Juniper Hill (The Edens #2)(28)

“This bad day. Did it rank in your top five?”

She came up beside me, watching as I lifted Drake from his seat. “No.”

“Good.”

Before I could settle Drake on my shoulder, she stole her son from my hands, cradling him in her arms. Then she breathed, a breath so deep and long it was like she’d been underwater for five minutes and was finally breaking through the surface.

She closed her eyes and peppered Drake’s forehead with kisses. His fussing stopped almost immediately.

How could she not see how much she settled him? Yeah, maybe they struggled at one in the morning. But that kid needed her like she needed him. Those two were destined to be together.

Watching them was like intruding on a ritual, a moment that they had each day, coming home and finding peace together.

I gave them a minute, heading to the fridge to uncork a bottle of pinot grigio and pour two glasses.

“You’re busy,” she said. “We won’t interrupt your night.”

I carried over her glass of wine. “Stay for dinner.”

“What are you making?” She hovered at the corner of the island, surveying the pasta and vegetables on the cutting board.

“Dinner.” I smirked. “You’ll find out if you stay.”

She rolled her eyes, a smile toying at the corner of her pretty mouth. But she took the wine and her shoulders began their slow creep away from her ears. “Thank you.”

“Make yourself at home.”

With Drake on her hip, she glanced around the space. “You weren’t at the restaurant today.”

“You noticed?”

She shrugged. “I usually park beside your truck.”

That, or she looked for me. Maybe as often as I looked for her.

I went to the cutting board and began chopping the spinach while she rifled through the diaper bag and took out a bottle with powdered formula in the bottom.

She eased past me for the sink, filling the bottle with water before shaking it up. Then she walked to the living room, taking a seat on the couch to feed Drake.

I dropped the pasta into the boiling water, then picked up her wineglass, taking it to her in the living room.

“You have a beautiful home.” There was a sadness in her expression as she spoke.

“What’s that look for?” I perched on the edge of the coffee table, my knees just inches from hers.

It was too close.

It wasn’t close enough.

Whatever lines I’d intended to keep between us were melting away.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me today.” She looked down at Drake. “He’s almost four months old. How did that happen? How did he grow so fast?”

“I’ve been told that’s what kids do.”

She gave me a sad smile. “Do you think he loves me?”

“Look at him and you’ll get your answer.”

Because that little boy was staring at his mother like she’d hung the moon and stars. He chugged his bottle, resting in her arms without a care in the world.

She closed her eyes and nodded. Then she straightened, shaking off the sadness. “This is not your typical Montana-style home. Not that I’ve been to many. But it’s different than anything I’ve seen driving through town. It’s very modern.”

“If you’re looking for traditional country homes, you’ll have to visit my parents’ place. Or Griff and Winn’s.”

“This suits you. The clean lines. The windows. The moody atmosphere.”

“Are you saying I’m moody?”

She smiled wider, the biggest victory in my day. “Look in the mirror and you’ll get your answer.”

“Well played, Ms. Ward.” I chuckled and stood, returning to the kitchen.

Memphis finished feeding Drake, then carried him to the island, watching as I worked. “Why did you choose this style of design?”

“When I was living in San Francisco, I was in this cramped, two-bedroom apartment with three total windows.

They all faced the brick building across the alley. Drove me nuts not being able to look outside and see farther than twenty feet.”

No trees. No grass. Not even the sky. For a Montana guy who’d grown up on a sprawling ranch, that apartment might as well have been a prison cell.

“When I moved home, I knew I wanted to live in the country, but I was selective about the property. My parents and Griffin suggested a part of the ranch, but I wanted to be closer to town. When the winter roads are shit, they don’t have to leave but I have to drive into town each day. I took my time, waiting for the right property to come on the market. While I waited, I lived in the caretaker’s apartment at the hotel.”

“Oh, I didn’t know there was a caretaker’s apartment.”

“Apartment is a generous term,” I said. “It was smaller than your loft. But it’s gone now. It was beside the kitchen, and when we remodeled, I took the wall out to use that space for the walk-in and my office.”

“Ah.” She nodded. “I’m guessing there were no windows in that apartment.”

“Not one. I was so tired of artificial light that when I bought this land and hired my architect, I told him that I wanted enough windows that I could see outside from every inch of the house. Even the bathrooms.”