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Chapter 19

Willow

"How's it coming along?" I shade my eyes from the sun and peer up at the roof of the house, where Dallas and Penn are standing shirtless in blue jeans with tool belts around their waists.

Damn. What a sight.

"It's going," Dallas calls back to me. "We're going to finish this section and then come down for a break."

"You guys hungry? I can make some lunch."

"That'd be great, Goose. Thanks."

Fighting back my smile, I make my way into the house and straight for the kitchen to whip up sandwiches for the three of us.

This is the second day they've been working on the roof, and the two of them are hell-bent on finishing it today so the painters can come tomorrow and they won't be in their way. Which means, after tomorrow, the house will be done.

Between that realization and the impending dinner with Dallas's family on Sunday, I've been anxious all week.

I know what I want and I'm pretty sure that Dallas feels the same, but the truth is, I have no idea how he's going to react to the connection with his dad. My worst fear is that he won't be able to look past the fact that I kept something like this from him, even though I was asked to.

And facing that person again in a few days is another reason why I'm restless and having trouble sleeping. Thank God Dallas likes to fuck me almost every night, stealing energy from my body long enough for me to at least get a few hours of rest. But then by two in the morning, I'm awake and ruminating on the impending changes of my life.

As I pull six slices of bread from the loaf, a knock on the front door startles me. I make my way over to the door and am immediately thrown off guard when I open it.

"Oh. Hi, Pam." The realtor from Cove Real Estate is standing there, along with a couple that I don't recognize. But the woman has the most beautiful long red hair I've ever seen, and the man with her is tall and holding her like she's his most prized possession.

"Hello, Willow. I hope this isn't a bad time."

"Um, not really. I was just making lunch for me and the boys." I point above me to the roof.

"I heard them hammering away out there. The improvements look amazing." Pam steps inside the house, the couple trailing her closely. "In fact, McKenzie and Dylan here are looking for a vacation home in Carrington Cove, and I know you haven't officially listed the house yet, but I thought they should see it. I mean, heck, we could eliminate listing this place altogether if they fall in love with it, right?"

Oh my God. She brought these people here to look at the house?

"Well…I, uh…"

Pam waves McKenzie and her husband toward the living room. "Take a look around, you two."

"Uh, Pam…" I try to get her attention, but she's too busy talking about the breathtaking views, refinished hardwood floors, and new bathroom remodels. "How did you know about everything I've had done?"

Pam turns to me now. "Penn told me. I ran into him at the hardware store, and he mentioned that the house will be done this week, so…"

"Uh, sorry to interrupt." Dallas and Penn both stand in the front doorway, still shirtless, as all eyes in the living room turn to them.

"Not at all! You two must be hot and hungry. Just ignore us." Pam leads the couple up the stairs to check out the bedrooms, leaving me, Dallas, and Penn alone.

"What is she doing here?" Dallas asks, reaching for his shirt off the back of one of the dining room chairs. Penn follows his lead. You can hear Pam showing the master bedroom as we speak.

Thank God I made the bed this morning.

"Apparently, she's showing the house to this couple that is looking to buy a place out here." I turn to Penn. "She said you told her I was looking to sell."

Penn flicks his eyes between me and Dallas. "Well, aren't you?"

"She hasn't decided yet," Dallas answers for me.

Oh God. Is he still hoping I will sell it to him?

Have I read this entire relationship wrong?

"This home is beautiful!" McKenzie exclaims as the three of them come back from upstairs, interrupting our conversation. "The view from the upstairs balcony is reason enough to make an offer. I could see myself writing a lot from up there."

"You're an author?" I ask.

She smiles proudly. "Yup. A romance author, and this house could be the setting for so many perfect stories, especially with that view."

"I know. It's one of my favorite parts of the place."

Dallas pulls me into his arms, spinning me to face her. "Mine too," he says. I can feel my cheeks flush when I think of what he did to me out on that balcony this morning.

"How did you come about owning the house?" McKenzie asks, watching us. I can feel myself tense in Dallas's arms, but he squeezes me tighter.

"Oh, I inherited it."

Her eyebrows rise. "Wow. What a nice gift."

"Yeah. It's pretty beautiful." I look around the first floor, knowing that I can't leave this place like I thought I'd want to two months ago.

"It's going to be even more stunning when it's done." Dallas plants a kiss on my cheek, releases me, and then nods at McKenzie and her husband. "We'll wait outside." Penn follows him back out front.

My eyes trail him as the two of them engage in conversation about the house as Dallas points to the eaves.

But all I can hear in the back of my mind is that I'm not being honest with him about everything, and now this sudden visit isn't making me feel any more confident about our future.

"And why are you selling?"

"Huh?" I spin back to face her. "Sorry. I was distracted."

McKenzie chuckles, and then licks her lips, fighting a knowing grin. "Oh, never mind. We'd better keep looking, babe." She taps her husband's shoulder.

Dylan turns to her from the kitchen where he was scoping out the storage in the cabinets. "What? Why?"

"This place isn't really for sale." She looks at me, arching her brow. "And I just got a book idea, so I need to grab my notebook and jot it down before I forget."

"Is that true, Willow?" Pam asks me, stepping closer to me now.

"Honestly, Pam, I haven't made up my mind, but I know I wouldn't feel comfortable accepting an offer without knowing one hundred percent that's what I want."

Pam grins and then clutches her clipboard to her chest. "Well, that's a shame because I know this place would sell easily, but I can't blame you. Carrington Cove will suck you in and bury itself in your heart." Her eyes dart out the front window for a moment and then back to me. "And so will handsome restaurant owners."

I lower my eyes to the floor, not needing her to read me even more.

"Sorry to waste your time, you two," she says to Dylan and McKenzie as they head for the front door.

"Not a waste of time at all. Like I said, I just got an idea for a book. You never know where inspiration will strike." Then she turns back to me and says, "I hope you figure out what you want, Willow. And when you do, trust your gut and your heart. The two together will very rarely steer you wrong."

***

"It's been a while. I was beginning to think you were avoiding me." Shauna stares through the screen on our video call, holding Hudson to her chest.

"No, it's just been a busy few weeks. But right now, I really need your words of encouragement."

"Why? What's happening?"

"I'm having dinner with Dallas's family tonight."

Her eyes nearly pop out of their sockets. "Holy shit."

"Yeah. I'm freaking out, Shauna."

"Why? You're good with people, Willow."

"I'm good with clients, not people that are related to the man I'm sleeping with. I've never met a boyfriend's parents before. You know that."

It's sad to admit as a thirty-four-year-old woman, but it's the truth. Work has been my focus for the past ten years, not love.

"Does that mean Dallas is your boyfriend?" She nearly leaps off her couch. "Dear God, Willow. What the heck has been happening down there and why haven't you told me any of this?"

"Because I'm falling for this man and it's scaring the shit out of me," I admit on a whisper, clutching my robe around my chest. My hair and makeup are done, I'm just waiting to get dressed before Dallas picks me up.

"Jesus, Willow," Shauna breathes, patting Hudson on the back. "This is huge."

"I know, and I want a life with him, but…"

"He still doesn't know about his dad," she finishes for me.

"Or his mom."

"What? Something happened with his mom?"

"That's what I wanted to tell you the last time we talked. She was my unexpected visitor the night of the veterans' dinner!"

God, it feels good to finally get that off my chest.

She blinks at me several times. "And you didn't think to call me back and try again? Holy shit!"

"Shauna, my life has been crazy these past few weeks, okay? I'm sorry, but now I'm at a crossroads and I need your advice."

She nods. "You're right. I can yell at you about that later."

"Thank you."

"So why did his mother visit you?"

"She knew about the house, about Dallas's dad leaving it to me. She knew the entire time. And she asked me not to tell him myself because she wants to be the one to do that."

"This is some daytime soap opera shit."

"No, this is my life and my future hanging on by a thin string. I'm pretty sure I'm in love with him, Shauna, but I'm afraid once he finds out, he's going to be so angry with me."

"Oh my God." She looks like she's about to cry. "You're in love? Willow, that's…"

I stare out the sliding glass door at the ocean. "I know, Shauna. But his mom…"

"That's not on you, though. His mother asked you not to say anything, right? All you were doing was following her wishes."

"I'm just not sure that will be enough for him to understand why I kept this from him."

I stare at the letter next to me on the bedspread, reading over the words his father wrote to me all those months ago. And right now, I'm cursing them even more because, even though Michael Sheppard brought Dallas and me together, he may also be the reason we fall apart.

"And Dallas doesn't know any of this yet?"

"No. I'm hoping tonight that I'll get a moment to speak with his mom alone. I can't talk to Dallas about my decision to stay until he knows the truth."

"And what about your company, Willow? Are you going to sell it? Continue to work remotely? I feel like there are a lot of other decisions you need to make too."

Sighing, I stare at the letter again. "I have a few options but can't make that call until I talk to Dallas." Tears start to build in my eyes. "I can't believe this is my life right now, Shauna. This was just supposed to be an adventure, remember? I wasn't supposed to fall in love, to find somewhere that actually feels like home for the first time in my life."

"But the fact that you did tells you that this is where you are supposed to be, Willow. I just hope it all works out the way you want it to."

"Me too, Shauna. Me too."

***

"You look gorgeous, Goose." Dallas stands just inside my threshold, beaming from ear to ear.

"Are you sure I'm not overdressed?" I opted for a high-waisted, wide leg pair of black linen pants and a tan high neck tank top. It's not the most formal outfit I could wear, but it isn't exactly casual.

"You look perfect. In fact, I can't wait to strip you out of those clothes later."

I roll my eyes at him. "You would say that."

"Don't want you to ever forget how much I want you." He grabs my hand and yanks me toward him.

"I appreciate that. And just so you know, the feeling is mutual."

"You ready for this?" he asks as his eyes move all over my face.

"No."

He chuckles. "Don't worry. The whole family is going to love you, and you've met most of them anyway."

He leads me out to the Mustang and we head for his mother's house, which is more inland than my house.

When we arrive at the home with light blue siding, white trim, and a brown roof, I picture a younger version of Dallas running around the sprawling yard, tumbling in the grass, and riding his bike up and down the street, and it instantly makes me smile.

"What are you smiling about?" he asks as he helps me from my seat.

"I just love this yard. It looks like an amazing place to grow up."

"It was." He closes my door behind me, placing his hand on the small of my back as we walk up the sidewalk and to the front door. "And the plants and flowers can all be attributed to my mother. She has quite the green thumb."

"You can tell she takes pride in the yard."

"Get her talking about it, and she won't let you leave," he jokes as we walk right inside, finding all his siblings standing in the kitchen.

"It's about time. I can't believe you'd show up late to family dinner," Penn chides Dallas as he winks at me.

"It was Willow's fault. She took forever to get ready."

My jaw drops and I swat his arm. "You liar! I was not late."

Parker, whom I recognize from the veterans' dinner and Carrington Cove Games, steps up to us. "He's just giving you shit, Willow. In this family, you should take that as a compliment." He sticks out his hand to me. "It's nice to meet you officially. I'm Parker."

I glare over my shoulder at Dallas, who's still grinning. "Likewise. You're the vet, right?"

"Yup. Do you have any pets?"

"I don't, but maybe someday soon."

"Well, when you do, I'll make sure to give you the family discount."

Family.

My eyes instantly start to mist over.

If things work out between Dallas and me, these people could be my family.

It would be the first time in my life that I'd belong to one of my choosing.

I clear my throat, warding off the emotion threatening to spill over. "Can I get something to drink, please?" I say to Dallas, avoiding his eyes.

"Sure, babe. Water? Wine?"

Wanting to keep my head clear, I opt for water. He kisses my temple before heading toward the kitchen, and then his sister strides up to me next. "Hey, I'm Hazel."

"I saw you at the veterans' dinner, but we didn't get a chance to speak. It's nice to meet you," I say as we shake hands.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I was on Mom duty that night."

"Oh, don't act like I need to be babysat." Katherine walks into the kitchen now, commanding the attention of all her children. The love and admiration they have for her is evident in the way each of their faces softens.

I wonder if I would have had a good relationship with my mother if she were still alive?

When our eyes meet, she walks over to me and grabs my hands. "It's so good to see you again, Willow. Thank you for coming over."

"Thank you for having me. Your home is lovely." There are so many pictures and unique touches that you can tell this house has been lived in for a long time.

"I've heard the same about yours." There's a twinkle in her eyes when she mentions the Bayshore house. The last time she was there, the inside and outside looked vastly different. "Penn's been taking care of you?"

"He has."

Dallas inserts himself in the conversation. "What about me? Have I not been taking care of you, Goose?" The smirk on his lips is suggestive, and Hazel picks up on it, of course.

"Really, Dallas? I thought you were supposed to be the mature one since you're the oldest."

Katherine laughs. "Hazel, honey, men never fully grow up. The sooner you learn that lesson, the better." She moves deeper into the kitchen, washing her hands at the sink as the smell of whatever is cooking in the oven hits my nose.

"Hey, Dallas. I wanted to get your opinion on the tree that needs trimming out back. Come with me, yeah?" Penn stands from his chair, motioning toward the backyard.

"Sure." Dallas turns to me and says, "You'll be okay if I'm gone a minute?"

"Yes, she'll be fine," Katherine answers for me. "In fact, all boys outside. Now. I'll let you know when dinner is ready."

Parker pops the top on his beer as he follows Penn and Dallas to the back door. "It's just like when we were kids. Some things never change, I guess."

All three boys hustle outside, leaving me alone with Hazel and the matriarch of the family.

"Hazel, honey. Can you go outside and make sure those boys aren't talking about rearranging my yard, please? You know how Penn gets when he gets an idea in his mind."

Hazel rolls her eyes, grabbing her glass of wine and moving toward the door. "Sure, but you and I both know none of them listen to me."

"That's not true. Now go on. Willow can help me with the last-minute touches on dinner."

Hazel grumbles as she heads outside, leaving me and Katherine alone.

Finally.

"Take a deep breath, Willow," she tells me, like she could sense that I was holding mine in.

I inhale and release just as quickly. "I'm sorry. This is just…"

"Nerve-wracking. I know." She reaches out for my hand across the counter before darting her eyes to the window that gives a view of the backyard. "But you haven't said anything to him, have you?"

"No, but I have a feeling he's not going to be so thrilled with me when he finds out."

"Well, that depends on what you've decided to do."

"I want to stay here," I tell her. "I'm falling for your son, but this is so complicated, Katherine."

She hangs her head. "I know, but I signed on for this, Willow. Michael and I knew Dallas would be angry, but my husband was adamant that the house was yours."

"I just don't get it. Why me?"

She straightens her spine. "My husband was not in a good place after he came back home, after your parents…" She clears her throat. "The guilt he was living with was so heavy I thought I was going to lose him to it. Then, one day, he came up with a way to give you something in an attempt to make amends, even though he knew it would never bring your parents back. It was all he had to give, a piece of our town that he felt could make a difference in your life."

"But I never thought I'd fall for your son…"

"Neither did we, honey." Her face softens and a smile forms on her lips. "But I'd say that's a pretty amazing thing to come out of all this, wouldn't you?" I shrug, not sure how to answer that because part of me thinks it's true, and the other part is so frustrated by the circumstances. "You've made my son smile again, Willow—find his light. He's different with you, more of the boy he was before he left for the Marines, my son who wanted to help people, who loved to laugh and enjoy life, not the one who fought with his dad in a circle about the path he chose for his life or the man who witnessed death and destruction that no one should ever have to see."

"If my parents never died, this mess wouldn't have happened." The emotion I've been shoving down starts to bubble up. "I wouldn't be here…"

Katherine comes around the counter to wrap her arms around me as I let a few tears free. "Oh, honey. It was an accident, a horrible accident that impacted us all."

"My entire life changed because of that day, and now so has Dallas's."

With her hand, she gently grabs my chin and turns my face toward hers. "Honey, you can sit here, blaming everyone else for how your life has turned out…or, you can start living your story the way you want it written. Those are your options and I have a feeling you know which one makes sense." My bottom lip trembles as her hand moves to my shoulder.

"I'm just so angry, for how everything has played out and put me in this position now. I'm so mad at them for leaving me—"

"A parent's love is unwavering, Willow," she says, cutting me off. "No matter what you think, your mother and father loved you. No one could have known what was going to happen. And it's okay to be angry, but know that your parents were human, just like you and me. And sometimes, that means we have to make the best choice for ourselves despite the potential consequences. We don't know how our decisions will eventually impact those we care about. And it's unfair really, because as parents, we think we're supposed to have all the answers. But we don't, because we're still learning about life right alongside our children." She brushes away a tear from my cheek. "And Dallas not knowing his father left that house to you, that's something that we had to live with, and I will have to deal with the consequences of."

At that moment, the back door creaks open. Dallas stares between us as I whip around to look at him, but turn back around just as quickly, trying to hide the fact that I've been crying.

"What's going on? Are you making her cry already, Mom? Jesus, I was gone for ten minutes…"

Katherine places her hands on her hips. "Why on earth would I be doing that?"

"Well, she was fine before I walked outside."

"We were just talking about my parents," I interject, batting away the last remaining tears. "She asked about them, and it made me emotional."

Dallas's face grows worried as he stalks toward me, wrapping his arm around my waist, rubbing his thumb beneath my eye to swipe away the reaming moisture there. "I'm sorry. The last thing I wanted tonight was for you to feel sad."

"It's okay. I'll be fine." I flash him my most convincing smile. "I've dealt with this my entire life. Just sometimes, it catches me off guard, especially when I'm around someone else's family." It just reminds me of what I will never have.

Katherine reaches for my hand. "You'll always be welcome here, Willow."

I turn to her, pausing before saying, "Thank you."

The timer on the oven goes off, signaling that dinner is ready.

"Dallas, wrangle up your siblings to do your jobs. It's time to eat."

Dallas kisses my temple before going back outside. "I'll be right back."

When he leaves, I turn back to Katherine. "Can you please talk to him, Katherine?"

She inhales deeply. "I'll talk to him tomorrow, if that's okay. I just don't want to ruin tonight—your first family dinner."

Hoping it's not also my last, I nod in agreement.

***

"So, Dallas had to call Mom to come pick him up from school because he shit his pants." Penn holds his stomach while he howls with laughter, and I'm wiping tears from my eyes.

At least these tears are from laughing and not emotional turmoil.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, everyone. Don't forget I have blackmail on all of you, too." Dallas points a finger at each of his siblings, moving around the table.

"Sorry, but that's pretty bad, Dallas." I place my hand on his shoulder, my chest still bouncing with laughter.

"It's a cautionary tale—don't eat Taco Bell before a rivalry game." He shrugs like it's no big deal, and I love that he can just let the embarrassment roll off of him like that. "At least I didn't wear women's underwear during one of the games." He directs his gaze over to Penn, whose laughing immediately stops.

"Fucker."

"Hey, watch your language." Katherine points her fork across the table at Penn. "And sorry, son, but you started this battle. Dallas just seems intent on finishing it."

I turn to Penn, arching a brow in his direction. "Women's underwear? Maybe you aren't as manly as I thought."

He glares at me, clenching his teeth. "It was a dare, and I was not about to back down."

"And he had a rash on his balls for a week afterward."

Hazel gags dramatically. "Gross. I did not need to know that."

Katherine chimes in now. "Yeah, neither did I."

"Well, I think this is the perfect way to end the evening," Parker declares before standing from the table, adjusting his pants and pulling his shirt in place. "I have an early morning anyway."

"You mean you want to leave before Dallas and I share dirt on you," Penn says.

Parker points a finger at Penn. "Precisely."

"Yeah, I think we're going to call it a night too." Dallas stands from the table, grabbing my hand to help me up.

The past two hours have been nothing short of incredible. This family is one of a kind, so welcoming, and funny. The conversation never stopped, only whenever someone mentioned Mr. Sheppard, and it was obvious that he's truly missed.

I wish I could have met him myself, heard from his own lips about my parents and who they were in their last moments.

Dallas and I say our goodbyes, Katherine wraps me in a long hug, and then we settle into the Mustang, headed back to my house.

"So, how do you feel?" Dallas asks me, reaching for my hand as he drives.

"Like my heart is about to burst out of my chest."

He clears his throat. "I'm glad, because there's something I want to talk to you about when we get home."

Home.

"Okay…"

"It's nothing bad. In fact, I think it could be really good, Willow." He adjusts himself in the seat, bringing my hand to his lips, kissing the back of it. "But I don't want to have this conversation while I'm driving."

"All right. There's also something I want to talk to you about."

He casts his gaze over to me quickly. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. It's a good thing too."

The rest of the drive we spend in silence, anxious to pull in behind the house and make our way inside.

As soon as I close the front door behind us and twist the lock, Dallas pulls me to the kitchen, lifting me up on the countertop so we're more at eye level.

He stares at me, his eyes dancing appreciatively over my face and body, his hands following the path of his sight. My heart hammers wildly, waiting for him to speak, but I give him time because what I have to say may depend on what he says first.

Is this what love feels like? The fear of losing someone and the joy of your future with them flowing through you simultaneously? The crazy thoughts that you could be staring into the eyes of your entire future, but also that this person has the power to shatter your heart in a matter of seconds?

I hope we're both on the same page.

"Willow…" He takes a deep breath and blows it out. "The night you came into my bar, I was taken aback by your presence. I couldn't understand how someone like you would ever fit in here, and honestly, I hoped you'd leave as quickly as you came in." I huff out a laugh as he plays with my bottom lip. "And when I found out you inherited this house and wouldn't sell it to me, I really wanted you to leave."

"Oh, I remember. I swore that day I would sell it to anyone but you just to spite you."

"I wouldn't put it past you, Goose." He looks down at my lips and then right back to my eyes. "But then, every time we interacted, it was clear that there was a reason I couldn't get you out of my head, and the more you pushed me away, the harder I wanted to push back." He tilts his head. "The night of the storm, I knew I was done fighting my attraction to you, and that night changed everything."

"It did."

"And now, the house is done." He looks around, admiring the transformation. "You did good, Goose. I couldn't have done better myself if it were my decision. But now, you have another decision to make, and I want you to know something before you do."

I swallow hard, waiting for him to continue.

"I want you to stay, Willow." His words cover me like a warm blanket, soothing my fears. I let out the breath I was holding as he brings both of my hands to his lips. "I want you to move your life down here so we can be together. I know it's not ideal, and there's a lot to figure out, but—"

"I want that too," I blurt out, shocking him for only a second before his lips spread into a smile that might just be the end of me.

His eyes move back and forth so rapidly that it almost makes me dizzy, but then he finally breathes out, "Fuck. Really?"

I nod rapidly. I know I was going to wait to have this conversation with him, but I can't wait. Katherine is going to speak to him about the tough stuff, but right now, his words are conveying everything that I'm feeling. "Yes. That's what I wanted to tell you. I want to stay too. I don't want to sell this house. This town, you…you've changed my life and I…"

I don't get a chance to continue before he slants his mouth over mine, shutting me up with his kiss.

He swallows my moans, lashes his tongue against mine and owns me with this kiss, cocooning me in his arms as the very last shred of my defenses melts away.

He's owned me for a while now, if I'm being honest, and that's what I want moving forward—to feel this way with him forever.

"Fuck, Willow. I need you, baby. I don't think I'll ever stop needing you."

"Yes," I mumble against his lips. "Take me upstairs. Please."

"God, I'll never grow tired of hearing that word fall from your lips—for me."

Dallas lifts me so I can wrap my legs around his waist and heads for the stairs, keeping our mouths fused as he climbs higher and higher toward my bedroom.

Perhaps one day, it will be our bedroom.

When we reach the bed, he tosses me down and then hovers over me, just as the sound of paper crinkling beneath us causes us both to pause.

Oh God.

No.

Dallas pulls the paper out from under me, eyes quickly scanning it and I see the change in his expression when he recognizes a name I'd hoped I had a few more hours to figure out how to explain.

"Willow? What is this?"

I push myself up, crawling across the bed to him, but he steps back as his eyes move across the paper alarmingly fast.

"Willow!" His voice echoes in the room now. "What the fuck is this?"

My heart is hammering so hard that my entire body is shaking from the impact. "It's a letter."

"I can see that." He begins to squeeze the paper tighter. "The question is, why do you have a letter from my dad?"

He finally meets my eyes, and all I can see is confusion and hurt in his.

"Dallas…I can explain."

"I sure as fuck hope so." He keeps reading and then whispers, "What the fuck?" Then suddenly, as though the paper burned him, he tosses it back onto the bed. He clenches his hands into fists as his chest heaves with short, labored breaths. His eyes are black with fury now. "Start talking, Willow. Now."

I swallow down the lump in my throat and finally tell him the truth. "Your dad is the one who left me this house, Dallas."

His head rears back as though I've slapped him. "What?" His response comes out in a whisper, laced with disbelief.

"I wanted to tell you, but your mom…"

And then his eyes light up with rage as he takes a step closer. "My mom? She fucking knew about this too?" He gestures sharply back down to the paper.

"Yes, but she asked me not to tell you!" I hate to put the blame on Katherine, but the reality is, we wouldn't be in this situation right now if she had told just Dallas in the beginning.

But it's not entirely her fault either. I should have figured out a way to explain this to Dallas, especially after we started to fall for one another.

"So let me get this straight. You both knew about this but didn't think I deserved to know?" The veins in his neck are popping, and he transforms from the teddy bear I was just about to snuggle all night to a slightly smaller version of the Hulk.

"I was going to tell you! But she asked me to let her talk to you first. She was going to tell you tomorrow. She didn't want to ruin our first night with your family."

He runs a hand through his hair, his brows drawn together, his breaths growing more shallow. "I can't fucking believe this."

I hop off the bed and reach for him, but he backs away. "Please, Dallas. We can work through this…"

"No. This changes everything, Willow."

The threat of tears builds again. "It doesn't have to."

"How can you say that? The woman I want to start a life with inherited the house I've always wanted from my deceased father, who, it turns out, was keeping this secret from me. And then I find out that you and my mother knew about it but decided to keep me in the dark too. And the irony of it is, I didn't even care about the house anymore…because you were more important." He shakes his head, his eyes full of anguish, as he turns and walks out of the room, leaving me frozen until I snap out of my shock.

"Dallas, wait!" I chase after him, trembling so much I nearly trip down the stairs.

"I can't even look at you right now, Willow," he says flatly as he reaches the front door.

I choke back a sob. "But I meant what I said. I want a life with you. We can work past this…"

He glares at me over his shoulder as he opens the door. "That's nice, Willow, but I'm not sure I can trust a word that comes out of your mouth. Turns out you're just as good an actress as you are a CEO. Who would have thought?"

As the door slams shut, I sink to the floor and let the tears fall, sobbing and crumbling because there's nothing more I can do.

And I hate that it all came about like this.

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