She laughed again, and I couldn’t help but laugh along with her. By the time we pulled up at the curb of the store again, I was walking on clouds.
“Do you want to come up for a drink or anything?” June asked as we got out of the car.
I saw the hopeful glint in her eye, and it made me want to say yes, but I knew where that would lead. I wasn’t sure I could control myself; in fact, IknewI couldn’t, and that was a dangerous path to go down. She was tied to someone else now, and I wouldn’t ruin her life because I couldn’t say no.
I patted the top of the car once. “Another raincheck?”
She smiled, but there was disappointment in her eyes as she nodded. “You’re starting to rack those up. I’m gonna call them in one day.”
“Understood,” I said, and took a few steps down the street. “See you tomorrow?”
She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and winked. “Tomorrow.”
I watched until she was safely inside upstairs, then I walked back to the rental house. The silver dollar sat heavily in my pocket, and I hoped the next day would prove fruitful. Deep down, what I really hoped was that time would go by faster so I could be near June again. I kept declining offers to spend time with her because I thought I was doing the honorable thing by giving her space to start her new life. In reality, all I wanted was to be near her, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep saying no.
66
JUNIPER
“Come on in,” I said, opening the door to the shop and waving Levi in.
I was excited to get started and truly hoped I could focus my vision better this time. I’d barely slept the night before because I was so excited to try.
Levi stepped in and fished the silver dollar from his pocket. “Ready?”
“Yeah. Let’s get to it before customers start coming in,” I said, taking his hand and nearly dragging him behind the counter.
Levi held the coin between his thumb and index finger. “Are you ready?”
Reaching up, I touched my necklace to make sure it was there, then put both my hands out.
“Give me your hand,” I said.
Levi took my hand, and the warmth of his palm in mine calmed me. I could almostfeelthe connection between us.
“Tell me when,” he said, holding the coin an inch above my free hand.
I took a deep breath, doing my best to focus on Elmer Meyers. When I was as focused as I thought I could be, I looked at Levi. “Now.”
He dropped the coin. When it touched my hand, a surge of power flooded through my mind.
The slamof a fist on the front door ripped me from the book I’d been reading. The novel tumbled from my hand, landing on the rug.
“Levi!” a voice outside screamed, shaking with rage. “Get your bloody ass out here. You hear me?”
Something about the man’s tone sent a chill down my spine. Levi came running from upstairs, rage flaring in his eyes.
“This old fucker,” he muttered under his breath as he strode toward the door.
“Who is that?” I asked as another thunderous pounding rattled the door in its frame.
“Elmer Meyers,” Levi growled as he opened the door.
An old man of about seventy stood on our porch, his face blotchy and red with anger, a fist clenched at his side and shaking, the other handheld up and an accusing finger pointing at Levi.
“I don’t give a damn that you’re the alpha, but you don’t get to tell me who I can fuck,” Elmer snarled, and I couldn’t help but suck in a gasp.
Elmer’s eyes snapped over to lock on me, and he barked a humorless laugh. “You get a pretty young thing to warm your bed. Why don’t I?” he said, slamming his fist into his chest.
