Chapter Text
Focus was something that Juliet Higgins seldom lacked. Whether it was working on a case, or in her role as Major-domo, her concentration and application to a job could never usually be called into question.
It had been something her grandfather had taken great pains to instil within her, even as a child; you should have an iron clad work ethic, and if you were going to do a job, you did it properly. And in the years that followed, dedication and determination had been two of the traits that MI6 had enjoyed exploiting, aside from her fierce intelligence and spirited nature.
Which is why the far away, slightly dreamy smile that kept momentarily flitting across her pretty features was rousing considerable suspicion in her friend.
Whilst Juliet had been rather absently going over the accounts for the estate, Kumu had noted the frequently airy sighs, and secretive, dare she say ‘lovestruck’ smiles that briefly settled on the young woman’s lips. If Kumu was a betting woman – and, she was – she’d wager that Thomas wasn’t the only member of the Ohana who was harbouring a secret romance.
Of course Juliet had been somewhat distracted when she’d first started dating Ethan; the thrill of a new romance is always evident in the blushes and smiles of new lovers. But this was different. Juliet seemed happier recently than Kumu ever recalled seeing her. Her eyes were brighter, her smiles were warmer, and all together she carried herself with a lightness and joyfulness that none of the Ohana had ever seen in her before.
Kumu silently wondered if that was because they’d never seen Juliet in love before. And if Kumu had to speculate, that’s exactly what she suspected was going on.
It’s also what she attributed Magnum’s new lease on life, to. Whilst he always maintained a fairly upbeat, gregarious persona, these days his smiles were almost blinding. Rick and TC had never seen him so happy, and whilst the former thought perhaps a new dalliance was behind his friend’s euphoria, Kumu knew that this was more than just a new fling. Great sex wasn’t enough to warrant the beaming, all consuming smiles that he frequently flashed these days; not just great sex, anyway. No, Kumu was almost certain that Magnum was wearing the smug, hopeless grin of a man desperately in love.
The object of his affection? Well, Kumu had her suspicions about that too. But for now, she’d keep those to herself.
The sound of the gate notification on her phone suddenly interrupted her thoughts, and when she glanced at the image on the screen she was surprised to see a delivery van from one of the island’s most well known florists.
Poking her head around the office doorway, she found Juliet perhaps more appropriately engrossed in a spreadsheet. “I’ll get it!”
Juliet glanced up from her laptop, offering her friend a grateful smile. “Thanks, Kumu!”
Moving her fingertips over the laptop mouse pad, Julieta sighed in abject boredom as her eyes scanned the screen before her. Whilst there was certainly some sort of accounting software that could be utilised for this task, Robin occasionally liked to look at ‘the books’ himself, and as he wasn’t the most tech savvy of people, he preferred a good, old-fashioned spreadsheet.
Almost immediately, Juliet’s thoughts ran to the software she used for her and Thomas’ business accounts, and all too soon her mind had taken a sharp detour from accountancy, to the man in whose arms she’d awoken that morning.
She tried not to let her mind linger on the men who might try to take him from her. They’d been taking up far too many of her thoughts lately, ruining her happiness with the fear of a loss she’d known once before.
There was no way she’d let anything happen to Thomas, her hopes and dreams for the future all rested on him being by her side. And whilst she’d felt it was too early to tell him that she thought the private beach at Robin’s Nest would make a lovely wedding venue, or that she hoped their children would have his eyes and smile, that didn’t stop her from thinking those things.
She glanced up sharply as she heard Kumu walk into her office, and she smiled quizzically as she clocked the enormous bouquet of white tiger lilies that the older woman was carrying.
“Looks like somebody’s got a secret admirer!” Kumu arched an eyebrow, placing the flowers down onto the desk, and watching as Juliet reached out to caress the petals of the flowers, her lips quirked upwards into a soft, delighted smile.
Suddenly regaining her composure for a moment, she attempted a dismissive shrug. “Probably just…just a grateful client.”
Kumu clearly wasn’t convinced, and her eyebrows rose as she nodded suspiciously. “Uh-huh.”
Noting Juliet’s obviously distracted state, Kumu ventured, “You know, Juliet, you never did tell me what happened between you and Cole…”
That seemed to snap her out of her romantic reverie long enough to shoot Kumu a glance that seemed oddly confused; as if Juliet couldn’t process why her receiving flowers could be in any way related to her former suitor. And that only aroused Kumu’s suspicions further.
Juliet kept her eyes trained on the bouquet, taking a moment to inhale the sweet, heady scent of the flowers as she replied. “Nothing. I…I decided not to pursue it. There’s really nothing to tell.”
Her flirtation with the widower had been brief, and if she were being honest, there had been more interest on his part than hers. It was difficult to form a romantic interest in anyone when you were having dreams about your best-friend; dreams of a decidedly romantic, often erotic nature.
Memories of the previous evening suddenly presented themselves, and Juliet stifled a smile as she thought back on the night they’d spent together. She’d always enjoyed sex, but the intimacy and passion she shared with Magnum was simply on another level. She’d never felt quite so lustful before, and she found herself desperate for his touch and kisses, wondering about the next time they may tumble into bed together even as he crept from her room, as the sun rose.
She was sure her cheeks must be burning by now, and so she cleared her throat, pleased to see Kumu’s attention on the bouquet. The older woman bent her head and inhaled the sweet scent. “They’re beautiful…”
Nodding her head, Juliet suddenly spied the gift card nestling beneath a few sprigs of greenery and leaves. “Lilies are my favourite flower,” she replied, with an air of wonder, obviously trying to recall just when she might have told him that. It wasn’t as if they discussed botanical preferences on a daily basis. Truth be told, she was surprised Magnum even knew what a lily was.
Deftly pulling the card free from the edge of the bouquet, she concealed it under her palm as she slipped her hand underneath the table to rest on her lap. There was no way she’d get away with reading it without Kumu asking questions about the sender, and she wanted that moment to belong just to her.
And then suddenly, she remembered - the Aidan and Serena case. It had been nothing more than a throw-away comment, really. Magnum had pointed out the extravagant displays of wedding flowers dotted around the venue, and she’d made a brief, off-hand reply about preferring lilies. They’d been a favourite of her mother’s, and there was something about the graceful, elegant flowers that appealed to her. She’d said it so dismissively, too caught up at the time in the miseries of her own love life to want to contemplate her own wedding day. Yet apparently, Thomas had remembered. She wondered what other things he’d taken the time to know about her, what other little facets of information he’d stored away that nobody else would even care to know about.
Kumu smiled indulgently, catching the moment realisation had struck the young woman, and Juliet’s smile grew, only this time there was a distinct shine of adoration in her eyes as she contemplated her suitor. It seemed that Thomas had kept his promise of ‘courting’ her, and just as she’d suspected, it felt wonderful to be the object of his affections.
“Well then…I guess your mystery man knows you pretty well, huh?” Kumu stated, her comment earning a shy smile and prompting a blush to suddenly colour Juliet’s cheeks.
Glancing down at her lap, Juliet nodded in agreement as she thought over just how true that was. Nobody had ever known her like Magnum; nobody had ever tried to, or indeed wanted to before. Perhaps not even Richard.
Clutching the card a little tighter in her hand, she found her thoughts wandering in a decidedly romantic direction.
Perhaps there would be lilies in her bridal bouquet.