Juniper Hill (The Edens, #2)

by Devney Perry

With an actual smile, she’d be more than trouble. She’d be a hurricane leaving devastation in her wake.

Vacation was canceled, effective immediately. I didn’t trust myself around her. Not with those pretty brown eyes flecked with honey and brimming with secrets.

That tiny cry was like a dagger to my heart. It was the sound of a dream lost. The sound of a family gone.

Memphis was asleep, her lips parted too. A man could lose himself in that sort of beauty.

With or without his crying, I’d be going over tonight. I just . . . damn it, I missed her. I missed the sweet scent of her perfume. I missed her soft whisper. I missed the way she’d duck her chin to hide a blush.

I didn’t like to see Drake cry. But Memphis? It was like getting the wind knocked out of me.

I perched on the edge of the coffee table, my knees just inches from hers. It was too close. It wasn’t close enough. Whatever lines I’d intended to keep between us were melting away.

And all I wanted was to wrap those blond waves around my fist while I took her mouth. I wanted that hair spread on my pillow and threaded between my fingers.

“I cook for you because it’s how I show someone I care. I cook for you because I love the look on your face after that first bite. I cook for you because I’d rather cook for you than anyone else.” “What?” My jaw dropped. “I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing with you, woman.” My mouth was still open. Which suited Knox just fine. Because he raised his hands, framed my face. Then sealed his lips over mine.

We needed to talk about the kiss. What she wanted. What I wanted. What the hell did I want? Her.

“If we tried this and it didn’t work, you’d lose him.” “Yeah.” He nodded. “I know what’s on the line, Memphis. But I’m standing here anyway.”

“There’s one want granted. What else do you want?” I leaned into him and told him the terrifying truth. “You.”

“He told me it was a bold move to serve him mac ’n’ cheese. I told him I had a woman at home who’d promised me it was the best in the world. He agreed.”

“You are mine. Whether we do this tonight or not.”

“You are . . . you are a dream,” he breathed. “I gave up on those.” My breath hitched. “So did I.”

“Then here’s another truth. I’m going to take them. I’m going to take all of your bests. Every damn one until you can’t keep track of the top five anymore because there are so many bests that you’ll need a hundred to capture them all.” “Promise?” I whispered. “I swear it.”

Drake would have a happy life. She’d make sure of it. And after last night, I would too.

He reached for her, wrapping an arm around her elbow. And that’s when I got really fucking pissed. I grabbed that bastard’s wrist and tore it free. “You’re trespassing. Get the fuck off my property.” “You have no say in this.” He shook his hand free, stretching for Memphis. “Touch her again and they’ll never find your body.”

He’d had a treasure, a pure-gold treasure, and rather than cherish her, he’d used her for his own greed. His loss. My gain.

“Let me make this clear. You are mine. Drake is mine. For all of your todays and each of your tomorrows. Mine.

“Because he wakes up before dawn,” Griffin muttered, pulling out a stool. “My boy’s a morning kid.” “Not mine.” Knox pulled out the stool beside his brother. “Mine’s a night owl.” The entire room went still as my breath caught in my throat. Mine. One short word, four simple letters, and if there’d been any doubt that I was in love with Knox Eden, it vanished. I loved him because he loved Drake.

Life had been rocky for a while, but I ended up exactly where I’d needed to be—home in Quincy, waiting for Memphis.

It was only after he dropped to a knee that he loosened his hand, revealing a perfect diamond ring. “Marry—” “Yes.”

“Son, we will work on your timing.” Son. “He is, you know? Your son.” “I know. We’ll get married, then make him officially mine. Whatever it takes.”

“I love you.” “I love you too.” He kissed me again. “Until the end of my days, Memphis. You, me, Drake. We’re good, honey. We’re so fucking good. And we’ll add in a bunch of babies to the mix to keep it interesting.”