“I swear, I won’t tell—”
He passed over the bottle.
JJ frowned. “What’s this?”
“It’s the only form of coffee I’m allowed to give you.”
“This is juice, Brantley.”
He flashed another grin and picked up his mug.
“I can’t believe you’d betray me like this,” she pouted.
“I can’t believe you didn’t steal my cup when you had the chance.”
JJ glared at the mug in his hand. “I would have. If I’d … thought about it.” The glare shifted to his face. “And if I’d known you were a Judas.”
Brantley pointed toward the back door, which was now sliding open as Sebastian Buchanan, the father of the peanut and the manager of JJ’s coffee intake, stepped inside. “Talk to him about it. I’m just doin’ what I’m told.”
“Yeah? You never do what you’re told,” she grumbled. “Why start now?” JJ turned a sweet smile on Baz. “If I break up with you, I’ll get coffee.”
“True,” he said. “But then you won’t get my—”
JJ slapped her hand over his mouth, cutting him off.
Baz slowly moved her hand from his mouth. “I was gonna say eggs Benedict. You won’t get my eggs Benedict. What did you think I was gonna say?” Baz asked, feigning innocence.
JJ rolled her eyes and glanced at Brantley. “He does make really good eggs Benedict.”
Brantley’s upper lip curled. “If that’s some kinda double entendre, I’m gonna throw up.”
“Double entendre? For what?” JJ asked, eyes wide and sparkling with payback. “Did you think I was thinkin’ about his—”
Baz saved the day this time, placing his hand over JJ’s mouth so that the word was muffled.
Brantley watched her eyes, noticed the smile a second before Baz pulled his hand away and wiped his slobbery palm on his jeans.
“Penis!” she blurted.
“JJ,” Baz scolded with amusement.
“Penis, penis, penis,” she sang.
Brantley couldn’t help himself; he choked on a laugh.
“Jesus, JJ.” Baz’s face was as red as his T-shirt.
“What?” She looked at Baz. “It’s not a bad word. He likes penises as much as I do. Plus, he’s got two. One he was born with and one he takes to bed every night.”
JJ looked at him and cocked her head, daring him to disagree.
Knowing she was attempting to embarrass him, Brantley waited until she took a sip of juice to look at Baz, nod, and deadpan, “It’s true. I like penises.”
JJ snorted, then reached for a paper towel to wipe her mouth.
“Now that we’ve gotthatoutta the way,” Baz muttered.
“I can’t believe you’d tease me with coffee,” JJ harrumphed.
