A tall man appeared from the backroom carrying wood. He paused at seeing Emily and Willow hugging. Then, he dropped the wood and ran up to them, throwing his arms around them and lifting them from the floor. “Willow!”
“Jacob!” Happiness radiated through her. When he put them back on the floor, she stepped back and surveyed him. “You’ve gotten tall.”
Jacob beamed with pride.
“Where is everyone else?” Willow asked.
“I’ll get them,” Emily said and rushed to the door.
Willow glanced toward the door, ensuring Emily departed before looking at Jacob with seriousness. “Will you do something for me?”
“Anything,” he vowed.
Willow grinned. She remembered Jacob as a lanky boy, but he had filled out. “It’s a secret,” she whispered, watching the front door to make sure Christian was not entering. “Tell no one.”
Jacob nodded with a scowl of concern.
She reached into her armor and pulled out the book she had gotten from the priest at the chapel. “Ask Peter if he can make a red leather binding for this book. Will you do that?”
Jacob took the book and turned it over in his hands to inspect it. “Of course. I’ll be back.” He jogged out the front door.
Relieved, she fell into a chair with a sigh and closed her eyes. She bit her lip as guilt bubbled within her. She was going to tell Christian her plan. But not yet. When the fake book was complete, and she was ready. She knew she was putting it off. She didn’t want to hurt him. She regretted ever having made a deal with Simon, but she hoped her plan was enough for Simon to leave them alone.
The door opened.
Willow expected to see Christian.
Three men entered.
Recognizing Verm, an annoying little rat-like man who hated her family, Willow slouched farther in her seat, hoping he wouldn’t notice her. But she knew since she was in the center of the room, he was sure to see her. And he was the last thing she wanted to deal with.
He smiled at her and walked directly over to her table. His rodent-like eyes scanned the room before he sat down in the chair beside her.
Her skin crawled. “You weren’t invited to sit with me.”
Verm grinned. “Where are the other Hawke’s?”
“Sleeping,” she lied.
His beady black eyes locked on her as his two friends took positions near the door. “They are not here.”
She smiled, hoping she appeared confident. She examined the two men near the door. One with beefy arms rubbed his nose, while another with a double chin put his hands on his hips, leaning against the wall. “Why would you say that?”
“At least one of them would be with you.”
Willow’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
He leaned toward her, his nose twitching. His eyes moved over her, lingering on her breasts. “I know you are alone.”
She shook her head sadly. “You’re wrong, Verm. But if you want to push the matter—”
“I do. I want to push it into you.”
“You’re making me lose my appetite.”
“I’ve always found you…succulent.” He smiled as if pleased with himself.
She rolled her eyes. “That’s a big word for you,” she marveled. “But the more pressing question is, why are you at my table?”
