Page 30 of Three Little Wishes

“I missed you too,” he murmured as his head lowered, and her heart skipped an excited beat, maybe two or three or four.

Her lips parted on a sigh, and it felt as if she were floating on air. She went up on her toes, meeting him halfway. His lips touched hers, and she was about to close her eyes and allow herself to bask in the moment. They’d been back together for a little more than forty-eight hours, yet it felt as if she’d been waiting forever for him to kiss her.

He brushed his lips softly over hers and then raised his head. “We can’t do this, Willow. I wish we could, but we can’t.”

“Trust me, we can,” she said, looping her arms around his neck.

He smoothed his hands up her arms, took her hands in his, and stepped back. “We can’t. Technically, I’m your boss.”

“Yes, but I want you to kiss me.”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s consensual.”

“I get the whole power imbalance thing, Noah. And if it was anyone other than you, I’d agree with you. But—” His ringing phone interrupted her.

She didn’t miss his murmured, “Saved by the ring.” Or the smile playing on his lips.

Lips that would be on hers if she had her way. “I hate your phone,” she said, at the same time noting that he was no longer smiling. His face was stone cold, and his jaw was clenched. “Who is it?”

“Billy,” he said as he brought the phone to his ear. Her worry must’ve shown on her face because he reassured her. “She’s staying with us this summer, Willow. No matter what he tries to pull.”

She nodded, unable to keep from smiling and smiling hugely. She was relieved Noah wouldn’t give in to Billy, but even better, he’d referred to them as anus.

As though he knew what she was thinking, he raised his eyebrows and shook his head before saying, “Billy” into the phone in his low, cold voice. Willow shivered, glad she wasn’t on the receiving end of that voice.

Then her phone rang, and she glanced at the screen. She wouldn’t be on the receiving end of Noah’s scary voice but she’d be on the receiving end of her sister’s. “Hey, Sage.”

“What have you done?”

“Why are you assuming I’ve done something?”

“Your voicemail. You used your chirpy voice.”

“I don’t have a chirpy voice.”

“You have three minutes to tell me what you’ve done, after which I will lecture you for seven minutes, and then I will hang up because I have a ton of work before court in the morning.”

“I’m invoking the Cousins Pact, so no lectures allowed. That’s the rule. You have to support me no matter what.”

Willow, her sister, and their cousin had made up the Cousins Pact when they were young. If any of them had upsettingnews to share with their mothers, aunts, or grandmother, they had each other’s backs no matter what. This was the first time anyone other than their cousin had invoked the pact.

“I’m your sister, and I always have your back.”

“You do, but this is bigger than you and me, babe. We need Lila in on this too.”

“It’s after midnight in England so you’ve got me,babe. Now spill.”

Willow spilled, her shoulders inching up around her ears every time her sister yelled either “What were you thinking?” or a swear word, of which there were several. And unlike Willow, her sister rarely swore. After Willow finished, she waited for Sage to say something. All she heard was heavy breathing.

A warm hand settled around the back of Willow’s neck, and she looked up. “You okay?” Noah asked.

“Who’s that?” her sister snapped.

“I told you. Noah’s here helping me pack up my place, and he’s hiding Cami at his beach house.”

“Leave it to you to rope your boss into helping you hide your aunt.”

“She’s your aunt too. And he’s not my boss.” Noah gave her a neck a light squeeze. She rolled her eyes at him. “Okay, so he’s sort of my boss. But he’s also my Summer Noah. I told you about him, remember?”

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