Chapter 12
Oh yeah. Magnus had definitely fucked up.
Juniper hadn’t said another word about their conversation, but she was acting way too chipper and not making eye contact with him. Every time he tried to talk to her, she agreed with whatever he said, but her tone was off, and she was not happy.
“Trouble in paradise?” Hawking asked when Magnus arrived at his station. Hawking had taken the early morning shift watching the monitors. He was grinning.
Magnus groaned. “Something like that.” He placed his hand on his ballcap and ground his teeth together.
Hawking glanced across the room where Juniper was leaning over the dining table examining the blueprints. He turned back to Magnus and spoke in a low tone. “You’ve only known her a few days. I have to assume you slept during the night. It’s pretty early. How did you piss her off so badly already this morning?”
Magnus sighed. “It’s not important. I’ll fix it. Right now, we need a team meeting as soon as possible.”
Hawking glanced at the time. “It’s not even six. You want to pull everyone out of bed?”
Magnus rubbed his chin. “It’s pretty important. Maybe we can wait until seven.”
Hawking’s brow was furrowed as he stood. “Does this have anything to do with why your Little girl is staring at the building’s blueprints as if she were an architect?”
“Yes. I’ll tell everyone about it at the same time.”
“Okay. I’ll jump in the shower and send a group text. Be back in twenty.”
Magnus remained rooted to his spot, his gaze on Juniper. She wasn’t looking in his direction, and it was intentional. He’d really hurt her feelings, and he needed to figure out how to rectify things.
It wasn’t as though he could have her working next to him. That was out of the question. He couldn’t have anyone working next to him. Besides, he wanted his relationship with his Little girl to be fun and laughter, hugs and kisses, sex and spankings. He didn’t want to add heavy shit like working side-by-side all day.
What was she going to do here, though? He’d decided he wanted her to stay. He’d even told her that. He’d kind of demanded it. And he was pretty sure she understood that this thing with them was not a fling. It was forever. He also believed she agreed. However, he hadn’t considered what that might mean for her career.
Was she a photographer? Maybe she could do that here at the resort. Danger Bluff didn’t have its own photographer. But she’d said photography was a hobby.
What do you do for work, Little girl?
He probably should have dug into her history and figured out what her career had been before now. Why had Kingsley asked him not to? And how long had the man wanted her history to remain a mystery? In any case, Magnus had been so worried about her safety that he hadn’t had the time to investigate anyway.
He couldn’t ask her now. She’d shoot daggers at him with her eyes and possibly kill him. He didn’t know her well enough to know how long she might need to cool down or even if she would cool down after he’d hurt her feelings.
Fuck. He knew he was an awkward guy. That’s why he hadn’t had a long-term Little girl in the first place. He wasn’t the sort who was easy to get along with. He didn’t tolerate many people in his space. He’d been skeptical about joining these other five men and becoming a team with them. It wasn’t his thing. He usually preferred to work alone.
He looked across the room, and his heart hurt. Maybe he hadn’t been searching for a Little girl, but he’d found her anyway, and there was no doubt she was his. He loved her so much that it really stressed him out that he’d hurt her feelings.
A quick look at the monitors told him most of the resort was still asleep. He could take a few minutes to try and smooth things over with Juniper.
Determined, he shuffled toward her.
Yeah, she was furious. She didn’t look up at all. She just kept moving around the giant blue sheet. She’d already dropped pins and sticky notes in three locations.
He set his palms on the table and said the first thing that came to mind. “Are you an architect?”
She didn’t look up as she responded, “Nope.”
Oh, damn. This was bad.
“Juni…”
“What?” She moved to another section of the schematic and studied it hard.
“I’m sorry I never asked you what you do for a living. I assumed it was photography, but you said that’s just a hobby.”
“Yep.”
Yikes. She couldn’t get any colder.
“Did you take a leave of absence to come here on a long vacation?” The thought of her needing to return to work someday made his chest tighten.
“Nope.”
He ran his hand over the top of his ballcap. He’d created this problem. He needed to dig out of it. “Will you tell me what you do for work, Juni?” he asked nicely.
“Someday. Not today.”
At least she hadn’t told him to go to hell.
All he could do right now was bare his soul and hope for the best. “Juni, you are my world. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. I really am. I’m not very good with people. I didn’t expect to ever meet someone who could be my forever Little girl. I didn’t think it was in the cards for me. I’m too difficult. Grouchy. Set in my ways. I don’t share easily. But when I first set eyes on you, I knew you were it for me. I know it in my soul. You are my life. I would do anything for you. So, I’m very frustrated with myself for bungling my words and insulting you. I hope you can forgive me.”
She stopped what she was doing and took a deep breath. Finally, she looked at him. “I didn’t expect to find someone either, Magnus. I’ve always been a loner. I’ve only had a few super close friends. Sammi was one of them. When my father died, I realized I didn’t really have anyone left I cared about. It shook me to the core and caused me to take stock of my life. The first thing I did was quit my high-power job. It was sucking the life out of me. I have plenty of savings, so I can go a long time without looking for work. I had planned on it. And then you dropped into my life and shook things up. I’m probably not good at relationships. But I know one thing.”
“What’s that?” he asked, filled with hope.
“I love you, too, and we’ll work this out. I just need some time. Can you give that to me?”
“Yes, Little girl. Absolutely.” It was about the best he could have hoped for. At least she was talking to him.
“Thank you. Now, let me find the last few portals and mark them before everyone else gets down here, okay?”
“Yes. Can I hug you?”
She jumped down from her seat and came to him. She wrapped her arms around his middle, tipped her head back, and kissed him.
He smiled. “That’s much better than a hug.”
She shrugged. “I guess I’ve made you squirm long enough. Do me a favor.”
“Anything.”
“This is important to me, Magnus.”
“Okay, Juni. Whatever you want.” He meant it. He’d do anything for her.
“I know good and well you’re capable of marching over to that giant computer of yours and finding out every single detail about my former life in less than two minutes. Don’t.”
He flinched.
“You heard me. Let me tell you on my own.”
“Are you a secret spy or something?” he teased. Sort of.
She chuckled. “No, Daddy. I’m not a spy. I’ve never done anything illegal. I’m not in witness protection or anything. I’m just a regular citizen. I promise. But don’t look me up. I’ll tell you when I’m ready.”
“You have my word.” Why did Kingsley withhold information about my Little girl? That was the top question on his mind.
“Thank you, Daddy.” She gave him a smile that wasn’t forced. Progress. “Now, go back to your station. I don’t want Eric Rivers wandering around the property without you knowing where he is at all times.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He chuckled as he headed back to his chair. His Little girl was definitely a mystery, and she was going to keep him on his toes for the rest of time.