“Absolutely,” Juni says. “Well, if your dad says it’s okay, that is.”
“She’s a natural rider,” I clear my throat. “Go wash up; dinner’s ready.”
Both kids run off to the bathroom to wash their hands while Juni goes to the sink quietly. Maybe if I don’t bring up the whole leaving thing, she’ll forget she ever said it and just stay here. With us.With me.
I never thought I’d meet anyone who simply just belonged here. Knight Falls has been a part of the Knight family for generations; it’s engrained in our DNA, the very fabric of who we are, and for the longest time, I thought it simply belonged to us and no one else. But then Niamh came, and she took a piece for herself with Roman and now Juni… she suits this ranch.
She suits me.
Shit.
I’m falling in love with her.
The thought has my heart dropping into my stomach. She wanders toward me, light on her feet, her face soft, and runs a hand across my back as she passes me, moving to the cupboards to pluck out glasses she can place on the table. It’s natural, domestic even, and my thoughts spiral back to that place where she doesn’t leave and her future is here.
Swallowing thickly, I shift out of her touch, disguising the move by grabbing silverware from the drawers to put by the placemats.
I should have known falling in love with Juniper Scott would be easy. Too fucking easy.
I figured I’d have control though, that I am much too jaded and far too broken to be capable of it.
But somewhere along the line all her gold seeped into the cracks of my heart, and she pulled the pieces back together.
I gave up on love a long time ago.That’s what I had said to her only this morning, but what a bunch of bullshit that was.
I hadn’t given up; I was simply waiting forher.
Now I need to convince her to stay. To give up those thoughts of leaving, of traveling so I can love her. How fucking selfish does that make me?
Caleb and Rosie come sprinting back through, providing a welcome distraction from my swirling thoughts, and I get them settled for dinner, dishing both of them up a plate while Juni gets seated in the chair next to mine.
“I’ll cook tomorrow,” she declares suddenly, giving me those dark eyes of hers. I think that’s where it started. Those eyes, those deep brown eyes framed by thick lashes that are so open and hopeful, it was impossible not to lose myself in them. She never hides her true feelings, not really; if you look, you’ll see them right there. A sparkle in a sea of shadow, the glimmer of hope.
“You don’t need to,” I swallow.
“I want to,” she smiles.
“What are you going to cook?” Rosie asks, stealing her attention.
“I’m not sure yet,” Juni taps her lip. “Maybe you can help me decide, and then we can go to the store to pick it all up.”
Rosie grins wide, “Really!?”
“Is that okay?” She asks me.
All I can do is nod.
“Sound like a plan?” She asks my daughter.
“Can I come?” Caleb pipes in.
“But it’s a girl’s day,” Rosie whines.
“Hey now,” Juni says to both of them softly, “I’d hate to be left out, so we’re not going to leave Caleb out.”
I’m stunned silent, watching her with my children like she’s been here for years and not weeks.
“Of course you can come,” she tells my son gently. “We can all pick something together, do a surprise for your dad.”
