Willow grimaced. “Yikes! All those injuries and pregnant to boot? Sounds like dating one of the Moore brothers isn’t always like winning the lottery.”
“Just wait until you see them together.” Juliet ducked her chin toward her shoulder. “You’ll rescind that statement.”
“I’m just saying, you got the house, the ring, and the happily ever after. She got the morning sickness and what? Six to eight weeks without the use of her arm?” Willow shook her head. “Poor thing.”
Her greatest fear was getting hurt. Even the smallest injury could derail her career.
“Like I said, just wait. You’ll see. Ellie got her happily ever after, just like me.”
Willow glanced at Lulu, whose tongue lolled out as if to say she agreed with Juliet’s assessment. “If you two say so.” She eyed her wine, trying to gauge her level of tipsiness. Could she handle another glass before dinner? “What about this Harry? What’s the dish on him?”
“Funny you should say that.” Juliet laughed. “He’s a chef and owns a restaurant, which means he’s pretty much married to his job. Like you.”
“Is this, like, the most perfect family in the whole world? That’s really creepy, Julz. Because it’s not actually possible.” Even the best-meaning people had skeletons in their closet.
“Oh, don’t worry…” Juliet widened her eyes. “We haven’t gotten to Lilah, yet.”
“Aha!” Willow went ahead and took another drink of wine. “Now we’re getting somewhere!”
“Lilah is very sure of everything she does. Very. Very. Sure.” The doorbell rang, cutting off the conversation. Juliet pursed her eyebrows and checked the time. “I don’t know who that could be. They’re not supposed to show up for at least another hour.”
A sense of expectation settled over Willow.
A feeling, an urge, a gentle tug at the back of her consciousness.
Something is about to happen, it whispered. Something big.
Shaking her head at the thought, she chalked it up to nerves and took another drink of wine.
Chapter Four
Willow
Tipsy or not, Willow wanted to wow the Moores. They were sure to have questions about her life as a professional ballerina, but experience had taught her that normal, non-ballet people didn’t understand the devotion and sacrifice her career demanded. Going into detail inevitably ended in glazed eyes and dismissive nods, so she tended to keep her replies simple, then toss the conversation back to them. All she had to do was field a few questions with her practiced answers and then ask a handful of her own.
Keep the focus on them and…boom.
She’d be both interesting and interested, ensuring she’d survive the night without anyone thinking she was more unusual than she was.
Footsteps and low conversation in the hallway broke through Willow’s thoughts. Goose bumps shivered down her spine and her belly executed a near perfect summersault. Pushing away her wineglass, she sat up straight and squared her shoulders, then leaned forward and placed her elbows on the table, cupping her chin in her hands.
“Allow me to introduce my soon to be brother-in-law, Harrison Moore.” Juliet swept into the kitchen, followed closely by a tall man wearing a white button-down and dark gray slacks, his sandy hair swept off his face.
The guy had the most amazing eyes Willow had ever seen.
Like, old soul eyes.
Intelligent, quick, and illuminated by a breathtaking smile and chiseled cheekbones—and, oddly enough, staring into them made her feel like she’d stumbled on an old friend.
Willow knew she should say something.
Maybe offer her hand and give the obligatory nice to meet you.
But she couldn’t.
She was utterly, completely, one hundred percent frozen in place.
The air in the room suddenly seemed thick, leaving her unable to catch a decent breath.
Her heart clattered in her chest.
Not only was he gorgeous, but Harrison…? His name was Harrison…? Like Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom…? The one where he fell madly in love with a woman whose nickname was Willie…? Just like hers…?
Even Juliet would have to concede that was a sign!
“Hey, Willow.” Harry nodded his greeting, his gray eyes dancing across her face. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Juliet sidled up and nudged her with her elbow, which was best friend code for get your shit together. “Harry decided to show up early and offer us his expertise in the kitchen.”
Finally gaining control over herself, Willow hopped off her stool. With a broad smile, she extended a hand. “It’s very nice to meet you and thank you for coming to our rescue…”
When Harry took her hand, his rough skin pressing against hers, his touch gentle yet firm, warm yet possessive, Willow lost all ability to think, let alone be charming.
She disappeared into his eyes, her lips slightly parted, and it was as if the rest of the world dimmed around them.
As if they were onstage, standing in a spotlight.
As if it was just the two of them alone in the kitchen, their soul-defining, lust-inducing connection sizzling through the air.
“It’s not a big deal at all.” His eyes locked onto hers and Willow couldn’t breathe until he released her hand and gave his attention back to Juliet. “Looks like you guys have it mostly under control here. I’d still like to help if I can, though. Just point me in a direction and I’m your guy.”
Juliet said something in return, and Harry laughed at whatever it was. If Willow’s life depended on it, she wouldn’t have been able to repeat what was said. She couldn’t hear over the rush of blood in her veins and the death throes of her melting heart.
Never in all her life had she been so completely taken off guard by someone. Sure, she wasn’t always the most articulate in social settings. And yeah, she often needed to prep herself to meet new people. But she always had the
