Page 31 of Courageous Demands

“Me too.”

If this was truly the second chance he was getting, Alec was going to give this time his all. Yeah, he might grumble, mouth off, or flap his lips with the guys, but here… with her?

He was a thousand percent invested in whatever was starting to take shape from the ground up.

“I’ve got an idea,” he breathed softly, smiling. “Since I’m such a crappy boyfriend, how about we make things a little easier on me – you know, less chance to screw things up?” And felt her soft little laugh against his chest before he continued speaking. “Maybe we do something different, outside the norm, but with an added benefit?”

Willow tensed slightly in his arms – eerily silent and waiting.

“How about instead of me showing up with a bunch of wilting stuff that leaves pollen everywhere… maybe we can work together to build our own flower bed, so I could snag a fresh cutting to surprise you? It could give us something to do together.”

She pulled back from him, looking him in the face. Her lovely eyes searched his and he felt his whole heart swell at the joy shimmering in her gaze. Yeah, he was going to fix this between them, somehow. Nervously, he reached up and touched her cheek, marveling at the way her eyes closed slowly before looking at him again.

“Let’s figure out what round two looks like – together,” he breathed, not looking away from her. “I’m not perfect, but I’m here… and willing to try.”

“I never wanted perfect,” she began, her lip trembling.

“Shall we skip the coffee and go look at the garden center? Mom swears by them and always buys her bulbs there.”

“You’re serious…”

“Very,” he nodded and gave her a sheepish smile. “I’m very serious – and very scared, but I’m here for whatever this is. However, I do have a favor to ask that is going to sound really weird.”

“What’s that?”

“Can we keep this to ourselves for a bit?” and Alec winced, imagining how badly that could sound to someone. “I mean, no offense, but you weren’t here for the aftermath after things went south. I got questioned about what happened for almost a year last time, and there is nothing more that this town loves than gossip – both good and bad.”

“Can I modify that slightly?” Willow began, looking a little nervous herself. “With the election coming and us trying to smooth things over, I might need a date… publicly if there is an event.”

“Are you seriously asking permission to use me to ‘grease’ the public’s perception of you in the near future?” Alec laughed throatily, completely amused. “Have you met me? Are you sure you want to be associated with someone like me? I’m sarcastic, crass, and don’t believe in sugar-coating things…”

“You are charming, outgoing, honest-to-a-fault,” she began and met his smile. “And I would be thrilled to be on your arm at an event – even if it’s as only friends.”

“No more charity auctions where I’m the prize?”

“Oh, you’re a prize, all right,” she chuckled before sliding into his arms for another hug. “But perhaps we’ll stick with chili cook-offs and other things.”

“True, true,” he smiled, holding her close and resting his cheek on her head once more. “Let’s take things slow, but I’m serious about the flower garden. I mean, I could use all the help I could get… and on that note? Maybe you should go to the garden center with Mom, so she knows what I should plant and the rumor mill doesn’t start churning.”

“Uh, I don’t know that…” Willow began, withdrawing and pulling back slightly. “I don’t think your mother will want to be in the same room as me.”

“It will be fine – I promise. Now, let’s have a little coffee and tiramisu instead. Caffeine and sugar tonight, digging up your yard tomorrow.”

“Well, for someone who wants to take things slow, you sure are making yourself at home.”

“Inviting myself right on in,” he smiled.

9

* * *

WILLOW

“The court is siding with the plaintiff for the amount requested. Bailiff, if you’ll escort them out,” Willow barked out bluntly before slamming her gavel down once and rising from her seat… and hesitated as a voice loudly called her a foul name in front of everyone. Some people just never learned, she thought in frustration.

Willow turned and angled her head toward the bailiff.

“I’m also charging you with contempt of court, young man. You may not like my decision, but I was not the one who decided to spray paint Mrs. Wexman’s garage door. Now, you can add a five hundred dollar fine to your total, as well.”

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