Page 59 of Everything I Crave

I’m getting ready for work when I get a text message from Colton.

Colton:You finally back with your kidnapped date?

Me:What? Kidnapped? I didn’t frigin kidnap her!

I wonder if Willow told her family the same story she told my sister at the hospital. I roll my eyes at her feisty attitude.

Colton:I’m kidding, dude. The women were about to call the cops when they hadn’t heard from her for a few days, they even went and bothered Mack.

Me:Sorry, things went downhill pretty fast.

Colton:You better work on your game then. These Harper women require a lot of work.

Colton acts like it’s a hardship, but I know he wouldn’t trade his life with Lacey and Oliver for anything.

As proven by the fact I have a new bar from helping him win her over on their first official date. Being a step-dad suits him, and I know he’s looking forward to the court date in a few weeks when he gets to adopt Oliver and officially be his Dad. His excitement is only second to Oliver’s.

I finish getting ready for work, and find Willow waiting for me in the living room, watching some reality show on TV.

“Ready, darling?” I ask.

She jumps up and I follow her out the door to go downstairs. We have a busy night tonight with the band coming in. They always draw a big crowd,especially now that there’s a chance Willow might sing with them.

I swear there is nothing more beautiful than watching her on stage doing what she loves.

I kiss Willow, and head into my office to catch up on paperwork before the crowd gets busy.

Mack doesn’t miss the kiss, and I catch the sly smile on her face. Even though she’ll never admit it, she’s happy for us.

When I finally finish my paperwork, the band is here setting up. I walk out to the patio to say hi to them and check in.

“So, when are you going to relent and let her go so she can come tour with me?” Johnny asks.

I look at him confused, because I didn’t know that he asked Willow to tour around with him.

“She’s amazing, you know I’m not letting her go without a fight.” I laugh with him.

“I guess as long as you let her sing with me I’ll leave you be. This is our busiest spot now and I think it’s because people come to see her sing.” He winks and walks back to the stage to set up.

“Gunnar!” I turn around to see who is calling me, and find Willow at a table with all her sisters and the guys. I head over to talk to them.

“So you finally returned my sister, huh?” Addy says.

“Yea, I figure we should come back to work.” I wink at Willow.

“You know Mom is dying to get to you, right?” Scarlett asks.

“I know, I know. I owe her a visit.”

“Um, absolutely not, I am an independent woman. I don’t need my Mom’s approval to date someone!” Willow puts her hands on her hips.

Everyone laughs, because we all know she’s wrong. Lorelei gives permission, or she meddles. End of story.

Willow gets called up to sing with the band for their first song, and the girls go up to the small stage with her.

“You finally gave in and locked that down?” Porter asks me.

I sit at the table. “Yup. I had to.”

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