Page 32 of When It Reins
Probably not a smart move, but I did it anyway.
“Nothing.” Anymore. “She went over to that area to visit a friend.”
“Really?” Loki lifts a brow, trying for sarcastic, and I glance at Mick to see him covering a smile. “I had no idea that she was friends with my mother.”
I pause thinking over what to say to that. “I didn’t know that either. I’m not her keeper.”
Mick laughs, and Loki scoffs. “Could have fooled me. It’s not like you hide the fact that you’re into the chick.”
I bite my tongue, more because I don’t need to get into it with my VP, but also because what am I supposed to say to that?
“What’s going on with her boyfriend? Does she have any information?”
Sighing, I say, “I’m pretty sure they broke up.”
“Fuck, we could have used her for information,” Loki says, sitting back in his chair and looking at our president.
“Nah. We can’t do that to her. We don’t know how unstable this fucker really is,” Mick says before I have to. Thank fuck. Because I wasn’t about to put Juniper in harm’s way. I don’t care how many people it would help.
Maybe that was selfish, but I don’t really give a shit.
“Either way, you should keep an eye on her.” Mick’s tone is a lot calmer as he stares me down. “She’s kind of in the middle of this whether we like it or not, and I wouldn’t trust this mother fucker as far as I can throw him.”
I nod my head, agreeing with his assessment. “That all?”
“That’s all. Go find your girl.” Mick dismisses me, and I march out of the war room.
I haven’t spoken to Juniper since Sunday, wanting to give her some space, but after that conversation, space is the last thing I want.
After texting Annmarie to see where Juniper is, I find out she is down the mountain with Felicity, recording some music.
I could have waited for her to get back to town and then went and talked with her, but I couldn’t wait, so I find myself driving my bike down to go and get her.
I was thrilled to hear she was working with Felicity, one of the best people I know and someone who will take care of Juniper when it comes to the industry she is destined to be in. I don’t think even Juniper knows that her future should rest in the music business, but she is too damn talented for it not to.
I was also thrilled because I know Felicity, and she is a good egg. She always had a good head on her shoulders, and though it sucked back when we were kids that she and Jax broke each other’s hearts, she did the right thing.
Not that I would ever tell my brother that. He probably wouldn’t agree, even though they are married with a baby now.
The ride down goes by quickly, and right as I pull my helmet off outside the studio, the doors open, and I see Ezra, Felicity’s security, opening the door for the girls.
Juniper pauses for a minute when she sees me, obviously shocked to see I am here, but then my heart lifts as her grin stretches across her face, and she marches toward me with purpose. I have just enough time to dismount the bike before her arms are around me, pulling me into a hug I don’t see coming.
I wrap my arm around her, ignoring the two people staring at us, and my helmet bumps her guitar case.
“Hey, Little Starling.” I whisper the words into her ear, feeling my heart rate slow as I sink into her hug. Fuck the people watching. I don’t really give a shit anymore. This, this is all I want and need.
“What are you doing down here?” Juniper asks, pulling away to look me in the eye. Hers are sparkling with happiness and excitement. I’m sure it is mostly from the work she was just doing, but I can’t help but hope that it has a little to do with me.
“I came to get you.” I look over at Felicity, and she nods her head.
“Yeah. I’ve gotta go do some things, so I asked Mitch if he wouldn’t mind taking you back home.” Her response is so quick that I could kiss her for it.
“Oh.” Juniper lifts a brow in surprise. She looks at the guitar in her hand, then looks at my bike. “How do I?—”
“I got it. I’ll drop it off at your place later.” Ezra takes the guitar case she holds out from her hands and stores it in the SUV. I’m surprised by the quick response of Ezra, but it’s becoming more obvious than not that Juniper and I must be a topic of conversation.
“Okay, thanks.” Juniper’s reply is quiet and slightly confused, but she allows it anyway.
