Page 27 of Harmony Island Gazette
Juniper’s wide eyes and panicked look as she tried to catch my gaze snapped me from my focus. She looked scared, staring at me like she was trying to speak without saying a word.
She was worried, and I wasn’t sure if it was for me or Kevin. Part of me hoped it was for Kevin. That she knew I was strong enough to physically push this man from the property. But I couldn’t be sure. And that wasn’t a theory I wanted to test.
I channeled my lessons in hostage negotiations and turned my focus to deescalating the situation. Juniper didn’t want a brawl. She wanted Kevin to walk away safely. Even though that wasn’t what I wanted, I was aware enough to realize that this wasn’t about me. It was about her.
It was rapidly becoming all about her.
“Listen, man. I’m here because Ric—Mr. Godwin wanted me here. That’s all,” I said as I raised my hands in a show of surrender.
Kevin’s eyes narrowed as he flicked his gaze down to my bare chest and then back up. “Do you normally go shirtless around another man’s wife?”
I felt Juniper’s gaze on me. I wanted to look over to read her reaction, but there was no way I could break eye contact with Kevin. He needed my full and undivided attention. “I was just sleeping. It was hot so I took off my shirt. I don’t normally walk around shirtless when I’m a guest in someone’s home.” I glanced over at Juniper; her expression was hard to read. “Right, Juniper?”
“He’s normally fully clothed,” she managed out. Her cheeks flushed as she glanced up at Kevin.
For a split second, I wondered if she was remembering our encounter this morning when she ran into me in the hallway. A smile threatened to show on my lips, but I fought it. “I have no intentions with your wife”—I spat the word out like it was something bitter in my mouth—”I just want to keep my promise to Mr. Godwin and help out around here until they get back.”
Kevin didn’t respond right away. Instead, he just stood there, staring me down. Seconds felt like hours as I waited for him to respond. Suddenly, Juniper’s hand softly landed on Kevin’s forearm, drawing his gaze over to her.
“There’s nothing going on between Boone and me. I promise,” she said, her voice hushed as she widened her eyes and looked up at him.
Kevin’s body stilled. I could see the internal wrestle going on inside of him. Finally he stepped forward, wrapped his arms around Juniper, and she went crashing into his chest. My hand flexed as I watched him bury his face in her hair.
“I’m so sorry, babe,” he murmured almost so low that I couldn’t hear it. “I just miss you and seeing you with another man brings out this jealousy in me.” He tipped his face forward and kissed the top of her shoulder. “I just want you home with me.”
Juniper’s body was tense, and it took her a moment to register Kevin’s touch. I thought she was going to fight him off—at least I hoped she would—but she didn’t. Instead, her arms went around him and she patted his back a few times.
“I know,” she whispered as she stared straight ahead. “But it’s for the best if I stay here…alone.”
Kevin pulled back and looked down at her until he sighed and nodded. “If that’s what you really want.”
She met his gaze. “It’s what we need.”
He pulled her close once more, pressing his lips to hers. The anger inside of me was near boiling as I watched their interaction. I knew I should have pulled my gaze away, but I couldn’t. I wanted to will my strength to her. I wanted her to tell him to leave and never come back.
She was worth so much more than what Kevin was willing to give her. She had to know that.
But instead of pulling away, repulsed, and declaring their marriage over, she broke the kiss, took a step back, and folded her arms across her chest as if she were trying to protect herself. “Goodnight, Kevin,” she said softly.
He stared down at her before flicking his gaze over to me. He sighed as he turned and made his way to the front door. “I’ll text you tomorrow,” he called over his shoulder. He yanked open the door and then pulled it shut behind him.
Silence filled the space between us. I glanced over at Juniper, wondering if she was going to speak. I had so many questions to ask her, but I couldn’t seem to speak any of them. She looked so small and fragile, standing there in the doorway. Her gaze was unfocused as if she weren’t really looking at anything, just thinking.
I parted my lips, ready to ask her if she was okay, but she spoke first. “I’m going to bed,” she whispered as she turned on her heel and disappeared down the hallway.
She was gone. I was left staring at the space she’d once occupied, hating myself for all the words I couldn’t find the strength to say.
I grabbed my glass of water and brought it to the sink. After washing it, I set it in the drying rack and wiped my hands on the dish towel hanging from the stove. I paced a few times as the desire to walk down the hallway and knock on her door began to grow out of control.
I wanted—no needed—to know if she was okay.
The desire grew too strong for me to ignore, so I growled and headed toward her room. I stood in front of her door with my hand raised, ready to knock. I wanted to knock…
But I didn’t. Instead, I dropped my hand and stared at the solid white door in front of me. I wondered what she was doing on the other side. Was she sitting on her bed? Was she crying? Was she happy or sad?
I wanted to know…noneededto know. But reality hit me like a semi sliding on a winding road of ice. She wasn’t mine to know anything about. She was Kevin’s. She was her parents’. But she wasn’t mine.
And she never would be.
