The mention of Yaya had Brock’s mind circling back to what he’d witnessed earlier in the day between his grandmother and father. The tenderness. The love. The compassion. All the things Aidan had never bothered to show him.
“That’s great.” When he spoke, his voice lacked its usual enthusiasm, and Juliette noticed right away.
“Are you sure?” Her dark brows knit together in a tight line, and she looked at him, concern threading through the faint lines on her face. “You don’t sound as thrilled as I imagined.”
This time he raked both of his hands through his hair, let the chaotic crop of auburn strands fall where they may, and blew out a harsh breath.
“Do people ever surprise you?” he asked suddenly, gesturing to everything and nothing around them at once. “Like, one minute you think the absolute worst of them, and you know it’s impossible for them to change? Then without warning, they dosomething so emotionally raw, so human, it completely catches you by surprise?”
“All the time.” Juliette started walking down the sidewalk along Shoreline Drive, and Brock fell into step beside her. The winter wind was cold, but thankfully they could hide from the gusts between the rows of houses and shops.
“That’s the great thing about humans though, isn’t it?” Juliette pulled her furry hood over her head and moved closer, so their shoulders just brushed as they walked side by side. She was so close that if he wanted to, he could reach out and take her hand. “The ability to change, to forgive, to see people in a new light as opposed to the shadows?”
“Yeah,” Brock agreed. She had a valid point, and it was honestly something he hadn’t considered before. “When you think about it like that, it makes sense.”
She changed direction and together they cut through a small alleyway. It opened onto a makeshift walking path of uneven plank boards reaching across the sand, and the ocean stretched out to greet them. Late morning sunlight spilled over the cresting waves like crushed flecks of gold. The sky was clear, a brilliant blue with only wisps of clouds to be seen. Further down the beach, an elderly couple strolled hand in hand, two guys were tossing a frisbee to their golden retriever, and a group of teens laughed as they pretended to shove one another toward the water’s reach.
“So, this person who surprised you…” Juliette peered up at him from beneath her lashes, and something in his gut clenched. “Were you talking about your dad?”
Brock nodded. “I saw him reading to Yaya earlier. He was tucking her into bed this morning and reading her my favorite story from when I was a kid. He even smoothed back her hair.”
All the things Aidan never did for him.
Suddenly, Juliette’s hand slipped into his, and she drew up close to him. Her fingers were warm as they interlaced with his own, and he cautiously traced small circles along her skin with his thumb. She gave his hand a squeeze and leaned over, letting her head come to rest on his shoulder as they continued their slow walk along the beach’s outer edge. Something about her quieted his soul. Soothed him. Calmed him. He loved the feel of her. Loved her.
A silent, steady stream of curses filtered through his mind.
Shit.
He was still in love with her.
“Listen, Jules.” He stopped and faced her, lifted their joined hands, and brushed the faintest of kisses across her knuckles. She sucked in a quick breath, but she didn’t pull away from him, and he was grateful for it. Because he needed her to know the truth. Loving Juliette would mean loving a girl who would ultimately leave, just like everyone else. Loving Juliette would mean never loving again. “About last night, I’m sorry that I?—”
“There’s nothing to be sorry for, Brock.” Her smile was small, maybe a little sad. “We’re both grown adults. We can make our own choices.” Her gaze drifted beyond him to the sea, and she pulled her hand away. “Our own mistakes.”
Mistakes.
He rolled the word over in his mind.
Nothing about what they shared, either in the past or present, was ever a mistake. But leaving her? Never coming back for her? Now, that was a fucking mistake.
The breeze caused tendrils of her hair to flutter loose from the lopsided bun on top of her head. He wished she wore it down more. He’d love to run his hand through those silky strands, like he’d done so many times before. Before he’d stupidly listened to Gigi.
“Hey.” He shoved his fists into his pockets to keep himself from tucking her hair behind her ear. Or from caressing her flushed cheeks. “Anders and I are meeting up at the Ugly Crab later for some dinner and drinks. Do you want to join us? As friends? Or at least, as work colleagues?”
She debated for a moment, and her teeth skated along her bottom lip. Then she grinned. “Okay. Is their steamed bucket of crab legs, lobster, and shrimp still the best in town?”
“You know it.”
Brock offered his arm to lead them back to Shoreline Drive. Juliette’s hand curved around his bicep, and she leaned into him for warmth from the biting wind. He inhaled, breathing in the scent of her—sweet flowers and the tang of the sea—and all he could do was think about kissing her again. About how he wanted to wake up with her tangled around him every morning while that same delicious scent of hers lingered on his sheets. So what if they both knew last night wasn’t a good idea.
Brock was already certain of one thing.
Juliette was the best mistake of his life.
CHAPTER 19
After her brief walk on the beach with Brock, Juliette returned to Mystic Florals. Her mother was in the back cooler, organizing the day’s shipment, while the twins arranged bouquets at the worktable. A new hire was at the front of the shop handling the flower bar, which was still shockingly successful. Though Gigi would never admit it.
