Page 47 of Honey Bee Library
With Jasper distracted, I glanced over at Willow once more. She was busy chewing on her thumbnail and watching her son. I hated that she never seemed to feel calm around me. This was my home. I wanted her to feel like it could be…her home.
“Come on,” I said as I reached out and brushed my fingers across her elbow. “I’ll show you the guest room.”
Her gaze snapped to me like my touch had startled her. My fingertips felt like they were burning from the heat of her skin, but from the way her eyes widened, I could tell that had definitely been the wrong move.
I flexed my hand in an effort to dispel the electricity that was still ricocheting up my arm and curled my fingers into my palm, commanding my hand to keep them there. Touching Willow had been a mistake, one that I was determined to not make again.
Thankfully, Willow didn’t fight me. Instead, she followed about a foot behind me as I led her through the house, past my room, to the guest room I had Maddie put together last year. Sure, no one had actually ever stayed there, but having a guest room felt like something you do when you own a house.
I pushed open the door and waited for Willow to step inside first. This was going to be her room and I wanted her to feel safe. She studied me for a moment, like she wasn’t sure what I wanted her to do, so I nodded for her to go ahead.
She held my gaze for a moment longer before she passed by me. I watched her as she glanced around the room. I hadn’t noticed until now, but Maddie had done an amazing job decorating. A king-size four-posted bed sat along the far wall. The comforter and pillows were a mixture of teals and creams—like the ocean.
There was a canopy at the top of the bed, where fabric hung down to give privacy to the occupants should they want it. A large picture of the ocean hung next to the bed, and there were floor-to-ceiling windows with a sliding door that led out to the balcony.
Willow brought her gaze to meet mine. Her lips were parted and her eyes wide like this had surpassed her wildest dreams. My chest swelled at the thought that she was impressed.
“This is beautiful,” she whispered as her gaze returned to the ocean view just outside.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Willow. “Very beautiful,” I murmured. Those two words weren’t meant for the room but for the gorgeous woman standing in front of me.
Her gaze slipped back to me as if the true meaning of my words wasn’t lost on her. Her cheeks flushed pink as her eyelids lowered ever so slightly. Was she…shy? Hadn’t a man ever complimented her before?
She had an ex. Surely he’d told her how beautiful she was. How incredibly sexy and irresistible she was. I took a step closer to her as the desire to touch her rushed through me.
The tension between us grew thicker with each step I took toward her. I wanted so many things in that moment, and from the way Willow stayed rooted to her spot, I was beginning to wonder if she wanted them too.
I was a mere foot from Willow. All I had to do was reach out and I could touch her. I could pull her toward me. I could feel the warmth of her body pressed to mine.
But I didn’t move. Stolen looks were one thing, but physical connection was another. The last thing I wanted to do was misread what was happening between us and act rashly. If she wasn’t feeling the electricity coursing through her body like I was feeling in mine, she would pull back. She’d book the next flight back to Harmony Island, and I would be left here, alone.
“Thanks,” I whispered.
She frowned, drawing my gaze once more to her lips. “For what?”
I cleared my throat and forced my gaze back up to meet hers. “For coming with me.” Seeing Gran was hard, but with Willow by my side, it felt manageable.
Her lips tipped up into a smile, and I was beginning to realize that I had committed their curvature to memory. Get a sketch artist, and I would be able to perfectly dictate their every detail.
“Of course. I was happy that I could be there.” She paused, and I waited to hear what she was debating about saying. I studied her as she slowly tipped her gaze back down, hiding part of her eyes underneath her long, black lashes.
Unable to take the silence between us, I dipped down so I could catch her gaze. “What?” I asked. I wanted her to know she could ask me anything.
“It’s just that…” She paused before she pressed her lips together into a tight line. “When you’re ready, I’d love to hear about your grandma.”
I could feel my jaw muscles flinch as her words settled in my mind. She wanted to know more about me. About Gran. And my soul ached to tell her. I wanted her to know everything about me. But I didn’t want to seem too eager, so I just nodded. “Sure.”
Silence fell around us once more. Did she mean right now?
Before either of us could speak, I heard a soft gurgling noise. I glanced down to see Willow wrap her arm around her stomach.
“Oh, my gosh,” she whispered.
“Are you hungry again?”
“What gave me away?” She giggled. “Apparently, that lunch didn’t last long. I’m famished.”
“Should we get some dinner?” All I wanted to do was take care of this woman. I was grateful for some way to serve her.
