Page 66 of Hunted Hearts
I wish I had more time.
Each step she took toward the kitchen felt like a countdown too, not to the concert but to whatever this was between her and Theo.
She and the ladies reconvened around the table with mugs of tea and plates of pastries Willow insisted made for the best creative planning.
The pastries were delicious, and Layne said it was her old family recipe. Except she only took a nibble before pushing her plate away.
Juliette agreed it was fantastic but she didn’t feel much like eating right now, not with the dark shadow of worry growing inside her.
Aspen had her tablet out, scrolling through venue options. “Oh, this isperfect. There’s a resort in Lake Tahoe with everything we need. Ballroom, golf course, built-in donor clientele. I can spin this in a heartbeat.”
Willow nodded. “If you find a setup crew, I’ll manage security and press passes.”
“I want to help,” Layne offered, then immediately clapped a hand to her mouth. She rushed from the room.
The women exchanged a look.
“Morning sickness?” Aspen murmured with a knowing grin.
Willow grinned. “Definitely a bun in the oven. Family recipe.”
Juliette managed a laugh, though it caught in her throat. This entire room was bursting with life. Here she felt so…whole.
As soon as she left the ranch, she probably would never again see these women who had become friends to her. Their lives would go on here, and she would carry on with hers.
Without Theo.
The thought of him bringing home another woman and the family rallying around her, made Juliette want to grab hold of the man and never let go.
Honor breezed in carrying a small box. “Special delivery for Juliette.”
She froze, staring at the object in Honor’s hands. “Does Theo know about it?”
She bobbed her head, a smile spreading on her beautiful face. “Yup. That’s why it’s open. He told me to bring it to you.”
With a flourish, she set the box in front of Juliette. When she pulled open the flaps, she saw glass bottles tucked inside foam packaging. “More supplements.” She extracted a bottle and skimmed the label. The supplement was new to her, but it was for energy support.
The ladies were staring at her, and she issued a small laugh.
“Theo confiscated all my supplements that I use to be as healthy and tuned in as possible. He replaced them, but he mentioned adding a few new ones to my stack.”
Aspen gave her a sideways look with all the innuendo on her face that she had when Layne dashed out of the room.
“It’s nothing.” She placed the bottle in the box. “But he’s already ahead of me in this gift war.”
Now they looked at her like she needed medicated for insanity.
Threading her fingers through her hair, she explained. “Theo gave me an expensive pill dispenser and new high-qualitysupplements. I gave him earbuds so I can’t hear his loud music when he’s jumping rope.”
Aspen sat back in her seat, head cocked in interest. And Willow and Honor traded a look.
“Then he got me a horse! What can I possibly give him that would mean as much?”
“Theo doesn’t expect grand gifts, Juliette.” Willow’s eyes glinted as if she knew something Juliette didn’t. “Have you considered that he gave you Serenity as a way to get you to come back here after this danger is all over?”
Her spine straightened, and she blinked. “No. I hadn’t thought of that.” Her voice drifted off.
To cover her confusion, she picked up her mug and sipped her tea. After a few moments, the women reconvened their planning session. Layne returned to the kitchen looking a lot less pale, and she joined in. They even got Juliette’s publicist Rachel on speakerphone to discuss the details of the event.
