Juno pointed at West and nodded. “Oh, right, that shit too.” She swung that pointed finger my way and stabbed at my chest. “Which we will discuss later. And don’t worry, I won’t expectanything from you. We can go back to being enemies as soon as I’m done with my little breakdown.”
My throat worked as I swallowed down my response, choosing to nod instead. I had no intention of things going back to the way they were between us. Everything had changed in the way I saw Juno. With the curtain of suspicion keeping me from trusting her lifted, she was no longer a potential threat to my family. Which meant all the pent-up desires and dirty fantasies I’d had about the stunning woman the last few months could finally be more than just a wet dream.
All I needed to do was help her see I wasn’t actually an asshole just because I acted like one sometimes.
Okay, fine, most of the time.
After her perceived betrayal today, combined with our fighting the last few months, it would take time and a lot of constant effort to build her trust, which was reasonable.
Juno Jones was a woman worth me giving it my all for.
Once she was secure, arms looped around my neck and thighs clutching my waist, I spun on my heels and started for the SUV when the sound of a door opening had me pausing. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw the side door that led to Sips had swung open toward us, blocking my view of who stood on the other side.
“I understand delays, but that shipment should be soon, right?”
Recognition hit the moment the voice filtered through my ears. Even without seeing the man, I knew it was Paul, the owner of the coffee shop, who was talking to someone either inside the shop or on the phone. Either way, he clearly didn’t know we were standing in the alley hearing his conversation. “No, I don’t think anyone knows. Listen, I’ve kept my end of the?—”
The clanking of an empty soda can rolling along the cracked pavement echoed through the alley, cutting Paul off instantly.Over my shoulder, I rolled my eyes at West, whose grimace quickly turned into an apologetic smirk that forced both damn dimples to pop. An exasperated huff shook my chest. The manipulative bastard knew I couldn’t stay pissed at him when he showed those bitches.
Alerted to our presence, Paul popped around the edge of the door, narrowed eyes searching before finding me and widening in surprise.
“What the hell are you three doing back here?” His face flushed red when they landed on Juno wrapped around me. “Get the hell out of my alley. I don’t allow that kinky-ass shit you and?—”
“Watch yourself, Paul,” I said in an eerily calm tone that promised pain if he finished that statement. Whatever he read on my face made him flinch. Shifting Juno so she couldn’t see Paul’s disgusted expression, I tilted my head toward the mouth of the alley. “We were headed out anyway, so finish that conversation.”
His face paled, and he stammered something about a flour shipment before disappearing behind the door. It slammed shut behind him, the loud bang making Juno tense in my arms.
“That was weird,” West said, and I grunted in agreement. “Come on, let’s get her out of here.”
Digging into the front pocket of my jeans, I pulled out the keys and tossed them to him. The fucker gave a pointed look at Juno curled around me, then glanced back at me with an “I told you so” grin before heading down the alley.
Arms tightening to keep her secure, I followed him, ready to get the woman who was becoming more precious to me by the minute back to our place.
Maybe then, with Juno there, it would finally feel like home.
12
WEST
The front door closed behind me with a faint click, but even that made me flinch and check over my shoulder to see if the small sound woke Juno. The stingy bastard I called my best friend beat me to carrying her inside after she’d fallen asleep in the SUV during the short ride home.
Even now, Langston refused to set her down. Instead, he figured out a way to keep Juno in his arms and sit in his favorite chair all without waking her. For a big bastard, I had to admit it was an impressive accomplishment.
Movement in his bedroom doorway drew my attention to GG, who pranced across the hardwood floor and gracefully leapt up onto the armrest beside Langston.
“They met this morning,” I murmured softly as I rounded his chair to lower slowly onto the leather couch.
Langston’s only response was an arched brow, which somehow I understood was a silent question, wondering why she had come by earlier. How the man conveyed what he was thinking without uttering a single word was beyond me. Ormaybe I was the talented one who could read his expressions so well that he didn’t need to speak.
We had been friends for so long that it was probably a mix of both. When I started at Uplift, Langston did his normal asshole routine, but I saw right through it. It didn’t take long for me to break down his walls, for him to see me as a friend, not a foe.
“I needed help to get dressed.” Avoiding eye contact, I shrugged innocently, but from his chuffed response, he knew I was anything but innocent. “You were away, so I called Juno.” I rubbed my palm over my head, the spiky ends of my short hair scraping the calloused skin. “I couldn’t get last night out of my head. I mean, you saw how I woke up. I needed to see her, so yeah, I exaggerated the truth a little.” I tossed my hand in the air, frustrated with myself. “I couldn’t help it. My fingers texted without my approval, like they had a mind of their own.”
“One body part did that for sure,” Langston murmured.
I shot him a dirty look. “You don’t understand. You didn’t taste her last night, feel her squeezing the hell out of your fingers. I’m a damn addict for her now, and honestly, I don’t give a fuck. I’m perfectly fine staying hooked on her.”
Jade-green eyes bored into my soul, but Langston didn’t utter a single word. Maybe because he was afraid of waking Juno or just didn’t know how to respond to that. Either way, I wasn’t finished.
