“Actually…” He grinned from ear to ear. “I don’t mind being late. I think I’ll come in for a while.”
CHAPTER 5
Wes
This was too freaking good to be true. I loved messing with Juliette, but usually I had to be creative.Thissituation? It had been handed to me on a silver platter. This job was tough, so if I could have a little fun with it, that made it somewhat tolerable. And tonight? I planned to have some fun, despite remaining on high alert.
I made my way into the living room, where Juliette had set up the food. I could get used to this. Not only was it going to be awesome making Juliette blush, but the snacks here? Top notch. I’d been missing out on the book club game all these years. Cheese and crackers. Shrimp cocktail. Cured meats—my favorite. The last time I’d seen a spread this good was the buffet on the Carnival cruise I took with my family when I was fourteen. While I wouldn’t be taking advantage of the alcohol tonight, since I had to be at the top of my game, I would most definitely be stuffing my face full of prosciutto.
The seats were arranged in a circle. Seemed so…formal.
Taking my full plate over to the chair next to Juliette, I bumped her arm with mine. “You should eat.”
She crossed her arms. “I’m not hungry in the least.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Why not?”
“I lost my appetite the moment you decided to stay.”
I looked around, then leaned in to whisper in her ear, “Ready for the circle jerk?”
She rolled her eyes.
I chuckled. “I mean, what the fuck is this? Who sits in a circle like this?” When her serious expression wouldn’t budge, I popped an olive into my mouth. “Oh, come on. Lighten up. You’re apparently the only one who doesn’t want me here.”
She spoke under her breath. “They’re a bunch of horned-up women. They only want you here because you’re cute. You should have more self-respect than to allow them to objectify you.”
I licked some salt off my finger. “Being objectified is better than somebody who acts like my shirtless chest is the anti-Christ. We’re going from one extreme to the other.”
While Juliette remained stoic, I did my best to enjoy myself, continuing to devour my food while everyone gathered around. Itwasa little strange being the only dude here. But hey, I’d take one for the team anyway. I supposed I was here…repping bodyguards.
Just as I shoved a piece of spanakopita into my mouth, I heard someone say, “Mine was the part where he pretended to be an intruder, tied her up, and blindfolded her. Then she realized it was him. And they ended up having butt sex. They roleplayed the very thing he was supposed to be protecting her from. Ohhh, that was so hot.”
Say what?
Roleplay?
Butt sex?
This was a bit different than the book I’d imagined.
I whispered to Juliette again. “Can you imagine ifIpretended to be an intruder? Pretty sure I’d be in for a swift kick in the balls, or worse, instead of what the guy in the book got for pulling the same shit.”
Juliette laughed a little that time, which pleased me.Figures she’d laugh at a visual of me getting kicked in the balls, though.
“Juliette?” Pam said. “It’s your turn.”
Juliette straightened in her seat. “What’s that?”
“It’s your turn to tell us your favorite scene. You told me earlier you’d highlighted one. Might you want to read it for us?”
“I listened to the audiobook mostly,” she said. “But I highlighted a particular scene I liked on my Kindle.” She swallowed.
Juliette hadn’t planned for me to be here and didn’t look enthused in the least about having to participate in this part of the evening. She opened her Kindle and pulled something up but stared down at it for several seconds without saying anything. Finally, she looked up. “I think I’m gonna pass, though, on sharing it.”
“Oh, come on,” I said with my mouth full. “That’s no fun.”
She gritted her teeth. “Neither is you being here, Wes.”
