Juniper Hill (The Edens)

“How do we get past this? How do we get past the worst days?”

“By making more of the best.” He kissed the top of my hair and let me go, shifting to dig something from his pocket. “I was going to wait until tomorrow. Give it to you when we opened gifts. But after everything that’s happened, waiting feels like wasting time.”

I shifted, trying to spy what he had in his fist. But he’d closed it in his palm.

It was only after he dropped to a knee that he loosened his hand, revealing a perfect diamond ring.

“Marry—”

Not mine.” Knox pulled out the stool beside his brother. “Mine’s a night owl.”

The entire room went still as my breath caught in my throat.

Another woman with secrets.

I guess I did have a type.

“Memphis? My Memphis?”

She arched her eyebrows. “Your Memphis?”

Maybe motherhood wasn’t always being the person your child leaned on, but finding the person they needed when you weren’t enough.

My frame sagged. “You deserve—”
“You.”
“I was going to say better.”
“No. I deserve you. Because I want you. And damn it, I earned you. All the shit I went through. The hell you endured. Who fucking cares if it’s messy?” He flicked a wrist around the room. “It’s exactly the way it should be.”

“I don’t want to be your mistake.”

“I cook for you because it’s how I show someone I care. I cook for you because I love the look on your face after that first bite. I cook for you because I’d rather cook for you than anyone else.”
“What?” My jaw dropped.
“I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing with you, woman.”
My mouth was still open.
Which suited Knox just fine.
Because he raised his hands, framed my face. Then sealed his lips over mine.

Fuck, but she was strong. I respected the hell out of her for walking away. From the money. From the legacy. From the control. I admired her for putting her son’s life first.

“You’re not alone. Not anymore.”