Page 9 of Love Deep

“And it’s my shot.”

I manage to sink a couple of balls, and then when I miss, my pulse starts to race—because it means I get to hang out some more with Fisher.

“Do you go back to the UK a lot?” I ask.

“Not really. Home is New York, but I travel for work. What about you? You lived in Star Falls your entire life?”

“Sure have. Never even traveled out of state.”

He nods. “Right. That’s…”

“A little pathetic?” I suggest and laugh. “I agree. But, you know, life happens. And you have to pick. We get one life, and we can’t be the person who sees the world and the person who knows everybody in Star Falls to their bones.”

Fisher smiles, his eyes fixed on me, like he’s trying to figure me out. “I don’t think many people think about life like that. Like it’s a series of choices that will lead them to have one kind of life or another.”

“Really?” I ask. “I’m not saying you plan it out, but there are crossroads in anyone’s life and moments where you know whatever decision you take, your life will end up in two different places.”

“God, Juniper,” he says and groans, and I’m not sure if I’m boring him or something.

“What?” I ask. “Am I talking too much?”

He shakes his head. “I think I could talk to you all night. You and your take on life is… bewitching.”

I scrunch up my nose. “I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”

“It very definitely is.”

His gaze is so intense, I can almost feel it pressing into me, surrounding me, daring me to say more.

I reach over to him, because I can’tnottouch him any longer, and I rest my hand on his muscular arm for a beat, then two, then I force myself to pull away. “Thank you,” I say. “I’ll take any compliments you’re giving out.”

FOUR

Fisher

Breakfast at the Colorado Club is a banquet fit for a king. And certainly, the reigning queen of pop.

Vivian slides into the booth opposite me. “Never bring me here again.”

My stomach churns. Did I make a mistake, bringing her to Colorado? It’s certainly different from any place I’ve ever recorded, and I’ve been to a lot of different studios. New York, Tokyo, London, LA—even Sheffield, Alabama. And the tech is state of the art. But that’s not always what it’s about.

“You don’t like it?” I ask.

My concentration has been shot since seeing Juniper the night before last. The way she talked about people living down or up to expectations. I can’t stop thinking about it. Maybe I’ve been missing signs that Vivian wasn’t happy over the last twenty-four hours. I need to refocus on Vivian. I’m not here to have a six-week fling with a beautiful blonde who got pulled away by herfriends after pool and then left before I could get her number.

“It’s phenomenal. And the food is too good. I might never want to leave.”

I exhale. Thank god. I need Vivian to be happy.

“I’m leaving twenty pounds heavier at least. And I’m blaming it on you.”

“I’m good with that.”

“And your mate put in all the equipment because you told him to? It must have cost him a fortune.”

I chuckle. “Hearing you saymatein an American accent is hilarious.”

“I’m learning all your Britishisms from my husband.Mateis a favorite.”