“A cactus does not have two balls at the base.”
“Those are not balls. Those are two other tiny cactuses growing next to the big one.”
“You expect me to believe that?” I laughed.
“I asked the owner! Because I wasn’t sure myself.”
I rubbed my thumb over the shiny glass. “Well, thank you…I think?”
“It has a deeper meaning,” he said.
“Oh? And what exactly is the deep meaning of this cactus cock here?”
“When you think back to this day when that jerkoff double-timed you, instead of focusing on that, you’ll remember it as the day I gave you this ridiculous necklace. The cactus cock will forever serve as a reminder that you deserve better, Juliette.”
My cheeks hurt from smiling. “Will you put it on me?”
“Of course.” He took it from me and opened the clasp. “Just don’t tell Vince it was from me,” he said as he wrapped it around my neck. “He’d never believe it’s a cactus.”
The warmth of Wes’s hands on my body sent a moment of heat through me. “Thanks again. That was sweet,” I said, looking down at it.
Next, we walked along the shore. I took my shoes off and held them in my hand, digging my bare toes into the sand as we went.
“Do you ever miss being a cop?” I asked him.
Wes looked up at the sky. “All the time.”
“Do you want to talk about what led you to working for my father?”
He slipped his hands in his pockets. “Not right now, no.”
“Okay,” I murmured.
I knew it had to be pretty damn bad for Wes to have ended up working for Dad. I didn’t envy anyone who had to deal with his wrath—myself included.
“But I will say this,” Wes suddenly added. “You don’t get too many moments like this one being a cop.So I have to take the good with the bad when it comes to this gig, you know?”
“I hear you.” I shielded my eyes from the sun as I looked up at him. “You’re good at what you do, Wes. I know I haven’t made it easy on you. I was very resistant to the idea of you in the beginning. But I’ve had more pleasant moments than bad ones with you.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He smiled.
“You should.”
“And if I may complimentyoufor a moment, Juliette…”
“Please do…”
“You’re handling this whole thing as well as can be expected. I know it can’t be easy having a guard twenty-four-seven.”
“Well…it’s not easy. But…I’m glad it’s you,” I told him.
After a moment, he said quietly, “I’m glad it’s me, too.”
Why am I getting butterflies right now?Foolish.
We sat down on the sand and almost immediately, seagulls swarmed us. The next thing I knew, one of the birds had snatched my shoe and flown off with it.
“Oh my God! My shoe!”
