Page 37 of Harmony Island Gazette
“I’ll be right back,” I said, my voice low with emotion.
I slipped my hand from hers and made my way down the hallway to her bedroom. After gathering a few towels and the shampoo and conditioner from her shower, I made my way back to the kitchen. Juniper was still sitting on the counter, her legs swinging and her arms wrapped around her stomach as she stared at the floor in front of her.
I cleared my throat and her gaze snapped to mine. The smile on her lips made my heart soar. “Ready?” I asked.
She nodded. “Only if you are.”
I made my way to her and set the items down on the counter. After fashioning a makeshift headrest next to the sink, I rested my hand on her shoulder. “Lean back.”
She obeyed, scooting down the counter and then lying back as I held up her hair so it didn’t get caught. I made sure she was comfortable before I dropped her hair into the sink. I flipped on the faucet and waited for the water to warm before I pulled the spray wand out and started to wet her hair.
“So, you took care of your mom?” Juniper asked.
Her eyes were closed and her eyelashes splayed across her cheeks. She was beautiful. I must have been staring too long because, a moment later, her eyes opened and she glanced up at me. “Boone?”
I snapped my attention back to her hair and cleared my throat. “Yeah, I guess you could say that,” I said as I made sure that the hair at the nape of her neck was wet enough. My entire body was zapping with electricity from all the points of contact I was making with her right now.
“You were a good son,” she said as she closed her eyes once more.
Her words felt like a dagger to my heart. As much as I wanted to agree with her—to believe that I was the man she thought I was—I couldn’t. I knew the truth. I just didn’t know how to tell her.
I returned the wand and grabbed her shampoo and lathered up my hands. I slipped my fingers into her hair and started to massage. The look of satisfaction on her face had my heart pounding. When she let out a soft moan, it took all my strength to keep my mind focused on the task at hand.
Thankfully, I finished soon and was able to rinse the shampoo from her hair. I took less time applying the conditioner, which really was a mercy move for myself. Once her hair was clean, I flipped off the faucet and squeezed the excess water from her hair. Then I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her head.
I put my hand under her upper back and helped her sit up. She smiled at me once she was fully sitting.
“Are you sure you weren’t a hair stylist in the past?” she asked as she tipped her head to the side and let the towel fall into her hands. Then she started working the towel down her hair.
“Nope, not a hair stylist.” I dried my hands off with a nearby kitchen towel and then shoved them into the front pockets of my jeans.
She smiled as she nodded. “I know. Navy SEAL,” she whispered.
I drew my gaze up to hers and nodded. “Yeah,” I said.
“Well, thanks for this. I feel so much better.” She set the towel down on the counter next to her and then moved to get off the counter.
Before I knew what I was doing, I closed the space between us, wrapped my arm around her waist, and slowly lowered her down onto her feet. Her hand went to my chest to steady herself, and I could feel her gaze. It was trained on my face.
“Thanks,” she whispered.
Her feet were safely planted on the ground, but I hadn’t let her go. Instead, I did the stupid thing and glanced down at her. The moment my gaze met hers, I realized that I never wanted to let her go. I wanted her to be mine.
“Of course,” I whispered, hoping that she would understand just how I felt about her from those two words.
“I think I’ll go get changed now,” she said. She didn’t pull away, instead, she smiled up at me as if she were waiting for me to let her go.
“Right,” I said as I dropped my arm and stepped back. “Go, get dressed.”
She nodded.
“I’ll work on the dinner.”
Realization passed over her face as she turned to me. “Oh, Boone, I’m so sorry,” she said.
I shook my head. “Just go.” I shrugged. “I like cooking.” What I didn’t say was,I like cooking for you. But that was the truth. She was the only person I wanted to cook for. The only person I ever wanted to cook for.
She nodded and walked over to the doorway that led to the hall. Then she stopped. “Thanks, Boone. Thanks for taking care of me.” Her intoxicating eyes met mine as she smiled at me.
