“Unlike you,” I added under my breath, just loud enough for him to hear.
Palms to the table, he leaned in as if that would make him seem intimidating. Maybe to a woman, but with me, it just poked the fucking bear. “Watch your tone, Juno. And do you know who the fuck you’re messing with?” Eric sat back and rolled his shoulders, glaring at me. “I could get you fired for how you’re treating an Uplift client.”
“I think you’re asking the wrong question. Doyouknow who you’re messing with?” West stated in a menacing tone that had my lips curving upward. Seeing him so protective and aggressive on Juno’s behalf was hot as fuck. West wasn’t a dominant guy, unless you went after someone he considered family; then a very dark side of him came out.
Stephanie approached the table, carefully clutching four glasses filled with amber liquid. I shot Eric a disapproving frown. Had he really sent his girl to the bar to fetch drinks?
Her timid smile dropped as she took in the tension radiating from the table. After setting a drink down in front of everyone, giving me what I had to assume was supposed to be hers, she moved her purse out of the seat and eased into the chair.
“Oh, you’re friends with Juno?” she asked.
I offered a clipped nod, which made her fidget on the hard wooden chair. Forcing her smile wider than what looked natural, Stephanie focused on Juno. “Did Eric tell you we hoped you’d come? To the wedding, that is.”
“You’re kidding me,” West said with an incredulous laugh.
Fingertips pressed to her temples, Juno rubbed small circles as if massaging away a headache.
Needing to find a better solution to her discomfort, I sorted through the causes while taking in the mostly empty table, minus the four drinks and an empty water glass. Angling back to look behind Juno, I hitched my chin at West to get his attention.
“Food?” He shook his head. “We need to feed her before we leave.”
“I’m right here, listening to you,” Juno huffed with zero frustration in her wiry tone. “And saying it like that makes me feel like a pet.”
“We’re here to take care of all your needs, pet.” I shot her a cocky smirk, which she returned with an exasperated headshake.
“Yes,” Eric called out, forcing our attention back on him, just how he liked it. “Steph and I wantyouthere, Juno.” The way he emphasized the word had West and me both chuffing. Like that would happen.
“When and where is this joyous occasion happening?” Juno exhaled. She picked up the highball glass filled with amber liquid and crinkled her cute nose.
“Care for something different?” West asked, leaning in close.
“Yeah, would you mind? This isn’t even on my radar of drinks I like.”
“No duck farts,” I ordered.
“Agreed, no shots,” she said through a fake gag.
West pushed back from the table. “I’ll grab you something from the bar. Vodka and Sprite with a lime is your usual, right?” At her slow nod, as if shocked he had noticed it was her go-to drink, West shot her a small smile before hitching his chin my way. “Plus, I’ll order some food.” He scanned the table. “To go. I have a feeling we’ll be leaving soon.”
When he turned for the bar, I watched her eyes follow him as he walked away, gaze locked on his firm ass.
“See something you like, shortcake?” I murmured.
Juno narrowed her eyes my way and stuck out her tongue.
“Remember what I said. I’ll put that to good use if you?—”
“Next weekend,” Eric blurted, once again pulling our focus back to him. Fuck, couldn’t the asshole take a hint and go drown in the bay? “The wedding is next weekend.”
Juno’s head whipped around fast, jaw slack. I frowned, not understanding why that was such a big deal. Maybe she felt it was too soon?
“I can’t wait to marry the love of my life.” Keeping his gaze locked on Juno, Eric lifted Stephanie’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “She makes me happy, not as much work as past relationships.”
“Please let me kill him,” I muttered under my breath.
“Where?” The word was more of a pushed breath; I barely heard it over the boisterous conversations around us.
A calculating grin spread across Eric’s face, which meant that whatever he said next would hurt Juno. “Saint Mary’s back home, of course.”
