Page 73 of Fall for You
“I knew you’d keep me safe.”
“You’re here. That’s all I need.”
The words had a weird, gooey sort of heat coursing through him, making his chest ache and his arms tighten around her.
He stared at her in stunned silence as her arms slipped around his neck. She was…hugging him.
So, this was new.
He’d have said it was nice…
But who was he kidding? Having Willow in his arms, pressed against him like there was no place she’d rather be…
Nicedidn’t cut it. He wasn’t sure there was a word in the English language to describe how much the moment was affecting him.
He took a deep breath.
There was just one problem.
“Willow.” His voice was a ragged croak.
She tipped her head back and it lolled, her glazed eyes so bright blue it made him think of the ocean. “Yes?”
He reached up and cupped the back of her head, holding it still. “Do you know who I am?”
Her eyes widened, and then she laughed—a high, sweet, melodic sound that he absorbed like a symphony.
“Of course I do.” She pulled back, and he felt the loss of her in his arms. “You are…” She lowered her voice. “Darth Vader.”
He chuckled. Okay, so she did know who she was talking to.
“Just now, with that guy…” She paused to giggle. “All that was missing was ‘The Imperial March.’”
Except, because she was tipsy, the wordImperialcame out slurred and all wrong.
He fought another laugh as he slipped an arm around her waist. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?” She didn’t fight him, so that was something.
He led her over to her friends, who were, terrifyingly enough, in even worse shape than she was.
Between Eric and the bartender, they managed to wrangle Willow, her friends, and their belongings outside. Helping them into their jackets and coats was a comedy of errors, but they eventually managed it and were soon walking out the door, the Uber already waiting for them.
“I live right there!” one of the girls shouted. But she pointed one way and then spun around.
“Uh-huh.” The bartender sounded like this was just another day for him. “Let’s see your driver’s license so I can give the nice man your address.”
Eric would have helped the bartender navigate the situation, except that when he turned around, he realized…
He’d lost Willow.
He spun around until he spotted her, wandering down Main Street…
Barefoot. Teetering along in nothing but that slip of a dress and a coat, which was slipping off her shoulder.
“What the…?” He turned to the bartender, who’d managed to get the ladies into the back seat and was giving the driver directions. “You got this?”
The bartender waved him off, and Eric took off after Willow. “Hey! Wait up!”
