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I grip the counter in front of me, holding myself in place to keep from going after her. Crossing that boundary wouldn’t be good, and there’s still Murphy to think about. I have no idea how he’d fare in my house or the back of my car.
“Can you please watch out for her? I should have told her not to go, but her best friend convinced her it would be a good idea.”
“Sure, I got her. I’ll fend off the worst of them.”
“If I had to bet, no guy in there deserves Juliette.”
“I’m hurt on behalf of myself and Jeremy.”
“If you wanted to date Juliette you would have already and Jeremy cowers every time I walk past his cubicle. Juliette needs someone who can protect her.”
“Both fair points, though what I still don’t understand is why you aren’t here growling at anyone who so much as glances in her general direction or better yet, reading to her by a fire or whatever your idea of romance is. I wouldn’t know, since you never date anyone.”
I sigh, swiping a hand over my face. “Please just go over there and save her from her own politeness. You can hound me about my dating life at the next family event, I won’t even put you in a headlock for it.”
“Wow, you must really care about her.”
I do, too much.
“She’s my friend.”
“I hear friendship makes a great foundation for marriage.”
Chapter nineteen
Juliette Monroe
“I’dlovetotakeyou out on my yacht sometime. I bet you’d look great in a bikini,” Reece–the guy I’m about to run away from–says with a smirk.
I open my mouth to politely excuse myself and speed away as fast as my little black booties will take me when a large hand comes down on Reece’s shoulder. My eyes follow the arm attached to that hand all the way up to a very familiar face. For a split second my stomach swoops, thinking Adrian came to be my knight in shining armor, but then I realize it’s actually Grayson.
“I think your time is up,” Grayson says to Reece with an easygoing grin that doesn’t match the way his fingers are digging into Reece’s shoulder.
“This isn’t a timed thing,” Reece chuckles, but when he sees Grayson’s grin transform into a look of warning, he scampers off toward a blonde in the middle of the ballroom.
Grayson takes Reece’s place on the barstool next to me, lounging against the counter in a way that resembles a cat–but not a housecat, more like one of those big jungle cats that could eat you in a few bites. I knew Grayson worked with Adrian in private security, but I guess I didn’t realize he’d have the same dangerous edge as Adrian, since he has the personality of a golden retriever. I’m glad they choose to use that edge for good.
“Thank you,” I sigh while stirring my watered down coke. They didn’t have any tea here, unfortunately. “I was about to escape, but you made it easier on me.”
“You’ve been dodging guys left and right for a while. I figured I’d give you a break.” Grayson’s lighthearted nature soothes my anxiety and I find myself smiling in spite of how terrible tonight has been so far.
“I didn’t take you for a guy who comes to singles’ events,” I say, hoping I don’t come off rude. It’s just that there’s no way a man who looks like him and has the confidence he oozes has trouble getting a date on Valentine’s Day–or any day for that matter. But maybe he’s less self-assured than our previous interactions would lead me to believe.
“I’m playing wing man tonight,” he replies and gestures toward a guy talking to a woman a few feet away. The guy keeps adjusting his glasses and shifting on his feet as he talks to her, but she doesn’t seem put off by his lack of confidence. They make a sweet couple.
“That’s nice of you. Your girlfriend isn’t sad you’re missing out on Valentine’s Day?” I ask and he grins, that feline nature coming back into play.
“I thought you had a crush on my brother, but now you’re flirting with me?”
My eyes get big and I blink a few times, trying to understand where I went wrong. “N-no I don’t- I wasn’t–”
He cuts me off with a wave of his hand, laughing. “I’m messing with you, Juliette. The way you phrased your question sounded like you were fishing to see if I was single.”
My cheeks heat and I shake my head. “I just figured you probably had a girlfriend. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“If you weren’t my brother’s girl, I’d tease you a lot more, but I’ll have mercy on you for his sake.” He winks and I laugh.
“I’m not anyone’s girl, hence why I’m here.” I gesture toward the room with a grimace.
