That gave Juniper pause. She’d certainly never mentioned her feelings for Alex to Will before. Even the idea of doing so mortified her, even now.

  “How did you know?” She swallowed hard, blushing furiously.

  She could practically feel him raising his eyebrows in disbelief. “Are you kidding me? You found all manner of creative ways to work him into conversation, for starters. And how about the way you asked who was going to be home before you came over?”

  Juniper laughed and covered her face with her hands. “And there I was thinking I was being all slick. But honestly, Will, that was a lifetime ago. What does it have to do with anything now?”

  “Then or now,” he said, speaking carefully, “you’re my best friend, and I want to make sure you don’t get hurt. Alex is a good guy; I’d be the last to say otherwise. But I do hope you’re being careful where he’s concerned.”

  “What do you mean?” The heavy feeling in her stomach was steadily worsening.

  Will sighed. “Just that he’s been through a lot, Juniper. I thought it was going to break him when Fiona died. And then losing our mom and taking over the ranch from our dad, while raising those three girls on his own…it has all taken a toll on him. At this point, I’m not sure how much he has to give—to you or anyone. So please, just…make sure you know what you’re getting into, and that you try to stay a little bit guarded there.”

  Juniper flashed her best impression of a sunny smile. “Thanks, Will. I appreciate you looking out for me. But I’m not worried, and I don’t want you to be, either.”

  That seemed to be good enough for him, and he moved to a different topic, telling her all about veterinary school. She was having a difficult time paying attention to him, though. It was easy to say that she wasn’t worried, but that didn’t make it true.

  Was Will right? Was Alex stretched too thin to have room in his life for anyone else? She wanted to believe they were building something real, something where they could be there for each other…but she just couldn’t be sure.

  12

  The next three days passed in a whirlwind of activity. Alex was incredibly busy with the ranch and his daughters, not to mention catching up with Will. As for Juniper, it seemed like she had more work to do with each passing day. Her store’s business was booming, and it was all she could do to steal some time for herself to work on her projects for the upcoming craft show. Her life felt just about as full as it could get.

  Even so, she and Alex made time to text throughout the days, whenever they had a free moment. Every time she saw his name pop up on her phone’s screen, it made her feel giddy. Even Margot’s constant, low-level teasing couldn’t dampen her spirits.

  She was humming happily to herself while she drove to her aunt and uncle’s ranch. Knowing he was so close made it incredibly tempting to find an excuse to drop by and say hello, but she wanted to play it cool—and avoid Will’s knowing looks.

  Her phone ringing over her car’s speakers brought her out of her daydream. She glanced at the screen and grinned when she saw it was Alex. “Well, hello, sir. What can I do for you this fine afternoon?”

  “Hello yourself,” he answered warmly. She could practically see his charming smile, and it made her feel tingly all over. “And I think it’s actually what I can do for you, maybe. I was wondering if you could still use extra wood?”

  “Oh, I can always use more wood. Why, do you have some?”

  “I do!” he answered. “And I was hoping to deliver it to a pretty woman I know. At your earliest convenience, of course.”

  Just the thought of seeing him again made her stomach flutter. “Well, I don’t know what you’re doing right now, but I’m actually really close to your place at the moment. I’m going to my aunt and uncle’s. There’s an old barn that they let me use for spillover storage when my apartment gets too full. I’m doing a drop off. If you want to, you could meet me there.”

  “It’s a deal. I’m grabbing my keys right now.”

  She wanted to squeal with excitement, knowing she was about to see him again. She had never met a man who had this kind of effect on her. She had to fight to keep from speeding, and by the time she got to the ranch, her heart was racing with anticipation.

  She didn’t have to wait long. Not five minutes after she arrived, Alex’s truck pulled up behind the little trailer loaded up with her artwork she’d attached to her car. He really must have grabbed his keys almost while he was still talking to her, and the thought of him wanting to see her as badly as she wanted to see him made her feel amazing.

  “Hello, you,” she said as he approached her. It seemed impossible to see him and not smile. That was how good he made her feel.

  Before saying a word, he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her, long and slow. When he finally pulled away, she felt breathless and deliciously dizzy. “Hello yourself. Any chance you feel like helping me unload some of this wood?”

  “Absolutely, if you’ll help me unload my pieces first, to make room in the trailer.” She agreed happily. She couldn’t think of any kind of work she wouldn’t be happy to do with him.

  When they were finished, Alex asked her if she would show him some of the inventory she was storing there. It made her feel a little shy, but there was also nothing better than someone you liked showing interest in what was important to you. She walked him through the barn she used as her storage unit, answering his questions about each of the pieces and basking in the glow of his compliments. When they reached a rustic, hooked rack, one of her personal favorites, he stopped and gave a low whistle.

  “That’s gorgeous,” he said decisively. “And it would do nicely to hang tack, too. I don’t think you’re going to have any trouble making a sale there.”

  Juniper smiled and tucked her hair behind her ears. “Thank you. That’s very sweet of you to say.”

  “I’m not trying to be sweet. I’m serious. You are so immensely talented, Juniper. I’m just glad I get to see a little piece of your world.”

  He reached for her and she melted against him, sighing contentedly when he tipped her chin up to kiss her. Just before their lips touched, however, his cell phone started ringing.

  He groaned and let her go again. “Sorry about this. I have to make sure the girls are okay.”

  “Of course!” She was aching for his kiss, but she had no doubt that it would come soon.

  As she watched, Alex listened to his father on the other end of the line. He looked happy at the start of the conversation, but as it continued, his brow furrowed with a frown. By the time he hung up, the flirtatious mood was long gone.

  “What is it?” she asked, concerned. “Are the girls okay?”

  He nodded, but he was still frowning. “Yeah, they’re good. Lizzie lost her first tooth. Dad says she’s really excited about it, but she’s pretty upset that I wasn’t there to see it.”

  “Aw, I’m so sorry. I can imagine that’s the kind of thing you would want your father there for.”

  He nodded, already moving for the open door. “It is. I’m sorry, Juniper, but I need to head back home. I’ve got to try and make this right for her.”

  “Yeah, I completely understand,” she said, practically jogging to catch up with him. “Do you want me to come with you? It seems like I’ve had pretty good luck with the girls when they’re upset. At least so far.”

  He stopped by the door of his truck, and she knew his answer before he gave it. “Honestly? I think this is one I need to do on my own. I need it to be me who makes this right. I hope you understand.”

  “I do,” she said emphatically, despite feeling ridiculously close to tears. “Go be with your girls. Give them a hello and a big hug from me.”

  He said he would do that and climbed back into his truck. He did not kiss her before he left, and she stood where she was for who knew how long after he was gone.

  She did understand, to an extent. Lizzie was Alex’s daughter, not hers. Still, she couldn’t help feeling like an intruder into an already perfectly formed family unit. Maybe she was just deluding herself by thinking there could be a real place in that life for her.

  “Daddy! My tooth! Wanna see my tooth? It’s not in my mouth anymore!”

  That was the greeting Alex got as soon as he opened the front door. It was almost like Lizzie had just been standing there, peeking through the blinds and waiting for him to finally come home. It made him feel sick, thinking of her waiting for him like that. He should have been here, and he knew it. There was no excuse.

  He crouched down, balancing on his heels to get at eye level with her. “I heard, baby girl. That’s pretty exciting, huh?”

  “Mm-hm!” She stuck a finger in her mouth, showing him the spot where a tooth had so recently been.

  Alex made a big show of being impressed, which seemed to please his youngest girl greatly. “Were you scared when it came out?”

  “A little,” she answered with a shrug. “At first. Because my mouth had blood in it, and I didn’t know why. And you weren’t here.”

  A stab to the heart couldn’t have hurt him worse—but he knew it was no less than he deserved. “I know, baby. I wasn’t, and I should have been. I won’t let something like that happen again.”

  “Where were you?” She asked, still frowning.

  “I went to drop off some more wood for Juniper. I didn’t mean to be gone so long.”

  Her face brightened at Juniper’s name. “Where is she? How come she isn’t here?”

  “She had some work to do. I’m sure we’ll see her again soon.” He was a little taken aback by the question. He was curious to know what she thought about Juniper and his spending time with her, but not curious enough to come out and ask her.

  At only five, Lizzie still had the uncanny ability to forgive quickly and completely. After just a second of consideration, she threw her arms around his neck. His throat tightened and he swallowed hard. How long would it be before she outgrew this willingness to forgive? A couple of years, at most? He couldn’t let something like this happen again. He couldn’t let his girls down by chasing his own desires instead of being home with the people who mattered most.

  “So, tell me more about this tooth,” he said, forcing himself to sound cheerful. “Where is it now?”

  “It’s in my room!” she answered brightly, her face beaming with pride. “When I was scared, Sophia got me some ice and a little box to put my tooth in. She says that if I put it under my pillow tonight, there will be a present for me tomorrow morning. Is that true?”

  Her childish skepticism made him laugh. “It’s very true. The present comes from the tooth fairy, and I bet she’s excited to see your tooth. Let’s make sure we remember to put it in the right place tonight, okay?”

  Lizzie agreed, then ran off, presumably to regale her sisters with the tale of the tooth yet again.

  A child losing a first tooth was a big deal. Definitely the kind of thing a parent was supposed to be present for. Not the siblings, not the grandfather, but the parent. It was also the kind of thing that Fiona would never have missed, not in a million years. She had been so good at this kind of thing. It seemed to him that she had never dropped the ball on anything. In sharp contrast, he dropped almost every ball he tried to hold.

  He was still standing there like a fool, watching the place where Lizzie had just been, when his father wheeled into the room. “Well, look at what the cat dragged in.”

  “Hey, Dad,” Alex said with a sigh. Suddenly, he felt very tired. “I’m sorry not to be here for Lizzie earlier. Was she really okay?”

  “She was scared, at first,” Abbott said with a frown. “But Sophia was good with her. She has a nurturing spirit, that one. And I talked to her about how she must be a big girl to be losing her teeth, and that cheered her up. Mind telling me why you were gone for so long?”

  Alex’s guts twisted. “I’m sorry. I was dropping off some wood and I lost track of time. It won’t happen again.”

  “Good,” said his father with no trace of a smile. “Because it shouldn’t.”

  Alex and Abbott Harvey disagreed on plenty of things, but this was not one of them. It should never have happened in the first place, and he was determined not to let his little girl down again.

  13

  Alex did his best to shake his mood, for the girls’ sake if nothing else, but he only managed to go through the motions. Every time he looked at his daughters, every time they laughed or told a joke, he thought about the moments with them he had already missed. He didn’t want to be that kind of father. He wanted them to grow up knowing they were loved and that their daddy choose them above all else.

  By the time they were safely tucked away in bed, he felt completely wiped. He was all out of energy for pretending he wasn’t in a sour mood, and he headed to the kitchen in search of a beer to accompany his sulking.

  He was a little surprised to see Will sitting at the kitchen island, already holding a beer of his own. “Hey, brother. What have you been up to today?”

  “Not much,” Will said with a chuckle, taking a swig. “Aside from the great tooth caper and all.”

  Alex took a beer from the fridge and sat across from Will. “Sorry you got dragged into that drama.”

  Will waived the apology away. “Nothing to be sorry for. Thora, in her infinite wisdom, sought me out for my expert medical advice. She figured that if I was good enough to work on a horse, I was good enough to work on her sister.”

  This got a genuine laugh out of Alex, and for a second, he thought he might be able to shake his mood, after all. He hadn’t gotten to spend much time with Will yet during this visit, and he was glad to have the opportunity now. Maybe the two of them could have a guy’s night, drinking beers and reminiscing about the old days.

  The next moment, all hopes of that easy evening were dashed. “So, I’ve been thinking this over, and I think the best thing to do is just be blunt with it,” Will said, putting down his drink and leaning forward.

  Alex took a deep breath. “Can’t say I love the sound of that, but go on ahead.”

  “I’m just sitting over here wondering what exactly is going on between you and Juniper.”

  Alex flinched as he realized that he really should have seen this coming. Will had been Juniper’s best friend when Alex had hardly realized she existed. He had every right to worry about the way she was being treated now.

  Speaking slowly, measuring his words, he said, “I’ll admit, there’s something romantic going on between us. It wasn’t planned, and it’s still very new. I hope that’s not me stepping on your toes in any way.”

  Will chuckled and shook his head, although Alex could see the tension in his jaw. “Nah, there’s never been anything like that between us. I see her like a sister—and I always knew she’d never look at me the way she looked at you.”

  “At me?” Alex echoed, feeling foolish. “You mean her crush?”

  Will raised his eyebrows in disbelief. “Is that what she told you—that it was just a crush? She was head over heels for you, Alex. From just about the first time she ever set eyes on you, you were the only thing she wanted. Everyone could see it.”

  “I didn’t see it,” Alex said defensively. “But anyway, that was years ago. She’s not that kid anymore. She grew up, and so did I.”

  “Yeah,” Will agreed. “You’re not kids anymore. You’re a grown man with a lot on your shoulders—and I don’t want Juniper to end up being someone you use to lighten your load or make yourself feel better.”

  Alex recoiled, stung. “I’d never—” he tried to argue, but Will just waved his words aside.

  “Look, I believe you feel something for her,” Will admitted. “But I’m not sure how deep it goes. And I don’t think you’re sure, either. Just remember, Juniper isn’t the kind of girl you should pursue if you’re not ready to seriously commit to her.”

  “I know it,” Alex agreed quietly.

  “Do you?” Will asked earnestly. “Because she’s been through a hell of a lot, and it’s left her vulnerable in ways I’m not sure you understand. Losing her parents when she was so young? You know something about what that does to a kid, of course you do, but at least your girls still have their father. Juniper got shipped off to a couple of people who didn’t really want her and made no effort to hide it. And instead of making her bitter, it only made her shine brighter.”

  “I know, Will.”

  “Good. Because if anyone deserves real, genuine affection, it’s her. You need to figure out if that’s something you’re in a position to offer, and if you’re really in this for the long haul. Because she deserves that from you. I’ll let that marinate for a while.”

  Will stood, patted Alex on the shoulder, and exited the kitchen. Alex just sat there, unable to even muster the energy to bring his beer to his lips. His head was spinning, Will’s words ringing in his ears.

  Juniper wasn’t a girl you messed around with for a couple of weeks and then left in the dust. She was the kind of woman you made a life with. But was that something he could offer her? He knew what he wanted for himself—but what about everything else? His girls, his father, the ranch? He was struggling to juggle his responsibilities to them as it was. If he added Juniper to that list, would he just end up letting her down?

  “Hey, you. What’s going on in that head of yours?”

  Amidst the bustle of their very shop, Juniper tried to shrug off Margot’s question. Even if she wanted to talk about it, which she didn’t, she wouldn’t know where to start. She hadn’t yet decided how she felt about the tooth situation and the way Alex had so summarily shut her out before leaving. Every time she shut her eyes, she saw the look on Alex’s face as he realized that because he had come to spend time with her, he had missed something important in his daughter’s life. Just the memory of that expression made her heart want to break.

  Unfortunately, Margot was undeterred by silence. She poked Juniper in the ribs, making her jump. “Come on, Margot,” she scolded, trying to push her friend away. “Do we really need to talk about it right this second? We’re so busy now.”