Neither of us move away as we look at each other. It almost feels like there’s something holding us together. As if there’s magnets pulling each of us to the other. I can’t explain it, but I can see it clear as day in her eyes. If I were to lean down and press my lips to hers, she’d let me do it.
What would she taste like? Something warm and tropical like her scent? Or would she just taste like home?
What the fuck am I even thinking?Taste like home. That’s the most ridiculous thought I’ve ever had. I begin to lean forward as she mirrors my movement.
Right as our lips are a breath apart, the sound of a metal dish sliding across the tile floor jolts through us. She jumps back, laughing nervously as she looks over at Maya. The dog food bowl is empty as her large brown eyes travel back and forth between Willa and myself.
“You better feed her,” I finally say. “Seems like she’s getting impatient.”
“Yep.” She quickly turns to open a cabinet. “See you around.”
CHAPTER 6
WILLA
Right as Ipull up to the house after a long day of work, Drew’s front door opens. I haven’t seen him since we had lunch and our almost-kiss the other day. But I do smell him nearly every day when I walk through the front door, so I know he’s working.
It appears as though the streak of not seeing him will continue when Izzy bounds down the stairs, a bright pink hairbrush in her hand. She rounds the Jeep just as I let Maya out.
“Hi.” She gives Maya a stroke on the head before the dog wanders off to do her business. “I asked Daddy to braid my hair like you do yours, but he can’t get it. Can you do it?”
“Right now?”
“You don’t have to do it for her right now.” Drew walks around the side of the car and bends down to get on Izzy’s level. “We don’t have a ton of time before I have to get you to the sitter’s house.”
My stomach drops. Does that mean he has a date?
“How long will it take?” she asks me.
“To do this?” I point at my dutch braids.
“Yeah.”
“Not that long.”
“Please.” She turns pleading eyes on him.
He crumbles beneath the weight of her gaze. “Okay.”
“Oof, you folded like a paper airplane,” I say under my breath as Izzy takes me by the hand and tugs me upstairs. “She’s got you wrapped around her little finger.”
“From day one,” he says in agreement.
“Daddy’s getting sold off tonight,” Izzy says as she clomps up the stairs.
“Isabel.” His voice holds so much exasperation. “It’s not like that.”
“That’s tonight?” I look over my shoulder at him.
“Yeah. The actual auction doesn’t start until nine, but there's a cocktail hour beforehand, and Izzy’s going to a new sitter since the woman who usually watches her is in charge of the auction.” His eyes are pinched in the corners as I let Izzy drag me into the house.
“I’ll take you to my room,” Izzy says, still locked onto my hand.
I make eye contact with Drew just as he opens the door for Maya to come into their house. I don’t know why, but it makes my heart squeeze to see him welcome my dog into his house just like that. It’s sweet, but I have other friends who would do the same. Why does it feel different when it’s him?
Izzy leads me to her room, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. I can’t imagine a better room for a little girl than this one. The walls are covered in a lavender wallpaper with a delicate floral print. She has a white sleigh bed with a cream-colored gauzycanopy draped over either side at the head. There’s an entire play kitchen setup with a tea party at the child-size table.
She sits down at a small vanity, and I pull over one of the chairs from the table.
