AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He shrugged. “Maybe, but it doesn’t negate the fact that you’re into her.”
“She’s into you. Obviously.”
“She’s a strong-willed woman. She goes for a guy that’s willing to go in for the kill shot, not stand on the sidelines.”
“Sidelines is where I’m best,” Rand snarled. “No competition for you there anyway, right?”
He smirked. “I don’t need you to hang back, man, but I’m not going to let someone as fine and interesting as Juliet go find someone else if you’re going to go cry into your beer in the corner.”
Rand picked up the guitar again and dropped back on the couch. Tristan recognized the action for what it was. His buddy really was more ruffled than he wanted to let on. Not like he could blame the guy.
Juliet wound up arenas of men and women just with a purr of her throaty voice. Add in her fuck-me-boots and the unconscious sexuality that burned under her skin and most men were toast.
He knew he was.
Divining rod meet pussy of glory.
Rand strummed the same opening chords to “Best of You” again and again. Tristan gotten used to his friend’s incessant need to mess around on a guitar. Well, at least when he was in a mood. Rand wasn’t the singing type, but he seemed to need the rhythmic sounds when he didn’t want to talk.
Usually a game of Hitman and a beer dislodged whatever hamster was spinning inside his busy brain. No such luck with this one. Though if Tristan tried hard enough, he’d probably be able to find a game room in this mansion.
The problem was, right now he didn’t want to play babysitter. He wanted to go find Juliet and play a whole different kind of game. One that just might include her lasso of truth from her costume.
Tristan perched on the edge of the couch next to his friend. “Look, man, I’m just as on edge as you are.”
“She has that effect.” Rand didn’t look up from the strings.
“Yeah, she does. I can’t say I’m not wound tight about her.” When Rand’s shoulders stiffened again, Tristan almost shut his goddamn mouth. “She’s just a girl.”
Not just any chick. Even as he tried to play it off, he knew it wasn’t true.
She was light and heat and the smoky hint of salted caramel in a rich coffee. A man wanted to savor her for a whole night.
This man wanted to fuck her blind and make her breakfast in the morning.
It wasn’t smart, and he sure as shit shouldn’t get involved with her. She had all the addictive characteristics of caffeine. Only instead of a migraine from withdrawal, he’d have a permanent hard-on for months. He really didn’t need that kind of trouble, but he wouldn’t step back.
Actually, he was pretty sure he couldn’t.
That should have had him running in the opposite direction. Yet there he was, sitting with his buddy out of loyalty and longing for a woman in the next room.
Fuck all sideways.
>
He had to get her out of his system. A simple goal. One that he could absolutely handle.
Once that itch was scratched, he and Rand could get back on track.
Chapter Three
Juliet toyed with the lasso of truth at her hip. She was tempted to use it on Tristan.
When she finally found him anyway.
Do you want me?
As if she had to ask the question, but he was a damn tease. All night, he’d been making himself seen, then disappearing into the crowd. Until he’d come up behind her at the dessert table. His explanation of how ganache was made and just how well the fudgy concoction stuck to skin had left her in a haze.
