Read Online Willow by Donna Lynn Hope - Free Book Online

and my aunt were talking-” Was I imagining that he stiffened in anticipation of what I was going to ask? “I was wondering if you were somehow bothered by the photo of my mother?”
    He brought his hands together while his elbows rested on his knees. His head was inclined and he dropped his eyes momentarily before meeting my inquisitive gaze. Instinctively, or perhaps nervously, I reached up to hold my necklace, caressing the cross between my fingers. Haven noticed and eyed the charm that I held between two fingers. “A gift?”
    I nodded and dropped my hand. “Yes, my dad gave it to me years ago...It’s real. I actually prefer silver to gold.”
    “It’s not silver though, it’s white-gold,” he informally stated while studying the cross.
    “Oh, I didn’t know.” I lifted my eyebrows and looked him in the eye. “About my mother?” I sounded more demanding than I meant to.
    He looked at me but his expression was serious. “She’s beautiful, just like her daughter.”
    I smiled and sighed. “Can you please answer the question?”
    “Your mother…” he began before I courteously interjected. “Tanith…her name
    was Tanith.”
    He looked lost in thought. “She resembles someone I knew a long time ago.”
    “Knew, as in dated?” I inquired, feeling way too nosy.
    He laughed again, looking more relaxed than before. “No, just knew…”
    The mood undulating around us was a little tense, with secrets, memories and attraction lingering in the air. I knew he was holding back but I didn’t question him further. When I glanced over at him I saw him looking in the direction of the portrait that had first captured my attention. I felt his arm extend on the back of the couch and when I put my mug down and leaned back, I felt his arm cautiously envelop me without really touching me.
    We sat together without saying anything and watched as the barista made the rounds, wiped tables and organized newspapers and magazines. He looked over at us periodically and approached us.
    “I noticed you were admiring the Grey Guardian.” He was looking at me as he spoke but glanced in Haven’s direction as a courtesy.
    “Yes, I was. Is there a story behind it?”
    “I believe there is. A man who works at the bakery a couple of streets over…” He looked at me to see if I understood. When I nodded he continued. “His name is Ben and he painted that portrait. Interesting fellow that one – has a lot of talents.”
    “He must, it’s remarkable,” I said in surprise. I didn’t even know that Ben could paint, let alone so brilliantly. If he was this talented, why was he baking? 
    “If you want to know the story behind it, Ben is the one to ask,” he said as he picked up my empty plate.
    “Thank you. I’ll be sure to ask him when I see him.” I knew that my visit to Ben would be sooner rather than later. I turned to Haven who had stayed silent. “I’m ready if you are,” I suggested.
    “Would you like to go for a walk?” He asked as he put his hand on my elbow and helped me to stand. I didn’t need assistance but Haven’s conduct was chivalrous.
    “I would.”
    He held the door open for me and we walked into the crisp autumn air. While we strolled up the street I admired the various fall decorations on display from bales of hay to pumpkins, scarecrows and orange lights strung in trees. The chilly air was comfortable enough that we could be outside for an hour or two without needing to warm up. I stopped in front of an old bookstore with Halloween themed books stacked and propped up in the window. There were scatterings of candy corn and black plastic spiders. Fake cobwebs hung down from the nook’s ceiling.
    I heard Haven chuckle and turned my eyes to see what he was looking at. It was a book about the undead and the cover was overtly romantic, yet dark at the same time. Haven’s brows were lifted and he looked nothing if not amused.
    “Not your genre?” I teased.
    “Is it yours?” He countered, turning