Page 35 of Willow Vale

“Thank—” I looked up, meeting his eyes and finding a gentle look in his gaze. A small smile tugging on his lips. When he noticed where my eyes had gone, his smile slowly dropped, and my heart stopped.Stop looking at him, Lila!“T-thank you.”

I quickly glanced away and, after a beat of silence, he said, “I wasn’t planning on going anywhere anyway. As soon as we sat down to watch the TV he was out like a light.”

“That’s usually how it goes. He runs around all day only to pass out as soon as his head touches the pillow. It’s been this way ever since he could walk. I should get him home, though.” I stood and gently scooped him up into my arms,cradling him to my chest. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders, snuggling up to me until his forehead was pressed into the crook of my neck. As if he knew I was the one holding him and felt safe. It was the greatest feeling in the world knowing that I was River’s safe place.

I turned to reach for the bag I’d set on the floor but blinked when I found Travis already standing with it in his hand.

“I can get that—” He turned away from me before I could reach for the strap.

“I was going to head home anyway. I’ll walk you out,” he said before I could say another word.

Together, we bid everyone good night, and Wren gave us a gentle hug to avoid waking River up before she whispered, “We should hang out soon, Lila. Catch up without any men interrupting our conversations.”

Travis rolled his eyes at his sister.

I smiled. “That sounds nice.”

“Don’t let her guilt you into hanging out, Lila. Wren is a handful,” Finn said as he walked past us in the hall. She flipped him off over her shoulder while still smiling at me.

I laughed softly as Travis and I walked out of the house side by side to our trucks. He held the door open for me while I buckled River into his seat.

When I turned to walk around to the driver’s side, Travis asked, “Did you enjoy dinner?”

“I did. It’s been a long time since someone’s given us a homecooked meal. It was also nice to see your siblings again.”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t get used to the tame version Finn and Wren showed you today. Mom told them to be on their best behavior, but I think that’ll change come next Sunday.”

I scoffed. “That was tame? I’m not sure I want to seewhat they’re like when they’re used to having us around. The three of you put on quite the show at the bar the other night. I don’t think you’re as innocent as you pretended to be tonight.”

He nudged my shoulder. “I’m a very serious business owner, Delilah. I don’t have time for games.”

“Says the guy who used to torment his siblings every chance he got.” I remembered all the pranks he used to pull on them growing up. He loved scaring the crap out of them when they least expected it.

He tucked his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I see they’ve already pulled you onto their side. I’ll have to find some way to get you back.”

Get me back.

I knew he wasn’t talking in the literal sense.

So why did my heart leap in my chest? Every quick beat seeming to sayyes, yes, yesto the thought of being “his” again.

Stupid heart.

Just like that, I became all too aware of the short distance between us as we stood in front of the Bronco. The sound of horses snorting from the stalls behind the main house and the windchimes softly clinking together on the main house’s front porch filled the lingering silence between us.

“About the bar…”

“What about it?” he asked, his voice low.

I ran a hand through my hair and finally asked what I’d been dying to know for so long. “Why did you buy it? If you wanted a business, you could have opened up your own. It didn’t have to be a bar, did it?” What I wanted to say was,“It didn’t have to bethatbar.”The one Irene always dragged me into whether she called me or not. Somehow, I always ended up following her wherever she went. Wanting to take care ofher despite her not doing the same for me. Like a puppy desperate for affection, no matter how small and fleeting.

I never heard Travis talk about The Pint. In fact, he hadn’t voiced any interest in it over the years we’d known each other. The only times I think he went to the bar was when I’d asked him to help me carry Irene to the truck.

“I didn’t put much thought into it.” Travis shrugged. “I just saw it was going be sold one day and I didn’t want some rich city folk coming in to change things like Mindy Kerrigan’s husband.”

I’d heard rumors that Mindy Kerrigan—Willow High’s popular girl—had never left town after high school. Her father was a successful lawyer, and her mother was a doctor, so the Kerrigans were known for having plenty of money around town.

“Mindy is still here?” I groaned.

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