Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
APOLLO
I t’s been a shitty week, full of work drama that has had me running all over town from job site to job site. If I didn’t know better, I’d say it was as if the universe knew that all I wanted was to spend time with Juniper, and it laughed its ass off at me.
I haven’t seen her since that night in her chapel, and that’s absolutely unacceptable. I crave her company, which might make me a masochist, given her fiery temperament, but it is what it is.
I want Juniper
Today, the stained glass windows are being removed from her chapel, and I wouldn’t miss seeing them go for anything in the world.
When I pull up to the curb down the block, just on the far side of where the city has set up barricades so the construction crew can maneuver the crane without worrying about traffic, I realize I’m not the only one who wanted to watch the show. There’s a small crowd on the sidewalk across the street. Most of them are standing around, chatting and watching the crew, but there are a handful of people who thought ahead and brought camping chairs. Smart.
I walk straight up to the chapel and go inside, surprised to see Juniper standing in the center of the space all by herself.
“Hey.” I walk over to her and smile. She turns my way and quickly blinks away tears. “Whoa, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“No.” She laughs a little and wipes her eyes dry. “No, everything is fine. The crew just got here about thirty minutes ago, and they’ve been trying to decide the best way to take them out without damaging my walls.”
“Then what made you cry?”
“It’s just all finally coming together, and I’m probably hormonal or something stupid like that. It’s nothing. I’m fine. What are you doing?”
“I came to watch, and I’m not the only one either. There’s a little crowd gathered across the street.”
“Yeah, they were standing on the sidewalk just out front, and I made them move to get out of the way. They were cool about it. It’s going to be interesting to watch Jesus and the disciples flying through the air on a crane.”
I nod thoughtfully. “I’m sorry I’ve been so busy this week.”
“It’s fine.”
“No.” With a shake of my head, I reach over, unable to keep my hands to myself any longer, and drag my finger down her cheek. “It’s not fine. Let me make it up to you.”
“Do I look mad?” She tilts her head to the side, and her perfect lips tip up on one side.
“Actually, no, and I know your mad face very well.”
“See? Fine. It’s been busy, and I get it.”
There’s a knock on the door. “June?”
“Yeah, Mike.”
He walks in, and the way he’s looking at June makes me want to punch him out.
Not that I blame him for looking at her like he’d like to eat her for lunch.
“We’re ready to start. If you don’t mind, we’ll want the building to be empty, just in case the unthinkable happens, which it won’t , but just in case. We have everything figured out, and there should be no damage to the structure.”
“No problem.” She nods and gestures for me to follow her. “Do you want us on the other side of the street with the others?”
“I don’t mind if you stick close. It’s your building.” Mike follows us down the steps and to the side yard where the crane is parked. “They are getting ready to begin taping the windows to kingdom come to help prevent breakage. How old did you say they are?”
“About a hundred years, give or take,” June replies, and Mike winces.
“Yeah, I’ll have them use more tape. This is likely going to end up being an all-day job, so if you need anything from inside, I’d grab it now.”
“I don’t live here yet,” June replies with a smile. “I’m good to go when you are, and if you need anything, let me know. I’m a professional contractor and can be put to work.”
“I can, too,” I offer and shake Mike’s hand. “I’m Apollo. I work as an electrician, but I’ve done it all.”
“You’re both insured?”
We nod, and Mike blows out a breath. “You may come in handy, but my crew has been doing jobs like this for a long time. It’s just usually not this many at once, but we’ll make it happen.”
“Thanks, Mike.” June smiles after him, and I lean in to whisper in her ear.
“Are you trying to make me jealous?”
Her gaze whips up to mine. “What? No. Jesus.”
She scowls and shoves her hands into her pockets.
“Don’t be one of those men, Apollo.”
“What kind would that be?”
“The kind who gets jealous over the simplest things, like a waiter in a restaurant or a guy who’s removing the windows I want gone so Jesus isn’t watching my every move.”
“It’s not my fault the guy couldn’t stop checking you out—Mike, not Jesus.”
“It happens.” She shrugs as if it’s meaningless. She’s not bragging so much as stating a fact.
She’s fucking adorable.
“I’m not usually jealous.” I shift and cross my arms over my chest, watching as several guys walk into the chapel carrying huge rolls of tape. “I just wish you’d smile at me like that.”
“I haven’t seen you all week,” she reminds me. “I haven’t had the chance. But here you go.”
She gives me a toothy grin, the kind that’s totally fake, and I laugh.
“Happy?”
“Frankly, I want to spank your bare ass right now, but that’ll have to wait.”
She stammers and then closes her lips. It doesn’t stop the flush from heating her pretty cheeks, and I know that it’s not because she’s angry.
She likes the idea.
“What? No witty response?”
“I’m thinking.”
I chuckle and then look over as a police vehicle drives around the barricade and pulls up to the curb. June’s brother, Cullen, gets out of the driver’s seat, pulling off his aviators as he approaches us.
“It’s happening,” he says with some surprise.
“It’s definitely happening,” June agrees and rubs her hands together.
“What are you going to do about the big holes in the walls?” Cullen wants to know. “We don’t have a huge homeless population, but you’ll have squatters right away with gaping, empty windows.”
“I’ll cover them with plastic for a few days,” June replies with a laugh, brushing him off. “And then, I’ll have to install new framework for the new windows coming in a few days. They aren’t quite as big as the original stained glass, but I want to keep the arch look since this still looks very much like an old church.”
“That’ll be cool,” I reply. “Are you doing white or black trim?”
“Black.” June grins, obviously picturing it in her head. “With the white paint, it’ll look so cute.”
“The sooner you install those new windows, the better,” Cullen says. “A person can cut through plastic easily.”
“Good god, Cull, what do you think’s going to happen? This isn’t the city. You’re so cynical.”
“Being a police officer tends to do that to a person because we see the worst of people,” he reminds me. “Besides, cynical is better than sorry. You’ll have tools in there, and you’ve already started working on the interior. I don’t want anyone to break in and vandalize your stuff. I’m a little protective of my sister.”
“It’ll only be a few days,” she insists. “Don’t worry so much. You hover.”
“I’ll have extra patrols in the area over the next few days, just in case. And I do not hover.”
“Ah, sibling rivalry,” I say, blowing out a breath. “Good times.”
Above us, the crane starts to move, and I can hear a saw revving up. It sounds like they’re about to start taking out some of the windows.
“Looks like someone brought in pizza,” Cullen says with a grin, pointing to the pizza boxes being passed around the crowd across the street. “It’s not even close to lunchtime.”
“I’m surprised there’s no popcorn,” June adds, smiling at Harvey as he jogs across the street with a box for us. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“Are you kidding? It gives me an excuse to come watch the show. This little church has been here for as long as any of us can remember, and most of us have family members buried out back. We want to watch the transformation.”
“I guess I hadn’t thought of that,” June says, pulling a pepperoni off her slice of pizza and eating it. “I’m building a fence in the back to separate the graveyard from the house so the people who want to pay their respects can without feeling as if they’re walking through private property.”
“I know that we’ll all appreciate that,” Harvey replies as he pats June on the shoulder. “I’d better get back to the safe zone. Let me know if you need anything.”
“I will. Thank again!” He hurries back across the street, and Cullen reaches for a slice of pizza.
“I eat pizza for breakfast all the time.”
“Who doesn’t?” I ask, biting into a piece and then turning to June. “Are you sure you want people just walking around in your backyard whenever they want?”
“No,” she admits and licks her finger. “But there has to be a way that I can make it work because, like Harvey said, a lot of people are buried back there. Sure, some no longer have family living here, but some do. I don’t have the time to figure out a visitation schedule or something.”
“Adding the fence will help,” Cullen says. “Just make sure you keep it locked and put up some cameras for added security.”
“I already plan to,” June assures her brother before tilting her head and adding, “Maybe I’ll get a big dog. I’ve been thinking about it anyway, having a big ol’ dog that I can take to job sites with me. Maybe I’ll rescue one.”
“Not a bad idea.”
The men come out of the chapel, and it looks as if the last of the windows have been taped up, which means the messy work is about to start.
“Here we go.” June closes the pizza box and shoves it at Cullen. He just shrugs and moves to set the leftovers in his passenger’s seat. “I’m so ready for this.”
Even with June and me jumping in to help the crew, it was well past dinnertime before the last window was out, packed, and loaded onto the truck. When we finally left the chapel, we were both filthy and sweaty, but now that I’d showered, all I wanted to do was call her and see if she wanted to grab something to eat with me.
Before I can, though, my phone pings with a text from my sister.
Luna: Pack a bag for the weekend and come to the inn.
I scowl.
Me: What??
Luna: Just follow orders for once! No questions. Do it now!!!!!
“What in the hell are you up to?” I mutter as I follow orders for once and pull out a duffel bag, toss in enough stuff for a couple of days, and then head toward the inn.
I didn’t hate growing up out on the cliffs, but I didn’t love it like Luna did. From an early age, I knew I wanted to be in town where all the action was because I didn’t enjoy the feeling of isolation that came with being at the lighthouse.
Luna thrives there, though, and she’s an excellent lightkeeper.
She’ll be an excellent innkeeper, as well.
I park next to Tanner’s vehicle, noting June’s truck not far away, and then head inside.
It isn’t hard to figure out where they all are since I can hear laughter coming from the kitchen, so I head toward it.
They say that you choose your family, that it’s not always blood that links people together. I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that it’s true. Yes, Luna is my sister, but the others are my family because I’ve chosen it.
The six of us spend a lot of time together as a group, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“You’re here,” Luna says when she sees me at the entrance to the kitchen.
“I was under orders,” I remind her and smile when she throws her arms around me and gives me a big hug. “Hey, Luna bug. What’s up?”
“Now that you’re all here, I’ll tell you. I want the first people who stay here to be you. And Wolfe and I, of course. The six of us are the first guests of Luna’s Light. Mira made us dinner, which is already waiting for us in the oven, and she’ll be back in the morning to make us breakfast.”
“We get to stay the night?” Sarah asks, already bouncing on her feet in excitement, her blonde hair dancing on her shoulders.
“You’re staying the weekend ,” Wolfe corrects her. “Zeke will join us tomorrow night. He’s busy tonight.”
“This is so freaking awesome,” June says with a grin as she fist-bumps Sarah. “Do we get to pick our rooms?”
“Nope!” Luna replies, shaking her head. “I kind of designed the rooms with you guys in mind, so I want everyone to stay in the room that is kind of theirs.”
“Which room is ours?” Sarah wants to know, as Tanner grins at her. The man is so gone over her that they should be the center of a Hallmark movie.
“You have the Rose room.” Luna claps her hands with excitement. “Apollo has the Lighthouse room.”
I lift an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Of course. It’s masculine and decorated in gorgeous, rich colors. It’s one of my favorite rooms.”
“Aren’t they all your favorite?” Wolfe asks her.
“Hush,” Luna replies, planting her hand over Wolfe’s mouth, making us all laugh. “Wolfe and I are in the Huckleberry room.”
“Why aren’t you in the View room?” June demands with a scowl. “It’s the biggest room with the best view, and you own the place.”
“Because that’s your room,” Luna replies with a triumphant smile. “We wouldn’t be standing here without you. That space is so beautiful and has such amazing craftsmanship in all the little details that it suits you, and you deserve it.”
I glance over at June and smile because she looks utterly shocked.
“Wow,” she says at last. “I’ve been dying to sleep in that room.”
“I know.” Luna pulls June into a tight hug. “And now you get to spend the whole weekend in it. I want to treat you and give you the whole inn experience. Though, it’s a bit self-serving because it also gives me a bit of practice for when we open the doors to other guests.”
“You can practice on us all you want,” I assure her. “I’m in. I already took the weekend off work since this week was a shit show. You won’t be able to pull me out of that room,” June adds with a laugh. “That deep, copper soaking tub is mine. ”
“Let’s take tons of pictures for social media,” Sarah says. “And we can tag the inn and get people excited to stay here.”
“Good call.”
“But, first, we eat,” Wolfe announces. “What do we have in here?”
“Chicken parm with pasta, salad, and bread,” Luna replies. “Mira said she left a cheesecake in the fridge.”
“I’m going to kiss Mira on the mouth when I see her,” June declares as she opens a cupboard and pulls down plates. She passes one my way. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” I wink and then pretend not to see Sarah’s look of surprise. June typically goes out of her way to snark at me or flat-out ignore me, so something as simple as handing me a plate draws attention. I wait for her to say something, but thankfully, she just shrugs and continues to help Luna and Wolfe get out the food.
Once all our plates are filled, Tanner says, “We should sit in the dining room.”
“Let’s go,” I reply, and we walk into the dining room and find seats.
A pass-through opens between the kitchen and dining room, and Luna grins at us from the kitchen side. “One of you guys want to come grab the salad and bread?”
“This is so cool,” Sarah says as she takes the bread from Luna. “I love that the dining space can be separate from the kitchen, but it’s easy to pass food through during service.”
To my surprise, June chooses a seat next to mine, and dinner is fun as the six of us sit together at one table and enjoy the newness of the inn.
“I meant to come watch the windows being taken away, but the day got away from me,” Luna says. “How long did it take?”
“All freaking day,” June replies around a bite of bread. “They left just before you texted me to come over with a packed bag.”
“The crew did a great job, though,” I add. “I was worried one or more of the windows would break, but they knew their stuff.”
“Yeah, the church hired the right crew,” June agrees. “And they only needed me and Apollo to help a little bit toward the end when they were wrapping the windows for transportation.”
“So, you were there all day, Apollo?” Wolfe asks, eyeing me.
I eye him back. “It was a big project, and I was curious how they’d do it.”
“Yeah, well, he wasn’t the only one who wanted to see it happen. There had to have been two dozen people hanging out on the sidewalk for most of the day. Even my grandma came down for a while. Someone let her sit in their camping chair, and she had the time of her life. She also invited everyone to her Halloween party, of course. Guys, it’s only, like, two weeks away.”
“I think this is the most I’ve heard June talk in one stretch,” Tanner says with a grin.
“Shut it,” June suggests. “The theme is The Great Gatsby , so be sure to get your roaring twenties outfits. Don’t tell her I told you this because she’ll skin me alive if she finds out, but I think Grandma is going to turn the house into a speakeasy.”
“Holy shit, that’s cool,” Wolfe says.
“I know, but act surprised or she’ll kill me.” June sighs. “God, I’m full. Here, do you want this piece of bread?”
I accept the proffered bread and take a bite before realizing that everyone is watching us.
“What?”
“Why are you being so nice to him?” Sarah demands, looking at June. “Are you sick? Do I need to take your temperature?”
“What? No.” June scowls over at me and then back at Sarah. “He just eats everything in sight, and I thought he’d want my bread. That’s all.”
“Maybe June’s just in a good mood,” Wolfe suggests, but I can tell by the look in his eyes that he knows exactly what’s up. “It was a successful day at the chapel.”
“Yeah, enjoy my good mood,” June agrees. “And don’t question it.”
“Okay.” Sarah holds up her hands. “I’m ready for cheesecake.”
“Oh, good call.” Luna jumps up from her seat. “I’ll pass it through to you. I think it’s already cut and everything.”
“This is going to be the best weekend ever ,” Sarah says.
It’s late when Wolfe and Luna start to lockup downstairs and the rest of us head to our assigned rooms. It’s very convenient that my room just happens to be right next to June’s, and I have every intention of sneaking into her room to spend time with her. I don’t plan to sleep alone.
“Well,” June says when we reach our doors. “Good night. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Good night,” Sarah calls from down the hall and then giggles when Tanner tugs her into their room and closes the door.
Wolfe and Luna are still locking up downstairs.
“You know, I haven’t seen the inside of that room,” I say and lean on the doorjamb next to June.
“Liar,” she says softly.
“I haven’t seen the inside of that room with you inside it,” I clarify, enjoying the way the soft light of the hallway casts little shadows on her face and shoulders. “Naked.”
“Who says you get to see that now ?”
“If you’re telling me that I don’t, I’ll go to my own room.” She bites her lip, and I reach out to tug it free with my thumb. “Just tell me no, Juniper.”
“I—”
“Is everything okay down there?”
I turn and see Luna frowning down the hall at us. Wolfe’s trying to pull her toward their room, but Luna won’t budge.
“We’re fine,” I assure her. “I was just escorting Miss Snow to her quarters, being the gentleman that I am.”
“Good night,” June says and slips into her room, closing the door behind her.
“Have a good sleep,” Luna says to me and then follows Wolfe into their room.
I stare at June’s door for a minute. I could just go inside, but she didn’t exactly invite me in before Luna interrupted.
We’ve had a good evening—possibly the most civil evening of our lives, and I wonder if my pushing the idea would ruin it.
But, Christ, I want her.
“Don’t overthink it,” I mumble before turning the doorknob. When I open the door, June’s standing on the other side as if she were about to come get me. “Hi there.”
“Get in here,” she hisses.