Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 76000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
I walk straight up to the chapel and go inside, surprised to see Juniper standing in the center of the space all by herself.
“Hey.” I walk over to her and smile. She turns my way and quickly blinks away tears. “Whoa, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“No.” She laughs a little and wipes her eyes dry. “No, everything is fine. The crew just got here about thirty minutes ago, and they’ve been trying to decide the best way to take them out without damaging my walls.”
“Then what made you cry?”
“It’s just all finally coming together, and I’m probably hormonal or something stupid like that. It’s nothing. I’m fine. What are you doing?”
“I came to watch, and I’m not the only one either. There’s a little crowd gathered across the street.”
“Yeah, they were standing on the sidewalk just out front, and I made them move to get out of the way. They were cool about it. It’s going to be interesting to watch Jesus and the disciples flying through the air on a crane.”
I nod thoughtfully. “I’m sorry I’ve been so busy this week.”
“It’s fine.”
“No.” With a shake of my head, I reach over, unable to keep my hands to myself any longer, and drag my finger down her cheek. “It’s not fine. Let me make it up to you.”
“Do I look mad?” She tilts her head to the side, and her perfect lips tip up on one side.
“Actually, no, and I know your mad face very well.”
“See? Fine. It’s been busy, and I get it.”
There’s a knock on the door. “June?”
“Yeah, Mike.”
He walks in, and the way he’s looking at June makes me want to punch him out.
Not that I blame him for looking at her like he’d like to eat her for lunch.
“We’re ready to start. If you don’t mind, we’ll want the building to be empty, just in case the unthinkable happens, which it won’t, but just in case. We have everything figured out, and there should be no damage to the structure.”
“No problem.” She nods and gestures for me to follow her. “Do you want us on the other side of the street with the others?”
“I don’t mind if you stick close. It’s your building.” Mike follows us down the steps and to the side yard where the crane is parked. “They are getting ready to begin taping the windows to kingdom come to help prevent breakage. How old did you say they are?”
“About a hundred years, give or take,” June replies, and Mike winces.
“Yeah, I’ll have them use more tape. This is likely going to end up being an all-day job, so if you need anything from inside, I’d grab it now.”
“I don’t live here yet,” June replies with a smile. “I’m good to go when you are, and if you need anything, let me know. I’m a professional contractor and can be put to work.”
“I can, too,” I offer and shake Mike’s hand. “I’m Apollo. I work as an electrician, but I’ve done it all.”
“You’re both insured?”
We nod, and Mike blows out a breath. “You may come in handy, but my crew has been doing jobs like this for a long time. It’s just usually not this many at once, but we’ll make it happen.”
“Thanks, Mike.” June smiles after him, and I lean in to whisper in her ear.
“Are you trying to make me jealous?”
Her gaze whips up to mine. “What? No. Jesus.”
She scowls and shoves her hands into her pockets.
“Don’t be one of those men, Apollo.”
“What kind would that be?”
“The kind who gets jealous over the simplest things, like a waiter in a restaurant or a guy who’s removing the windows I want gone so Jesus isn’t watching my every move.”
“It’s not my fault the guy couldn’t stop checking you out—Mike, not Jesus.”
“It happens.” She shrugs as if it’s meaningless. She’s not bragging so much as stating a fact.
She’s fucking adorable.
“I’m not usually jealous.” I shift and cross my arms over my chest, watching as several guys walk into the chapel carrying huge rolls of tape. “I just wish you’d smile at me like that.”
“I haven’t seen you all week,” she reminds me. “I haven’t had the chance. But here you go.”
She gives me a toothy grin, the kind that’s totally fake, and I laugh.
“Happy?”
“Frankly, I want to spank your bare ass right now, but that’ll have to wait.”
She stammers and then closes her lips. It doesn’t stop the flush from heating her pretty cheeks, and I know that it’s not because she’s angry.
She likes the idea.
“What? No witty response?”
“I’m thinking.”
I chuckle and then look over as a police vehicle drives around the barricade and pulls up to the curb. June’s brother, Cullen, gets out of the driver’s seat, pulling off his aviators as he approaches us.
“It’s happening,” he says with some surprise.
“It’s definitely happening,” June agrees and rubs her hands together.