Page 66 of Somewhere You Belong

“I take it you’ve got something on your mind?”

“More like someone.” Penn’s smirk grows wider, and I roll my eyes. “Yeah, I know. And you have every right to give me shit, but I’m really not in the mood.”

“I’m never in the mood when you give me shit,” he retorts.

“Noted,” I grumble.

“So what did Willow do now?”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I lean my hip against the counter. The restaurant is empty since we haven’t opened yet on this Sundaymorning, but there are several employees around getting things ready for when I do open the doors. “She ran away from me last night.”

“Why?”

“Obviously, I don’t know, hence why I’m over here staring off into space, idiot.”

“No need for name calling,” he teases. “When was this?”

“After we went up on stage to receive Dad’s award.” A heaviness that won’t let up has been resting in my chest all day after the veterans’ dinner last night. Being surrounded by the people that my dad gave so much of his time to fills me with pride, but also remorse. I almost felt like everyone in that room had a stronger relationship with him than I did because I didn’t listen to his wishes when it came to the decisions I made for my life.

Despite how he felt about my service, I always admired how he steadfastly showed up for other veterans as much as he could.

My father volunteered at the Carrington Cove Center up until he physically couldn’t anymore. He spoke to men who were just getting out, or who were honorably discharged, like he was. He connected veterans with counseling services, doctors to prescribe medication and help with PTSD.

He took care of his fellow Marines.

But he always had a chip on his shoulder about me being one of them.

And then there’s Willow—stubborn, independent, and fucking gorgeous,Willow. God, this woman is making my brain malfunction.

Pretending to hate her was easier when I didn’t feel reciprocation in this attraction. But after trying to smooth things over, it’s only made ignoring this pull I feel toward her even more difficult.

When she showed up at the soccer game and I inconspicuously glanced in her direction, watching her cheer on the boys, it made mychest ache. Her smile was captivating and she was more relaxed than I’d ever seen her, except for the moments during the game that caused her to bite her nails, of course. But she looked like she belonged there, talking to Astrid, becoming a part of our community.

And when she thanked me for the scarecrow, I got the intense urge to kiss her, to press my lips against hers and figure out what sounds she would make when I swept my tongue into her mouth.

Then I dropped off the painting supplies a few days later, and fuck—that was the pivotal moment for me. Her hair was down, she was wearing that flimsy excuse for a robe, and the outline of her nipples through the silk tested every ounce of restraint I possessed in my body. With one flick of my fingers, I could have yanked the string loose that held the robe together and had her naked and exposed to me, completely vulnerable and mine for the taking.

Montages of me pulling those pebbled nipples into my mouth along with everything else I want to do to that woman have been playing in my brain for the past two weeks, and it’s taken all I have to keep my distance from her. Because I know I’ll give in at this point. It’s only a matter of time.

Willpower is a fickle thing when there’s a woman involved, and it turns out, Willow is my weakness.

And then when she came into the bar and let loose, playing darts with Harold, Baron, and Thompson—looking so settled, like she was relaxed and carefree and having fun for probably the first time in her life, a fact that was only confirmed through our conversation that night.

But it was all I could do not to stomp over to her, crush my mouth to hers in front of everyone, and then take her upstairs to fuck the animosity out of her.

So instead, I acted like an overprotective, possessive asshole, and put us back in our original roles.

But then at the dinner, something in me shifted. I admitted how tired I am of fighting her and before she ran away, I was going to ask her if she wouldn’t mind spending some timetogetherintentionally—like on a date.

I was a Marine and I know my willpower is strong. But this woman is in an entire league of her own when it comes to resisting temptation. And seeing her last night, dressed up in that skintight dress that accentuated her curves had me fighting to hold myself back from stealing her away and showing her exactly how crazy she’s making me.

Willow is headstrong and tenacious with a body that was made to be worshipped. I’ve never wanted to smack a woman’s ass more than I do hers, just to see my red handprint across her milky skin. And at the same time, I want to hold her, learn everything about her, and find out exactly what makes her tick.

I want to be the one to show her how much fun she’s missing from her life.

She’s the most complex puzzle I’ve ever come across, and I’m dying to figure out how her pieces fit together.

“Well, the night was emotionally heavy. Maybe it just took a toll on her,” Penn continues, pulling me back to our conversation.

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