Juniper Hill (The Edens #2)(20)

“Just a little tired. But I think that will be the norm for a few years.”

Griffin strode our way. “Maybe by the time we have this next one, Hudson will sleep through the night.”

“That’s the dream.” Winn crossed her fingers. “How’s it going with Memphis?”

“All right. I don’t see her much.” And that had been by design. There was a reason that I hadn’t taken much time off lately. That I hovered at Knuckles. There was a reason that on my rare night away from the restaurant, I’d escaped to the comfort of my brother’s home and not my own.

Griffin and I had a bond formed from youthful years of hiding mischief and suffering the consequences when our parents inevitably caught us causing trouble. He’d been my

best friend since birth. We knew each other better than most, which was probably why he hadn’t asked about Memphis. He could sense I didn’t want to talk about her.

What would I say? I was attracted to her. Every time she walked into the room, my heart stopped and my dick twitched.

If that had been the end of the story, if it had been just a woman passing through town, I would have chased her that first night.

But she wasn’t a tourist here today, gone tomorrow. There was no escaping her, at work or at home. Then there was the kid.

Seeing Drake was harder than seeing Hudson. I wasn’t sure why but every time he cried, it cut right through my chest.

Maybe it was because Memphis was dealing with it alone. She bore the brunt of his screams. She carried the weight on her slender shoulders.

But it wasn’t my business. It wasn’t my place to interfere.

I’d had enough dramatics for a lifetime and Memphis had drama written all over her pretty face.

It had taken me five years to build a life in Quincy. I’d walked away from San Francisco a broken man. I’d come home to recover. To start again. To return to a place where I’d had good days in the hope of finding them again.

Five years and I was there. I loved my job. I loved my family. I loved my life.

Unchanged.

As soon as Memphis was gone from the loft, it would be easier to put her out of my head.

I drained the last swallow of my beer as Hudson’s eyelids began to droop. “I’d better get home. Let you guys get him to bed.”

“Thanks, Knox.” Winn yawned.

“Have a good night.” I walked over, bent to kiss her cheek, then shook my brother’s free hand. I ruffled the dark hair on my nephew’s head and touched his button nose. “Give your parents some rest, kid.”

Hudson had a tiny hand over Griff’s heart.

Damn, that stung. As Hudson grew, it had dulled, but not disappeared. I let it spread through my chest, then jogged down the porch steps for my truck.

My drive home was through a maze of gravel roads. The highway was more of a direct route to home, but taking the back roads gave me time to roll down the windows and simply think.

When I’d stopped at Mom and Dad’s earlier, they’d asked me if I’d made my decision about the hotel. Uncle Briggs had had a rough week. He’d gone out for a hike without telling anyone, and though he’d probably been lucid at first, he’d had an episode and gotten lost.

Lost on the land where he’d lived his entire life.

Thankfully, Dad had found him just before dark. Briggs had tripped and twisted his ankle. So after a trip to the ER—

Talia had been the doctor on call—they’d gotten Briggs home.

But the scare had spurred Dad’s urgency to get my answer.

An answer I didn’t have to give.

Part of me wanted to agree, simply because it would make them happy. I had the best parents in the world. They let us fail

when we needed to fail. They gave us a hand when it was clear we couldn’t get back up on our own two feet. They loved us unconditionally. They’d given us every advantage possible.

But if I said yes to the hotel, it wouldn’t be for me. It would be for them.

Did I want The Eloise? I didn’t want it to go to someone outside of the family. But me? Maybe. I just wasn’t sure. Not yet.

I reached my turnout and rolled toward Juniper Hill, disappearing through the trees to my secluded corner of the world. As the house came into view, my eyes went to the loft.

Even hidden behind walls and doors and windows, Memphis drew my attention. She had since the day she’d arrived.

Her Volvo was parked beside the stairs, and that car was as much of a mystery as my tenant. It was a newer model and Volvos weren’t exactly inexpensive. So why was she surviving on cheap meals and spare change?

Not my business.

I’d flown to Gianna’s rescue all those years ago when I should have minded my own fucking business. Lesson learned.

Parking in the space closest to my door, I headed inside.

Before winter, I’d have to figure out a different parking situation so both of our rigs weren’t left outside in the snow, but for now, leaving my truck outside meant one more way to keep my distance.

The house was quiet. The scent of macaroni and cheese lingered in the kitchen. I walked to the fridge, getting another beer, then retreated to the living room to watch TV until dark.

The abundance of windows meant that when the sun began to set below the crest of Juniper Hill, I caught it from all angles. Pink and orange and blue light cascaded over the walls, fading with every minute until the silver glow of moonlight took its place.