Page 69 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

Juliette felt high as they dressed and headed out of the woods hand in hand. She carried the wildflowers he’d picked for her, and he carried the cooler and blanket, letting the moonlight lead the way this time.

She was still on cloud nine when the dogs greeted them in Seeley’s yard. They lavished them with attention, and the pups trotted beside them as they walked through the yard.

“I know you have to pick up Lucas, but if you can spare a minute, I have something I want to show you.”

“Okay.” They headed into his house through the doors off the back deck, and she felt like she was seeing it for the first time. She’d been so stressed the night she’d been there, she’d missed how warm and inviting it felt. “Your home is really beautiful. I love all the stone and wood. But I have to admit, I was bummed that you tore down the old cabin. Not that I blame you, after everything that happened.”

“That was a difficult time.” He led her into the bedroom, where there were candles ready to be lit and tin cans filled with wildflowers on every surface.

An incredulous and enamored, “Seeley,” fell from her lips.

“I thought we might end up here. Don’t get the wrong idea. I don’t want to go back to being the kids we were, but making love to you in that old cabin, lying on the floor making plans, and just…” He cleared his throat. “Those are some of my happiest memories. I thought it would be nice to re-create it when I showed you this.” He pulled back the area rug in front of the bed, revealing the scuffed and worn floorboards with the heart and their initials he’d carved into them when they were kids.

She couldn’t believe her eyes. “Is that…?”

“It’s the original floor from the old cabin. I refinished the rest of it, but I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of that. Even through all the anger, all the shit with your father and your marriage, and every sign telling me you played me, some part of me couldn’t accept it. We felt too big for you to turn your back on. We felt unfinished, and I just couldn’t do it.”

Tears burned her eyes, her voice cracking. “You were so angry when you saw me at the hospital. I can’t believe you kept anything that reminded you of us. I thought you hated me.”

Pain rose in his eyes. “In that moment, I might have.”

That hurt, even though it was warranted. She’d felt the same way at first, thinking he’d dumped her knowing about the pregnancy.

“Darlin’, when I saw you, my head and my heart had been at war for the past sixteen years. I did a damn good job of bottling up the pain and longing and the anger and confusion, but seeing you again broke my ability to hold it in. My emotions erupted like a fucking volcano, and I had to get away from you before I lost it. I’m sorry for what I said.”

She shook her head, stepping closer. “It’s okay.” She wound her arms around his neck. “That’s behind us now. I’m sorry you were so tortured, but I’m so freaking happy you didn’t forget us.”

“I could no sooner forget us than I could be done with you.”

Her heart felt like it might burst as his arms circled her, and he sealed those words with a long, sensual kiss.

Chapter Nineteen

DOC AND JULIETTE sat in his truck Tuesday morning across from the café in Boulder watching Ana, a thick-waisted woman with olive skin and dark shoulder-length hair. She had arrived at the café alone nearly twenty minutes ago, looking sharp in a black skirt and cream-colored blouse, and was seated outside at a table for two. Every passing minute felt like an hour, making the tense situation even more excruciating. Doc was used to staking out people and confronting assholes. He’d done it more times than he cared to count with the club. But while his gut was burning with a need for vengeance against Juliette’s father, his heart burned with worry for Juliette. She’d had a tough morning before she’d even left the house.

When she’d told Lucas where they were going, he’d wanted to go with them to confront his grandfather if he showed up. She’d told him maybe one day he could do that but that she needed to find out what really happened first. Doc knew that wasn’t an easy conversation for either of them. Now she was strung so tight, she held her breath every time someone walked into the café. He was concerned she might break if her father showed up to meet Ana.

He glanced at his blue-eyed beauty, so fucking thankful she’d come back into his life with Lucas, but his chest constricted at her pinched brows as she stared out the window, her hands curled tightly into fists. He should’ve insisted on coming alone.

He reached across the seat and pried open her fingers, interlacing them with his. “You don’t have to do this.”

She whipped her head to the side. “Yes, I do. I want answers.”

“I know you do.” He squeezed her hand. “But I can see how hard this is for you. We can leave, and I can get those answers for both of us another day.”

“I’m fine.”

He arched a brow.

“Okay,” she relented. “Maybe I’m not fine, but I need to do this. If my father shows up, I want to look them both in the eye and hold them accountable for what they’ve done.”

He kissed the back of her hand. “I admire your strength, darlin’. It’s not going to be easy.”

“It’ll be a heck of a lot easier than what they put me through.”

He hoped that was true.

When they returned their attention to Ana, the waitress was standing by her table. Ana looked at her watch and said something. The waitress nodded, and as she walked away, Ana grabbed her purse and fished around in it, pulling out her phone. She thumbed out a text and then set the phone on the table and took a sip of her drink. As she set down her glass, she picked up the phone and put it to her ear, a smile gracing her face as she spoke. Her smile faltered, her shoulders slumping.