everything about it.”
He laughs and kisses me, dropping the key into the breast pocket of my shirt. “I’m glad. I’m in this for the long haul, Vanessa. I love you, and I want to build a future together.”
“I love you, too.” And I love the idea of a future with Dean in it. A future with a house and pets and the whole ball of wax. “Thank you.”
He laces his fingers through mine and squeezes. “Here’s to fresh starts.”
As the house lights dim, the silver screen flickers to life. I snuggle up to Dean, ready for the show to start.
Ready for the rest of my life.
***
Thanks so much for reading this first installment of the Juniper Ridge rom-com series. Want more? Mari’s story is next, and it’s already up for pre-order. Keep reading for an exclusive sneak peek at Let it Show…
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CONFESSIONAL 611
Judson, Marilyn (Psychologist: Juniper Ridge)
Because this is what I’m wearing. I’m not debating you on this, Lauren. They’re not sweatpants, they’re casual separates. Leisure slacks.
Look, I stopped having my wardrobe dictated to me the minute I left Hollywood. They’re comfortable. Like a soothing hug from a trusted friend. Like a soft, heartwarming touch from…oh, shut up.
Fine, they’re sweatpants. Can we start now?
I shouldn’t have stopped for tea.
I was already running late for my coaching appointment with the new brewery manager, and I should have gone straight to the conference room.
But there’s this great new earl grey in the café, and with seven coaching sessions scheduled back to back, my need for caffeine overrode my good judgment.
The lodge is up straight ahead, so I kick up my pace to a run. The pencil anchoring my bun in place flips out and hits the snow on a bounce. I’ll grab it later, maybe shovel this path while I’m at it. My low-heeled pump slips on a patch of cinder-studded sidewalk ice, but I stay upright as I whirl through the side door and into the carpeted corridor.
Pressing a hand to the wall, I pause to catch my breath. My fault for abandoning those twice-daily sessions with a personal trainer, though I don’t regret it. Not even a little.
I start moving again, reminding myself to slow down and walk like a normal human. No, not normal. I know better than to use ableist language, even in my head.
Squaring my shoulders, I bypass my office and aim for the conference room. The hall smells like Lana’s cinnamon candles and Dean’s burnt coffee and I gulp back a weird wave of complicated love for my family.
Griffin Walsh is already in the conference room, callused hands folded on the table in front of him. He looks like he hasn’t shaved for a week, which is more appealing than it ought to be. His gaze lifts, and the gaslight blue of his eyes makes me trip over my feet.
Catching myself on the table, I offer my most charming Hollywood smile. “Thank you for your patience.”
See what I did there? Opening with gratitude instead of apology starts things on a positive note.
Griffin just stares. “Does this mean we can cut it short by five minutes?” He glances at his watch. “I’ve got a batch of grist that needs to come out of the mash tun.”
“Ah.” I can’t pretend to understand the brewing process, but it’s important to show an interest in every community member’s role at Juniper Ridge. “Sounds exciting.”
“Not really.”
I claim the chair across from him, grateful I wore a skirt for a change. Not that I care about conforming to feminine ideals for fashion, but it’s important to set a professional tone for these coaching sessions. “You’re settling in okay?”
He nods and looks at his watch again, in case an hour has passed since he checked thirty seconds ago. “How is this different from all the other interviews I’ve been doing this week?” He meets my eyes again. “I mean, I know I agreed to have my life filmed, but I didn’t realize it would be so…so…”
He waves a hand, searching for the right word or maybe expecting me to fill it in for him. I fold my hands on the table and wait. In my experience, it’s best to let patients take their time forming their thoughts.
I wait a little longer.
And longer still.
After maybe twelve hours, I cave first. “The other interviews are about gathering footage for the actual show,” I explain. “These coaching sessions are about deciding what you want to work on.