Imagining Love on Willow Road (Island County Series Book 13)

by Karice Bolton

  “Those days and nights were some of the best times I’ve ever had.”

  “Me too.” A charge of desire ran through me, and I blushed.

  “You’re nibbling your lip again,” Walker whispered, and I shook my head.

  “I can’t believe it.” I rolled my eyes.

  “Were you thinking about those nights too?” His eyes sparkled with mischief, and I chuckled.

  “Maybe.”

  And those nights had been incredible. Roaming the fairgrounds, eating junk food, riding carnival rides, and then sneaking off from our friends the moment the sun went down.

  “The make-out sessions were pretty epic,” I confessed.

  “Never been matched.” He sighed, smiling as we walked up to place our orders.

  “Two bowls of chowder,” Walker ordered.

  “Bowls?” I laughed. “I’m still counting on corndogs, fried pickles, and an elephant ear.”

  “And I know you’ll be able to do it all.” He smiled and paid for our order.

  “This is a lot of fun. Thanks for thinking of it.”

  “I saw the signs earlier this week,” he said as we carried our bowls of chowder to a picnic table.

  “See that hot dog food cart?” I pointed toward the line of vendors.

  Walker nodded.

  “He’s another one of my friends from Portland. He started his business with one hot dog cart and a little café.”

  “Here on Fireweed?” Walker asked.

  I nodded. “Billy has a place on Hound Island too. Anyway, his little gourmet hot dog idea is now a national franchise.”

  “Wow. Good for him.”

  “That’s where I’ll get my corndog next.” I winked, and he chuckled.

  “So a lot of your friends wanted to escape that scene in Portland?” he asked.

  I took a bite of the chowder, and it was just as good as I remembered. “Yeah.” I let out a heavy sigh. “It’s kind of fast living. Drinking, late nights . . . life just kind of becomes a blur.”

  “And here on Fireweed?”

  “Life slows down enough to let me enjoy it,” I confessed. “I mean, I still keep the odd hours because I work late and sleep in compared to most people.”

  “I like sleeping in.” He grinned. “Especially with you next to me.”

  “You’re just trying to butter me up.”

  “For what?”

  I stared at Walker and took another bite of chowder. “I don’t know. Maybe you’re going to hit me up for a loan or something.”

  Walker laughed, knowing full well that he had more money than most of us on Fireweed.

  “When your sister arrives in town, is there anything I shouldn’t do?” I asked, and Walker smiled.

  “Just be you.” He took a bite of chowder. “Boy, this is good.”

  “Yeah. If I ate out everywhere Fireweed had to offer on a daily basis, I’d be the size of the moon.”

  Walker leaned into the table and whispered, “I have a confession.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I would love every inch of you.”

  I laughed and took another bite as I spotted Chance and Maddie. They didn’t seem to have their little one around, but she was rubbing her belly as Chance held her free hand.

  Maddie waved at me and grinned as they made their way over.

  “I’m so glad you guys made it out. Hildie is watching our kiddo so that we could have a daylight date,” Maddie gushed. “This is such a fun festival, especially for a pregnant woman. I can get to all the food places with minimal movement. Speaking of, would you two like to come over for dinner on your night off?”

  “That’s in two days,” I informed her. “Is that too soon?”

  “It’s perfect.”

  Maddie attempted to bend down and hug me as Chance greeted Walker with a handshake as if he’d met him several times before.

  “Thanks for recommending this,” Walker told Chance, and I frowned.

  “You said you saw the signs in town,” I told Walker.

  He smiled and nodded. “I did, and then I asked Chance about it.”

  “Why do I feel like something more is going on here?” I laughed, shaking my head.

  “Actually . . .” Maddie grinned. “I just have to get this off my chest.”

  Maddie and Walker traded a glance.

  “What?” I cocked my head slightly. “Are you two up to something?”

  “I hope you don’t hate me . . .” she began.

  “Maddie, I could never hate you. Even when you set me up with some weirdo, I still saw the goodness in your heart.”

  She flashed a nervous grin, and Chance rubbed her shoulders. “About that . . .”

  “About what?” I took another bite of chowder as Maddie let out a deep sigh.

  “I set you up with Clayton knowing you’d never like him.”

  “What? That doesn’t make sense.”

  She nodded and glanced at Chance and then Walker. “I know, but I was put up to it?”

  I turned my gaze toward Chance as he chuckled. “Were you in on this?”

  Chance raised his hands. “I plead the fifth.”

  “Seriously. Someone had better tell me what’s up.”

  “Ashley reached out to me,” Maddie began. “She told me about her cousin finally finding his lost love.”

  I interrupted, “I was never lost. I could always be found.”

  “First and only love,” Walker corrected.

  “Don’t shoot the messenger.” Maddie chuckled. “Anyway, she told me that her cousin was coming to town to track down his first love.”

  “Okay . . .”

  She drew a breath. “And Ashley thought you might need a good reminder of what it’s like on the dating scene, the choice of men that seem to be floating out there . . .”

  “Wait, Ashley wanted me to date someone awful for what reason?”

  Walker laughed. “To make me look better.”

  I couldn’t stop laughing, and I realized Walker Malone hadn’t changed one bit.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Walker and I had arrived at Chance and Maddie’s home on Hound Island, and it was as warm and cozy as Maddie. The house was understated, considering Chance’s success as a restaurateur, but it felt just perfect.

  “Hildie’s watching our little one.” Maddie shook her head. “I swear my mother-in-law finds any excuse to whisk away our child. This time, Hildie assured me that Chance and I needed adult time.”

  I chuckled as Walker’s arm stayed firmly around my waist as we stood in the kitchen while Chance prepared dinner. Maddie had slid onto one of the stools along the kitchen island.

  “Your home has such a gorgeous view,” Walker said, taking a sip of wine.

  “We lucked out,” Chance said, smiling.

  “And where do you live?” Maddie asked.

  “California.”

  Maddie nodded, but her expression dropped slightly. “How long are you planning on staying on the islands?”

  Walker tightened his embrace as I waited for the answer. We’d actually been doing a great job of side-stepping the looming questions like that.

  “It’s pretty open-ended at this point,” Walker explained. “I have some great business partners, and for the most part, I can do what I need to do from a distance for now.”

  The words for now echoed in my mind.

  Chance’s expression shifted to one of worry, and my heart raced. I didn’t want him to think I was leaving Fireweed or my job.

  “I’m about to close on my home.”

  “So, you really are buying a home?” Maddie clapped her hands. “That’s so exciting.”

  I nodded. “It’s just up the street from where I am now, and the kitchen is everything I’ve dreamed about. The stove cost more than I made all year at my first job as a cook.”

  Chance looked relieved. “Nice. You’d better invite us over ASAP.”

  I chuckled. “No worries there. I’m supposed to close in two weeks.”

>   “That’s awesome,” Chance continued and looked at Walker. “What does that mean for you?”

  Walker looked surprised but rolled with the punches. “I’ve lost Harmony once already. I’m not about to lose her again, especially over distance.”

  I breathed a silent sigh of relief.

  But I knew it was easier said than done. We were in the honeymoon stage of our relationship where anything seemed possible.

  “Hey, do I hear trouble in the kitchen?” Billy’s voice boomed through the house, and I quickly spun around and out of Walker’s arms and into Billy’s.

  “I didn’t know you were coming,” I squealed.

  Billy had been so busy with the franchise operation that I’d barely seen him or his wife, Tiffany.

  “What an amazing surprise.” I hugged him once more as Tiffany came into the room. “Hey, girl.”

  Tiffany hugged me, and I pulled away to introduce Walker to them both.

  “Oh, we’ve heard a ton about you already.” Billy grimaced.

  “How?” I scowled.

  “Uh, do you not remember the first ten years in Portland?” Billy laughed. “Walker this and Walker that, and if I ever see Walker again, I’m going to push him off a building or—”

  “Okay, so anyone want any refills on their wine?” Maddie asked, interrupting Billy as Walker laughed. “I have to live vicariously through you all.”

  Billy chuckled. “Well, I’m sure it’s not like Walker thinks he’s off the hook.”

  I smiled. “He did put me through hell, but it was for a good reason.”

  Billy’s brows rose. “Wow. You must be a charmer, Walker, because I’m telling you that woman wanted to pulverize you.”

  Tiffany playfully smacked her husband’s shoulder, and Billy laughed.

  “Tell me the rumors are true.” Billy wiggled his brows. “You’ve bought a house on the island?”

  I grinned, knowing Fireweed was officially home. “I sure did. Closes in about two weeks.”

  Billy glanced at Walker. “And where does that put you?”

  “You’re on fire tonight, bro.” Chance laughed and grabbed a stack of dishes from the cupboard.

  “You do realize that Harmony looked out for us for over a decade as we found ourselves,” Billy joked. “I’ve got to do the same for her.”

  I knew Billy was only teasing, and from the looks of it, Walker did too.

  “I find some comfort in knowing that Harmony found such a good family with you guys.”

  “Are you the least bit jealous?” Maddie asked Walker.

  “Of what, in particular?” he asked.

  “She has two best friends who are men.”

  Walker smiled as his gaze connected with mine. “No, I know there’s nothing to be worried about. Harmony found the family she was supposed to have, and I have absolutely no right to interfere in something that’s meant to be. You all were there for her when I wasn’t.”

  His words warmed me up, and I reached out to squeeze his hand.

  “How about you?” Maddie asked. “Are you okay with Walker having a ton of female friends?”

  I laughed and shook my head. “He’d better not.”

  Everyone started laughing, and Walker pulled me into him, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.

  Chance plated salmon and rice pilaf on each of our plates and placed them on the dining room table.

  “This looks amazing,” I told Chance, and he grinned.

  No matter how many dishes I’d made over the years, I knew how good it felt to still be told how good something looked.

  We all took a seat, and for the first few minutes, we were too busy taking bites of food and enjoying the Northwest meal.

  “Tell me, does it feel like any time has passed?” Tiffany asked, her gaze going between Walker and me.

  I smiled. “Strangely, no. I mean, he certainly filled out more, so when I look and see a man instead of the boy . . .”

  Walker laughed. “I was no boy. I was completely buff back then.”

  I chuckled. “Well, he has his version, and I have mine.”

  Maddie pointed her fork at me. “Tends to be how it works.”

  Walker laughed and nodded. “You know, when my cousin confirmed it was the same Harmony I’d been hoping it was, my world stood still. I didn’t know if I had enough nerve.”

  “Because you were worried about her hacking you up into tiny pieces,” Billy suggested.

  “Partly, yeah.” Walker nodded, and I laughed.

  “I will completely admit that I had some anger issues when I first arrived in Portland.”

  “Some?” Chance asked, laughing. “There was a part of me that wanted to track Walker down so that I could watch it all unfold.”

  I chuckled. “See? I didn’t need female friends when I had Billy and Chance.”

  Tiffany and Maddie laughed. “They do like their drama.”

  “Well, I hope it all works out how you want it to,” Billy said, his voice softening. “It’s amazing when you find that person you know is meant to be with you.”

  Tiffany blushed, and I smiled at her. She was such a sweetheart, and I couldn’t think of anyone better for Billy.

  “All I know is that I’m going to take one step at a time.” I grinned before taking another bite of salmon. “First, I need to move into my new house, enjoy my kitchen, and have some epic dinner parties.”

  “Do I get to come?” Walker teased.

  “You’d better.” I smiled and rested my head on his shoulder as the wine swam through me. “Or I’ll have Clayton hunt you down.”

  Walker laughed. “Please don’t.”

  Billy and Tiffany looked confused, so Maddie filled them in, and I realized that no matter what the future held, I had my family sitting right here at this table.

  Even if Walker and I didn’t work out romantically, I would never lose him again. We would always be friends.

  I let out a happy sigh and glanced at Walker as I continued to eat.

  “What?” Walker whispered. “You have a funny look in your eyes.”

  “Just thinking about how I never want to lose you again.” I smiled. “Even if we don’t work out, you promise you’ll still be in my life, right?”

  Walker glanced around the table, and everyone seemed to be deep in some conversation about the new bookstore that was going to be opening in the fall.

  “What do you mean, if we don’t work out?” Walker asked.

  I shrugged. “I haven’t had the best track record.”

  “But this is different.” Walker wasn’t asking. He was stating.

  “No, I know. I just . . .” I grabbed his hand under the table and squeezed it. “I just don’t want to lose your friendship.”

  Walker’s gaze hardened, and he nodded as he looked around the table. “You won’t lose my friendship, Harmony.”

  “Thank you.” I grinned and finished my salmon as Maddie’s eyes connected with mine.

  She sensed the same change in Walker that I did, and I wondered what I’d said that was so wrong.

  I loved Walker. I loved my version of family, and I didn’t want to lose that.

  After we’d finished our meal and had dessert, Walker asked if we were ready to leave, and I agreed.

  He hadn’t spoken all that much the rest of the evening, and by the time he pulled into my driveway, I knew he wasn’t coming inside.

  I turned in my seat and drew a breath. “What did I do?”

  He shook his head, but he kept his gaze forward. “You didn’t do anything, Harmony.”

  “Well, something changed. Something shifted between us tonight.” I reached out for his hand, and I was almost sure I saw him flinch.

  “Just a little too much realness.” His gaze landed on mine.

  “What do you mean?” I asked, completely confused.

  “I don’t want to just be friends, Harmony.” He shook his head. “And I can see what you’re already doing.”

  “What? What am I doing?”
r />   “You collect people, Harmony. Chance and Billy, you say they’re your friends, and I believe it.”

  “Right?” I was bewildered.

  “But I can see that’s where you’re going to put me too.”

  “Why are you saying that?” I asked, feeling a lump appear in my throat.

  “What you said tonight . . . it hit home.”

  “What, in particular?” I asked.

  “You wanted to make sure we stayed friends.”

  “How is that a bad thing?” I shook my head.

  “I didn’t come to Fireweed to be your friend. I’ve never stopped loving you, but I can tell you that I will be utterly crushed if you can’t let me in because of our past.”

  I nodded.

  “But I would be completely broken if we get into this and you leave me because you can’t let people in.”

  Silence hung thick in the air, and I was completely speechless. I didn’t understand how such a fun night could turn to this.

  “I’m sorry. I’m not really used to the relationship thing.” I shook my head. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to say or not say. I thought that was something sweet to tell you because I like you.”

  “Exactly. Like you like Chance and Billy.”

  Panic started to rise, and I shook my head frantically. “Not like that at all, Walker. You were my everything. When you left me, I fought to survive, and I prevailed. I don’t want to experience loss like that again.”

  “What if the reason you didn’t have relationships is that you can’t?” Walker asked.

  “I could say the same for you.”

  “The difference is that I spent all these years loving you. I don’t think you can say the same.”

  “Walker, I loved you so much that I hated the idea of you so I could survive.” I chewed on my lip to stop from crying.

  I wanted to be mad at Walker for bringing this up and accusing me of something that was so far from the truth, but I wasn’t so sure that he was wrong.

  “I put up walls to survive, Walker. I created a world that I could excel in. I have friends who prop me up. And I don’t know how to do the relationship thing, but I want to try.”

  “You’re already doing the relationship thing, Harmony. This is our relationship. I love you, and you love me.” A smile barely touched his lips. “You wanted an easy love. Well, it doesn’t get any easier than this if you let me in again.”