Page 6 of Forbidden Bliss
Her long legs step down from the red Jeep before she flips her golden-brown hair back over her shoulder. She marches up the front porch stairs while the fabric of her tight-fitting jeans clings to her curves, accentuating every sway of her hips as she walks.
She stops at the top, puts a hand on her hip, and meets my gaze. “I knew you wouldn’t give up without a fight.”
As she gets closer, a faint scent of lavender and vanilla wafts from her hair and skin, mixed with a subtle hint of sweat. A peach tank hugs her torso, showcasing her toned physique and ample breasts.
“Hi, neighbor.” I greet her in a nonchalant voice while failing to hide my curiosity.
She smirks her pink pouty lips, sending a thrill through me. Willow has a playful way about her that can light the world on fire.
Happily, I’m around her to witness it once again. The corners of my mouth lift. “You want a drink? I’ve got water and beer.”
Her eyebrow arches in that familiar way that makes my heart skip a beat. “Well, Lana’s staying the night at my cousin’s house, and … I didn’t come all this way to hydrate.”
Halfway turning, I chuckle. “Beer it is, then.”
I grab a couple of cold ones from the fridge and hand her one. We settle on the deck, and the initial tension eases as we crack open our drinks, the popping of the bottle tops releasing a sense of normalcy.
We take a few sips in comfortable silence.
After the buzz of the drink spreads through me, I finally speak. “Your art is captivating. I think I’ve bought every damn piece you’ve done.”
She looks at me. “No, you haven’t. There’s still a few I haven’t sent.”
I laugh. “Oh. What have you been keeping from me?”
She sits back in the chair and crosses her legs while the denim fabric of her jeans hugs her thighs. “I’ve still got a few prized paintings in the art studio.”
“Ah. Makes sense. You know, every time I saw one of your paintings, it felt like I was seeing a part of you.”
She takes a long sip of her beer, her pupils never leaving mine. “And you never realized it was me?”
“I think my subconscious always knew. Your work is incredible, Willow. It’s like you pour your soul onto the canvas.”
She looks down, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. “It’s the only way I can express everything inside. Sometimes words just aren’t enough, you know?”
I nod. “I get that. Your paintings have been a window into your world for me. It was the only thing I had all these years, and though I didn’t know it was you, it filled a space.”
After she fiddles with a shoulder strap of her silky tank top, she shrugs. “Hmm. Well, I’ve seen the internet. You’ve had plenty of women on your arm.”
My body goes rigid as my stomach hardens. “Just because I satisfied my basic physical needs doesn’t mean I wasn’t thinking about you every single time. You’ve been a constant in my mind since the day you left, Willow. Even when I tried to move on, there was always this void where you used to be.”
She swallows hard, her orbs glistening. “I didn’t want to leave, Tristan. But your father... he drove me out, saying I had no place in your life.”
Sighing, I look down onto the timber floorboards. My siblings and I are still trying to recover from Dad and his bullshit. Almost every trauma in our lives is because of him. I reach out, taking her hand in mine. “He was wrong. You’ve always had a place in my life. You still do.”
She squeezes my hand, her touch sending a jolt through me. “I’m here now, and so are you. So, maybe we can fill that space together.”
A smile spreads across my face. “I’d love that.”
We sit there under the awning, sipping our ale while the drama of the past lifts inch by inch.
The sky turns a rich shade of violet and the stars twinkle in the evening sky as a gentle breeze rustles the leaves on the trees. We’re rebuilding this thing, one moment at a time, and it feels magical.
While we reminisce about shared memories, laughter flows easily. The years seem to melt away.
I can’t hold back any longer. “I must know right now, Willow. Lana’s father... is it me?”
Her shoulders rise, and she takes a thorough breath. “Of course Lana is your daughter. There’s been no one but you.”