Page 160 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 1

Why’d I ask that?Well, I know why—I let my curiosity overrule my mind. I deal with money for a living. Privacy is important in my business. But mostly, I had no right because she’s not my client. “I shouldn’t have pried. My apologies.”

“It’s okay. It’s not a secret that I can hide. It’s a fact in the public domain. I’m not trying to keep things from you, Andrew. I’ve just learned to protect my heart.”

“I won’t hurt you, Juni. I know that sounds like a line, but I want nothing from you other than to know you better.”

“I can’t promise you the same. I’m as skittish as an alley cat. But being friends means trusting each other. I haven’t done that, though I’ve expected it from you. That’s not fair.”

It’s a thing of beauty when her protective wall finally descends, exposing her heart. I reply, “Friends means honesty.”

She nods. Picking up her glass, she taps it against mine. “Being friends means we’re on equal footing.”

While she drinks to that, I remind her, “I’m your boss.”

“Not outside that office, you’re not.” An eyebrow raises in challenge, and there’s that fire she carries inside her eyes.

“Touché.” I tap her glass this time. “To equal footing. Outside the office,” I shoot right back.

“I’ll drink to that.”

We both do. Her spirits have lifted, and although the wine could get credit, I’m hoping it’s the conversation. Wandering through the living room, she ends up where I was before she arrived. It has the best view. You can see down the avenue in both directions and the sky above. “Andrew?”

“Yes?”

“If I tell you something, will you not make fun of me?”

“Why in the world would I make fun of you?”

She searches my eyes for a lie, but her expression eases. She appears satisfied not to find one. “Juniper.”

“Juniper?”Juni.I’m grinning too wide to hide it. “That’s your first name?”

“It is. You didn’t look at my file?”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because you can.” There’s a remorseful pause, but then she giggles, and that pulls her pretty features away from shame. “Sorry. I would have snooped. Anyway, yep, I’m Juniper Jacobs. It’s quite the testament to the love of alliteration”That’s what I thought.

“It’s a good name.”

“If you love trees, which my parents did. Did you know that in some cultures, the juniper tree representsenduring potential?”

“That’s a hefty expectation to live up to as a baby.”

She rolls her head but is still smiling. “Tell me about it.”

“I’d rather listen to you.”

“Pfft. I’m not as interesting as you seem to think I am.” Her gaze extends through the window, but then she closes her eyes and sways her head to the soundtrack of our conversation that plays in the background. “I loveLa bohéme.”

“Me too. Before we get sidetracked, what do you want to talk about?”

The dread she wore in her expression when she arrived is gone, and she asks, “What are you doing this weekend?”

18

Andrew

Another late nightleads to another missed workout this morning. Though I can’t blame Juni.Juniper, for it. She left just after eleven, insisting I stay put instead of walking her home.

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