Page 76 of Lone Wolf in Lights
Epilogue
Seated around the massive campfire in an Adirondack chair, Willow leaned back into Eli’s embrace, the warmth from his chest seeping into her back, mingling with the heat from the flames and the blanket over her lap. The Christmas Eve party had dwindled to its core, a close-knit group of cowboys and their partners. Her parents, drunk and happy, long gone back to Willow’s house.
“Can you believe it?” Charly’s voice, infused with joy, cut through the crackling of the wood. “A wedding at the ranch. It’s going to be magical.”
Jaxon, sitting with his arm entwined around Charly’s waist, nodded with a smile that seemed to light up his eyes even more. “I was thinking we could have the ceremony by the creek. It’s so beautiful there.”
Willow felt a surge of happiness for her friends, and she couldn’t help but tighten her grip on Eli’s hand.
“That sounds perfect,” Willow murmured with a soft smile, picturing the scene in her mind. The reflection of the trees on the surface of the creek would make a breathtaking backdrop as Charly and Jaxon exchanged vows.
“Maybe some lanterns hanging from the branches,” Charly mused aloud. “And flowers—wildflowers everywhere.” She hesitated, glancing to the fire for a moment before looking to Willow again. “Imagine dancing under the stars, everyone we love around us...”
“It’s going to be beautiful,” Willow said. “I’ll help with anything you need.”
“Thanks, Wills,” Charly replied with a soft smile.
Willow’s glass was nearly empty. She glanced over her shoulder at Eli, his gaze still fixed on the fire, the dance of flames reflected in his eyes. “My drink’s about run dry,” she murmured. “Want to come with me for a refill?”
“Lead the way,” he replied, helping her to her feet and then joining her.
They walked side by side, their footsteps soft against the snow, the night air crisp. The laughter and banter of the party faded behind them as they entered the house, heading toward the kitchen.
A sharp voice sliced through the quiet causing Willow to pause and exchange a glance with Eli.
“Come on, Aubrey, don’t act like you don’t remember.” Gunner’s voice rumbled from within the kitchen, laced with a frustration that seemed out of place on his usually calm demeanor. “Atlanta. That concert. It was one hell of a night.”
“Are you serious right now?” Aubrey’s retort carried a mix of irritation and disbelief. “Gunner, whatever you think happened...”
Willow’s breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding against her ribs. A one-night stand? With Aubrey? She shared a look with Eli, whose brows knitted together, a silent question hanging between them.
Gunner’s voice ratcheted up a notch. “I know what I saw, what we did. It was you.”
“Wasn’t me,” Aubrey shot back, her words slicing through the tension like a knife through butter. Willow could almost see the vehement shake of Aubrey’s head. “You’ve got it all wrong, Gunner. I didn’t even go to that concert.”
The slight hitch in Aubrey’s voice had Willow holding her breath.
“Then who the hell was I with?” Gunner’s frustration was palpable, each word loaded.
“God knows!” Aubrey’s retort was loud and firm. “But it wasn’t me!”
Gunner snorted. “That night, your laugh, the way you moved, your goddamn moans—it’s all stuck in my head, Aubrey.”
“Think whatever you want, but it’s not true, Gunner,” Aubrey spat. “You need to get over this.”
Willow’s gaze locked with Eli’s. Her fingers curled around his hand, as they moved toward the bathroom. “Did you have any idea about...that?” she asked.
Eli shook his head, his expression grim. “No, nothing. This is the first I’m hearing of it.”
Willow had heard the hitch in Aubrey’s voice—a telltale sign of a facade cracking under pressure. Years of laughter and heartache shared between them granted Willow an intimate familiarity with her friend’s nuances. “Someone’s not being honest,” she murmured more to herself than to Eli.
“I can’t see Gunner lying about that,” Eli said, his voice low and steady.
“Because he’s not,” Willow said. “I know Aubrey and she’s lying about being with him. Which is so out of character for her. Aubrey never lies. Ever.” Willow didn’t like where her thoughts took her. “Do you think Gunner hurt her?”
Eli shook his head firmly. “No. He’s a great guy. And he’s trying to get her to admit it. To me, it sounds like he wants more of what they had that night.”
Willow pondered. “And for some reason Aubrey doesn’t.”
