Page 39 of The Boss's Possession

“Where’s Willow?” Carson asked.

“She’s with my wife at the shop.”

They had found a shop and he knew Miley was encouraging Willow’s vision to make the place exactly like her grandmother’s shop.

“Take me there,” he said. He left his office, with Peter following.

As he walked through the casino, he felt the gazes of men and women. There was a time he’d stop, mingle, and bask in their awkwardness around him, but today, all he wanted to do was to be with his woman.

His pregnant woman.

They hadn’t had time to truly enjoy the fact they were going to have a baby. He was going to be a daddy. The very thought of being a dad terrified him, not that he’d tell Willow the truth. He never had a fatherly role model.

Sitting in the back seat of his car, he knew the rumors would spread like wildfire. For a time people would be afraid to even look in her direction, but he didn’t care. This was the first time Willow was exposed and lost a memory, something she treasured, and his promise was broken. He’d never break it again.

“I promise to you, Lauren, if you can hear me, I will take care of Willow. I will love her with all my heart. I will treasure her. I will make sure not a moment goes by when she doesn’t feel loved or cherished. I walked into your shop that day, intent on being pissed off, and instead, I met an angel, my angel, and I knew I’d do anything in my power to make her happy, and I will make her happy.”

Carson didn’t say the words out loud, there was no need to. They were deep in his soul. A vow. A promise that he would make to Willow, his wife, the love of his life.

Arriving at the store, there was no opening sign, as there was a lot of work to do. The doors were locked and he had no choice but to knock on the window to gain their attention. Willow came running over, flinging open the door and smiling at him.

“Carson, you’re here.” She threw her arms around him and he smiled as he held her close.

Pressing his face against her body, the scent of coconuts surrounded him. He’d become highly addicted to coconuts in the last few years. They made his mouth water.

“I missed you. We had all the new shelving installed today, and it looks amazing. Well, it will be a huge help when our first fabric orders arrive, which I think will be tomorrow.” She stopped hugging him but took his hand, locking their fingers together, to pull him into the shop.

Miley went to her husband and followed suit.

“Look.”

The shop had been thoroughly cleaned as it had been closed for many years. The FOR SALE sign had been up so long, it had started to crumble. The main structure was secure, it just needed some love, and Willow had been more than happy to provide that.

The windows were no longer thick with dust, but almost sparkled. The floor was clean. No more dust, cobwebs, or stains that had been there from spillages. The scent of decay wasn’t there, but a strange mixture of pine and lemon filled the air.

She had donned dungarees and an old T-shirt to start cleaning. Willow looked adorable, especially as her round stomach seemed to protrude against the front of her dungarees. They didn’t know if they were having a son or daughter yet, not that he cared. He would love them both regardless.

“What do you think?”

Carson didn’t even realize she’d been talking to him, wanting his opinion.

“It looks fantastic,” he said.

She chuckled. “You’ve not heard a word I’ve said. I’ve been asking you for advice. Remember, you did help me in my own shop for a couple of days.”

He had. “I think you know what you’re doing, and you need to stop second-guessing yourself. Just think about what you want and what your grandmother wanted, and then you’ll have the answer.” He wrapped his arms around his wife, and then pressed his face against her neck. “Are you done for the day?”

“There’s not much else to do,” Miley said. “All we need to do is wait for the fabric to arrive.”

Willow looked at him and smiled. “So I’m all yours for the rest of the day.”

No, she was all his for the rest of their lives as he wasn’t going to let her go. She belonged to him now.

She was all his.

****

Three Weeks Later

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