Page 34 of How Good It Was (Excess All Areas 3)

The need for his signature on the contract blurred.

“Luke,” she whispered.

He placed his lips to hers. Softly. Gently.

Not with the passion of their night together, but with an emotional onslaught that left her reeling. Willow closed her eyes and savoured the closeness of him, the way his presence made her feel.

The way he made her forget.

His hand slid around the back of her neck, holding her to him. “Once I sign this, I can’t do that again.”

“I know.”

Luke pulled away, reached for a pen, and signed all three contracts, before placing them in her hand. “I wouldn’t hurt you, with or without a signature on that paper.”

“Not on purpose.”

He shook his head. “Definitely not on purpose. I don’t suppose I should have kissed you like that, either. Your contract says this is a purely professional relationship.”

“It does.”

“Pity,” Luke said.

She wanted to ask what he meant. Did he see the potential for something more?

Wait.

Why was she torturing herself? She’d have the baby and fly home, without him. What good would adding extra heartbreak to the situation be? It would be hard enough to leave already.

“Can I show you what I was thinking?” she asked. “For the announcement?”

“Sure.”

“Let me grab my laptop.” Willow hurried to the bedroom, hoping he’d like what she’d done. It had taken her hours, knowing that every single image and word would be scrutinised. “Here,” she said, placing her laptop on the counter and opening the file. “This is the first video.”

She pressed play, aware of where Luke’s arm pressed up against hers as they looked at the screen. “It’s in two parts ... because that fuels the algorithm. If they watch your first video, they have to swipe to the side to reach your profile to see the second video.”

The first video was the one she’d shown him, but instead of having a reunion, it had ended with her knocking on Luke’s door and asking her followers to guess who was behind the door.

“When did you film the ending?” Luke asked.

“While you were in London. But I didn’t want to post it until ... well, that’s not a problem, now.”

“What’s the second?”

This one she was proud of. More so than the first. With a tap, the video started. She toned the colours so they all melded together. Flashes of Luke when he wasn’t looking, cameos when he was. Laughter in the paint store, him rolling the ceiling, video of herself cutting in. And a song about making a home with someone you loved.

It ended with the footage of her kissing his cheek and him kissing the top of her head.

“What do you think?”

“Honestly? I don’t know.” He pressed away from the counter and grabbed an onion, a tray of ground turkey, and some fresh basil from the fridge.

She’d thought it looked amazing. So much that she’d been confident he would love it. “What do you mean?”

Luke grabbed a knife and chopped the onion. “What do you want me to say? Was it well edited? Sure. Did the song match the meaning? Again, sure. You did a great job, Willow.”

“But? I feel there’s a but in there. I just don’t know what it is.”

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