“I didn’t come back here just to be mad. I came back because I don’t want to run again. I want to fight for this property. He wanted me to have it, and I want to stay here… with you.”
My chest ached. Not from guilt this time, but something deeper—something tighter. She was standing in front of me, vulnerable, braver than I’d ever been with anyone, and I’d almost let her slip away because I couldn’t face the truth either.
“I told myself I was watching out for you because of Caleb,” I said. “Because it’s what he would’ve wanted.”
Juniper lifted her gaze to mine, steady and unreadable.
“But the truth is,” I continued, voice low, “I care about you. More than I should. More than I know how to deal with. And that scared the hell out of me.”
Her shoulders dropped slightly, the tension easing.
“I’ve tried to keep everyone at arm’s length since I got here. Hell, since the day I got out of the service.” I looked away, then back again, forcing myself not to hide. “But you… you walked in with that camera and that ridiculous cat and started tearing down all my walls without even meaning to.”
Juniper’s breath caught.
“I don’t know what this is, baby. But I know I’m not ready to let go of it.”
She reached out and took my hand. Her fingers slid between mine, small and soft, grounding me in a way nothing else ever had.
“Neither am I,” she whispered.
We stood there, wrapped in the quiet hum of the storm outside, until I pulled her close. I held her for a long beat with her cheek pressed to my chest and my chin tucked over her head. I didn’t have to say anything else for now. She could feel what I meant in the way I held her. In the way I didn’t let go.
When she finally stepped back, she brushed her fingers over the front of my coat, smoothing it down like she didn’t want to lose contact.
“What now?” she asked.
“Now,” I said, my voice like steel, “I find out who’s behind all of this. I find whoever threatened Caleb. Whoever tried to scare you off. And I make damn sure they never come near you again.”
“You think it’s Deever?” she asked, glancing toward the door.
“I thought so,” I said. “But something doesn’t add up.”
She turned back to me, her eyes narrowing.
“Deever talks big, but he’s all bark. He doesn’t have the guts or the brains for this kind of shit. The rabbit, the boot prints… someone’s watching you, and I don’t like how they’re going about it.”
A chill slid down my spine that had nothing to do with the storm still raging outside.
“I don’t think Deever’s calling the shots,” I added. “I think he’s just the mouthpiece for someone with deeper pockets. Someone who’s got a hell of a lot more to lose.”
Juniper’s eyes widened. “Like who?”
“I don’t know yet,” I said, my voice low and lethal. “But I’m going to find out.” And when I did, they’d regret ever setting foot on this mountain and targeting my girl.
CHAPTER 10
JUNIPER
The roadinto town was quiet, the trees dripping from last night’s rain and the sky still heavy with thick gray clouds. Griff kept one hand on the wheel, the other holding mine. Tension rolled off him in steady waves.
“Do you think he’ll admit it?” I asked.
“No. But I’m not going there for a confession.”
“Then what?”
Griff’s strong jaw flexed. “To make sure he doesn’t try anything again.”
