Page 119 of Somewhere You Belong

I wish I could have met him myself, heard from his own lips about my parents and who they were in their last moments.

Dallas and I say our goodbyes, Katherine wraps me in a long hug, and then we settle into the Mustang, headed back to my house.

“So, how do you feel?” Dallas asks me, reaching for my hand as he drives.

“Like my heart is about to burst out of my chest.”

He clears his throat. “I’m glad, because there’s something I want to talk to you about when we get home.”

Home.

“Okay…”

“It’s nothing bad. In fact, I think it could be really good, Willow.” He adjusts himself in the seat, bringing my hand to his lips, kissingthe back of it. “But I don’t want to have this conversation while I’m driving.”

“All right. There’s also something I want to talk to you about.”

He casts his gaze over to me quickly. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. It’s a good thing too.”

The rest of the drive we spend in silence, anxious to pull in behind the house and make our way inside.

As soon as I close the front door behind us and twist the lock, Dallas pulls me to the kitchen, lifting me up on the countertop so we’re more at eye level.

He stares at me, his eyes dancing appreciatively over my face and body, his hands following the path of his sight. My heart hammers wildly, waiting for him to speak, but I give him time because what I have to say may depend on what he says first.

Is this what love feels like? The fear of losing someone and the joy of your future with them flowing through you simultaneously? The crazy thoughts that you could be staring into the eyes of your entire future, but also that this person has the power to shatter your heart in a matter of seconds?

I hope we’re both on the same page.

“Willow…” He takes a deep breath and blows it out. “The night you came into my bar, I was taken aback by your presence. I couldn’t understand how someone like you would ever fit in here, and honestly, I hoped you’d leave as quickly as you came in.” I huff out a laugh as he plays with my bottom lip. “And when I found out you inherited this house and wouldn’t sell it to me, Ireallywanted you to leave.”

“Oh, I remember. I swore that day I would sell it to anyonebutyou just to spite you.”

“I wouldn’t put it past you, Goose.” He looks down at my lips and then right back to my eyes. “But then, every time we interacted, it wasclear that there was a reason I couldn’t get you out of my head, and the more you pushed me away, the harder I wanted to push back.” He tilts his head. “The night of the storm, I knew I was done fighting my attraction to you, and that night changed everything.”

“It did.”

“And now, the house is done.” He looks around, admiring the transformation. “You did good, Goose. I couldn’t have done better myself if it were my decision. But now, you have another decision to make, and I want you to know something before you do.”

I swallow hard, waiting for him to continue.

“I want you to stay, Willow.” His words cover me like a warm blanket, soothing my fears. I let out the breath I was holding as he brings both of my hands to his lips. “I want you to move your life down here so we can be together. I know it’s not ideal, and there’s a lot to figure out, but—”

“I want that too,” I blurt out, shocking him for only a second before his lips spread into a smile that might just be the end of me.

His eyes move back and forth so rapidly that it almost makes me dizzy, but then he finally breathes out, “Fuck. Really?”

I nod rapidly. I know I was going to wait to have this conversation with him, but I can’t wait. Katherine is going to speak to him about the tough stuff, but right now, his words are conveying everything that I’m feeling. “Yes. That’s what I wanted to tell you. I want to stay too. I don’t want to sell this house. This town, you…you’ve changed my life and I…”

I don’t get a chance to continue before he slants his mouth over mine, shutting me up with his kiss.

He swallows my moans, lashes his tongue against mine and owns me with this kiss, cocooning me in his arms as the very last shred of my defenses melts away.

He’s owned me for a while now, if I’m being honest, and that’s what I want moving forward—to feel this way with him forever.

“Fuck, Willow. I need you, baby. I don’t think I’ll ever stop needing you.”

---