving away.

A man who knows how to give me space, solve all my problems, and on top of everything else say the words that I've been thinking myself for the past forty-eight hours…

Hux isn't just charming. I already can feel it in my bones: he’s the one.