She shrunk back, losing all of the confident sparkle that I’d admired so much. My jaw ticked as I restrained myself. It was an exercise in patience, but I managed to stay in my seat.
Juniper sipped her tea as her mother and sister picked at pastries and traded knowing looks. Finally, her mother slid a folded piece of paper across the table. Juniper’s brows pinched as she unfolded it and studied the writing.
A few minutes later, her mother and sister left together, and Juniper sat alone. It felt like I was being released from prison as I stalked across the restaurant and dropped into the seat beside her.
“What is that?” I growled.
Indigo eyes slid from the paper to my face. Her pupils expanded as she took me in. With my next breath, I smoothed my features.
“Oh, just a little list of things I need to do for the familyreunion. 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 arideshare 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 wholebeholdenthing,” 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 draggedher 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.
