Page 108 of Juniper Hill (The Edens 2)

When I walked through the door, the man behind the counter did a double take. His bald head was shiny beneath the store’s florescent lights, every one designed to catch the jewels and make them sparkle. “Oh . . . hi, Knox.”

“Hi.” I lifted a hand and went straight for the center case.

“Can I help you find something?”

My heart thumped but my voice was steady. “An engagement ring. Please.”

He blinked, then flew into action, laying out a navy velvet cloth. Then he placed ring after ring on the counter for me to inspect, rambling on about cut and clarity, while I lifted each and tried to imagine them on Memphis’s finger.

It was the eleventh ring that was the winner. A square diamond surrounded by a halo of smaller stones.

“This one.” I set it aside and dug my wallet from a pocket. Ten minutes later, I walked out of the jewelry store with the ring in my pocket and went to Lyla’s for coffee.

I had two paper cups in hand when I pushed through the hotel’s lobby doors.

Memphis was standing close to the couch beside the fireplace, her arms wrapped around her waist. The way she was biting her bottom lip and the worry line between her eyebrows made me walk faster.

“What’s wrong?”

She nodded toward the office door just as it burst open and Eloise came storming out, attempting to shrug on her coat as she marched. The moment my sister spotted me, she snarled.

“Oh, fuck.”

“Eloise.” Mom rushed out of the office, followed by Dad. “Wait.”

“They told her,” I guessed. “About the hotel.”

“Yep.” Memphis nodded. “And she just quit.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

KNOX

“Eloise, wait.” I handed Memphis our coffee cups and jogged to stop my sister before she could sprint out the door.

“You knew.” Her nostrils flared. “How long have you guys been talking about this behind my back?”

“A little while.”

“Fine.” She tried to sidestep me, but I blocked her path. “If you want the hotel, it’s yours.”

“I don’t.” The reason I’d been avoiding this topic was because I’d always known what was in my heart. As my parents came rushing across the lobby, I looked over Eloise’s shoulder and told them the same. “I don’t want the hotel. It’s never been mine.”

“Because it’s mine.” Eloise gritted her teeth. “And none of you think I can handle it.”

“We never said that.” Mom came to her side, touching her elbow.

Eloise jerked her arm away. “You think I’m too soft.”

“You have a big heart.” Dad came to stand by my side. “That’s not a bad thing. But this is a huge responsibility. We thought Knox might be able to take our place. Be there to give you some guidance.”

Memphis inched closer, listening but staying back.

Eloise’s eyes flooded with angry tears. “You should have told me, Knox.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“This is because of the lawsuit, isn’t it? I was trying to be a nice boss!” Eloise’s voice carried through the room. “I had no idea he was going to sue us. And I never, ever harassed him. I’m sorry. I screwed up. How many times do I have to say sorry?”