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“Juliet,” Cole grits out despite the tight set of his jaw.
It’s then that I realize I’m just standing there frozen, staring at Cole like I’ve never seen a man before. My cheeks heat as I struggle to regain my composure, flipping my hair over a shoulder and sweeping my gaze around the men seated at the table.
“I’ll be taking care of you guys tonight,” I say, thankful that my voice comes out a whole lot steadier than I feel. Then, gesturing to the bottles of liquor resting in ice in the middle of the table, “I started you off with vodka, gin, and whiskey, but let me know if I can bring you anything else.”
The guy on the opposite side of the booth from Cole flashes me a wolfish grin, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees and steepling his fingers. “Why don’t you sit and have a drink with us, sweetheart?”
“We have business to discuss,” Cole cuts in.
The man waves a hand flippantly. “Business can wait, we only just arrived.” He glances up at me hungrily, licking his lips and undressing me with his eyes.
If looks could kill, the guy sitting across from Cole would be a goner. His eyes go molten with the gold of his wolf, boring into the side of the other guy’s skull as he continues to check me out.
“Let me grab your mixers,” I offer, eager to escape the tension I can feel radiating off Cole. My heart threatens to pound out of my chest as I dart away, feeling the weight of his stare on my back with every step I take in retreat.
And here I was just thinking that tonight was going so well. Surprisingly smooth for my first attempt at waitressing.
I have a feeling it’s about to get a whole lot bumpier.
13
I can endure a lot of things in the name of professionalism. Grating personalities, poor manners, terrible jokes. I’ve looked past all of those things when it comes to Gavin Holley, the new liquor distributor in town that has been courting me for my business, because regardless of whether he’s an obnoxious blowhard (which he is) his prices undercut all of the other local distributors, meaning better profit margins for my pack’s bars and clubs.
I don’t have to like Gavin in order to do business with him. I do, however, have to tolerate the guy and maintain a cordial and amicable relationship, which is easier said than done as the night wears on and I’m forced to bear witness to the kind of man he really is. The kind who tosses money around like it’s endless, downs drinks like a sloppy frat boy, and shamelessly hits on a nineteen-year-old girl who’s just trying to do her job.
A job that I’m not sure how she wound up with, but I’ll be having words with Jason before the night’s over to find out. In fact, if I wasn’t here for business right now, I would’ve already pulled Juliet off the floor and gotten to the bottom of it before sending her on her way. Tonight’s circumstances worked out in her favor. I couldn’t afford to make a scene in front of a potential new business associate, which is the only reason I’ve sat by and allowed her to continue working her shift- one that’ll be ending soon, as I don’t intend on entertaining Gavin fucking Holley much longer if I can help it.
“Come on, sweetheart,” he slurs in a thick Jersey accent, patting the leather seat of the booth beside him in invitation while Juliet tops off his gin and tonic. “Quit making excuses and have a drink with me.”
I grit my teeth, fighting my wolf back like I’ve had to do every time that asshole makes another sleazy attempt to come onto Juliet. I’ve reminded Gavin we’re here for business. He made some idiotic comment about mixing business with pleasure. I’ve pointed out that she’s underage. Gavin doesn’t give a shit. He just keeps ogling her bare legs, which she’s showing way too much of tonight in that pathetic excuse for a skirt. The thing barely covers her ass, and I’ve already fantasized about bending her over and spanking it as punishment for her continued defiance.
“I think Cole wanted to go over the delivery timeline once more before we wrap up,” Sam pipes up in an attempt to redirect Gavin. To his credit, my beta has been attempting to run interference all night as I’ve walked a tightrope with my self-control. He’s managed to steer me back on track every time thus far, but I think we both know that I’m getting dangerously close to snapping if we don’t draw this meeting to a close soon.
Gavin Holley throws a dismissive hand up in the air, not even glancing in Sam’s direction. I haven’t missed the way that he’s barely spared him any attention tonight knowing I’m the one running the show. Some men may find that flattering, but it pisses me off when people don’t show my second in command the respect he deserves. It’s yet another reason this guy rubs me the wrong way. I can’t decide whether or not the unsettled feeling in my gut is reason enough to pull the plug on doing business with him, though.
“Please, no more shop talk,” Gavin groans, patting the booth beside him again and winking at Juliet. “C’mon, doll. Whaddya say?” He rakes his gaze up and down her form eagerly, mapping out every inch of her skin while my hackles raise.
Juliet rolls her eyes like the brat she is, popping a hip and resting a hand upon it. “Fine,” she sighs, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. Then, holding up a finger, “One drink.”
Fuck no.
If she sits down next to that scumbag, he’ll try to touch her, and I’ll fucking lose it.
A triumphant grin spreads across Gavin’s face as he leers up at her and a riot starts in my chest.
Juliet leans forward over the table, plucking up a clean glass and scooping ice into it. All eyes are on her as she reaches for the vodka bottle with the other hand, splashing the liquor over the ice and quickly diluting it with a generous pour of cranberry juice. Then she sidesteps, plopping her ass down onto the leather booth.
Not beside Gavin.
Across from him.
Beside me.
I stiffen in surprise, my breath catching in my throat as I feel the warmth of her thigh press against mine, and my wolf immediately backs down from the offensive, going from agitated to docile in a millisecond. This isn’t the first time that Juliet’s presence alone has affected him like this, and it’s getting harder to ignore the implication behind that. I don’t have time to consider it now, though, because she flips her blonde hair over her shoulder and her coconut and lilac scent hits my nose, making my pulse pick up speed. I drag in a deep inhale like an addict that’s after a drug fix and focus every ounce of my energy on maintaining the appearance of being unaffected- even though I’m anything but.
My heart pounds and my palms sweat, but on the outside, I remain cool, calm, and collected. That’s my reputation both as Alpha and in business; the reason I’ve gotten as far as I have and command the respect I do. I always keep it together- anything else would be a show of weakness.
“Cheers,” Juliet grins, tipping her glass in Gavin’s direction before bringing it to her lips and taking a sip.
