Home Town Hero (Pink Springs 2)

It’s not even up and going, and the real estate people that sold it were happy with the deal. There’s no bad blood in town with this place or with Juno, as far as I know. Hell, from the going away party the diner gave her, you’d think she was the damn queen of Pink Springs.

I lock up the shop door and go upstairs to find her. I’m finished with work for the day anyway, but I’m also itching to get her back to my place.

“Juno,” I call out when I open the door, and I see her sitting on her bed with her arms crossed. “You ready?” When I call out, she doesn’t move.

“You’re going to answer some questions first.” She scowls at me, and I’m surprised. A few moments ago she was in tears, and now she looks pissed. I guess dealing with an angry Juno is much easier than dealing with a crying one. I don’t know how to fix tears, and it breaks my heart when I see her do it.

“I’ll answer your questions when we’re out of here.” I grab the bag sitting on the floor next to her, but she doesn’t move to get up. “Let’s go.”

“Why am I leaving? Where are we going? You can’t just bark orders at me and expect me to do what you say.”

“I don’t think it’s safe here, at least until we get your window fixed and some cameras. Maybe even a few more locks, a guard dog—”

“Cooper,” she hisses, cutting me off.

“You’re coming to stay with me for a few days while they fix your window.” Never mind that it will be fixed tomorrow. She doesn’t need to know all the details.

“Oh.” Her arms fall in her lap like she didn’t consider this.

“Did you think I was going to take you to the shelter at the church?” I want to laugh but have the feeling it will just piss her off more.

“Fine. But you can carry my bag.” She stands up and walks past me with her chin in the air. I shake my head because I’m already carrying her bag. But whatever it takes to get her to come willingly.

After a brief argument in the parking lot about leaving her car here, I finally give in, and she follows behind me in her Jeep on the way to my house. Luca still lives at home with me, but I hardly ever see him. He’s either hanging out with his friends or working, and sometimes his job takes him away for a few days at a time. He left town a few hours ago and won’t be back until next week, so I’m thankful I’ve got the place to myself with Juno.

This is the house our parents built, but after they passed they left it to the three of us. Lux lives in the city now, and Luca has already said he doesn’t plan on staying in Pink Springs forever, so both of them gave it to me. I’ve done a few things over the years to change it and make it ours, but mostly my room and the kitchen have gotten the bulk of the remodels.

When we pull up, I grab Juno’s bag from beside me and go over to open her door on the Jeep. She’s silent as we go inside, and when I put her bag down on the kitchen table, we stand there for a moment, just looking at each other.

“Are you hungry?” she asks, looking around and then at her feet. Anywhere but at me.

I shake my head as I see her leaning against the counter. She’s in the same spot I found her all those months ago, and it’s the image that haunts me in my dreams.

“Do you want to watch a movie?” She still won’t look at me, but I shake my head anyway. She brings a finger up to her mouth to bite her nail, and I take a step toward her.

“Don’t do that,” I say, and my voice is husky and low. I take the hand and bring the finger up to my mouth to kiss it.

“So what are we going to do?” When her eyes meet mine she’s nervous, but I see an excitement there too.

“I’m gonna take you to my room.” I kiss the inside of her wrist without taking my eyes off her. Her mouth opens, and she lets out a breath as I wrap an arm around her back and haul her up against me. “And introduce you to my headboard.”

I grab her ass and lift her over my shoulder, carrying her up the stairs. I’m too close to the edge to wait on her to walk, and I’ll be faster. By the time I make it to my room and kick the door closed, barely a heartbeat has passed. I put Juno on her feet, and she wobbles a second as I steady her.