The Princess and the Pizza Man (Destined for Love: Mansions)

  “It’ll never hold up in court,” Winter shouted, sent daggers at Alexis. “I’ll get my hands on that notebook, you hear? You haven’t seen the last of me!”

  Detective Stacey pulled her from the room, and the guests erupted in applause. Will joined in, knowing he’d be much more enthusiastic about the reveal if it hadn’t come at the worst time in the world.

  The music started up again, and the excitement didn’t ebb as the guests chatted, danced, and snacked. Many congratulated Alexis on her dedicated research, including several actors. Will waited around for Winter to come back, but after a half hour, he resigned to the fact that she probably wouldn’t appear again until tomorrow when everyone left.

  Bells sidled up next to him, her eyes distant. Garreth was on the dance floor, spinning Alexis around under his arm. Michael was nowhere to be found.

  “You ready for bed?” he asked.

  She let out a long sigh, turned to him, and nodded. He held out his arm and escorted her back to their room, an empty and lonely feeling in the pit of his stomach.

  Usually on the last day of murder mystery week—especially on the rare occasion when Winter got to play the murderer—there was this giddiness that filled Winter’s soul. She would bounce around, saying goodbye to guests, hoping they’d return, and then there would be the match she’d put together. They’d be snuggling up, saying tearful goodbyes, and making promises to keep in touch.

  Her eyes fell across the cobblestoned drive, lifting when she caught sight of the familiar heavy boots. There was a boulder the size of Alabama in her stomach, strings holding down the corners of her mouth. Even when Alexis offered her a hug and thanked her for one of the best weeks of her life, Winter could only muster a strained smile, the effort almost making her sweat.

  She wanted to ask Will to stay. She wanted to fall to her knees and tell him that the mansion would be murder mystery free the next few months. There was so much to show him, so many places and history connected with her childhood that she’d never wanted to share with anyone before. She wanted to laugh as hard as she’d laughed this past week, tease and flirt more than they’d been able to, share that kiss they’d missed out on.

  Her teeth sneaked out and tugged at her lip. She couldn’t ask him to stay, for several reasons. The most obvious being because he’d been wanting to go home since he got here. But there was his business to take care of, his sister to keep company… Alabama needed him as much as he needed it.

  Was it too forward to ask to go with him?

  As much as she wanted him to know her, she wanted to know him. See his pizza shop and his home, explore the small town, and meet the people he’d grown up with. Meet his momma.

  She shook her head. She’d been a firm believer in the three-day rule—that it only took three days to fall in love with someone. She’d based her entire matchmaking career on it. Any woman could make any man dive off that cliff; they just needed the right parachute.

  But as she watched Will hoist up the last of the luggage into the trunk of his car, she wondered if she’d been silly to believe such things. It was too soon to ask to dive so completely into his life.

  Bells came around the car, held onto the passenger door, and stared up at the mansion with a sad smile. An ache ran through Winter’s chest. How selfish it was to be so upset over her own love story with bad timing when Bells had come here to find it, and found nothing but heartache.

  She searched the crowded drive for Garreth. When she finally spotted him, he was making his way over to Bells. Winter’s spine straightened, and she held her breath. Maybe it wasn’t hopeless after all?

  Bells smiled, and they chatted for a moment, too far away and too quietly for Winter to pick up anything. But it ended with a hug and a kiss to the top of the head. Things might be okay.

  “She did have a good time,” Will said, suddenly next to her. She jolted and backhanded him in the chest.

  “Gosh, for someone so loud, you sure know how to sneak up on a girl.”

  He nodded back to his sister. “She even said she’d come back. If she ever got the money to.”

  “Yeah… this place ain’t cheap.” Her accent was horrid, but he seemed amused by it.

  “Worth it, though.”

  She played with the ring on her right hand, nerves running rampant under her skin. She wanted to ask him to come again, free of charge. As her guest. As her special guest. With access to her suite and everything.

  Her breath came out in one long, shaky exhale, but her voice stayed locked away. He shuffled his feet, his hand running over his nearly non-existent beard. Was he nervous, too?

  “Hey, so…” he said after a moment. He dug into his pocket. “I need your number.”

  “Huh?”

  His ears were bright red. “So we can keep in touch.”

  A grin pulled on her lips, and she stuck her hand out for his phone. Their skin touched, leaving tingles in her knuckles as she tapped in her number. Butterflies soared through her chest, something about having his phone in her hands feeling very intimate.

  “I want pictures,” she said. “I want to see the pizza shop and your house and every single thing in your hometown.” She handed it back. “Including your momma.”

  He chuckled, nodding as he gazed at her number in his phone. There was a light in his blue eyes that sang straight to her heart.

  “You got it.”

  He slid his phone into his pocket, looking out at his car. Winter followed his gaze, noticing Bells in the front seat, looking very ready to hit the road.

  “Well,” he said. His voice shook slightly, his tone still light-hearted and very Will. He turned and spread his arms open. She snuggled right into them.

  “I guess I’ll miss ya a bit.”

  “You’d better,” she said with a laugh. His chest was so warm.

  The hug was much too short, and they let go, Winter curling into herself with the sudden absence of his body heat.

  “Drive safe,” she said lamely. He put his hand up in a single wave, smiling awkwardly.

  “Bye, Frosty.”

  She watched him all the way to his car, paid attention to how he started the engine, where he placed his hands on the wheel, and how his eyes drifted to hers again before he pulled away.

  A hollowness filled her chest, and she looked around at the other guests, wiping away a tear from her cheek. There were still so many people there, and when they left, there would be a wrap party, preparations for the next few murder-mystery-free months, a relaxing night before another busy day.

  There was plenty of company Winter could keep, but even surrounded by so many people, she’d never felt so alone.

  “Another meat lover’s, Will!” the mayor called out from his spot in the diner, and Will whistled his acknowledgment of the order. The shop wasn’t too busy tonight; word had gotten out that Will hadn’t been his usual self, skipping the flair and showmanship of making pizzas and just… well, making pizza. He slid the ultimate cheese he’d been working on into the oven and started slicing up the meat lover’s.

  It’d only been a week, but it’d been the longest week of his life. The drive home coulda set records in the Monroe family for how long two of them could be together and stay quiet. Bells asked him one question on the way back, and it was to stop for a night instead of driving straight through. Otherwise, they’d both been pretty preoccupied with their own thoughts.

  He’d resisted the urge to text Winter every waking second, but he hadn’t lasted longer than a few hours. They’d flirted all week, chatting till the early hours of the morning, and the only time Will felt like smilin’ was when he had his phone in his face and a notification with her name on it.

  But it wasn’t the same. There was something missing from his precious Alabama that didn’t make it feel right anymore. He constantly felt out of place, which explained his less-than-stellar performances at the shop.

  The bell tinkled over the door, and he barely looked up. “Welcome to Roe’s Pizza,” he sai
d mechanically. “What can I get for ya?”

  A huff he knew all too well floated to his ears. “Y’all can stop your mopin’ and come talk to me.” Bells crossed her arms, her dress swaying to the side as she canted her hip.

  “I’m busy, Bells.”

  She gave him a look like the devil himself resided in her blue irises. He slowly put the mayor’s order up on the counter.

  “Uh, Mr. Mayor, you’re up.”

  “Thank you, Will.” The mayor strode over, but when he’d caught sight of Bells’ face, he cautiously took the plate. Will sighed and signaled to Jeremy.

  “Watch the counter for me, will ya?”

  “No problem, boss.”

  Bells marched into the back office, her shoulder knocking a picture off center, but she didn’t even stop. Will tapped it straight and closed the door behind them.

  “A’right, let me have it.”

  “I’m just as miserable as you, William,” she said, jumping right in like he knew she would. “But you don’t see me dragging my feet through the mud. You even got her number.”

  “It’s not the same,” he grumbled, crossing his arms and refusing to look at her. He’d never been comfortable about talking how he felt. So many things could come spilling out—like the fact that they lived in two very different worlds, how she was way too good for him, and that he’d spent so much time up there wishing he was down here, and now that he was, he wanted to go back.

  Bells’ irritation melted some. She crossed the room and leaned up against the wall next to him, dropping her head on his shoulder.

  “I’m jealous, you know,” she said. “I go lookin’ for a fairytale, and you’re the one who found it.”

  He snorted. “You call this a happy ending?”

  “You found a princess, Will.” She turned her head to give him the bossy eyes of an older sister. “Go get your happy ending.”

  For a fleeting moment, he really thought about it. He was gonna grab his keys or look up flights and go. But he shook his head.

  “How in the world is it gonna work? I couldn’t ask her to leave Frostville Mansion, and Alabama is home.”

  “Is it really? Because you’ve been acting homesick ever since you got back.”

  Had his comfortable and safe Alabama become empty and sad? He ran a hand over his growing beard, the first thought being he needed to shave. Winter liked it trimmed, and maybe he’d feel more at home with it close cut.

  “Oh shoot,” he blurted, and Bells’ brow furrowed. His eyes widened at her, his mouth opening like he couldn’t believe it’d taken him this long to figure out. Home wasn’t a place anymore. Home was comfort, ease, laughter, joy, and love.

  It was Winter. And he was ready to go home.

  Winter blissfully sighed down at the couple just below the balcony. Mel had a blush that could rival Will’s famous red ears as Alexander brushed her hair behind her ear. The moment he’d arrived that Monday for a weeklong stay at Frostville, Winter knew they’d hit it off. He was as outgoing as they come, his giant hugs and elaborate stories lighting up every conversation. Winter had convinced Mel to stay for the week, to get some R and R after a successful murder mystery. Then she’d strategically moved them together, like opposite ends of magnets. And they snapped together almost immediately.

  There was such an overwhelming sense of satisfaction every time she made a match, but something was off about it this time. It might have been the fact she’d failed last week, but what hit her the most was that it just wasn’t as much fun when she had no one to celebrate with.

  She pulled her phone out, leaning on the concrete railing overlooking the drive and tapping a message to Will. It wasn’t the same as having him physically here, but it was at least something.

  The sound of a car disarming drifted her gaze back to the drive. Michael had a hefty duffel bag on his shoulder as he took long and fast strides toward the silver car parked in the employee parking.

  “Hey!” she called out. He swiveled around and shielded his eyes from the sun. “Where are you going?” Michael had planned to stay the whole week, and checking out a few days early wasn’t like him.

  “I let her slip away, Princess!” he shouted back, his arms out in defeat. “I fell hard and fast for the woman of my dreams, and I just let her go. So I’m going to go get her.”

  Winter’s shoulders shook with amusement, her head tilted to the side. “Who?”

  He turned toward his car, shouting back over his shoulder as he slung the duffel into the trunk. “Maybelle!”

  It was a good thing there was a railing in front of her, otherwise she would’ve toppled right over the edge. She righted herself, blinking fast and furious as she tried to connect those dots that just didn’t make sense, but the more she thought about them… they completely did.

  That first night Michael had run from the room right before the big scene. Winter had passed it off as just a brilliant mislead, but maybe he’d been captivated by Maybelle only to have her attention solely on Garreth. He’d been in the gardens that night she’d spied on Garreth and Bells, visibly upset and hurt. But at the pool, they were polite and friendly… Now almost too friendly, as she thought about it. He’d tried to convince her to come into the water, but when she refused, he’d hoisted himself out and sat with her. Michael loved the pool days—she should’ve known he’d only stay out of the water for a woman.

  He barely flirted with anyone last week, and he was absent far more than usual. Winter thought she was the one distracted and distant, but maybe…

  Maybelle had fallen for someone over the week, but it wasn’t Garreth. No wonder she’d been so upset; she was torn between two men instead of one, and when she’d made her choice, Michael had let her go.

  She pushed on the railing, calling out to him before he shut the driver door. “Wait!” He was going to Alabama. He was driving hours just to tell the woman he loved how he felt. Winter wanted to leap over the balcony edge and slide into the passenger seat. If this was her moment to right the wrong she’d made last week by letting Will drive away without knowing just how deeply she cared for him, she was going to take it. “I… I want to come with you!”

  Michael grinned. “Well, come on, then.”

  She let out a squeal and hurried inside to pack. If she was going to see Will, she was going to bring her most insensible shoes, just so he could tease her about them.

  The cab rounded the corner and headed up through Frostville Mansion’s front gate, and Will took his phone out.

  Mel and Alexander are a match! the text read, and he grinned and tucked the phone away, knowing he could celebrate with her in person. After he kissed her senseless, of course.

  He hadn’t realized how long the drive was from the front gate to the actual mansion. Plenty of times he checked the clock on the dash, bouncing in his seat with the urge to open the door and run the rest of the way. When the mansion appeared from out of the trees, he unclicked his seatbelt and grabbed his wallet, making for a quick exit.

  The cab pulled through the roundabout, and he tossed the driver his money. “Could ya drop the bag just outside there?” He nodded to the front door. “Thank you, sir.”

  “Hey, thank you,” the driver said, his voice fading as Will flew from the car. He didn’t know how much money he ended up handing over, but apparently it included a large tip.

  Unsure if he should just walk in or not, he decided to knock. “Winter?” he called, like she’d somehow miraculously be right at the front door and not in one of the billions of rooms.

  The knob turned, and he stood back, rocking on the balls of his feet.

  “Mr. Monroe,” Hansen said, his brows high. “What can I do for you?”

  “I need to see Winter,” he rushed, then took a breath. “If… if she’s available of course.”

  He frowned, the first expression other than the intimidating stare he’d seen from the man. “You just missed her, sir.” His hand motioned to the side of the mansion. The cabbie put Will’s bag down
, and Will held up his finger, asking him silently to wait.

  “You know where she went?” he asked. He’d give the cabbie whatever was in his wallet to have him follow her.

  “Alabama.”

  He jolted back. “What?”

  Hansen nodded. “Sorry, sir. She just left.”

  “When?”

  “Moments ago. She’s probably still on the way ou—”

  Will turned to the cab driver. “Can you follow her?”

  “What’s she driving?”

  They both looked to Hansen.

  “Silver Dodge sedan.”

  “Thank you.” Will pulled Hansen into his arms, surprising himself with the sudden burst of affection. “Thanks a ton.” Then he grabbed his bag and raced back to the cab, but before he got to the door, a reflection of silver caught his eye.

  “Mr. Monroe!” Hansen called from the porch, pointing at the silver sedan heading down the drive. Will nodded and ran for all his life was worth.

  “Winter!” he called out, his voice raspy and weak. He promised himself then and there that if he caught her, he would dedicate a month to the gym.

  Okay, maybe a week.

  “Frosty!”

  The red brake lights were a sign from heaven, and the sedan pulled to a sudden stop. His feet quit moving, and he bent over to catch his breath. The passenger door opened, and a dainty leg with a ridiculous heel attached to it appeared.

  “Will?” she said, an adorable shocked smile on her face. He stood up, chest heaving.

  “Hey.”

  Her laughter met his ears, cutting through the pounding of his heart. “Hey.”

  “Heard… you… were… headed…” His voice was lost to his breathing, and so he just pointed to himself. Her heels clunked against the cobblestone, her ankles wobbling the slightest bit as she made her way slowly to him.

  “Alabama’s supposed to be nice this time of year, I hear.”

  “It’s nice… every time of year.”