Chapter 63

Jack

I woke sometime later, and for a moment, I panicked, my heart racing as I came up out of the nightmare I'd been having. My arms tightened around the sleeping form beside me, making her stir. In the faint light of the small bedside lamp, I realized it was Juno beside me and not someone else.

Exhaling, I lay my head back down and gazed at her. Still asleep, she looked like an angel. Compared to the woman in my dreams, I already knew that was exactly what Juno was. Pushing the thoughts of my ex away once more, I tried to focus on more positive thoughts.

Her last words to me before she fell asleep echoed through my head. The promise to make better memories. I could do with a balm like that. Too many of my memories were full of pain, arguments, and loathing for both myself and the woman who had caused it all.

I'd been no saint, often wishing I'd handled something better, but she'd pushed and pushed, and more than once, I couldn't take it anymore.

If things hadn't ended when they had, I didn't know what I'd have done.

Juno stirred some more, finally opening her eyes and turning her gaze on me. Her eyes lit up the second she noticed me, and warmth spread through my chest. It was the balm I needed. To see the pleasure in her eyes at noticing me and to know she genuinely wanted to be with me.

We'd had a few upsets and problems along the way, but nothing major, and it was clear we were both hurting over past issues. I was starting to think we could put each other back together again if we had the chance and the time.

I glanced at the nearby clock and encouraged Juno back up and onto her feet. A moment later, I reached for my shirt. I glanced out of the port hole on the side of the boat and noticed the island was beside us, and we'd slowed. Even in the dark, I knew where we were, the approach a view I'd watched so many times.

"Only a few more minutes. We should go up on the deck so you can see us come in. Even at night, it's beautiful," I said, the view something I never thought would grow old.

Juno didn't object, making herself decent again swiftly and letting me take her hand again. I liked feeling her fingers in mine.

Some of the others had taken the opportunity to get some sleep, too, but we found Alma and Kai on the deck, looking out toward the shore and the island buildings that could just be seen toward the center.

"It's so beautiful," Alma said as she spotted me and Juno.

"That's why Jack bought it," Kai replied, grinning, his arm slipping around Alma's waist.

I took Juno closer to them, and the four of us slipped into silence, watching.

Juno leaned into me again, resting her head against my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around her from behind, feeling her shake slightly. Worried she was more than just cold, I gently stroked the back of her hand with my thumb and kept her cozy against me.

If she was scared, she calmed, her body growing more still as the boat docked, and the island provided us with a small amount of shelter from the wind.

As soon as the boat was made fast and the sailors on board declared it safe for us to disembark, I led Juno off, wanting to know what she thought of the house.

We walked up a sandy, beach-like area toward a dirt track and then up a path to the front door of the house. With only a few staff on the island and no one else for miles, there was no need to lock the front door, so I pushed it open and watched Juno's reaction.

Her eyes went wide, and her mouth fell open. Immediately, I grinned, unable to help but be delighted. I took her hand and led her up to the top of the house, which had a view over the whole island.

She ate in every detail with her gaze, her head darting from one view to the next until we were looking out over the bay we'd just sailed in through. Down below, we could still see the crew and staff bringing our luggage to the house.

I watched her watching it all.

"I feel a little guilty," she said a moment later. "I didn't even think to bring my carry-on bag."

I chuckled. I hadn't grabbed mine either, so intent on showing her the view.

"They won't mind, but I'll make sure I don't distract you so much next time," I replied. "Now, I'm hungry. I want a snack, and then I want you."

She turned as I slipped my arms around her, studying me for a moment before she relaxed against my chest.

"Can I skip the snack and go straight to the being had part?" she asked, fighting back a smirk.

I grinned and kissed her, tempted to drag her into the bedroom and take her right then and there, but I wanted to do this on my terms. Pulling back, I walked back down the stairs.

She followed, slipping her hand in mine and pouting slightly. Alma caught a glance at us as she and Kai made their way to one of the other bedrooms, and she chuckled while I flicked her a wink.

If Juno noticed the exchange, she didn't say anything, letting me show her some more of the house on the way to the kitchen. The housekeeper, Laura, had already stocked it up, but she appeared with a box from the boat while I was looking in the fridge.

"There were a few things I couldn't get till now," she said, talking to me and then giving Juno a brief smile.

I introduced Juno to Laura as I made a sandwich and offered Juno one, too. She declined the offer but sat nearby on a stool at the kitchen counter while I ate and discussed a few details with Laura.

"Are you staying once the band leaves?" Laura asked. "If so, I'll have more food brought in when the boat takes them back to the mainland."

"Yeah, probably."

"Okay. There's a few weather warnings, but nothing alarming."

"It'll be that time of year soon. We'll be careful. Are all the safe areas prepped?" I asked.

"Of course. No chances taken, as always."

I nodded as Laura finished putting the rest of the cold items in the fridge.

"Leave the rest until morning," I said. "It's late. You've waited up long enough for us."

Laura exhaled, the relief something she didn't try to hide. She was a darling, but it was clear the late nights weren't sitting well with her anymore. I made a mental note to try arriving sooner in the day so she didn't feel as if she had to be up so late in the future.

I quickly ate the sandwich while Juno looked around the kitchen from her seat, and I studied her.

She looked like she belonged where she sat, her long, curved legs on display, closed but not crossed. Unlike a lot of women I was surrounded by, she wasn't stick-thin, but she wasn't fat either, her calves and thighs curved with muscle.

I felt my groin stir at the thought of being between her legs, and it took all my self-control not to walk right over to her, push her legs apart, and take her right where she sat.

There were people in the house, and that meant I couldn't screw her in every room. However, if everything went well, I planned to as soon as they left.

A moment later, she looked back my way, catching me staring at her crotch. She glanced at my pants and bit her lip as our eyes met. Within a second, she was on her feet and coming over to me.

I took the last bite of the sandwich as she put her hand in mine.