“I call bull on that. He was practically growling at Moth when we got here. Girl, he’s jealous.” Juniper laughed.
Jealous?
“No, if anything, he’s just protective. I’m not Priest’s type.” As I said the words, I realized I didn’t know if that was true or not. What was Priest’s type of woman? Probably someone like Annie; confident, beautiful, and experienced.
“Well, if you’re not going to fuck him, I just might.” Annie brought her drink to her lips and looked at me over the rim.
“You said you don’t flirt, does that mean you’re…” Juniper raised her eyebrows at me.
I clicked my tongue bitterly. “I am. That’s why I’m trying to…” I tilted my head toward the bar. “If I’m going to write a good romance novel, I should at least know what it’s like.”
Juniper snickered. “There are tons of people who don’t have sex that write romance, good romance.”
“Yeah? Well, according to the literary agent who got halfway through my manuscript before tossing it in the trash, I can’t. To quote her words, my sex scenes were ‘painfully inaccurate’, and ‘she could tell that the author had never experienced love or romance’. That’s why I came this week.”
“Well, fuck that agent, for starters.” Juniper’s face grew angry. “I’d just go indie at that point. Make a shit ton of money and then send her the middle finger.”
I opened my mouth, but was interrupted by Annie.
“Even if what that agent said was true, which it’s not, you’re not going to get love or romance in a week,” Annie said, chuckling. “Certainly not from Moth. You’re entire plan is ridiculous.”
“Sex and love are two totally different things. You’re not going to find it here at the Vincent Hotel,”Juniper said.
“Well, it’s a place to start,” I defended. “I just want to lose my virginity. That’s all. I kept holding on to it, waiting for the perfect guy to come along and now it’s just embarrassing. I just want one hot romp, is that okay?”
“Fair enough.” Annie tilted her drink at me. “Let’s toast then, to Delaney giving it up to the hottie at the bar!”
Her toast sent us into giggles and we lifted our drinks and turned to the bar, only to see someone had joined the other men.
Priest.
I stopped laughing.Annie saw my reaction and laughed.
“Honestly, I’d let either of them in my pants. Or both. Both could be fun.”She and Juniper shared a laugh. I tried to relax, but I was on high alert, fully aware that while Priest may be sitting next to Moth, seemingly engaged in their conversation, he was still watching me.
“You never said how you guys met.” Juniper pulled my attention from Priest.
“He’s my editor,” I lied.
“You have an editor but not an agent?” Annie cocked her head. “Sounds like you’re already thinking about going indie.”
“I haven’t really decided,” I said. “We just happened to meet and he’s been helping me with my novel.”
“I bet,” Juniper teased. “The man looks even hotter without the thick coat and winter gear. If he flexes, that shirt is going to pop right off.”
Annie swooned. “My kind of man. Hot and someone else’s.” She glared at me, but it was more playful than mean.
“What do you mean?” I looked between them.
“Well…” Juniper stirred her drink with the little plastic stick. “Whether you think there’s something there or not, it’s pretty clear that Priest likes you.”
That was ridiculous.
“How so?”
“He held your hand the entire ride up here,” Annie started. “And he looks at you with big eyes, like he’d do anything for you. His eyes are very expressive.”
“You just met him,” I pointed out.
