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“He changed his name when he was in his early twenties, since his father wouldn’t accept his blue-collar life. He gave up everything to follow his heart. Have you even asked Will what he’d give up? Have you made a list of the things your are willing to let go of for once-in-a-lifetime love?”
“Argh! I hate that you’re so youngandso smart.”
“I’m putting this guy to bed, and I’ll be crashing soon. Go shoot pool with my man. See if he can give you some insight into the male mind.”
I walk the half mile down the hill to the firehall. There are a few vehicles in the lot and both trucks are in their bays. I glance up at the second floor and see at least six men moving around.
Including … I squint and tilt my head to get a better angle.
One that looks like … no, that’s impossible. Sophie would have told me.
Blood pounds in my ears. Colt is here. In Lily Valley. In my safe space. At the firehall. With my friends. Why? And why didn’t he tell me when I talked to him two days ago?
I push into the meeting room on the ground floor, storm to the stairs that lead to the pool room, take the steps two at a time, and throw open the door with fire burning in my core.
Music is playing, the larger-than-life television is on, and three guys are staring at the pool table, arguing. I might as well be invisible. My eyes are glued to the back of Colt’s head.
Aziz is the first to notice me. “Hey, Virginia! You made it.”
Colt turns. Our eyes meet. His mouth drops open.
In what is probably a nanosecond but feels like a long minute, we stare into each other’s eyes. My anger turns to elation and then to fury as I realize that the hair does not make the man.
“William Wallace Power, tell me why you’re here, pretending to be Colt, or both of you will pay a price far greater than you can afford. I’m not talking dollars—I’m talkingflesh.”
39. Will
TICKLING THE PINK
“Um, I, um, eh, ahh …”
I have never before in my life stuttered. Until this moment.
I imagine I sound like a deep-voiced toddler trying to answer why my face is covered in the cake I was told not to touch.
Virginia’s hands are on her hips. Her nostrils flare, eyes unblinking. And then she inhales so deeply, she looks like she’s trying to double in size. I prepare for the hurricane of expletives, but as she releases her breath, her expression softens, and she smiles.
“It’s really you.” I read her lips since I can’t hear her over the music.
I nod, and she crosses the floor in three long strides and literally jumps into my arms. I bury my face in her hair and whisper, “I’ve missed you more than you can imagine.”
She snuggles closer, holds me tighter. I feel her heartbeat against my chest. I push aside her wild curls and run my thumb over her lips. She opens her mouth, grabs my index finger with her teeth, and runs her tongue across the tip. My body lights up. As much as I want to respond, I am not one for public foreplay.
When I look up, I see seven pairs of eyes giving us their full attention. Before I willingly give Virginia my flesh, I’ve got some explaining to do.
Virginia drops to her feet and turns to face the firefighters and Aziz.
Nick is the first to speak. Or try to. He points at us. Tilts his head left. Then right. Opens his mouth. Closes it. Grimaces. Throws his hands up and finally says, “Each to his own, Bro. I’m not judging.”
“No, it’s not like that,” Virginia is quick to correct.
I squeeze her hand, then drop it. When she makes eye contact, I shake my head as subtly as possible and whisper, “Let me explain.”
She nods almost imperceptibly. But I notice.
“I’m not sure what you think you see, but as trained professionals who understand the importance of client confidentiality, I’m requesting you treat this, whatever it is youthinkyou just saw, whoever it is youthinkI am, the same way you’d treat a medical response to a well-known person.” I look around the room and make direct eye contact with each of the men I’ve been lying to about my identity.
“No crime has been committed, but reputations could be put at risk ifmy presence here was to be found out. Can I have your assurance that what youbelievejust happened was, perhaps, a drunken hallucination?”
