“I don’t think that’s a great idea.”
“What? Why not?”
“I don’t know, I just think she’s quite uncomfortable around him. Haven’t you noticed?”
Mikayla frowned. “Not particularly. She’s always quiet, so it’s hard to tell.”
Juniper rose to her feet. “I think we’re best off leaving it for now. We just have to make sure she knows we’re here if she wants to talk about anything.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right,” Mikayla said doubtfully, as she stood up, leaving her share of the tab on the table. Juniper smiled at her. She was always and forever action oriented, especially when it came to people she cared about. She hated to see anyone struggling and would always go out of her way to help if she could.
“I am right,” Juniper said with a smile as they walked down the street.
“Okay. But I’m gonna keep an eye on her.”
“Me too.”
CHAPTER 17
William
“Seriously, mate, it sucks to be you.”
William laughed at Mikayla. “It’s not bad, is it?”
As their final stop in the tour of the compound, William, Juniper, Billy, Mikayla, Rafe, Callum, Leah, Nora, John, Violet and Jasper were all squished into the top of the lighthouse, gazing out at the turbulent sea. Thick clouds hovered, creating an oppressive atmosphere that begged for the relief of rain. William just had to hope it held off long enough for the barbecue. Once he’d mentioned the idea of hosting a barbecue, almost as a joke, to Juniper, he’d realized how much he would enjoy it. Never one to muck around once he’d decided on something, he’d gone online and ordered a grand, stainless steel six burner monstrosity that had arrived within forty-eight hours. Feeling a little odd, he’d casually mentioned it to John, relieved that he’d jumped on the idea with enthusiasm. Once the invitation had been passed on to Nora, it was a done deal with snacks, salads and desserts organized amongst the group. With a BYO chair policy instituted by Juniper and a table made of sawhorses and long lengths of unstained flooring, all that was left for him to do was orderthe meat.
“I’m going to head back down and get the barbecue on.” William squeezed through the group and down the spiral stairs, smiling to himself when he heard Juniper’s footsteps behind him. He moved through the door, turning quickly to grab her as she came through, pressing her up against the warm sandstone wall of the lighthouse. “We didn’t get to say a proper hello.” She’d arrived with Billy, Violet and Jasper so all he’d been allowed was a chaste peck on the cheek. She smiled, understanding exactly what he meant, before wrapping her arms around his neck and laying her lips across his in a passionate kiss. Their tongues entwined and he felt the hot stirrings of lust, pushing her hard against the wall as she buried her fingers in his hair. He heard the stomping of multiple pairs of feet on the iron staircase and pulled back abruptly, seeing his regret mirrored in her eyes. “God, I can’t get enough.”
“Me either.” She linked her fingers in his as they walked to the little cottage and through the sliding doors to the kitchen. “Maybe I could come back tonight after Billy goes to bed. I’m sure Nana won’t mind, but I’d want to be back home before he wakes in the morning.”
“Okay.” He pulled the meat out of the fridge, smiling at her when she took it from him, and he followed her back out to the patio.
“Nana’s probably going to head back to Byron Bay soon, so we have to make the most of it.”
He sighed as he turned the barbecue on. He wanted to ask what would happen after Violet left but as they stepped out, the rest of the group was ambling across the lawn from the lighthouse.
“Jeez, mate, you sure know how to buy a barbie.” Callum grabbed three beers from the ice box, handing one each to Rafe and William before taking the seat Rafe folded out for him.
William laughed at Callum, looking at the giant barbecue. “Yeah, I might have gone a bit overboard.” He waved his hand over thehotplate, judging if it was hot enough and started throwing the sausages and meat patties on, getting a kick of satisfaction as they instantly sizzled and in no time at all, the mouthwatering scent was wafting on the air.
John approached the barbecue, a harried, flushed look on his face. “Jesus Christ, give me a beer.”
Concerned, Callum reached into the icebox nestled against the window and pulled out a bottle, handing it to his father. “What is it?”
“Violet’s talking to your mother.”
William and Callum glanced over, seeing Nora and Violet in their fold out chairs facing the sea, heads bent close, engaged in an intense conversation. Jasper was alongside them, leaning back contentedly, his gray hair blowing softly in the breeze. The chair John had been sitting on was knocked over on the grass. “So?”
“Well, it’s Violet. What do you think they’re talking about?” William had a few ideas, but Callum shrugged, bewildered. He obviously hadn’t had much experience with Violet. “They’re talking about sex.”
“Oh,” Callum shifted his shoulders uncomfortably.
“Tantric sex.”
“Ooh,”
“Which means I’m going to have to?—”
