"I did," Buddy said. "But right now I'm more interested in what triggered you to come in hot and ready to work with Doyle?" Buddy asked.
“Someone, maybe Doyle, maybe not, is going to weird lengths to make me work with that dickhead again, so I might as well lean into it.”
Buddy gave him a long, unhappy look. “That is terrible logic.”
“It’s also the only logic currently making sense.”
“You realize this could be a trap.”
Sterling looked toward the street, where Dawson’s SUV pulled away with Jasper behind him. The patio lights buzzed above them. A gator bellowed somewhere down by the inlet, low and pleased with itself, as if the whole swamp had heard the conversation and approved of the terrible idea.
“Of course, it’s a trap,” Sterling said. “That’s why I want to see who built it.”
Chapter Eighteen
Juniper shut Sterling’s refrigerator with her hip and carried the carton of orange juice to the island trying to pretend this was all normal. Parts of it were normal-ish, she supposed. Spending time with Sterling had become part of her daily routine long before she started waking up in his bed two days ago.
And Nick had been her friend years before she'd met Sterling.
But being with the two of them under the same roof just seemed weird.
She poured herself a tall glass and chugged it she was dying, and this drink was the only thing that would save her.
Sterling had rolled out of bed about a half hour before the sun had peeked over the horizon. He'd tried to be quiet as he tiptoed to the shower, but the second the water hit the tile, her eyes were open, and the only thing she’d been able to think about had been him, naked.
She'd forgotten Nick was in the house.
Something that she'd wished she’d remembered when she strolled out of the master like she hadn't a care in the world and Nick waved and smiled. They hadn't said anything to each othersince then, and Sterling hadn't helped since he returned with breakfast.
"This is some good coffee." Nick lifted his mug. "Which one of you made it?"
“I believe it was made by a girl named Heather.” She set the orange juice beside the takeout bag Sterling had brought home from the café. "Hence the to-go mug."
Nick smiled. “You haven't changed.”
“I was hoping we'd skip the small awkward talk and go right to work.”
“Now, what fun would that be?" Nick leaned back on the stool and glanced between her and Sterling. "I mean, never in a million years did I expect to see you coming out of his bedroom.” Nick had always been a cross between a ball buster and a death wish. Although, ever since he and Sloane had finally made it official and at least moved in together, Nick hadn't enjoyed getting shot at near as much. As a matter of fact, he now got annoyed when he bled.
Sterling sat at the far end of the island with his laptop open and Mia’s latest report spread in front of him. “Be nice, Nick. Or we'll send you to her place where the last known gator infestation was. And I know you don't like the things that Florida produces.”
“That's just rude.” Nick pointed at him. "And does anyone? It's a jungle down here with shit that’ll kill you. I can't believe either one of you moved here by choice. Especially her."
“Leave my girlfriend alone.”
“That's a mighty big word for you, Fox,” Nick said. "Are you sure you know what it means?"
"Don't make me call Sloane, because I will." Juniper opened the takeout bag and pulled out three wrapped sandwiches because she didn't want to look at either of these men while the word girlfriend was being tossed around. She'd admit to likingthe sound of it and the way it slipped from Sterling's lips, deep and rich. But it was new. And she was still undercover and her future still way too uncertain.
"I already did." Nick sat up taller and smiled. "She was wondering why she hasn't heard from you."
“What did you tell her?”
Nick reached for one of the sandwiches. “I kept it in code since it wasn't a secure line. But she understands. And she's gonna want to know about him.”
“Careful,” Sterling said. “That one has tomatoes.”
Nick froze with his fingers on the paper. “You remembered that.”
