Page 10 of Must Love Lavender and Little Lies
“If you weren’t so cute, I’d have you for dinner,” I yelled at him, then hurried to Juniper.
“Junie? You all right? Juniper?”
“Ah, root rot,” she’s cursed, pressing her hand to her forehead. “That goat is a menace. Pip? Pippy, are you okay?”
Pip shook his head, then barked angrily and chased after Andulf. The goat, sensing the vengeful mosspup on his trail, ran faster, scone crumbs flying from his mouth as he fled.
“I guess Pip’s truth is he hates my goat,” I said with a laugh.
“Oh no, the scones,” Juniper said, looking around, seeing her basket had tumbled over. The scones had slipped out, but had safely landed on the cloth from inside the basket. She started tucking them back inside the basket. “I’d hate for them to be ruined after having to bear the most uncomfortable conversation in the world this morning to get them.”
“Uncomfortable? What happened? Who hurt you?” I asked, feeling a protective urge wash over me.
“Nothing like that,” she said with a laugh. “It was just… Well, I was at The Sconery, and they were talking about men and women being friends. They asked me about us.”
“What about us?”
“Well, whether or not we’rejustfriends,” she replied nervously.
A nervous knot formed in my stomach. “What did you say?”
“Well, I said we’re just friends, of course. But then Bjorn said that even in friendship, attraction remains,” Juniper said, then gave me a piercing look. “Is that…true? Are you attracted to me?”
“Attracted to you? Junie, you are the most beautiful girl in Moonshine Hollow. Not even Moonshine Hollow. You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen,” I replied, willing my tongueto be silent but failing. “Of course I’m attracted to you. Are you attracted to me?”
“Who wouldn’t be? Just look at you,” Juniper said with a laugh, waving at me. “You’re all muscle and have a jaw you could saw boards on. And when you wear your farm shirts with the sleeves rolled up, along with your suspenders…perfection. I’ve never set eyes on a more handsome man in all my life.”
A breeze blew, and suddenly, the ringing in my ears stopped and the heaviness of the spell lifted. I could see in Juniper’s eyes that it was the same for her.
She began to giggle, covering her mouth with her hand. Shaking her head, she said, “Oh my gosh, what did I just say? The spell… Oh, Granik. I’m sorry. I’m so embarrassed.”
I laughed. “Nothing to be embarrassed about. Here, let me help you up.”
She turned and collected the scones, then set her hand in mine.
“So, you think I’m the most beautiful girl in all the land?” she asked in a teasing tone.
“Yes,” I replied. “Now I’m the one who feels embarrassed.”
She giggled. “You have seen Rosalyn, right?”
“That red-haired pixie? She’s a swamp witch compared to you,” I replied, grateful for Juniper’s good-natured manner about the whole thing.
“Be nice to swamp witches,” she teased. “They are some of the wisest creatures I know. And before you try to defend him, I told you those goats are a menace. Andulf worst of all. I think he does that on purpose.”
“Clearly, I don’t listen. You must put up with me because I’m so devastatingly handsome with my chiseled jaw and sexy suspenders.”
“Don’t let it go to your head.”
“My handsome head.”
She laughed. “Do I smell bacon?”
“You’re changing the subject.”
“There’s bacon. Is there a better subject to consider?”
“At this moment, I can’t think of another. Come on. Let’s get you something to eat while I go find Andulf and get him penned for real this time.”
