Page 61 of Booked for the Holidays
“All stitched up.”
“Good. I squared up with the liability insurance at the snowmobile company.”
“Thanks for dealing with that.”
“I’m glad Juni was here to hold your hand. I know how much of a big baby you can be with needles.”
“Hey. I fainted once during a blood draw and that was because I hadn’t eaten anything. Low blood sugar is not a joke.”
Beside me Juniper laughs, a real genuine laugh, and I feel the pride in my bones.
“You want a ride?” Jasper asks, motioning toward the direction his car must be parked.
“I’m going to go with Juniper, if that’s okay?”
He gives me a knowing glance, huffing out a laugh before nodding. “You bet.”
“See you later tonight?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
After saying our goodbyes to Jasper, Juniper guides me to where her car is parked askew in the lot.
The observation has me tossing her a curious look.
“Don’t even say it.”
“What?” I ask innocently, opening the door for her before making my way to the passenger side.
I like the way she looks behind the driver’s seat. Hands on the wheel, hair still a little mussed, cheeks pink from the cold.
She fiddles with the heat and mumbles, “Don’t bleed on the seat, okay?”
“I didn’t realize getting five stitches made me a liability.”
A memory sneaks up on me.
Last year, me driving Juniper home from the liquor store. She’d laughed at something I said. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes shining. I remember the grip I had on the wheel, the way my knuckles turned white with the effort of not reaching for her. I’d been so caught off guard by my reaction to her, I’d fought it with everything in my body.
Now she’s beside me again.
And this time, I’ve touched her.
Kissed her.
Wrecked her behind a hospital curtain and I want more.
I open my mouth to tell her something when my phone buzzes in my pocket.
I pull it out, glance at the screen and sigh.
“It’s Beck.”
“Beck? As in your brother?” she asks, glancing over.
“Yeah.” I swipe to answer, bracing myself. “Hey, what’s going on?”
Beck’s voice crackles through the speaker. “I’m about five minutes from Cedar Hollow and I need a place to stay.”
