Theodore's Pov
As Juniper pauses in the kitchen, considering my invitation, I feel like my heart has stopped beating. The silence between us stretches longer than it should have, and I suddenly regret even asking. "Is this too much? Too soon?"
I watch her, trying to keep my expression casual while inwardly bracing myself for rejection.
She blinks, clearly caught off guard. “A swim?”
“Yeah. Just a quick one. It’s early, so we’ll probably have the beach to ourselves,” I say, leaning against the counter as though trying to downplay my suggestion.
“I don’t know,” She says slowly, scanning my face.
“Come on,” I coax, my smile widening. “You said you don’t take breaks often. Consider this one. No emails, no work—just the ocean and some fresh air.”
Her lips press into a thin line as she d
