“I can’t imagine Archer scared of anything.”
Empathy rose in her mother’s eyes. “That’s because he doesn’t want you to. He couldn’t bear to see you in the hospital with all those tubes, and after you came home, he had just as hard a time as you recovered and then when your treatments tuckered you out. Archer’s a fighter, honey, a born protector from the time he was just a little boy. He couldn’t protect you from cancer. He couldn’t fight it for you, and that made it impossible for him to be with you.”
Jules’s heart squeezed as understanding dawned on her. “But he can protect me from guys.”
“Exactly,” her mother said.
“Poor Archer. How can I help him realize he doesn’t have to stand up to the world for me?”
“You just live your life, baby girl,” her mother said. “If you and Grant are meant to be, then as your relationship grows stronger, Archer will get the picture.”
“She’s right, Julesy. You go out there and get your hotsy-totsy on with that man of yours.” Her grandmother lowered her voice and said, “Now, give me the scoop about your python. Is he a wicked boy or a sweet one?”
“Grandma! I haven’t seen his python, and we are not talking about this! We have wreaths to make.” Jules stalked toward the supply room to hide her blushing cheeks, because now she was not only thinking about Grant’s python, but also all the dirty things she wanted to do with it.
“HOW ABOUT A Jurassic Park theme?” Brant suggested late Friday afternoon.
“Maybe.” They had been tossing around ideas for the flotilla all day, but Grant was having trouble thinking about anything other than his sweet, sensual Jules. For the hundredth time that day, he thought about how into him she’d been that morning, driving him out of his fucking mind, grinding on his lap and making those sexy noises.
“Star Wars?” Brant asked, pulling Grant from his thoughts.
“Didn’t someone do a Yoda Santa a few years ago? How about snow pixies?”
Brant looked at him like he was nuts. “Snow pixies?”
“Yeah, you know, like fairies? Peter Pan and all that shit?” He glanced at the clock. “It’s getting late. I have to get out of here. I’ve got plans, and I need to head home and shower first.”
Brant arched a brow. “You’ve got plans? Which island girl finally got their claws into you?”
Grant put on his jacket, a grin tugging at his lips. “Jules.”
“Jules?” Brant took off his baseball cap and ran a hand through his hair, then settled the ever-present hat back on his head. “That’s unexpected.”
“No kidding.”
“How long has this been going on?”
Grant thought about that for a minute before answering. “I think it’s been brewing for a while, and I just didn’t realize it. I caught myself flirting with her before my last mission, but you know, I put her in that off-limits category and went on with my life. But she’s been coming around my place every week or so since I got back to the island, reminding me about events and things like that. She’d tell me whatever it was when I answered the door, then take off. She never even came inside, and I honestly didn’t think much about it. I had blinders on. Then I saw her in that sexy getup on Halloween, and suddenly I couldn’t unsee her as a woman instead of as my little sister’s friend. We started to hang out, and she’s really something, Brant. She’s got a lot going on in that beautiful head of hers, and…” He shrugged. “Now I can’t stop thinking about her.”
“That’s great. Jules is probably the purest thing on this island.”
“How do you mean? I know she seems like her head is in the clouds sometimes, but she’s wicked smart and a lot more insightful than most people I know.”
“I don’t mean like that. Jules rarely dates. I’ve never heard a single rumor about her.”
“Probably because Archer squashes rumors before they can get started. I should thank him for that.” Grant made a mental note to keep an ear close to the ground to make sure Jules didn’t become the talk of the island because of him.
“Maybe.” Brant nodded.
“The people around here really need to find something else to talk about. Hey, she asked if she could help decorate the flotilla. Do you care if she pitches in?”
“Are you kidding? The more the merrier, as far as I’m concerned. She usually helps her parents and Archer with their family’s boat. They do it up big for the winery.”
“Cool. Thanks. Maybe she wants to do both. I’ll see you around.” Grant headed out to his truck. He’d sat in the parking lot before work and read the letter Jules had written him so many times, he’d practically memorized it.
He started the engine and pulled the envelope down from where he’d tucked it above the visor, wanting to read it one more time before heading home to get cleaned up.
Sometimes when we have big decisions to make, we push away the people we need most, thinking the answers will be clearer if we’re not distracted. That’s especially true with the four universal signs, of which you, my hot Capricorn, are one. Capricorns often withdraw from family and friends to make their marks on the world, and those marks are more important than anything else. Your need to do something meaningful for others makes your desire to go back to Darkbird perfectly in line with who you were meant to be.
You might not believe in signs, but this pixie, this Cancer (the zodiac sign, not the disease), lives by them. So rest assured, my rugged friend, while you’re out in the big, wide world, conquering your goals, or searching for your next meaningful endeavor, I’ll be sitting on your determined shoulder, cheering you on from afar and holding a lantern in your darkest times.
Meant to be yours,
Pixie
Grant was just as floored by the letter now as he had been the first time he’d read it, and the fact that Jules had written it before he’d seen her that morning, before he’d apologized, blew him away. She hadn’t seen the lantern he’d made for her, and she sure as hell hadn’t seen the newest picture he’d painted, which was still on his easel. The picture of him standing alone on the island staring out at sea with a pixie sitting on his shoulder holding a lantern.
He didn’t believe in signs, but that letter sure felt like one.
He tucked the letter back in the visor, thinking about how much of herself Jules put into everything she did. She was pure, all right. Pure of heart and purely dangerous to his.
Flirting with danger had never felt so good.
Chapter Fourteen
“THAT’S THE LAST of the RSVPs for Daphne’s bridal shower the weekend of the tree lighting. Her friends from Bayside and her mother and sister are all coming. It’s going to be a blast.” Jules pocketed her phone and went back to helping Bellamy fill the big red wagon with the beautiful autumn wreaths they’d made.
“I saw the group texts from Keira and Trista saying they’d make lunch and desserts,” Bellamy said as the bells above the door chimed.
Grant walked into the shop looking deliciously masculine in a chocolate-brown jacket over a gray sweater, dark jeans, and black boots. His eyes hit Jules like a gust of tingle-inducing wind, and her whole body heated.