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Something kicked her hard in the stomach.It looks like he can’t come help me out, then.
“How about I call you when I’m done? I’m heading out to a bar, and you could come for a drink instead of going home? We could share how our dates went. And you can tell me the truth about why you called.”
Willow winced.He can always tell when I’m not telling him the whole truth.“Sure, I’d like that. But if your plans change, and you end up staying out longer, or if she ends up coming over, thenpleaselet me know. Last thing I want to do is to walk in at an awkward moment!”That’s got to be one of the downsides of having a shared house with Asher.
Asher laughed, and the sound made Willow’s heart lift.
“I’m not that kind of guy.”
“I don’t know what sort of guy you’re like when you go out on dates,” she shot back, teasing him. “I don’t remember the last time you went out on one.”
“Neither do I, which is why I better start getting ready. I’m meeting her in an hour. I hope the rest of the evening goes okay, andpleasecall me if you need me.”
A soft smile pulled at the edges of her mouth. “I will.”
“Promise me, Willow.”
“I promise.” Ending the call, Willow sucked in a breath and straightened her shoulders. Taking another deep breath, she turned toward the door and pulled it open. It was time to get back to her dinner with Neil.
* * *
“Yeah.He’s another one of my friends.”
Willow picked up her wine glass. “Oh, that’s nice.” Taking the final sip, she sat down the empty glass and looked at it longingly.I think this is the tenth celebrity friend he’s talked about.Whether she believed him or not was another story, but Willow was really getting tired of Neil’s name dropping and accolades about himself.
“We hang out a lot. Actually, he and his wife come over all the time. I’d say we have dinner together at least once a week!” His loud, booming laugh echoed across the restaurant, and Willow’s face burned. “I guess they really like my company or my cooking, I can’t tell which is best.” Picking up his third vodka martini, he finished it in one gulp, setting it down on the table with a huge, contented sigh. “I don’t suppose you’ve ever met anyone famous? I know Windy Lake has its own film festival, but it’s not the same as actually having celebrity friends.”
Willow’s face was still burning with embarrassment from the loud laugh that he’d sent across the room, but now her frustration was beginning to build. “My brother-in-law is Owen Nichols.”
Satisfaction built in her chest when Neil looked back at her with wide eyes, his smile suddenly fading. “Owen Nichols?TheOwen Nichols?”
“Yes. He’s married to my sister, so you can imagine what sort of connectionsthatbrings.” Willow had always treated Owen like family, and while she realized he had a lot of celebrity friends, she’d never had any desire to meet any of them.Neil doesn’t need to know that, though.
“Whoa. Looks like I might have underestimated you.” His lopsided grin did nothing for Willow, except for turning her stomach. Her sense of triumph lasted about three seconds before it immediately began to disappear.I’ve really got to get home.
“Thanks so much for dinner.”
Neil reached across the table and grabbed her hand. “You can’t leave yet. There’s a second part to our date.”
“Oh, that’s kind of you, but I really need to get going.” Trying to force a smile and desperate to pull her hand free, Willow tried to push her chair back, but Neil’s hand only grasped hers tighter.
“We’re going to a bar,” he announced, as though she had no other choice but to go with him. “It’s in Windy Lake, so it’s close to your house.”
Willow shook her head. “I have to work tomorrow, so I’m going to decline.”
“It’s the weekend!”
“Photographers have to work on the weekend sometimes.” Finally, sliding her hand out of his sweaty one, Willow pushed her chair back. “Thank you very much for a lovely dinner.”
Neil shifted back in his chair, tipped his head, and grinned. “When I say you can’t go yet, that’s exactly what I mean.”
Something dark formed a knot in her stomach. “What do you mean?”
“I had your car taken there already. Don’t worry, the limo will take us both.”
Willow blinked in surprise, aware that the knot in her stomach was tightening slowly.He took my car? How did he know which car was mine?When she had given the keys to the valet, the last thing she’d expected was for her car to be driven somewhere else entirely.What am I going to do?
Biting her lip, Willow fought down a mixture of anger and fear. She didn’t want to be alone with this man in his limo.
