I tried screaming that to my body. To let it know to stop with this utter ridiculousness and return to normal. It’s not Will! It’s William Kent, Hollywood’s favorite bad boy producer and the dude who just got cheated on by his fiancée.
Just when my heart started to return to its normal rhythm, his extremely kissable lips turned up in a smile and my cheeks started to burn. I almost melted into a puddle of goo at nothing more than the sight of it because holy hell, that smile? That was all Will, and it was the exact smile I’d fallen in love with.
Chapter 9
WILLIAM
Hot damn. Anna Holland looked just as beautiful as ever. The last time I’d seen her, shortly before Christmas six years ago, I remembered thinking the same thing.
Time had definitely been kind to her. If anything, she was more beautiful now, more than half a decade older, than ever before.
Her golden hair fell in shiny curls to her shoulders, framing her beautiful, soft features like the strands were caressing her cheeks. My fingers tingled with the memory of holding that face in my hands and bringing my mouth to her heart-shaped lips. They formed a perfect bow, and kissing them had been like a drug to me once.
I’d been absolutely addicted to tasting her sweet mouth, to running my tongue over hers and eliciting low, sexy moans that she let out with abandon. It’d been like she just couldn’t hold them back, and just the faint memory of them made me drop my gaze to her lips.
Briefly. Not long enough to make it weird.
As I looked at them, her pink tongue darted out but it wasn’t in a move meant to be seductive. It was one of her nervous tells, and for some reason, I liked that I still made her nervous.
There’s something very broken in me right now to be thinking like that. But knowing that it was fucked up didn’t make it untrue. I liked knowing I still affected her, and when her hazel eyes met mine and I saw the instant flash of that old fire lighting up in them, I could’ve fucking preened.
You are not a peacock. Get yourself together, dude.
Despite my instructions to myself, I couldn’t help smiling at her. Jesus. She was the girl I’d spent more than half my life thinking I was going to marry. Seeing her here in the dining room of my family home wearing one of her usual pastel-colored dresses, I felt like I’d fallen into a time machine and traveled back a little over a decade.
Anna had slammed to a stop for a beat when I’d first turned around, but she quickly recovered from the shock of seeing me and approached us. I saw my sister’s grimace in my periphery, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Anna.
Some part of my brain still plastered the word MINE on her forehead like a flashing neon light. Snap the fuck out of it.
My gaze drifted down to the second finger on her left hand. I’d done the same thing the last time I’d seen her, and for some fucked up reason—again— I was relieved to find it empty. It looked like the asshole she’d left me for had never managed to close the deal.
The heartbroken nineteen-year-old inside me banged his chest in victory, but I shut him up and got to my feet to greet her. Before I could get a word in edgewise, her eyes landed on my sister’s.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just thought I’d bring you some treats from Charlie. I’m going to go now. Please excuse me.”
Snagging the box from her, I popped the lid open and stole a cookie before passing it to Jessie. My sister arched a brow at me but didn’t say anything as my fingers closed around the back of the chair next to mine and pulled it out for Anna.
“Don’t you dare go anywhere,” I said. “It’s great to see you, Anna. Please join us.”
She licked her lips again, taking a slow, deep breath before turning her head to face me and giving me a smile I could tell was forced as all hell. “Hi, William. Good to see you too. Thank you for the invitation but I really should get going.”
“Nonsense.” I inclined my head at the chair before pulling it out farther. “I haven’t seen you for so long I’d almost forgotten what you look like. Sit down. Grab a bite to eat with us.”
Total bullshit. The details might’ve gone fuzzy over time, but I’d never be able to forget what she looked like. She’d been a part of me for too long.
Her gaze swung back to my sister’s, but at least Jessie managed a proper smile this time. The grimace was long gone as she waved her into a seat. “Join us, Anna. It’ll be just like old times.”
If it’s going to be just like old times, does that mean I can run my fingers along Anna’s thigh under the table? The thought popped into my head unbidden, but it seemed my dick liked the idea a lot more than my brain. What is wrong with me?
Anna glanced between us once more before nodding and flashing me a small smile to say thank you as she sat down. One of Jessie’s servers appeared at our table before things could get awkward, and my stomach turned when he looked at Anna like he wanted to lick her.
It’s just old instincts flaring back up. That’s it. It doesn’t mean anything.
Even so, I grabbed his attention by clearing my throat. He did a double-take when he recognized me, clearly knowing who I was but not expecting me to be there.
I smirked and saw Jessie rolling her eyes at me from across the table. “Ignore him, Seth. He’s just my brother when he’s here. Not that dude on all the news.”
Seth nodded but still stammered through his greeting. “What can I get everyone tonight?”
“I’ll have my usual.” Jessie didn’t even have a menu in front of her. “Will you ask Jonah for extra cheese sauce on my burger, please?”
“Of course.” He swallowed when he turned his attention on me.
“Since it’s her place, I trust Jessie’s judgment. I’ll have whatever she’s having.”
Anna smiled when she placed her order. “I’ll have a bowl of French onion soup, please.”
Seth nodded again, offered to bring us some drinks while we waited, and took off like his ass was on fire. I had a feeling everyone in town would know I was here by tomorrow, if not by later tonight.
“French onion soup, huh?” I asked Anna once he was gone, keeping my tone as casual as if we spoke every day. “That used to be your favorite, if memory serves. I can’t believe it’s still your go-to.”
She blinked too many times for it to be natural before she found her voice. “I’m surprised you remember. I’m assuming since you ordered the burger, you haven’t turned into a vegan on us after all this time in Hollywood?”
I laughed. Trust Anna to be completely earnest and direct. “Nah, we’re not all vegans out there. I did try some pescatarian diet once. Total disaster. Even my skin smelled like fish after the first week.”
Her nose wrinkled. “That sounds terrible. What about the kale thing? Is that true?”
She was trying to play it cool, but I didn’t miss the rigidity of her spine or how her eyes kept flickering to mine before darting away again. As much as I liked knowing I still had an effect on her, I didn’t want her stay nervous around me.
So what if we had a past? She was still my sister’s best friend and one of my oldest friends. It didn’t have to be awkward every time I saw her while I was here.
“The kale thing was very true for a while. Most people have gotten over it, though. It’s all about the beets now.” I grinned and felt a strange rush of satisfaction when my joke earned one of her tinkling laughs. “What about you? How are you doing? Also, what have you got against vegans and kale?”
Her cheeks flushed bright red before she gave her head a firm shake. “I’m fine, and nothing. I was just curious to know how far down the rabbit hole you’ve fallen.”
I rubbed my chin with my thumb and my index finger, pretending to think. “Well, I got engaged to an actress who cheated on me and I’ve partied with some famous people. Does that mean you’re going to start calling me Alice now?”
She turned to face me so fast that I was afraid she might’ve hurt her back. Her mouth was already open, presumably to apologi
ze, before she realized I was making a joke at my own expense.
The familiar gray crystals that swam in the hazel of her eyes and always made them look like they were sparkling illuminated. For just a moment, I thought she was going to give my shoulder the same playful shove she would’ve years ago. Her hand even moved on the table, but she caught herself and settled for an eyeroll instead.
“Of course you’ve partied with famous people. Aren’t you one of them? I think I’ve seen your name in the paper once or twice.”
I clutched my heart and clawed at the material of my shirt. “Seriously? Only once or twice? That hurts, Anna. I’ve worked so hard to build a reputation that would have people follow me around and ask for selfies. Now here you are telling me I’ve failed.”
She bit back a laugh, and Jessie shook her head at me. “You don’t need us to stroke your ego any more than it’s already been stroked, Willy. Welcome home. Otherwise known as the place that will knock you right back down to earth.”
“I was sorry to hear about what happened with your fiancée,” Anna said, “but Jessie’s right. I wouldn’t expect anyone around here to treat you any differently than they always have.”
I let out an exaggerated sigh, pretending to be hurt for another moment before dropping the act. “That’s why I’m here. I needed to get out of the Hollywood bubble for a while.”
“Amen to that.” Jessie raised the beer Seth had dropped off for us. I’d been so focused on Anna that I’d hardly even noticed him when he came back to our table.
“How long are you staying?” Anna asked.
I shrugged and didn’t miss how her eyes drank in the curve of my neck to my shoulder before she swallowed hard. I wonder if she’s remembering how she used to bite me right there when she—
“William?” Jessie’s voice snapped me out of the thought.
Clearing my throat, I tried to push away the memories of her moans and how her teeth used to sink into me so she wouldn’t make too much noise. “A couple of weeks. Maybe more.”
“Oh, uh, right.” A rosy flush spread over the tops of her cheeks and she seemed flustered.
Huh? What’s that all about?
On the other hand, considering the direction my own thoughts had traveled in just then, I supposed it wasn’t so much of a mystery. A ghost of a smile came to my lips when she glanced down at them, but then I reminded myself that we weren’t two teenagers flirting anymore.
She wasn’t mine, I wasn’t hers, and I wasn’t sure falling back into old habits would do either of us any good. That ship had sailed so long ago, it was lying at the bottom of the ocean right now. Sure, the memories it’d carried with it might make for a pretty reef to swim around while remembering them, but nothing was bringing that baby back to the surface.
“How’s your father?” I asked.
Thinking back to the time when I’d watched the ship racing off into the motherfucking sunset still hurt like a bitch if I let it. And the reason it’d left port without me on it had been inextricably linked to her dad’s illness.
Anna’s eyes softened and she smiled fondly. “He’s doing really well. All of his scans have been clean for years, and he’s fit as a fiddle.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” I really was. She’d always been incredibly close to the man, to such an extent that his diagnosis had been the beginning of the end for us.
Questions burned inside me about that time, about the guy she’d left me for and what had happened between them. Jessie watched us with a knowing smirk on her lips the whole time. She knew there was unfinished business between us, but I dared her to keep her mouth shut with the occasional glance in her direction.
If Anna and I ever had that conversation—and it would purely be for the purposes of finally clearing the air—we’d have it in private and on our own time. Although I sent my sister those looks from time to time, most of my attention remained fixed on the beautiful blonde I used to be head over heels in love with.
I should probably have been pissed at her. Maybe I should even have hated her after what’d happened, but I didn’t. I had been. For years, I hadn’t even been able to think about her without experiencing god-awful pain and rage. But time had doused those flames. Twelve years was a lot of time to hold on to something like that, and I hadn’t. I was more curious now than anything else.
Sitting with her was bringing back old memories by the dozen—good ones—and stirring up feelings that hadn’t existed in me for a long-ass time. Anna used to make me feel so alive and so free. I’d always known without a doubt that she had my back.
Why am I only feeling all those things again now? Another thought hit. This one from far left field. I never felt any of that with Angelina.
Seth came by with our food, leaving me with a few minutes of silence at the table to grapple with my realizations. Well, would you look at that? I haven’t even been home a day and things are already becoming clearer.
I grinned at Anna and then at Jess. My sister gave a pointed look at her friend when she caught my eye, and I glanced back at her to see her polishing off her soup in record time.
When she was done, she folded her napkin and flashed us an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry I need to leave in such a hurry, but I have to get home and get ready for work in the morning. Thanks for dinner.”
She left so fast that she forgot to take the box of pastries with her. After she was gone, I frowned and blinked at Jessie. “Was it something I said?”
She laughed and shook her head at me again. “You’re an idiot.”
My frown deepened as I tried to make sense of Anna’s rushed exit, my sister’s words, and these long-lost but familiar feelings stirring inside me. I might have come home for clarity on the shit that had happened in LA, but I had a feeling that I’d stumbled headfirst into something else. I just didn’t know what yet. All I knew was that it was dusty and from the past, and it was probably best if it stayed there.
But it didn’t look like it would.
Chapter 10
ANNA
No matter what I did, I couldn’t focus on work on Monday morning. I was so distracted that I couldn’t think straight. Every time I thought I had a handle on things, my mind drifted back to William.
William sitting there at dinner last night looking like the handsome devil he was. Every look he’d given me had been paired with something wicked in his eyes or his smile.
William kissing me for the last time after I’d broken up with him when I was eighteen. How soft but firm his lips had been. The glisten of tears in his eyes when he’d opened them, his hand lingering on my cheek like he couldn’t bear to sever the connection.
William telling me he would wait for me.
My every thought was consumed by him as if no time had passed at all between then and now. Seeing him and actually spending time with him again after so long had shaken me to my very core.
All those old problems I’d been debating about digging up on my walk last night were suddenly back. Not even just back. They were walking around and grabbing at me like they’d never gone anywhere.
Fucking zombie problems. How was it possible that it’d all been dead and buried for so long, and suddenly everything had come back with a vengeance?
I was supposed to have been over it all. It’d been years.
It seemed like the rivers had run dry and the zombies needed to replenish themselves by demanding I fill them with some more tears. I clapped a hand over my forehead with a groan. Dramatic much?
The simple truth was that, regardless of how much it’d hurt me to do it, I’d done the only thing I could have. William had said he’d wait for me, but I couldn’t do that to him.
I’d started working after school, and while I’d tried to spend as much of my free time as I could with him, I needed to spend time with my dad as well. There had been no telling how long my father was going to be sick for or if he would ever recover.
Asking William to wait when I had no idea how long he’d be waiting, or
expecting him to hang around for years with barely being able to see me, felt massively unfair to him. It hadn’t only been that, either.
It was around the time when my father had been diagnosed that I’d started to realize how life really worked. William and I had both known what the other wanted out of life. We’d just naïvely thought we’d find a way to make it work.
I couldn’t ask him to stick around a town he didn’t belong in and I never wanted to leave. Perhaps if it hadn’t been for my father’s illness, I might’ve come around to trying somewhere else for a while.
Unfortunately, I’d also learned that wishing for things didn’t make them true. My father had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and there was no wishing it away. I couldn’t leave him. Not even for William and the chance to take a real stab at a future with him away from this place.
It’d left me with only one real choice. I’d had to let him go. There hadn’t been another way, or at least not one that my eighteen-year-old brain had been able to come up with. I still couldn’t think of another way it could’ve played out. Not one that would’ve been fair to him anyway.
But still…
In the early days after our breakup, I’d often wondered what might’ve been between us if things had gone differently. It had just been a long time since he’d taken up so much real estate in my mind as he was today.
I’d shattered my own heart at the same time that I’d slashed his in half. The way I’d looked at it at the time was that, if I slashed his cleanly in half, it’d be stitched back together easily enough and eventually the scar wouldn’t even be visible anymore.
From the looks of him, it seemed like that part of my plan had gone off without a hitch. He was engaged, or at least he had been. There certainly wasn’t anything I could do about the fact that his fiancée had cheated on him. He’d been in a relationship with her for a couple of years, and it appeared that his slashed heart had long since mended.
The Billionaire’s Second Chance: A Small Town Romance Page 6