Avery returned her wink with a mock bow. “Good evening, Viv.”
As happy as Jo was to see her, Viv’s presence spoke of another issue Jo wasn’t prepared to face tonight. This gig hadn’t been on Giselle’s calendar when Jo was fired. Giselle had bid too high and lost it. “What are you doing here? Did you land a new job with Laramie?”
The black pencil skirt with a white shirt and string tie, trademark attire for Giselle’s Catering, made the question unnecessary, but black curls bounced as Viv shook her head. “If I had, I’d be out of a job. Laramie got shut down for health violations at the last minute, so Gruella got the job. But listen—”
“Vivianne.” Speak of the platinum blonde devil. Giselle slithered to a stop next to Viv. “I believe there are other guests to be served, and I’m sure Mr. Preston would like to join the festivities.”
“Not at all,” he said, smiling at Viv even as he tucked a protective arm around Jo. “It’s always a pleasure to see friends.”
“Thank you, sir.” She turned a bright smile on Jo. “Maybe I’ll catch you on my break, and we can talk about that trifecta.”
As soon as Viv was out of sight, Giselle zeroed in on Jo. “I wanted to apologize for any misunderstanding, and I hope there are no hard feelings.” A hand at her throat, she peered up at Avery from beneath overly thick fake lashes. “You’ve obviously landed on your feet.”
Avery stiffened, but Giselle rushed on, her eyes rounding innocently, “I mean that in the best way, of course.” Her fingers fluttered with a roll of her wrist. “It stands to reason you should have the Reese-Preston wedding since you’re practically a member of the family.”
Jo blinked. “I’m not—”
“Jo earned that job based on her talent.” As cold as his tone was, the heat behind his belief in her and his valiant defense melted her heart just a little more.
“Of course, she did. She’s an excellent pâtissier. I wouldn’t have hired her otherwise.” The sincerity in her eyes almost seemed authentic. “Now that we’ve gotten that unpleasantness out of the way, I hope the evening won’t be awkward and that you both enjoy yourselves. If you’ll forgive me, I have petit fours and crème puffs to oversee.”
Giselle faded into the crowd before Jo could pull her jaw off the ground.
Avery grunted, his teeth clenching as he bit out, “What the fuck kind of apology was that?”
“It could have been worse.” Jo was just relieved her first interaction with Giselle since being fired was done and over with. “She feels threatened by you”—and the relationship she believes I have with you—“and the clientele you represent, that’s all.”
“She feels threatened because she knows how good you are.”
“Thank you, but she knows she’ll lose clients, not to mention her standing in the culinary community if she doesn’t play nice with the competition.”
“Goddamn right she will if she comes at you again.”
“Thank you for standing up for me.” It had been so long since anyone besides Brooke had done that. She laid a hand on his chest. “But let’s not waste any more time thinking about her.”
The deep V of his brows flatlined, and a sidelong grin plucked at her heartstrings, causing a delicious chaos in her belly. “You’re right. Come on.”
Lacing his fingers with hers, he led her through the maze of tables. The crush surrounding them thickened, forcing her behind him. She squeezed in close enough to feel the abrasion of his wool jacket against her nipples. His nervous energy was back again, crackling through him and into her, adding to the sexual charge.
She tamped it down as Avery stopped at the edge of the crowd to let a server pass.
“Look at you rolling in late, all keyed up.” Kade pushed off the wall.
Ha! I’m not the only one who feels it.
“Nah, man.” Blaze shook his head. “As Gage would say, “Dude’s been postboned.”
Running late because he had sex? Don’t I wish.
She groaned inwardly as her pussy grew slick with arousal. Holding out until midnight wasn’t going to be easy.
“Watch your mouth,” Avery and another Sigma said at the same time. Sounded like Maverick.
And they say chivalry is dead.
But she could hold her own. She stepped from behind Avery. “He should be so lucky.”
Kade choked on his drink.
