Juliette
I yanked the belt of my robe tighter as I got to the door and forced a smile. “I got this. Thanks, Wes.”
He grinned. “No problem, babe.”
He was barely out of earshot when Pam leaned in. “I want all the dirt on the new hottie right now.”
I shook my head. “There isn’t anything to tell. He’s…a family friend.”
“I saw the police officer coming out of your house this morning. He said you’d had an argument with yourboyfriend.”
Shit. This was why I didn’t lie. One led to two, and before long you were caught in a web of them. But I really didn’t want Pam to think Wes was my boyfriend. I considered her a friend, but she was a pretty big gossip, and we both worked in the entertainment industry. “That was just Wes and his odd sense of humor. He got in late and didn’t want to wake me, so he crashed in his car.”
Pam’s mouth curved to a grin. “So that sizzle stick is single?”
Her comment irked me. “I think he might have a girlfriend back home.”
She shrugged. “No ring means I’m still in the running.”
I had to work to hide my frown. “I should get back to sleep. I have an early day tomorrow. Were you just coming to check on me, or…”
“Oh! I almost forgot. I stopped over to ask you for a favor. My brain got a little frazzled by that six-pack.”
It’s more of an eight-pack. Trust me, I’ve counted.“What’s up?”
“Would you mind swinging by Brewer’s tomorrow night? I ordered finger sandwiches for book club, but I’m going to be cutting it close on time because I have a late-day meeting. I don’t want people showing up before I get home.”
Shoot. I forgot all about book club.“Umm… Yeah, sure. I can pick up the food from Brewer’s for you.”
Pam dug into her purse and pulled out a receipt. “Great. It’s all paid for.”
“Okay.”
“One more thing. Do you think you could go over to the house and set up, too? Put out the food and paper goods? Maybe set up the circle and stuff?”
“Sure.”
Pam hugged me. “You’re a lifesaver. The spare key is still under the flowerpot.”
I nodded. “Have a good night.”
“You too, honey. And good luck with that author tomorrow. I still think you should go for it and ask the man out.” She winked. “Lord knows I would.” Pam cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled over my shoulder. “You’re invited to book club, too, hot stuff!You don’t have to read the book. Just come for the cocktails—and the cock!”
I practically shoved her back and shut the door, praying Wes had gone to the bathroom and hadn’t heard any of that. But of course, I found him standing in the living room—stillwith his shirt off and now with his hands on his hips.
“What the hell was that last comment about? Does your book club have strippers or something?”
“No. The book they picked to read this month is a romance novel.”
He flashed a dirty grin. “Oh yeah? Is it steamy?”
“I wouldn’t know. I didn’t read it. To be honest, I don’t read half the books they pick. My job is reading and writing all day long, so I need to be in the right mood to read for pleasure these days. I pretty much go to the meetings for the cocktails and food.”
He shrugged. “I guess we’ll both be taking a back seat and sipping a cocktail during the discussion then.”
“Ummm... No. You willnotbe going.”
“Why not? I was invited.”
