Page 41 of Lone Wolf in Lights
“Need any help?” Willow asked.
He glanced over his shoulder, flashing her a grin. The kitchen was bathed in the soft morning light, casting a warm glow on Willow’s face.
“Just keep looking that cute, it’s all the help I need.” The sizzle of butter melting in the pan filled the room.
“Flatterer,” she teased.
“Always.” He winked, pouring the eggs into the pan, as they hissed hitting the hot surface.
In no time, he had the bread toasted and buttered and added fluffy scrambled eggs onto two plates. He set them down on the small kitchen table by the window, and she quickly headed his way.
“How are things shaping up for the Christmas market?” he asked, as they sat down.
“Good, actually.” She reached for her toast, taking a nibble, her tousled hair falling over her shoulder. “We’re in full Christmas mode at the bar. And the Christmas crafts are coming together. I think we’ll make a decent amount of money for the shelter.”
“That’s incredible.” He scooped up some eggs on his fork. “Gotta be proud of how far you’ve all come with the bar since you first moved to town.”
“That’s probably an understatement,” she said with a laugh, “considering no one wanted us here when we first moved here.”
“It’s not so much as not wanted you here,” he countered. “It’s that people around here aren’t used to change. Your cocktail lounge was change. Looks like everyone has come around now.”
“They have,” she agreed with a soft nod. “Everything is starting to feel like it’s coming together.” She ate some eggs and then asked, “I hope you’re coming to the market.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he assured her with a smile. “What’s your plan for today?”
“I better get to the bar at some point,” Willow said. “We’ve got a big party coming in today. What about you? Will Jaxon be upset you’re coming in late?”
Eli snorted. “Jaxon isn’t my keeper. I’m sure he’ll understand. After I drop you off at home, I’ll head to the ranch to get my rides in today. As long as training happens, that’s all Jaxon is worried about.”
Willow flashed her sweet smile. “Charly and Aubrey have been blowing up my phone with texts, even though they know exactly where I am because I texted them last night.” She chuckled. “They’re like my personal bodyguards. Always have been, but it’s even worse now.”
“They care about you deeply,” Eli interjected.
“And I feel the same way about them.” She paused for a moment, cocking her head. “You understand that, right? You, Jaxon and Gunner are really tight?”
“We are,” he confirmed, “but they wouldn’t murder anyone for me. Charly and Aubrey, on the other hand...”
She let out a bark of laughter. “They probably would, especially Aubrey.”
He’d seen that side of her himself. “She’s tough, huh?”
“She’s like a bull in the form of a woman,” Willow replied, her mouth twitching. “Charly is like a mother hen, but Aubrey is my own personal ninja, ready to take down anyone who hurts me.”
“I’ve come to realize that.” Eli chuckled.
Willow held his gaze for a long moment before she focused on her plate and the half-eaten food there. “She came to see you about me yesterday, didn’t she?”
“Yeah,” he said, not intending to ever withhold anything from her. “Just to set me straight and make sure I had my head on right.”
“That’s just how she is,” Willow replied softly, and didn’t look bothered by that fact. “She also went to talk to Niko in jail. I never asked what she said to him, but I can only imagine.”
“She’s a very good friend to you,” Eli pointed out.
Willow nodded in agreement.
Each bite, each sip of coffee, all brought more conversation that Eli couldn’t get enough of. He didn’t think he’d talked this much to anyone since his mother passed. He swore he could listen to Willow talk about nothing, and he’d still find her riveting.
When their plates were empty, he lingered over the last dregs of coffee, reluctant to have this morning end. He reached for Willow’s hand across the table, his fingers grazing hers.
