Page 84 of Fall for You
Eric sat across from her in the small but ridiculously neat kitchen. He took a sip of his own coffee as he studied her. “Better?”
She nodded. “Much. Thank you.”
He tilted his head to the side with a sigh. “What did we say?”
She couldn’t help a giggle at his teacherly tone. “No morethanks.”
“And?” He arched his brows.
She laughed again. “No more apologies.”
He nodded, satisfied. “Now you’re getting it.” He sounded so serious, but his eyes glinted with amusement as he took another sip of coffee.
Willow drank hers, too, and the silence between them was oddly comfortable—especially considering the circumstances.
But Willow was feeling markedly less panicked now that she’d shot off texts to her family. Bailey answered quickly to let her know that they’d assumed she’d be sleeping it off, and that April could handle lunch.
Giselle and Brandon followed up with touchingly sweet remarks about how it was about time she’d let loose and that she should take the whole day off.
She wouldn’t. But it was really nice to hear. She’d gotten a little teary over it, which had seemed to amuse Eric.
Dallas was the only one who hadn’t responded yet, but she knew he was off snowboarding today, so there was every chance he didn’t even know she hadn’t come home.
She bit her lip as she toyed with her toast. Man, she hoped Dallas didn’t know. There was no way he wouldn’t grill her when she got back if he even suspected she’d gotten into trouble.
But she hadn’t gotten into trouble. She took a bite of the toast in an attempt to hide her smile. Thanks to Eric.
His lips curved up in a wry smile as he watched her. “I would love to know what’s going on in that head of yours.”
Willow grinned at the unexpected comment.
“You have the most expressive face, and your eyes…” He trailed off, seeming to think better of it.
She tipped her head. “What about my eyes?”
He leaned forward until he rested on his elbows on the table, his expression so serious that she knew whatever he said next would be in jest. “Has anyone ever told you that there’s a good chance you’re part wood sprite?”
She burst out laughing. “No. But…” She tapped a finger on her lips. “But my family does call me Tinkerbell. So…there’s that.”
“Hmph.” He nodded. “So we’re all agreed, then. You’re at least part pixie.”
She tipped her head back with a laugh, surprised by how comfortable she was in Eric’s home. She was in the enemy’s lair. And she felt so alive and…and happy.
Lord, help me.
Biting her lips together, she tried and failed to suppress her grin. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
Eric sat back with a smirk, and she suddenly wished she hadn’t said anything.
“Why?” He shot her a look, like maybe he was offended. “Is there some rule I don’t know about? Am I not allowed to be nice to you?”
She rolled her eyes. “Uh, yes. The unwritten rules that have been in place between our families for more than a century. You are cavorting with the enemy right now. It’s a dangerous game, Darth. Very dangerous.”
His lips twitched with amusement, and he didn’t say anything as he finished off his coffee, draining the mug before placing it back down on the table.
“I guess you have a point there, Luke.” He was quiet for a moment, like he might say more, but then he pushed the kitchen chair back and got to his feet. “Shall we?”
She stood, too, a little sad to be leaving. Which…was ridiculous, obviously. “I still don’t know how you’re going to get me out of here without anyone knowing.”
