Page 15 of The Lost Book of First Loves

“Okay, then.”

Alison seemed oblivious to the undercurrents. “This is Juniper Connelly, Beck. My boss. Well, my former boss, anyway. She sort of fired me.”

For some reason, Alison seemed to emphasize the wordboss.

“So you decided to bring her home with you?”

“It’s a long story.”

She seemed uncomfortable suddenly, as if she didn’t want to get into the details of their situation, and she quickly rushed on before he could respond.

“Thanks for giving us a ride back to The Painted Sky. Ms. Connelly is going to be staying at Dad’s cabin.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes. I’ll explain everything later,” she said as Glen handed their bags to them from the cargo area of the jet.

“Is that everything?” the pilot asked.

“That’s all for me,” June said.

“Same for me. Thanks so much for the ride,” Ali said warmly. “It was really fun to fly in style.”

“You’re welcome. Maybe when I head back to pick you up, I’ll be able to come in a day early and do some flyfishing around here. I’ve heard it’s amazing.”

“It’s great,” Beck said. “If you come, let me know and I can point you to a few good places.”

“Deal.”

Glen seemed to have no idea who Beckett Hunter was. Why should he? Glen was a native of Seattle and wouldn’t have had any reason to read about a San Jose attorney.

Beck had been a much-celebrated assistant prosecutor in San Jose, on his way to becoming the district attorney someday. He had a reputation as hard charging, ruthless, relentless.

She had nothing against prosecutors. She had watched plenty ofLaw & Orderin her day and knew all about the important role they played in the criminal justice system. But Beckett Hunter had been ambitious and driven, completely focused on winning. If a case didn’t meet his personal criteria for being successfully litigated, chances were it wouldn’t go to trial.

June had always made a point of not holding a grudge against people. She had seen enough vindictive, petty personalities throughout her career in the Big Tech world to know they always paid a price in the long run. Karma drove a big bus.

June was willing to make an exception for Beckett Hunter. She found it impossible not to dislike a man who had—at least once that she knew about—put the interests of the prosecutor’s office above those of a crime victim.

What were the odds that she would find himhere, in this place she had come to for refuge and healing?

Juniper could feel her pulse begin to accelerate, throbbing in her neck. She filled her lungs with mountain air, willing herself to relax and breathe.

Wyoming was a big place. Surely, their paths would seldom cross. She would simply have to do her best to avoid the man.

“I’ll load that up for you. The truck is over there,” Beck said, pointing to a dark blue extended-cab pickup truck.

She wanted to refuse and tell him she could handle her own bag, but that would sound ridiculous. Instead, she gave a polite nod.

Alison was busy chattering away to Beck about some of the touristy things she had enjoyed in Seattle so June reached for the rear door of the pickup truck.

“You can ride shotgun if you want,” Alison said, and June wanted to tell her she didn’t need to still act like her subservient intern here. Not that she had needed to in Seattle, either.

“I’m fine.” She forced a smile, reminding herself that Alison Wells wasn’t responsible for any decisions Beckett Hunter had made nearly a decade ago.

She climbed into the back seat of the pickup truck and came face-to-face with a large dog who seemed to be smiling at her.

Her gasp was as instinctive as it was embarrassing.

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