And she could see it. She could see how Darcy felt this same awareness coursing through her.
“Celebratory,” Juliet acerbically corrected… before she shrugged. “And yes, hot.”
Yeah, there was the fucking look in Darcy’s eyes, and the way she sharply inhaled at Juliet’s confirmation. “Well, you shouldn’t be mad at Serena. The reason we’ve reached this détente is, apparently, because Shelby liked our sound together. And we only ended up doingthatbecause…”
Darcy trailed off, giving Juliet a knowing stare.
Juliet frowned. “What?”
“Shelby, herself, wanted us to do ‘Porchlight,’” Darcy informed her in a tone like she was a high schooler sharing some hush-hush gossip. That excitement propelled her forward, swaying in closer toward Juliet. “Did you know that?”
“I… didn’t,” she admitted, softly, running her eyes over Darcy’s face. She supposed it made sense, though, the late addition.
Even though it still smarted, having been excluded from it originally, itdidmake her feel satisfied knowing that she and Darcy had been personally requested by Shelby.
Maybe she wouldn’t hold a grudge, then, against Serena, she mused.
She felt Darcy’s warm breath fan over her mouth with their proximity, and that snapped her away from any thoughts on Serena – on anything or anyone else. They weren’t close enough to be touching, but certainly close enough to breathe one another in. And Juliet, in her heels, was standing right at Darcy’s same height, their eyes inches away from one another.
“Shocked you haven’t pulled away yet. There’s not a door to lock,” Darcy teased in a whisper.
“And I’ll be pushing you away in about five seconds,” she breathed back, before she found herself asking, “Why were you wearing my shirt at the airport?”
“I wanted to know if you’d take notice,” Darcy answered, candidly.
God, she wasnotgood at playing cards close to her chest. And yet, Juliet’s stomach dipped at the insinuation in her voice.
A slow, satisfied smirk worked over Darcy’s mouth. “And… you did.”
The heat simmering in her stomach shot up to the next dial. “Yeah? And what were you hoping I’d do if I noticed?”
“I think it’s pretty clear.”
When Juliet innocently widened her eyes and lifted her shoulders in a small shrug, Darcy leaned even closer to her, bringing her lips right next to Juliet’s ear.
“I was thinking we could go back to your house, and I could fuck you until you can’t take it for another second.” Darcy’s lipsjustbrushed against Juliet’s earlobe as she spoke.
Juliet’s eyes snapped shut as she shuddered.
“You’re not the only person who knows what they want,” Darcy continued, her voice like silk. “Besides… I think it’ll make things a little easier after my incoming win for country song of the year.”
With that, Juliet slammed back into reality. Not enough to slow the blood thrumming through her. In fact, the challenge in Darcy’s tone might have made Juliet burn even brighter.
She folded her arms over her chest. They werebothnominated for that award, so, “Really confident in that, aren’t you?”
Darcy shook her head. “Nope, just wanted to see this look on your face. All fired up.”
Shewasfired up, in more ways than one.
Glancing around once more, she noted the empty darkness surrounding them, even as thunderous applause erupted from the main theater.
Thrumming with energy, she leaned in again. Closer this time. Deliberately close, so she could sigh into Darcy’s ear and then feel her responsive shudder. “You know where to find me tonight.”
With that, she released a warm stream of breath over her earlobe and felt the tension snap through Darcy’s body.
She’d never wanted an award show to go by faster than this.
Chapter Seventeen
