Just as I was about to bring it up, the car stopped at her grandmother’s home.
Dammit.
Juniper leapt out and rushed the cupcakes inside before she returned to help me with the oversized cake box. Together, we managed to get it onto the kitchen island. Her grandmother bustled around, putting out plastic silverware and paper plates.
“Hi, Gran,” Juniper said, turning to hug her.
“Junie, sweetie, you look so tired. Don’t tell me your newfriendhas been keeping you up all night.”
“Gran!” Juniper yelped, clapping her hand over her mouth. “Absolutely not.”
“Pity, you could use it,” the older woman grumbled,going back to her task.
“Nice to see you again, Mrs. Beck,” I said, grinning.
“Would you go get the totes instead of flirting with my grandmother?” Juniper huffed. Already, a sweet flush rose up her neck. Her scent grew stronger, and it was almost painful to peel myself away from her and head back to the car.
I stacked the totes by the door so everyone could grab theirs as they arrived. Most people would be hanging out outside, but it didn’t seem wise to leave the totes in the grass or sand.
“Alright, we have to do something about the mud,” Juniper said, a determined set to her jaw as she stared out the front door at the flooded lawn.
“Use me,” I said. Her eyebrows shot up. Smirking, I clarified, “Channel my magic, like you did yesterday.”
“Okay, I’ll try.”
Her eyes moved down my body until she eyed the hand I held out. Slowly, she reached out and took it. Magic spiked between us, and she sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes closing for a moment.
She led us outside, and we surveyed the patches of mud all over the yard. It was better than earlier in the week, but not by much. Her fingers squeezed mine.
“I’m not sure I can do this.”
“You can,” I said automatically. “You’re incredible. Remember last night?”
Juniper’s eyes rolled to meet mine, clearly thinkingabout other things we’d done last night.
“I meant when we were swimming,” I said. “But if you’d rather discuss things that happened later—”
“Thank you,” she said sharply, cutting me off.
Swallowing, Juniper widened her stance and prepared to work magic. I hated that her family made her feel inferior. She was nothing like the confident woman I’d spent the week with. I wanted to take this vulnerable version of her and hide her away so no one else could hurt her.
Her hold on my hand tightened. The energy flowing between us started to focus in her direction. I let that inner pool of magic rush into her. She reached out her free hand, spreading her fingers out.
The mud seemed to sink and dry on one side, and the other shimmered with veins of water flowing together to form a miniature river. My mouth fell open. Water collected together until it flowed past us, across the sand, and into the ocean. It was a huge distance for Juniper to span, and showed such delicate control, I was in awe of her—my gorgeous, talented little witch.
The moment she let go of the magic, she collapsed into my arms, her chest rising and falling in shallow, rapid breaths.
“You did it,” I murmured, scooping her up and cradling her against my chest. “That was incredible.”
“It was nothing,” she argued. “I shouldn’t be so exhausted. It’s pathetic.”
“Juniper,” I growled, trying to rein in my temper. “Youhaven’t done magic like that in ages, I suspect. It’s going to take time to rebuild that ability. Not to mention, you just channeled enough magic for two people through your body. You were unbelievable.”
She rested her head against me, giving in. I pushed the door open and carried her inside. Her grandmother watched us with hands on her hips and one eyebrow raised.
“The front yard is no longer flooded. Where can I take her to rest?” I asked.
With a wave of her hand, her grandmother led me down the little hallway to a quaint guest room decorated in butter yellow. Gently, I laid Juniper down on the quilt and then settled into the chair in the corner.
