Page 23 of Must Love Lavender and Little Lies
With that, he leaned in and set a soft kiss on my lips.
I knew it wasn’t supposed to be real. I knew it was just for the crowd. But that kiss…I felt it from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. My whole body tingled, and bright lights flashed behind my eyelids. My head felt light as I leaned in, catching the taste of something salty on his lips. His hand pressed me closer toward him, and I smelled his comforting scent of lavender.
The kiss was for the crowd, but somehow, I didn’t want to let go. I pressed closer, feeling him in a way I had never felt before, and yet it was still Granik. Still my best friend. And now, my fake fiancé.
Suddenly realizing things were getting away from me, I giggled and then pulled away ever so slightly.
Granik chuckled, then pressed his forehead against mine.
“Think that convinced them?” I asked with a light laugh, feeling silly and lightheaded all at once.
“It almost convinced me,” he replied with a laugh.
Behind us, the crowd cheered.
“My Juniper,” Granik whispered. “Thank you,” he said, kissing me on the forehead and pulling me close.
We turned and looked at the sunset together, the beautiful light shimmering on the water, the rainbow arching over the waterfall. Behind us, I heard Primrose ushering people away.
“She packed us a picnic basket,” Granik told me. “And promised to get everyone to leave. Erasmus is helping.”
“You told them.”
He nodded. “They helped.”
“A picnic basket, eh?” I asked.
“She packed us up some dinner and a bottle of champagne.”
“Must have been something salty in there. Pretzel buns, maybe?”
“How did you know?”
“The kiss,” I said with a laugh. “How were they?”
Granik chuckled. “Good. Sorry, I got nervous, so I snacked. I left you a couple.”
At that, I laughed. “Thanks, but I think we should start with champagne. After that show, I need something to drink. Come on, fiancé. This is the first time in history we have the knoll to ourselves. Let’s enjoy it.”
“As you wish, my bride-to-be.”
CHAPTER 8
GRANIK
Juniper and I enjoyed the sunset and our picnic at the knoll, watching the sun set on the waterfall in the distance before returning to my wagon. If we thought that our show at the knoll was going to be the end of it, we were sorely mistaken.
As I gave Juniper a ride through town back to her cottage, people stopped on the street to call out to us!
“Finally,” Elder Thornberry called with a cheerful wave. “We elders were beginning to wonder if the two of you would ever figure it out!”
“You’ll make a beautiful bride, Juniper,” Elder Theodonna added.
I smiled nervously and drove on, passing others who cheered.
“We were beginning to think it would take a miracle for you two to realize you were in love,” Grella called to us as we passed The Pig and Piper. “Next round of drinks is on me!”
“Oh my gosh,” Juniper said nervously. “They all seem to think…”
