Page 29 of Lone Wolf in Lights
“It was worth every second,” Eli said with a smile, Maia’s gate slow and easy beneath him. “I poured my heart and soul into building that house, every single nail, board and shingle.”
Curiosity sparked in Willow’s eyes as she tilted her head to the side. “Why didn’t you hire someone to build it for you?”
Eli’s smile grew wider. “I could have, but there’s something special about creating something with your own two hands. This house is more than just a structure, it’s a part of me and I’m a part of it.”
Willow studied the house before meeting Eli’s gaze again. “You must be quite skilled at carpentry to build a whole house by yourself.”
He nodded modestly. “I’m not too bad at it.”
“Not bad?” Willow laughed. “You must have a real passion for it. Why did you stop working as a carpenter?”
Eli hesitated, considering his answer carefully. “I realized that my work is mine and I didn’t want to profit off it, so now I only build for myself and others, without the pressure of a deadline.”
Willow watched him closely before saying, “You’re a good person, Eli. I hope people tell you that often.”
He didn’t want other people’s validation; he wanted hers. But he simply nodded his gratitude, keeping the thought to himself.
“When I came back from...”the rodeo,he almost said, but stopped himself, wanting the truth between them. He cleared his throat. “After Miranda passed away, and I moved back to town, Jaxon’s dad gave me a job and that piece of land. He told me to build myself a house. Didn’t ask for a dime for the land.”
Her gaze swept back to him. “That’s amazingly kind of him.”
“Very kind,” Eli agreed. “He didn’t say it then, but I think he knew I needed to keep busy. I needed to rebuild my life. And he gave me the space to do that.” His gaze scanned across the land surrounding his house. “He was an incredible man. The best man I ever knew.”
She smiled softly. “I wish I could have met him,” she said.
“I wish you could have too.” His thoughts drifted to his mother and Miranda. He wished they could have been here with him, experiencing this beauty. He could almost feel his mother’s arms around him, and hear Miranda’s endless chatter in his ear. He had no doubt they would have loved Willow, Charly and Aubrey. The image warmed his heart, and he couldn’t help but smile.
“Why are you smiling?” Willow asked, bringing him back to the present.
Eli blinked, realizing he had been lost in his thoughts. He couldn’t help but smile even wider. “It’s a good day.”
Willow looked up at the sky, where snowflakes were fluttering down around them. “It is a good day,” she agreed, a smile spreading across her face.
Later that evening, Willow’s cheeks glowed with a warmth that had little to do with the crackling fire as the laughter of her friends infused the room with a vibrancy that seeped into her bones. She’d peeled off all the thermal layers beneath her clothes, but sat on the floor next to the fireplace, still warming up from the ride. The space was quaint and cozy, with wooden beams on the ceiling, and the scent of burning wood mingled with a rustic sweetness, and for a moment, she allowed herself to revel in the comfort of Jaxon and Charly’s living room.
Her life had been a mess, with so many uncertainties looming over her. But today was different. Talking to Eli felt different too. They had been friends since she moved to town, brought together by Charly and Jaxon. Eli was always there for her as a source of comfort and support. However, he was opening up more than usual and she found herself genuinely liking what she saw.
“Best ride of the season,” Eli mused, his voice rough like gravel, yet it carried a lightness that was rare for him. He caught Willow’s eye, offering her a smile that was gentler than she’d seen before.
Yet she couldn’t tear her eyes off his sculpted lips. A mouth that knew exactly what it was doing. Whether his kiss was sweet and quick, or downright dirty, the passion was all the same—scorching hot.
“I agree,” Aubrey chimed in, nodding. “The horses seemed to enjoy the ride as much as we did.”
“Nothing beats a snow-covered trail,” Gunner said.
Aubrey didn’t even acknowledge him. Willow watched the two, noting how Gunner simply shook his head. He caught Willow’s gaze and flashed an easy smile, as if everything was fine. But there was underlying tension going on between them. Something that Willow couldn’t put her finger on.
“Speaking of beating...” Jaxon said, breaking into Willow’s thoughts “this chili would win first place at the Harvest Festival.” He cradled the bowl in his hands, inhaling deeply before taking another hearty spoonful.
The Harvest Festival was like the Christmas market, only more pumpkins, celebration of food and pies instead of Christmas cookies, local vendors and mulled wine.
Charly beamed from her spot next to Jaxon on the plush couch. “I’m glad you all like it. It’s my grandmother’s recipe. Don’t forget the fresh bread too, just out of the oven,” she added, pointing toward a basket lined with a red-checkered cloth brimming with steaming loaves.
“Like it?” Aubrey muttered. “Charly, I could marry this chili.”
As they devoured the meal, and laughter filled the space, the spice of the chili warmed Willow’s belly, its heat a pleasant contrast to the cool kiss of the outdoors still clinging to her skin. She savored each bite of the soft, warm bread, tearing it apart with fingers still thawing from the ride.
When the bowls were empty, Jaxon began gathering up the dishes as Charly suggested with a grin, “What if we take this warmth up a notch? How about a dip in the hot tub?”
