Dare to Stay (Dare Nation 4)

“Of course.”

Once they settled on the floral sofa that hadn’t changed since Willow walked into this home for the first time, Bella studied her. “Talk to me.”

After drawing a deep breath, Willow let it out and spoke. “I think I’m in love with Braden.” Her heart rate sped up at the admission, something she hadn’t even felt when they were together before. It had been impossible with her holding so much of herself back. And if she thought the pain of losing him had been bad two years ago, she couldn’t imagine the magnitude of the feelings if it happened again.

“You think or you know?” Bella’s wise gaze met hers.

Willow’s lips twisted in a wry smile. “I know. I’m just petrified.” She twisted her hands together in her lap, well aware of the nerves spiraling through her body.

“Does he love you? Has he said?”

She shook her head. “His actions make me think he does.” And the experience of his body inside hers was so much more intense now than it had been then. He was everything to her.

“So what’s wrong? I don’t think you’re here just because you’re afraid you fell in love.”

“No.” Willow thought back to her conversation with Cole and explained what he’d told her to Bella and how she didn’t want to believe him. “And what if Braden is actually leaving again?” The thought made her nauseous.

“What if he isn’t? What if your gut feeling is right and Cole is stirring up trouble? Then you are going to be in the position of having to open up to your man eventually. Admit your feelings and see if they’re reciprocated.”

And risk the possibility that they weren’t. That Braden cared for her and was having fun but he wasn’t thinking about a long-term future with her. The little girl inside her used to being abandoned screamed no with absolute certainty. She couldn’t put herself out there.

Bella placed a hand on Willow’s, and she found the touch comforting. “Just think about how he makes you feel. Then see if you can work on your trust issues a bit. If not, you might miss out on the love of a lifetime.”

Willow glanced up at Bella, surprised. “How can you be so optimistic after all you’ve just been through?” Her husband, his criminal actions, lies, and deceit.

She shrugged, reaching out and gently tucking a strand of Willow’s hair behind her ear. “Because it’s better than being negative and thinking there’s no hope left in my life. Now granted, I didn’t grow up the way you did, but I’d like to think you were with me long enough to have felt love, learned to accept it, and give it back?”

Embarrassed, she couldn’t meet the other woman’s gaze. “You know, up until two years ago, I would have said no. That I hadn’t learned.” She shook her head and a tear she hadn’t expected fell down her face. “Up until a few weeks ago even, I didn’t feel that way. But…” She hesitated, wondering how to explain her change of heart.

“But here you are, seeking advice because you realize when you needed someone I’ve always been here?”

Willow smiled and looked at the woman she did truly love and who’d given her so much. “Yes. Exactly.”

“Which means you’ve opened your heart and learned to trust. Now can you give Braden the same chance?” Bella’s sweet, caring voice did its job.

As did all the work Braden had put into their relationship since he’d been back. He’d come home changed in a lot of ways, and though she hadn’t wanted to see him for the man he’d become then, she did now.

Reaching over, she pulled Bella into a hug. “Thank you so much.”

Bella embraced her and pulled back. “All I did was give you a nudge in the right direction,” she said with a smile.

“No, I mean thank you for being there. For taking me in, for giving me a life … and for keeping me in your family.”

Bella had taught her how to open her heart, just like she’d said. And as Bella had been there for Willow, Willow had recently done the same for Aurora. And there was no way the young woman wasn’t part of Willow’s family forever, too. So she’d learned from Bella and acted without even realizing it.

“And now? What’s your plan?” Bella asked.

“I’m going to go get my man.” Willow had to believe Braden was waiting for her to say the words first, probably because if he’d said them, he feared she might freak out.

Well, no longer.

She was through giving in to her fear and letting her past rule her present and ruin her future.

* * *

Braden had a great lunch with Bri. His sister, so much fun and full of spunk and life, never failed to make him laugh. While eating, they’d talked mostly about Damon’s injury, Dare Nation and his potential role there, and their concern about their brother. Then there was the recent news his mom had shared. She’d broken up with her boyfriend and was dating again, which was always interesting for them to deal with.