Page 4 of Yearning For Her

“What we have is special, Will. And we’re only going to keep building on it.” Releasing her wrist, he plucked up his champagne glass and raised it. “To us.”

Willow smiled and picked up her own glass, clinking it against his. “To us.”

She brought the glass to her lips and drank, nearly moaning as notes of cherry, orange, and peach swept across her tongue. The bubbles tickled, but the drink was smooth and velvety as it slid down her throat. She couldn’t stop herself from nearly draining the entire glass.

Eli laughed. “I take it you like it?”

Willow blushed, covering her mouth with her fingers as she set the champagne down. “Sorry. I’ve just never had anything so good.”

He picked up the bottle and refilled her glass. “Enjoy it. Drink as much as you want.”

“Eli, are you trying to get me drunk?”

“Of course not. But I do like it when you’re tipsy.” He leaned over the table, bringing his face closer as a devilish light sparked in his eyes. “You’re extra…loveable.”

“Ha. Extra horny you mean. Just be honest.”

He laughed, sat back in his chair, and raised his glass in salute. “You said it, not me.”

Grinning, Willow lifted her champagne in response. “To being horny then.”

She drank half the glass before she set it aside with the intention of not touching it again until their meals arrived. She knew all too well that the sweet stuff often snuck up on her, and she’d already had enough to make her feel warm.

A muffled buzz sounded from Eli’s pocket. He pulled out his phone, read something on the screen, and smiled.

Willow tilted her head. “Who’s that?”

Eli tucked the phone away, stretched his arms across the table, and took her hands in his. His eyes met hers.

Willow’s heart leapt.

This is it! Oh God, he’s going to propose!

“You know I care for you, right Will?”

“Of course I do.” She gave his hands a squeeze, trying to remain calm.

“I’ve been giving it a lot of thought lately, and, well… I think it’s time we took our relationship to the next level.”

Willow nodded enthusiastically. “Mmhmm. I agree.”

Just breathe, Willow. Breathe. Let him ask!

Eli tilted his chin down and smiled. “Willow, I think you should—”

“Yes!”

“—meet Marissa.”

Time stopped. Paradise crumbled around Willow, and in the swirling chaos that replaced it, she had no idea what was happening, couldn’t make sense of anything. The air fled her lungs, giving voice to a single word. “What?”

He slipped one of his hands free, raised it, and beckoned to someone beyond Willow. “I want you to meet Marissa. My other girlfriend.”

She was vaguely aware of movement as someone sat down on the vacant chair at their table. Slowly, Willow dragged her gaze to the newcomer.

The woman was beautiful, with olive skin, black hair, and hazel eyes. She wore a skin-tight silver dress that sparkled like diamonds under the restaurant’s lights.

Marissa’s red painted lips curled into a wide smile. “Hi, Willow. I’m so excited to finally meet you. Eli’s told me so much about you!”

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