Instead he kissed her. His mouth skated across her lips, and he kissed her for all they were, and for all they ever could be together. He knew right then that all he ever wanted was standing in front of him, locked in his embrace, by a bonfire on the beach.
All he ever wanted was Juliette.
“It’s getting late.” Her mouth murmured against his own, and cold air seeped between them.
“I know.” He didn’t want to let her go.
“I’ve got that appointment in the morning.” She angled her head so he could trail kisses down her neck. “For the beach house.”
He groaned. Damn that appointment. “You could stay with me again, if you wanted to, of course.”
“I could for sure. And I do want to stay with you.” Juliette pulled back in his hold, tilting her face up to his own. “But all of my work for the wedding venue is at the apartment above Mystic Florals. And I need to make sure I get there early so I’m prepared.”
She leaned in close and rose up on her toes. “If I stay the night with you, I know I won’t get there early because I’ll be up all night.”
Then she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and winked. “Will you swing by tomorrow?”
“Yeah. I’ll be over there at some point. Hopefully by the afternoon.” Sadly, he released her, and the warmth where her body had been pressed against his own dissipated in the frosty air. “I just have a few more things to take care of for Yaya beforehand.”
“Okay.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “Have a good night.”
He watched her walk through the path between sand dunes, toward the softly lit gravel parking lot. Waiting a few moments longer, he stood in silence as the fire slowly died and the crash of the waves grew ever more present. Brock made sure there was no trash or garbage left behind on the beach, and once he made certain the fire was out completely, he headed back up the shore to his truck.
His phone buzzed in his pocket.
He pulled it out, and two text messages from an unknown number filled the screen. Odd. He opened the texts, and three images popped up. His gaze shot to the words at the bottom of the screen.
Unknown
Thought you might need to see these.
The first picture was of Juliette and a strikingly handsome man he’d never seen before. It appeared as though they were having coffee together at Latte & Bean. They were nestled at a back table, smiling at one another, and his hand was on top of hers. Whatever they were discussing appeared to be significant, and also intimate.
The second picture was of the man standing, bending toward her. She was smiling up at him in a way that caused Brock’s insides to simmer.
And in the last one, he was kissing her.
Just like Miss Bobbie said.
Disbelief echoed through him, leaving him numb. His gut seized, roiling with waves of acidic jealousy and anger. This must have been the man she was talking about, the one Juliette had been cozy with, but nothing about these pictures screamed innocence. He knew it was wrong to make assumptions without talking to her, but this looked more like a personal meeting and not very much like a business appointment. The way they were leaning toward one another and smiling was not at all like how he would greet a passing acquaintance.
But none of it made sense.
He had no idea where this guy had come from. He’d never even seen him before. But Juliette looked as though she’d known him all her life. Which could only mean one thing…it was Rodrigo.
Her ex-boyfriend.
But Rodrigo was marrying Charity Rhodes. Rodrigo was going to be the groom of the first wedding at their beach house venue. There was no way he was back to try to steal Juliette away. Granted, the man could offer her everything, even if he had cheated on her, even if he was marrying someone else. He could still give her things Brock never could, like a new way out of Mystic Cove, a fresh chance to make something of herself. Her opportunities would be endless.
But she just told Brock she wanted to try.
Try.
The word stuck inside him like a thorn.
He would have to talk to her. He was certain this was all some kind of miscommunication, a misinterpretation on the part of Miss Bobbie, for certain.
Brock jumped into his truck and slammed the door shut. He wanted Juliette to stay with him more than anything, to build a life with him, but that meant he’d have to do the one thing he’d carefully avoided.
