Chapter 7
JUNO
Before the night was over, I had grand plans of strangling both Kale and Finley.
My glare bounced between the two across the table, both trying and failing to hide their amusement. Assholes. The candle’s flickering flames wavered with my heavy sigh, the silverware and dishes rattling when I set my elbow on the white tablecloth, resting my chin in my palm.
Strange and in desperate need of a shower.
When we met them here, I instantly regretted putting in the effort to look nice. I’d even put on a real bra—the one that was currently poking the shit out of my right boob—and cute panties that were currently up my crack so deep the lace was on the verge of cutting me in two.
Releasing another bored sigh, I cut my eyes over at my date, Stew Walters.
His long, greasy, dark hair, which he clearly didn’t wash for tonight’s date—or anytime in the last few days—was pulled back in a low bun, and his muddy eyes had only met mine once the whole evening.
Which was fine with me. That split second we made eye contact sent a shiver slithering down my spine at what lurked in his blank stare.
It almost made me wonder if I was safe with him even in a room full of crowded people. If he abducted me and used me as a skin suit, I was so haunting Finley. She would never get laid again. I’d use my ghost mojo to give any guy she was with a limp dick.
Pretty sure that was how it worked when you were a ghost.
“So, what do you do for fun?” I asked, forcing a smile and directing the question to Stew.
His large frame shivered at my voice, making me shoot a worried expression at Finley, who appeared just as concerned for my safety.
“Hiking,” he muttered.
That was shocking. The guy didn’t really give off the outdoorsy vibe.
Not for the first time tonight, I glanced down at his bandaged wrist. “What happened there?”
He quickly tucked it under the table, hiding it beneath the white tablecloth, and shot me a sharp look that had me sucking in a tight breath.
“Nothing.” He turned his face back to his empty bread plate, shutting me out.
A soft buzzing in my purse had me searching inside for my cell phone, thankful for the unexpected distraction. It was rude to check it, but it was clear this date wasn’t going anywhere, and I honestly hoped someone needed me so I could excuse myself and head home to my pajamas and video games.
Tapping the texting app, a pulse of excitement made me suck in a breath at seeing West’s name.
West: You look bored.
Licking my lips, I quickly sealed the phone screen to my chest, carefully searching the restaurant for him. How else could West be spot-on about how utterly bored I was?
“What’s wrong?” Kale questioned, shifting to lean closer to Finley, draping an arm across the back of her chair.
I shook my head while still scanning the various tables and packed bar. The phone buzzed again in my hand, but I ignored it in my search.
Coming up empty, I slumped against the seat back. Disappointment hit me hard, making unshed tears line my lower eyelids. He was probably at home just messing with me—he knew I was on a date, after all. It was dumb even to think West would care enough to be here watching.
We were flirty friends, and his best friend hated me.
Well, I thought he did, until earlier when he had me pinned to the floor with his hand around my throat.
Just remembering the feel of his hot palm wrapped around me, the control he had over me, sent desire flowing through my veins, settling between my thighs.
The moment was hot, and it definitely didn’t feel like he hated me.
“Juno?” Finley asked. “Everything okay?”
I nodded, clearing my throat of the emotions clogging it. “Yeah, fine,” I rasped. “A wrong number, I guess.”
Needing to know what the other incoming message said, I tipped the screen away from my chest just enough to see the alert. Tapping the text, I sat frozen in place, reading and rereading his words.
West: Want to make the night more interesting?
Palms sweaty, I dropped my hand to hold the phone beneath the table so no one could read my response.
Me: How do you know I’m bored?
West: Because we’re watching you.
My heart leapt into my throat.
Me: We?
West: We.
Me: You mean you and…?
I almost choked on my tongue when a new text popped up, this time in a group chat with him.
West: Him.
*****Captain Asshole has left the group*****
West: Asshole. He’s here too. He even brought binoculars.
Me: WHAT?
Me: That is so creepy.
West: But not me… right?
Me: Debatable.
West: I’ll take it.
West: So back to my question.
West: Want to make the night more interesting? With me?
West: I’ll make sure tonight ends the way you hoped.
West: Let’s be honest, could you say the same about the guy beside you?
I peeked out of the corner of my eye at Stew, who was glaring at his empty plate.
Me: What do you propose?
West: Excuse yourself to the bathroom.
Me: Then what?
West: Come find out.
Me: Will he be there too?
I chewed on my lip, unsure how I wanted him to respond. On one hand, I’d love Langston’s palm sealed around my throat again while West devoured my mouth. But then again, I’d have to actually deal with his asshole attitude, which would really kill the mood.
West: He’s promised to be a good boy.
A soft snort escaped.
Me: I know that didn’t happen.
“Juno,” Finley said, making me jump. The phone landed on my lap as I jerked my attention up to her and Kale. “Are you feeling okay? You’re looking all flushed.”
“Yes,” I rasped. “Is it hot in here?”
Kale’s slow smirk told me he knew exactly what was going on. “Oh, I think she’s just fine. Care to share those texts you’re reading with the table?”
“No,” I blurted too quickly, making him and Finley chuckle. I dared a look out of the corner of my eye at my date and blinked in shock at the empty chair. “Where did he go?”
“He didn’t say. Just got up from the table and walked off.” Finley shoved Kale’s arm off her chair. “And you, how could you set up my friend with that guy?” She crossed her arms in frustration and shifted in her seat to face Kale.
He held up both hands in surrender. “It was kind of a last-minute request, Finley.”
While they bickered back and forth, I turned my attention back to my phone to scan the missed texts.
West: Perfect time to break away, sweet cheeks.
West: I’ll make it worth your while.
Me: Where?
West: That’s my brave girl.
Brave or horny was up for debate. Though I couldn’t deny that the idea of sneaking off with West, Langston somewhere in the shadows watching, and getting out of this situation all at once was too good to pass up.
West: Head down the hall toward the bathroom.
West: I’ll find you.
I wet my lips and peeked over my shoulder toward the hall that led to the bathrooms. Heart racing, breathing shallow, I tucked the phone back into my purse and set the heavy bag on my lap.
“I need to go to the bathroom,” I murmured, shooting Finley an apologetic smile. “Be right back.”
“Juno.”
Standing by the chair, I gripped the back, knuckles going white with the nervous and excited energy coursing through me and blinked at Kale.
“Be careful. I know I brought Stew.” He ran a hand through his long, wavy hair. “I just want you to be safe, you know. I don’t think he’d hurt you or anything, but I just wanted to warn you, I guess. I feel responsible.”
I smiled at his concern. “I’ll be okay, Kale. I’m not going after him or leaving. Just headed to the bathroom.”
“It’s just, with everything going on…,” he said with a sigh.
“And add in Jasper being murdered. We all need to stay on high alert everywhere around town, not just on the trail.” He turned his attention to Finley.
“What were you saying about hearing that guy Hudson is calling someone he knows in the FBI?”
While Finley dove into that bit of gossip, I eased back a step, then another, before turning on my wedged heels.
The short hem of my sweater dress brushed against my thighs with every quick step, the heels clicking on the polished floor.
Slowing my pace, I sucked in a fortifying breath and cast a last look back at Finley and Kale only to stumble in surprise.
What the hell is Dax doing in my seat?
Paused, I debated what to do. Continue my crazy, exciting adventure to find West, or be a good friend, return to the table, and make sure she was okay?
Except I didn’t have to make the choice, because Finley made it for me. Standing so fast that her chair clattered to the floor behind her, she leaned over the table and dumped the full contents of her beer over Dax’s head.
And then stormed off.
Kale sat frozen while Dax said something I couldn’t hear despite the full restaurant going silent at the drama.
Then he called Finley’s name and hurried the way she’d disappeared.
Knowing she had her car here—we’d ridden together to meet the guys—I pulled out my phone and shot her a quick text to let her know I was good and that she could leave without me.
How did I know that?
Because West and the asshole were here, and they wouldn’t let anything happen to me.
Langston was a jerk, but not cruel, never putting my safety at risk, and West wasn’t the type of guy to do all this as a prank or joke.
And if I was with those two, I would be safe—from everything, not just the person haunting Anchor Bay.
My phone buzzed in my purse again. I pulled it out and opened the message.
West: Fin is okay. Dax overstepped tonight, but he’ll make sure she gets home safe.
West: Langston says Dax should’ve stuck to recon like him.
A soft snort escaped, and I tossed the phone back into my hobo bag. Hefting the heavy contents higher onto my shoulder, I moved down the hall, gaze flicking from side to side, searching for any sign of West.