Chapter 9
RAFE
I don’t know what to say to Juniper. I don’t know how to let her know the reason I turned her down those years ago wasn’t because I wasn’t interested in her, but because I felt like a creep, hitting on my sister’s best friend when she turned eighteen.
I’d known throughout her teenage years that she had a crush on me. It was very obvious—the way she looked at me, the way she flirted—and I enjoyed it, but I wasn’t interested in her in that way.
It wasn't until I saw her in her shiny, shimmering dress and the way she looked at me, the way she puckered up her lips for a kiss had drawn me in and I succumbed and kissed her like I never wanted to stop.
It felt magical, and I immediately felt regret because I was in a position of power over her.
I was older. I knew better. And so I shut it down.
Ever since then, things have been different. Ever since then, she’s treated me like some sort of pariah, like some sort of horrible miscreant who has done her wrong and dirty, and it aggravates me to no end.
But we are older now, and I figure it is time to let her know she has been wrong about me all these years.
“Hey, there you are, Rafe.” Sage comes running over to me, a tall glass of red wine in her hand. Her cheeks are rosy, and her eyes are bright. “Having fun?”
“It’s okay,” I say, looking around to see where Juniper and Rosie are. Because even though I don’t know Sage and Rosie that well, they’re still a part of my family.
“I’m having such a good time. So many guys have asked me on dates, and so many guys have been so disappointed that I don’t actually live here.”
“Well, does that stop you from going on dates with them?”
“I mean, if they’re trying to get serious with me, then that stops me. But for a couple of free dinners …” She pauses and gives me a wicked little smile. “But, of course, I’m not just about the free dinners or anything.”
“Sure you’re not,” I say with a laugh.
“So, you gonna ask Juniper out or what?”
“Excuse me?” I stare at her in confusion, my heart racing.
“Are you into my cousin, or are you not into my cousin?”
“I am not sure why you’re asking me this question.”
“I’m asking you this question because who acts like a knight in shining armor for someone they’re not interested in?”
“I don’t think I acted like a knight in shining armor. I acted like I was the older brother of her best friend who wanted to make sure that she was actually safe and sound because she had gotten herself into a very compromising position.”
“Rafe, I’m going to be brutally honest with you. As a beautiful woman I know when men are attracted to a woman. It happens to me all the time.” She grins at me. “And you are always looking at her like you want her.”
“No. Why would I do such a thing. She’s cute, sure, but I don’t look at her in any particular way, do I?”
“I don’t know. I think you do.” She grins. “I know what I’m talking about.”
“I mean, you didn’t lie about one thing. You are beautiful.”
“But not as beautiful as Juniper, huh?”
“Well, I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to say that.”
“Anyway, my point is, I know when a guy is into a girl, and I know when a guy is being stupid about a girl. And I kind of see both these things happening here.”
“You kind of see both of what things happening here?”
“I kind of see that you’re into Juniper, and I kind of see that you’re playing stupid games with Juniper. And she’s my cousin, and I love her, and I don’t want to see her get hurt. So, either go for it or leave her alone.”
“Honestly, I do not know what to say to you right now.”
“I think you just need to admit the truth. Or are you scared?”
“Scared of what?”
“Scared you won’t be good enough for her.”
I just stare at her.
I don’t know what to say. I have never been in a conversation like this before in my life, and I don’t know what to think. In some ways, I’m quite impressed by how direct she’s being, but in other ways, I’m absolutely flummoxed.
“I think …”
“You think what, Rafe?” She grins.
“I think this conversation is about to come to an end,” I say as I see Juniper headed over to us.
“Hey, Juniper.”
“Hi, Rafe.” She rolls her eyes slightly at me. “Hey, guys. Are you nearly ready? Rosie and I were thinking that we would go down to Cocktails & Chaos. There’s going to be a little dance party, and some of the guys have asked if I’m going to be there.”
“What guys?” I say, stepping forward, frowning slightly. “Is that really a good idea?”
“Is what a good idea?” Juniper says, looking at me, annoyed.
“Going to Cocktails & Chaos to dance with random guys, especially considering what happened the last time you were at Cocktails & Chaos.”
“What? When an oaf dragged me off the stage and took me home?”
“I’m thinking when a prince rescued you from making the biggest mistake of your life.”
“Maybe I wanted to be in a wet T-shirt contest,” she says. “Maybe I wanted to give a lap dance. Maybe I wanted all the men in the bar to stare at me and think, Ooh, look at that hottie.”
I can feel myself growing even more annoyed as she puts her hands on her hips and stares at me.
“You don’t mean that.”
“How would you know what I mean?” She glares at me some more. “In fact, maybe I’ll sign up for another contest tonight if they have one.”
“You would not dare.” I narrow my eyes as I gaze at her.
“I would dare many things, Rafe.”
“Well, maybe if they have a male contest, I’ll enter, and I’ll be giving all the women that want me a lap dance.”
“I think that’s going to be a very short line,” she says, giggling.
“How rude.”
“Don’t use my lines on me, Rafe.”
“Oh my gosh. Juniper, is that you?”
We all turn and watch as a middle-aged blonde woman comes hurrying over, a clipboard in her hand.
“Sorry, do I know you?” Juniper looks at her in confusion.
“Oh, you probably don’t remember me, but I was in Coconut Beach a couple of summers ago. You’re Juniper, right? You own Salty Pages Bookmobile?”
“Yeah, I do. Did you happen to buy a book from me?”
“I did. You recommended a couple of romances to me,” the blonde says. “I’m Jackie. Remember? From Hollywood?”
“I’m so sorry.” Juniper gives her a sorrowful look. “We have a lot of tourists who come through. I’m sure you’re really nice, but …”
“Oh, don’t feel bad. I just saw you, and you made my night.”
“I did?” Juniper looks confused, and I wonder where the conversation is going.
“Yeah. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of a TV show called The Bachelor and Me.”
“Oh my gosh, I watch that all the time,” Sage says. She looks over at Juniper. “Remember that really hot guy, Onassis? The guy who was, like, a billionaire and he married that girl from Idaho?”
“No,” Juniper says, shaking her head. “I don’t. I’m sorry.”
The blonde looks over at Sage and laughs. “Yeah, that’s my show. Anyway, we’re looking for another contestant, and actually, you would be perfect.” She looks back at Juniper. “What do you think?”
“What do I think about what?” Juniper says, looking even more confused.
But I can feel myself growing hot because I have a feeling I know what this lady is asking.
“I’m looking for another contestant for this reality dating TV show that we’re going to start shooting in a couple of days.
One of the girls dropped out, and I was hoping we’d get someone local in.
Well, who better than a local who owns a romance bookstore?
How meta is that? A romance bookstore owner on a romance dating show. ”
“Oh my gosh, you have to do it,” Sage says quickly. “That would be absolutely amazing.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” I say quickly. “No offense, but I think you need to …”
“I don’t need to listen to you. You’re not my dad. You’re not my granddad. You’re not my boyfriend. You’re not my husband. You’re not my attorney. I can do what I want.”
Juniper presses her lips together, and I can tell she’s going to be stubborn. I can also tell she’s annoying the shit out of me.
“I’d definitely love to hear more information.” She grins at the blonde. “What exactly is the purpose of the show?”
“To help you find love,” the blonde says, smiling and looking Juniper up and down. “And I think, Juniper, you might just be the belle of the ball. I think you might be the one the bachelor wants.”
“I think she’s going to need to think this through. We don’t know anything about the show. She has a job. Who’s the bachelor?”
The blonde turns to me, her eyes narrowing. “Sorry. I think I heard Juniper saying that you’re not her dad or her husband. Why do you keep butting in?”
“I am one of her protectors,” I say quickly. “Think of me as her guardian … bodyguard.”
“You are not my guardian or bodyguard,” Juniper says loudly. “Are you crazy?” The look she gives me tells me that she very much believes I am the craziest person she’s ever met in her life.
“You might say that, but I am Mia’s older brother, and you are Mia’s best friend, and as such, I will take care of you.” I sound like a grandpa and I know I’m being ridiculous. She’s an adult woman now and can make her own decisions.
I look into Juniper’s eyes, and we have a stare-off, but there’s no way in hell I’m going to let her be on this show. It sounded like the worst idea in the world to me. And I knew that I was going to have to do something to stop it from happening.