Chapter 4 Breakfast and Bossholes #2
“Oh, just a little list of things I need to do for the family reunion. That’s why I’m in town early, after all. There’s a family reunion on Saturday. I guess my mom and aunt couldn’t finish getting everything ready. I’m happy to help out.”
It sounded like she was trying to convince herself.
“I’ll help. I’ve got time,” I said, resting my hand on the back of her chair. The heat of her skin through her thin blouse sent sparks up my arm.
She leaned away like she’d been burned, and my heart dropped.
“Well, I’ll have to tackle these tomorrow. I’m supposed to go see my grandma this afternoon. She’s hosting the reunion, and I haven’t seen her in way too long.”
“Then let’s go.”
For the first time since we’d entered the coffee shop, Juniper’s face lit up with a sweet smile as she stood. My eyes fell to my silvery coat folded neatly on the bench where her mother had been sitting.
Sneaky little witch.
She walked toward the door, and I leaned over, swiping my coat. When we emerged into the early afternoon sunlight, she glanced down at my arm.
“I guess I lost that,” she said, gazing down at the coat draped across my arm. “So you should probably go.”
“Nice try, but there was nothing accidental about that,” I said, grinning. “Let’s go see your grandmother.”
Juniper scowled but didn’t argue as we ordered a rideshare for the trip across town. However, she did protest when I paid the driver, but I ignored her.
“Let your husband pay for things, little witch,” I murmured when she kept complaining as we strode down the walkway to an adorable beach bungalow.
Juniper stopped and propped her hands on her hips. “Do not call yourself my husband. I’m going to figure this out and send you on your way, hopefully today.”
“Are you sure you want to do that?” I asked, smirking as I leaned into her personal space.
That dusty rose hue painted her cheeks again. “What do you mean? We don’t know each other. Of course I want to undo this whole beholden thing,” she stammered, clearly flustered.
The sweet scent of bergamot and saltwater grew thicker in the air between us. I wondered if I would taste it if I licked the skin on her neck.
“I feel differently. You make a pretty wife, Juniper,” I teased.
“Caspian,” she warned. “Your hours are numbered, selkie.”
Clasping my hand over my heart, I nearly swooned. She surprised me with every word she spoke.
A sly smile lifted one corner of her mouth.
Poseidon, save me, even without a fated mate bond, I’d be obsessed with this woman.
Juniper chewed the inside of her cheek as she dragged her attention off me and focused on her grandmother’s home. The front yard was mostly lawn, and the back was beach. As it were, the grass sat under an inch of water.
“Shit,” Juniper muttered. “This is going to be a problem.”
She hesitated, her gaze flicking to me and then back to the mud. Her throat worked.
“I should be able to—” she muttered to herself.
I pretended to be fascinated with the flowers along the sidewalk to give her some privacy. She raised one hand, low at her side to try and hide her magic. Her lashes fluttered closed as she called on her power.
Nothing happened that I saw.
That didn’t make any sense. I’d already felt how powerful she was, so a little water shouldn’t be an issue.
What’s wrong?
“This lawn is going to be muddy for the reunion. That’s going to be a huge problem,” she said, crossing her arms and glaring at the grass.
“It’s on Saturday? That’s three days. Maybe it’ll soak in and be fine,” I said, trying to be encouraging.
“Junie?” a woman called.
My mate whirled to see a tiny woman with a puff of white hair hobbling out of the door clutching a cane. Juniper rushed forward, reaching for her.
“Gran!”
“You finally came to visit, you feisty little thing,” her grandmother said. She patted Juniper’s back as they hugged. When they separated, genuine smiles warmed both faces. They clearly loved each other. It radiated through my connection with my little witch.
“This was the earliest I could come. I just got into town late last night. You would have been asleep in bed,” Juniper said, wrinkling her nose as she teased her grandmother.
“Nonense. You know my busy social schedule keeps me out quite late. There are card games to be won, men to turn down, friends to yap with.”
Juniper threw her head back and laughed. My heart stopped beating for a moment. It was musical, like a siren song, melodic and intoxicating. The sound twined through the air, so luscious I wanted to absorb it into my soul. Way too soon, it was over. I would have given anything to hear it again.
“So who is this young stud?” her grandmother asked, eyeing me with blue eyes a few shades lighter than Juniper’s.
“Oh, this is Caspian. He’s a friend who’s been helping me today. I hope you don’t mind me bringing him along.”
“A friend? Just a friend? Junie, honey, have you seen him?” her grandmother said. She waved her cane at me, and I spied a mermaid carved into the handle.
“Gran!” Juniper said, just as I said, “Well, actually—”
Juniper twisted, holding a finger up in my face. Her eyes flashed. “Shh! Do not say anything stupid.”
Grinning, I held my hands up in surrender.
“Oh, he’s a keeper,” her grandmother said .
Juniper’s blush flared on her cheeks again. “Alright, that’s enough. Gran, let’s go inside. Caspian, why don’t you go enjoy the beach?”
“Nonsense. Let the pretty boy come inside. I can put him to work.” Her grandmother winked at me.
“Yeah, Junie , let me come inside,” I said.
That shade of dusty rose colored her cheeks darker, until even her ears were red. “Hecate’s shades, fine!”
Her grandmother’s face crinkled as she smiled at us. “Good choice, dear. Come along now.”
The steam coming off of Juniper’s skin as we walked behind her grandmother practically singed me. I wanted to bury my face against her neck and breathe her in and feel her flushed skin against mine.
Without thought, my hand went to the small of her back, and she tensed. I kept my hand steady, and after a moment she relaxed into it, her breathing slowing and her posture relaxing under my touch.
Yes, that’s it, little mate.
I wanted to whoop and pump my fist in the air since she let me touch her, but I controlled myself. We stepped through the doorway, and she paused, my hand still resting on the small of her back.
The bungalow was bigger than I realized as we walked into a wide, sunny room. A jute rug separated the living space from the kitchen and dining nook. Gray-blue sofas mirrored each other with a scratched up trunk in the center as a coffee table. Everything felt lived in and comfortable.
“You have a lovely home,” I said, giving my most charming smile.
“Of course I do,” her grandmother said. “Now I’ve got some lightbulbs you can change for me, handsome.”
Shaking my head, I smiled wryly and followed her into a small laundry room. She handed me a box of lightbulbs and pointed at a stepladder before rattling off a list of what needed my attention.
“I’m on it, ma’am.”
“Good boy,” she said, patting my hand. “Now leave us girls alone to talk about important stuff.”
She shuffled to the kitchen and accepted the mug of tea Juniper had prepared her.
I kept one eye on my witch as I moved through the home, flipping light switches on and off to figure out what needed replacing and then doing so.
Snippets of their conversation drifted to me, like the word “selkie”. My stomach lurched, my heart racing.
Hopefully her grandmother doesn’t know too much about selkies .
I mean, my brothers’ home was only a block away, so who knows? Maybe she was friends with my mother before they moved away…
Before I could hear any specifics, their conversation turned to more mundane topics, particularly the upcoming family reunion .
Juniper seemed frustrated when she finally stood up. I’d finished my job and settled into a chair by the door, trying to give her some privacy. I grabbed my coat, reaching to get the door for her.
“Goodbye, handsome!” her grandmother called from the kitchen.
“Goodbye, Mrs. Beck,” I replied, my eyes never leaving Juniper.
Her shoulders scrunched up as she walked past me, like she didn’t want me to touch her again.
Sighing, I waved at her grandmother and then followed my witch outside, closing the door securely behind us.