Pretty sure that was how it worked when you were a ghost.
“So, what do you do for fun?” I asked, forcing a smile and directing the question to Stew.
His large frame shivered at my voice, making me shoot a worried expression at Finley, who appeared just as concerned for my safety.
“Hiking,” he muttered.
That was shocking. The guy didn’t really give off the outdoorsy vibe.
Not for the first time tonight, I glanced down at his bandaged wrist. “What happened there?”
He quickly tucked it under the table, hiding it beneath the white tablecloth, and shot me a sharp look that had me sucking in a tight breath.
“Nothing.” He turned his face back to his empty bread plate, shutting me out.
A soft buzzing in my purse had me searching inside for my cell phone, thankful for the unexpected distraction. It was rude to check it, but it was clear this date wasn’t going anywhere, and I honestly hoped someone needed me so I could excuse myself and head home to my pajamas and video games.
Tapping the texting app, a pulse of excitement made me suck in a breath at seeing West’s name.
West: You look bored.
Licking my lips, I quickly sealed the phone screen to my chest, carefully searching the restaurant for him. How else could West be spot-on about how utterly bored I was?
“What’s wrong?” Kale questioned, shifting to lean closer to Finley, draping an arm across the back of her chair.
I shook my head while still scanning the various tables and packed bar. The phone buzzed again in my hand, but I ignored it in my search.
Coming up empty, I slumped against the seat back. Disappointment hit me hard, making unshed tears line my lower eyelids. He was probably at home just messing with me—he knew I was on a date, after all. It was dumb even to think West would care enough to be here watching.
We were flirty friends, and his best friend hated me.
Well, I thought he did, until earlier when he had me pinned to the floor with his hand around my throat. Just remembering the feel of his hot palm wrapped around me, the control he had over me, sent desire flowing through my veins, settling between my thighs. The moment was hot, and it definitely didn’t feel like he hated me.
“Juno?” Finley asked. “Everything okay?”
I nodded, clearing my throat of the emotions clogging it. “Yeah, fine,” I rasped. “A wrong number, I guess.”
Needing to know what the other incoming message said, I tipped the screen away from my chest just enough to see the alert. Tapping the text, I sat frozen in place, reading and rereading his words.
West: Want to make the night more interesting?
Palms sweaty, I dropped my hand to hold the phone beneath the table so no one could read my response.
Me: How do you know I’m bored?
West: Because we’re watching you.
My heart leapt into my throat.
Me: We?
West: We.
Me: You mean you and…?
I almost choked on my tongue when a new text popped up, this time in a group chat withhim.
West: Him.
