Page 11 of Must Love Lavender and Little Lies
“Adorable menace,” Juniper replied with a grin, then added, “just like you.”
At that, I laughed, then we headed inside, my heart feeling light for reasons I didn’t understand.
After breakfast,Juniper and I headed to the barn to work on planting. The doors to the barn were wide open, letting the spring breeze filter through as Juniper and I labored at tables that lined the length of the space. I’d had Sparkbrite and solstice lavender seed sent from elven lands. While most of my farm was planted with acres of perennial lavender flowers, I wanted to try something new. Sparkbrite lavender was said to have the calming power of regular lavender times ten. And solstice lavender would burst to life with plumes of purple flame from the summer solstice until the autumnal equinox. The blossom could be used to make a rare healing tonic, which Juniper was eager to try.
“The solstice lavender seeds even smell different,” Juniper said. “More…fiery, like they are spiced.”
“I smell it too.”
In the corner, an enchanted Victrola played soft music as we worked.
Juniper hummed along, her concentration fixed on the seeds and soil. I watched her hands as she worked, seeing the sparkle of white light that always surrounded them when she was deep in her magic. It seemed to me she was hardly aware of it, that the healing light was simply part of her, but it was beautiful to watch. She was a natural healing witch.
The enchanted music shifted, and a peppier beat came on.
Juniper smiled at me. “Remember this one? From Yule at the pub?”
“I remember you dancing with that dwarf.”
She laughed. “He was a spicy one.”
“Couldn’t keep his hands off your arse.”
“Jealous?”
“Of course. Not to mention he was a terrible dance partner,” I said, then set down the bag of soil and clapped my hands off. “He had the whole thing wrong.”
“Wrong? Wrong how?” she asked, her hand on her hip as she regarded me skeptically.
“Here,” I said, taking her hand and leading her to an empty space. “Like this. A gentleman would hold you here and here,” I said, setting one hand on the curve of her waist. “That dwarf had roaming hands.”
“Until you gave himthe look.”
“Didn’t hurt to remind him I could pound him into the earth with one swing of my fist. Now, like this,” I said, taking her other hand and swinging her around the barn.
Juniper’s eyes lit up, and she laughed lightly, the sweet sound echoing around the barn.
“See, twice as tall as you, I still don’t have an excuse to be ungentlemanly.”
“You’re nottwice as tall. It’s impolite to boast,” she teased.
At that, I laughed, twirled her, then bent her into a dip as I leaned down over her.
“You see, that’s how it’s meant to be done,” I told her, my eyes resting on hers.
Her bright eyes shimmered blue, and she was laughing as she looked at me. Suddenly, I had the urge to kiss her, to pull her close to me, to feel all the places that rotten little dwarf had touched, and more…
Juniper stilled, her eyes still on mine.
Gently, I helped her stand once more.
She placed her hands on my chest and looked up at me, her eyes locked on mine. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but instead, she let out a soft sigh. Her eyes drifted to my lips, then back to my eyes.
Before I could stop myself, my hand went to her cheek, caressing it softly. “Truly, the most beautiful woman,” I whispered.
Juniper’s lips parted once more, and she shifted closer to me, but the moment was broken by the sound of horse hooves coming quickly down the road toward the farm.
Pip, who had been lounging by the door, started barking and raced outside to see what was the matter.
