“Why are we friends again?”
Declan flashes his beaming megawatt rock star smile, slapping me on the back as he responds, “You were dumb enough to save my ass once, and now you’re stuck with me for life.”
Softening slightly from the reminder I mutter, “And forever shall I rue the day.”
Declan laughs but is saved from having to respond by Cassidy rushing into the room. She stops beside us, obviously breathless from rushing around, but otherwise she appears refreshed.
Scanning her up and down, I take in her sandaled feet and long skirt. “I hope you’ve followed instructions this time.”
“You wanna check?” she retorts, already lifting her skirt.
Stepping close, I yank her skirt down, my glare directed at Declan. “Not in front of mixed company.”
“You heard the man earlier,” she responds with an indelicate snort. “Nothing he hasn’t seen before.”
Declan grins and nods so I interject, “And he won’t be seeing any of you. Nor will anyone else.”
She gives me a rather bland look, her lips pressed together, but she remains silent. I can tell she wants to say something, though, most likely something to piss me off. So I step in close, so close my chest presses against her breasts. “Do you understand me, princess?”
Cassidy doesn’t move away at all, just tilts her head back so she can continue to hold my gaze. “No one touches you. No one fucking looks at you. No one but me.”
She searches my eyes briefly, then nods. Satisfied with her response, I shift away, only to stop short by her hand suddenly pressing against my shoulder. “That goes both ways.” Her words are grim, her fingers now gripping the front of my shirt, holding me in place. “You understand me?”
It’s my turn to search her eyes, a bit taken aback by how easily she turns the tables on me and my bravado. Her brows raise slowly as she awaits my response, so, after another moment, I nod. She releases me without further comment, almost flinging me away and I find myself frowning at her back as she walks toward the door.
“You are so fucking screwed,” Declan taunts from beside me, earning a shove and a hard look from me as I hiss, “Shut up, Dec,” but all he does is laugh harder. I shove him again and this time he shoves back, still laughing as we tussle like fools, though we’re making slow progress toward the door.
“For fuck’s sake,” Cassidy grumbles. “Would the two of you knock it off already.”
We immediately stop. “What?” we respond in unison, earning an eye roll from her.
She sighs. Shakes her head as she tsks under her breath. “I’m surrounded by children.”
“Call it practice for your inevitable future,” Declan drawls as he smooths his shirt from where I yanked at it. “You’re welcome.”
Cassidy rolls her eyes again, but the corners of her mouth twitch slightly. He teases her a bit more, making some kind of joke I missed, and I find myself bristling as she laughs in response.
Because her laughing at his jokes kind of pisses me off.
I don’t realize they’ve both left the room until Declan peeks his head back in, his gaze knowing as he taunts, “So, so screwed.”
I flip him the bird then slowly follow after them, slamming the door behind me.
11
A FRIENDLY ENTOURAGE
CASSIDY
“Where are we going?”
I’m not sure why it took me this long to ask, but as our car pulls away from the hotel, I realize leaving everything up to these two clowns may prove problematic.
“To grab some dinner,” Declan responds, not looking up from his phone where he’s been texting someone rapidly since we stepped onto the sidewalk.
I wait for him to elaborate and when he doesn’t, I turn my attention to Ren who’s sitting on my other side, staring out the window. Nudging him with my elbow, I wait for him to look at me before saying, “I thought we were scoping out where we’re going to do the big day.”
He lifts his chin toward Declan. “He told me not to worry about it.”
