I’ve been doing quite a bit of that the past five days. Smiling. Every time I see Juniper, those muscles in my face twitch, getting a workout after not being used much over the last few years. I can’t remember the last time I was so eager to see someone, but every morning I wake up and wonder if I’ll see her at breakfast. I look forward to running into her during chores. Even though I’ve been at her house late twice since Monday, I can’t get enough of her.
I don’t know what to do with the feelings that are starting to surface, so I’m pretending they aren’t there.
Oakley was like a kid on Christmas, jumping up and down at the prospect of getting to dance. Briggs and Rusty weren’t so keen, but with the real opening week coming up, they decided to tag along to blow off some steam.
Juniper had a meeting with her parents, so she drove separately from the rest of us. I won’t pretend I wasn’t disappointed. I was looking forward to having her pressed up against my side again.
I’ll have to wait until I can have her naked body pressed against mine later.
I’m at the bar, waiting for my old fashioned, when the woman I recognize as Juniper’s best friend sidles up to me. She’s about an inch shorter than me, with black hair chopped into a bob that hits just below her chin. Like Juniper, she’s got curves for days, but they don’t call me to explore them like Juniper’s. In fact, I don’t feel an ounce of attraction for anyone else in the bar.
I’ll examine that later. Maybe.
“You’re Addison, right?” She extends her hand, and I take the offering. “I’m Shiloh, Juniper’s best friend. I wanted to formally introduce myself since I didn’t get to last week.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“How are you liking the ranch? You excited to have guests arrive next week?”
What is she playing at? I doubt she came over here to make small talk.
“I like it a lot. The Calhouns are good people, and they treat us well. I wouldn’t say I’m excited, but it’ll be an adventure.”
Shiloh nods slowly. “The Calhounsaregood people. The best. Juniper got her big heart from Mama Marjorie.”
I can see exactly where she’s going with this.
“I would hate to see Juniper get hurt.”
There it is.
“I don’t see how Juniper would get hurt,” I say, “but I agree.”
Shiloh’s brown eyes narrow. “Hm. You’re right. There’s no way for her to get hurt, because she’s not involved with anyone. Silly me.”
It takes considerable effort to keep my face schooled. Was I that obvious last Friday? Oakley saw it. Did anyone else? Has it been obvious this week on the ranch?
“I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about,” I say as nonchalantly as I can.
“I’m sure you don’t.”
The front door opens, and we both turn toward it.
I nearly swallow my tongue as Juniper walks in looking like a dream come true. The denim dress she has on barely skims the middle of her thighs. The straps are maybe an inch wide, with a V that dips down toward her cleavage, but isn’t indecent. Her brown hair is in glossy waves, and my fingers itch to run through the silky strands.
Juniper glances around the room, her eyes landing on Shiloh first, and a wide smile breaks across her face. Then, she sees me, and it falters, like she wasn’t expecting me to be next to her friend.
Juniper makes her way over, but she gets stopped by the guys she was sitting with next week. They hug her, and she tosses her head back in a laugh at something they say.
I don’t like it. I want to make her laugh. I’ve made her moan,groan, scream, and whimper in pleasure, but I’ve never made herlaugh.
Shiloh nudges me. “You sure are looking at her like someone who knows what I’m talking about. Maybe wipe the drool off your chin before everyone else catches on to the fact you’ve got the hots for my best friend.”
I try to subtly wipe at my mouth, even though I’m sure there isn’t any drool there, and she smirks.
Damn it.
When Juniper finally makes her way to the bar, she wraps Shiloh in a hug and gushes about how much she loves the denim jumpsuit Shiloh’s got on. When they break apart, Juniper turns to me and gives me a shy smile.
