Page 66 of Juniper Hill (The Edens 2)

“You are rather distracting.” I tugged at the end of her ponytail. Then because I couldn’t stop, I dropped my mouth to hers and got lost in the woman who was consuming my every waking thought.

She leaned into the kiss, rising up to get closer.

I was banding my arms around her, trapping her to my chest, when a throat cleared from the doorway.

Memphis tore herself away, her eyes widening. Behind us, Eloise stood beside the cleaning cart in the hallway.

“Should I pretend I didn’t see that?” Eloise asked.

“Nope.” I chuckled, snaking an arm around Memphis and pulling her back into my arms.

She stiffened. “Knox.”

“It’s too late now, honey. She’s not blind.”

“Oh my God.” She brought her hands up to her cheeks, whispering, “I’m going to get fired.”

“Eloise, Memphis is worried that she’s going to get fired.”

“Knox,” Memphis hissed, poking me in the ribs.

I ignored her and twisted to my sister. “Are you going to fire her for kissing me?”

“Of course not.”

“See?” I gave Memphis a smirk. “Small town, honey. No one cares.”

“Knox, I just came up to make sure everything was okay,” Eloise said. “And since it is . . . when you’re done here, would you make me an early lunch? I forgot one today and I’m starving.”

“Sure.”

Eloise retreated down the hallway, and when we heard the stairwell door open and close, Memphis sagged.

“I wasn’t sure if Eloise would care.”

“Nah. But I’d better make her lunch before she gets hangry. And before I need another cold shower.”

Memphis gave me a sheepish smile. “Are you okay with this pace?”

“There’s no rush.” I kissed the top of her hair. “I’m not going anywhere. When you’re ready, I’ll be here. We’ll take it slow. But no hiding it. I’m not keeping you a secret.”

The caramel flecks in her eyes danced. “No hiding.”

It might be awkward if I took over the hotel and became her boss’s boss. But that was tomorrow’s problem. Tonight, I just wanted to make dinner for Lester.

Then get home to Memphis.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

MEMPHIS

When you’re ready, I’ll be here.

Was I ready?

A week ago, no. Knox had picked up on my hesitancy and hadn’t pushed too fast. But now? Maybe I’d needed the week to wrap my head around this. To let him kiss me often. To smile when he smiled. To open my mind to the idea of a someone.

Maybe I’d needed the week to remind myself that Knox wasn’t Oliver. And to remind myself that I wasn’t the same Memphis who’d been blinded by Oliver’s charm.