Page 35 of Next Time We'll Fall

“Don’t use my lines on me, Rafe.”

“Oh my gosh. Juniper, is that you?”

We all turn and watch as a middle-aged blonde woman comes hurrying over, a clipboard in her hand.

“Sorry, do I know you?” Juniper looks at her in confusion.

“Oh, you probably don’t remember me, but I was in Coconut Beach a couple of summers ago. You’re Juniper, right? You own Salty Pages Bookmobile?”

“Yeah, I do. Did you happen to buy a book from me?”

“I did. You recommended a couple of romances to me,” the blonde says. “I’m Jackie. Remember? From Hollywood?”

“I’m so sorry.” Juniper gives her a sorrowful look. “We have a lot of tourists who come through. I’m sure you’re really nice, but …”

“Oh, don’t feel bad. I just saw you, and you made my night.”

“I did?” Juniper looks confused, and I wonder where the conversation is going.

“Yeah. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of a TV show calledThe Bachelor and Me.”

“Oh my gosh, I watch that all the time,” Sage says. She looks over at Juniper. “Remember that really hot guy, Onassis? The guy who was, like, a billionaire and he married that girl from Idaho?”

“No,” Juniper says, shaking her head. “I don’t. I’m sorry.”

The blonde looks over at Sage and laughs. “Yeah, that’s my show. Anyway, we’re looking for another contestant, and actually, you would be perfect.” She looks back at Juniper. “What do you think?”

“What do I think about what?” Juniper says, looking even more confused.

But I can feel myself growing hot because I have a feeling I know what this lady is asking.

“I’m looking for another contestant for this reality dating TV show that we’re going to start shooting in a couple of days. One of the girls dropped out, and I was hoping we’d get someone local in. Well, who better than a local who owns a romance bookstore? How meta is that? A romance bookstore owner on a romance dating show.”

“Oh my gosh, you have to do it,” Sage says quickly. “That would be absolutely amazing.”

“I don’t think this is a good idea,” I say quickly. “No offense, but I think you need to …”

“I don’t need to listen to you. You’re not my dad. You’re not my granddad. You’re not my boyfriend. You’re not my husband. You’re not my attorney. I can do what I want.”

Juniper presses her lips together, and I can tell she’s going to be stubborn. I can also tell she’s annoying the shit out of me.

“I’d definitely love to hear more information.” She grins at the blonde. “What exactly is the purpose of the show?”

“To help you find love,” the blonde says, smiling and looking Juniper up and down. “And I think, Juniper, you might just be the belle of the ball. I think you might be the one the bachelor wants.”

“I think she’s going to need to think this through. We don’t know anything about the show. She has a job. Who’s the bachelor?”

The blonde turns to me, her eyes narrowing. “Sorry. I think I heard Juniper saying that you’re not her dad or her husband. Why do you keep butting in?”

“I am one of her protectors,” I say quickly. “Think of me as her guardian … bodyguard.”

“You are not my guardian or bodyguard,” Juniper says loudly. “Are you crazy?” The look she gives me tells me that she very much believes I am the craziest person she’s ever met in her life.

“You might say that, but I am Mia’s older brother, and you are Mia’s best friend, and as such, I will take care of you.” I sound like a grandpa and I know I’m being ridiculous. She’s an adult woman now and can make her own decisions.

I look into Juniper’s eyes, and we have a stare-off, but there’s no way in hell I’m going to let her be on this show. It soundedlike the worst idea in the world to me. And I knew that I was going to have to do something to stop it from happening.

Chapter 10