“I amnotcanceling.” She dug into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. “I’m calling my father.”
“Go right ahead. This wasn’t my decision. I’m just doing what I was told.”
Juliette tapped a few buttons on her phone, then held it to her ear, glaring at me the whole time. When I heard a voice start talking, I figured she’d been sent to voicemail. She growled and tried again—same result. On her third attempt, her face turned bright red with frustration. Without a word, she marched into her bedroom and slammed the door.
I didn’t hear from her for hours after that—not until she walked out to the living room with her hair blown out, a full face of makeup, and a little black one-shoulder dress that stirred something in me instantly.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
She lifted her chin into the air, marched to the table, and swiped up her purse. “Karaoke with Pam and a few friends. We go every other week.”
I shook my head. “Well, you’re not going this week.”
Ignoring me, Juliette strutted to the front door and grabbed her keys from the hook. I stepped in front ofher, planting myself between her and the door. “I’m sorry you can’t go. But the only way you’re going out without me is by walking over my dead body.”
Juliette’s eyes narrowed, and she took a step forward. “If you insist…”
Her chest heaved up, and she looked about as pissed as a person could get—but damn, she smelled good. And that spark in her eye? It only made her sexier. Being this close was messing with my head. My body reacted and clouded every rational thought.
I had to take a step back, put some room between us before I did something stupid—like grab a fistful of her hair and kiss the living shit out of her.Oh boy.Make that two steps. I definitely needed two.
“You’re not leaving this house, Juliette. If I have to tie you up to keep you inside, that’s what I’m going to do.”Crap. Now I was picturing her with her arms spread wide, wrists tied to her headboard—so yeah, I needed a better strategy than restraining her. That might be even more dangerous than letting her walk out the door.
“Fine…” She huffed. “I’m going to call all of myuncles, until someone puts me on the phone with my father, and he puts an end to this ridiculousness.” Turning around, she marched toward the back of the house, where her bedroom and bathroom were. “But first I need to pee.”
I waited a few minutes, expecting to hear her yell or maybe throw her phone, but it stayed quiet—too quiet. So I walked to the back and knocked on the closed bathroom door.
“Juliette?”
No answer.
“Juliette?”
Still no answer. I reached for the door handle, expecting it to be locked, but it turned. And Juliette wasn’t inside.
Fuck.
I ran to her room, but that was empty too.Goddammit!
She must’ve climbed out the bathroom window or slipped out the back door. Either way, I needed to find her.Now. I bolted out the front door in a panic and spotted her standing at the neighbor’s front door. I reached her just as it swung open.
Pam glanced between us and grinned. “Ooh. Hot stuff is coming too?”
Juliette opened her mouth to respond, but her words fell by the wayside as I wrapped a hand around her waist and pulled her close.
“I’m sorry, Pam,” I said softly. “I came to apologize for making your friend stay in with me. I just got her to agree a few minutes ago. I really want a night alone with her.”
Pam’s eyes widened. “A night alone?”
“She’s been so busy since I got here. You understand, right?”
A grin spread across Pam’s face. “Of course.”
“Thanks, Pam.”
“You two have a great time.” She winked at Juliette. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
We walked back to the house with my arm still tightly around Juliette. She hadn’t said a word, but I suspected I was in for an earful once we were alone.
