The Butterfly Effect (Boggy Creek Valley 1)

I looked around the bar and then scanned the dance floor to see if she was out there again. I couldn’t spot her anywhere. I finally located Bree, who was dancing with Hunter. Connor and Lacy were making their way back to our large table, but still no sign of Willa.

When Connor pulled out a chair for Lacy, I leaned close and asked over the music, “Have you seen Willa?”

Lacy replied, “Last I saw she was at the bar with Kyle.”

Connor sat down and said, “I saw her walking toward the back of the place. Maybe she went to the restroom?”

“Alone?” I asked.

Lacy laughed and then placed her hand on her stomach. “Oh, Aiden. You make me laugh.”

With a frown, I stared at her as I waited for her to keep going. When she didn’t, I turned to Connor who simply shrugged. Apparently, he had no idea why she’d laughed either.

Turning away from Lacy and Connor, I tipped my beer back and finished it and then held my hand up to the waitress, who quickly made her way over.

“What can I get ya?” she asked.

“Whiskey, three fingers, and another beer, please.”

She nodded and gave me a thumbs-up.

When I glanced back out at the dance floor, there was Willa, making her way over to me. It felt like someone reached into my chest and rattled my heart around.

How had I ever thought I could give her up? Thank fuck she was divorced from that son-of-a-bitch now. I wouldn’t have been able to live in Boggy Creek knowing she was forever out of my reach. I knew I had some serious ground to make up for. Especially since I had walked away from her yet again. I just hadn’t known what to say or do. I had almost hurt her twice. If I ever did it for real, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. But I knew in my heart of hearts that Willa was worth the fight. She was worth the risk of moving past my fears for the future I longed for.

As she made her way closer, she smiled and stopped directly in front of me.

I looked up at her and grinned. Christ, she was beautiful. “You having fun?” I asked, or more like shouted.

She shrugged and then leaned over, placing her hands on my thighs as she put her mouth right next to my ear and let out a small breath. The heat of her breath hit my skin and sent a shiver down my back that made my cock instantly hard. I struggled to remember how to breathe.

“Not really,” she replied. “Apparently, a girl has to take things into her own hands when it comes to dealing with you, Aiden O’Hara.”

With a smirk, I turned my head to look at her. Our mouths were so close, all I needed to do was lean in a little more and they’d meet.

It was in that moment that I heard the beginning notes of Frank Sinatra’s “Witchcraft.”

Willa stood back up and held her hand out for me to take as I let out a chuckle. “Dance with me?” she asked, a sexy little grin on her face.

As I stood, I took her hand, lifted it to my mouth, and kissed her knuckles before we walked out onto the dance floor. When I drew her into my arms, she buried her face against my chest, and we began to dance to a song that held so many memories—and now there was a new one to add to the collection.

Willa glanced up at me and winked, and I swore I fell even more in love with her.

My heart and head instantly went into a battle. I had so much baggage I carried with me, and I wasn’t sure if it was fair to unload it onto Willa and Ben. I’d thought coming back to Boggy Creek was a second chance for us, but those two instances where I had lost control and put her in harm’s way scared the living shit out of me. But at the same time, I did not want to let her go. Ever.

When the band took over and gave Frank a vocal rest, I pushed Willa out and spun her back to me. She laughed, melting against me once again as we danced together like we’d been doing this for years.

“You are a dream to dance with,” she said, her eyes catching the lights above.

“It’s my partner, not me.”

She laughed once more. “Is that so?”

I nodded and pulled her closer as we spun around. The song was over too soon, and I started to let her go, but she held on and shook her head.

With a sinful smile, she purred, “I have one more requested song that’s just for you.”

The DJ spoke and said, “Here’s another oldie by special request.”