Waiting for Willa (Big Sky, #3)(61)

“No,” I reply, shaking my head. “I’ve wanted to for a long time, but I didn’t want to rush things. I just know that I need you. You’ve owned my heart for all of my adult life, Willa. I need you, and I guess, in that moment, I couldn’t hold it in anymore.”

She leans on her stool, offering her lips for a kiss. I oblige her, holding onto her neck as I take the kiss deeper, tasting pizza and Willa.

“I’m sorry it wasn’t more romantic,” I say when I pull away.

“Uh, the man I love proposed in a moment of passion because he couldn’t hold it back any longer. I think that’s damn romantic.”

“You deserve the pomp and circumstance,” I reply, echoing the words she used earlier. “The ring and the hoopla.”

“I do enjoy some hoopla,” she agrees with a grin. “And I won’t let you get off easy with a small wedding like Jenna’s, but that’ll all come in time. The important part is right here, in this kitchen.”

“You, me, and pizza?”

“Yep. And Alex, of course.”

“Do you think he’ll be okay with this?”

She takes a bite, chewing and thinking it over. “I really do. I know it’ll be an adjustment, but you’ve merged into our family so easily already. He goes to you as often as he does me for things like bedtime and help with homework. He loves you.”

“I love him, too.”

“I know,” she says. “If it were any other way, we wouldn’t be here.”

I nod, and then an idea takes up residence in my mind.

“Question.”

“Shoot,” she replies.

“Where are we going to live? We can’t keep two separate houses forever.”

“Good question.” She finishes her pizza but tosses the crust back in the box, and I rescue it, eating it in two bites. “It would make sense to live here. Your house is bigger and worth much more than mine.”

“But yours is important to you,” I point out. “You’ve lived there a long time, and you’ve made it a special place for you and Alex.”

She nods. “Thank you. I do love the house, and it’s the only home Alex has known. The property is beautiful, but so is living on the lake, so we can’t go wrong either way as far as that goes.”

“I have a suggestion.” I push the pizza box away, take Willa’s hand in mine, and lead her over to the couch, tugging her down onto my lap. “How would you feel about eventually selling both of our properties and building our dream home, on the lake, together?”

She blinks rapidly, processing the idea. “You would want to sell this house? I thought this was your dream home?”

“It’s a great house on the lake, and it’s a good investment, but my dream home is the one you and I build together.”

She swallows hard. “Would you mind if we lived in the farmhouse until the new one is finished? That way, Alex’s world won’t be kicked off its axis all at once.”

“Of course, I don’t mind.” I kiss her forehead. “Are you sure you’re okay with moving out of that house?”

“Yeah. That was a dream with another man. I stayed because it was convenient, and I liked it a lot, but it’s time to chase a new dream. Besides, Alex will enjoy planning his own room.”

“Own room?” I laugh and kiss her cheek. “Christ, he can have his own wing.”

“How big of a house are we talking?”

“Well, this house is about ten thousand square feet, so probably about that, or a little bigger.”

“That’s right, I’m marrying Mr. Moneybags.”

“I love you, Wills.”

“I love you, too.”

***

“The flowers will be delivered here and at the ceremony site tomorrow morning,” Brooke Henderson, the owner of Brooke’s Blooms, says Friday morning. She came to my house to meet with me about wedding plans for Jenna and has taken over as a last-minute planner for the whole affair. My sister may not want a showboat of a wedding, but it’s going to be a nice one just the same.

“That’s great,” I reply.

“I’ve also talked to the restaurant, and they’ll be here early in the afternoon to set up for a sit-down dinner for twelve.”

“Perfect. What about the cake?”

“Maisey is making it and will deliver it tomorrow, as well. I was thinking we could set it up over here.” She leads me over to the window that looks out to the lake. We spend the next twenty minutes going over plans, and when she leaves, I turn to Christian, who’s been silent the whole time.

“Are you okay with all of that?”

“It sounds amazing,” he replies. “Jenna will be thrilled, and that’s all that matters.”

“Listen.” I tuck my hands into my pockets. “I know that I was pretty hard on you in the beginning. But I want you to know that I like you. I respect you. And if you hurt my sister, my brother is the chief of police, I have more money than God himself, and I can make your death look like an accident.”

“Awesome.” He smiles and doesn’t back down a bit.

Fuck, I like him.

“Now that that’s settled,” I say and reach for my coat. “Let’s go ski a couple of runs before the sun goes down.”