That’s a lie.
It’s bothering me because part of me was hoping she felt the connection between us the way I did. I wanted her to gently graze my thigh under the table or knock her boots against mine to acknowledge thatsomethinghappened. I thought maybe she’d corner me in the barn yesterday while I was grooming Honeysuckle and kiss me silly, tell me she doesn’t want it to be just one night, that she wants me for longer.
Stupid, naive thing for me to think.
Oakley watched us like a hawk at dinner, and I swear everyone else knew something was up, even though logically, I know that’s not the case.
No one but me and Addison knows that we spent Friday night tangled together like tumbleweeds. I washed my sheets twice, just to ensure the smell of her was gone. One night of sleeping surrounded by her citrus and mint scent was enough, and my heart won’t survive another.
Butdamndo I want to. I want to bathe in the way she smells, the way she tastes. I squeeze my thighs together as I flash back to my head between her strong thighs. She could crush my skull like a watermelon if she wanted to, and maybe I’d like that. She did tell me I looked like I belonged there, so?—
“Need any help?”
I startle, dropping a casserole dish and splashing soapy water over the sink and soaking my shirt. My face heats with embarrassment as Addison hands me a towel, and I wipe up the spilled water and dab at my shirt like it will help. It’s a lost cause until I can get back to my place and change.
“Sorry,” Addison says, grabbing another towel and wiping down the dishes on the drying rack. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s okay. Startling easily comes with my anxiety.”
Why are you telling her this, Juniper? She doesn't care.
“That makes sense. Is there a better way for me to announce myself to you?”
No one’s ever asked me that. The people who’ve been on the ranch longest know about this little quirk of mine, but they just apologize when it happens. I’ve never had someone try to find a solution.
“Not that I can think of but thank you for asking.”
She nods, going back to drying. I pick up where I left off with the dishes, and we complete the task in silence. It takes everything in me not to chatter away, but I will admit working next to her isn’t so bad.
My body is reacting to being so close to her, which is totallynotprofessional. Every time our elbows brush, or she reaches for a new dish to dry, my pulse races, wanting her to touch me.
This will be a problem if I can’t get this under control.
After I put the last glass in the cabinet, I turn to tell Addison goodnight so I can change out of my still-wet shirt. She’s already looking at me, her brow furrowed.
Addison opens her mouth to say something, but Mama comes bustling in.
“I swear I’m going to have to go to Vegas, Juni. I don’t know what to do about that girl—oh, hi, Addison. I thought you’d gone down to the barn after dinner.”
Addison shakes her head and offers Mama a small smile. “No, ma’am. I was just helping Juniper finish up the dishes. Rusty and Briggs have the horses under control.”
“Well, isn’t that sweet of you? Thank you, honey.”
“No problem at all.”
“What happened with Bry?” I ask.
Mama doesn’t look like she’s been crying, but she seems a little worn from the conversation. Her dark chestnut hair is frizzy, like she’s been twisting it around her fingers like she does when she’s stressed.
The long breath she lets out confirms my suspicions that something is wrong. “Briar’s best friend and her wife were in an accident, and they’re both on life support. One is in much worse condition, and the doctors aren’t sure if they’ll make it. They’ve got a little boy who’s barely three, and their lawyer informed him that Bry’s been named legal guardian and is now in charge of the babyandmaking medical decisions for her friends.”
My jaw goes slack. She must be so overwhelmed. “They don’t have family or anyone else that can help?”
Mama shakes her head. “This is the couple that cut off their families because they weren’t supportive of their relationship, remember them? They’ve been no contact for almost a decade, and they don’t trust them with their baby, so it’s Briar’s job now. I need to head to Vegas to help her. She shouldn’t be going through all this alone, even if she says she’s fine.”
I hate Vegas. It’s too bright and loud, and there are too many people, even if you’re not on the strip. But I’d go in a heartbeat if my sister needed me. “I can go too, if you need me to.”
“Thank you, Juni, but if I go, I need you to stay here and helpyour father. With this rich guy coming next week, he’ll need you to help keep things running smooth. I haven’t decided if I’m going yet. Bry says she doesn’t need anyone. I just wanted to let you know in case I need to leave in a hurry.”
