Page 13 of Spicy Sapphic Christmas

“I’m not sure I like that look.”

“Do you likethatlook?” Piper nodded over to where Bea and Bunny leaned even farther over the table. She wouldn’t say it out loud, but she needed Jo to see what she saw.

“I think I need another drink.” Jo grabbed Piper’s hand and led her off the dance floor in the opposite direction from where Bea and Bunny sat talking.

Piper walked closely behind Jo, having been given no choice as Jo kept a firm grip on her hand.

“Careful, there’s a lip.” Jo looked back as she spoke.

Despite the warning, Piper still managed to stumble over her feet as she reached the edge of the dance floor. If the movement of Jo’s shoulders was any indicator, then Jo chuckled at Piper’s new found clumsiness.

They kept their own council as they ordered drinks at the bar and went in search of a place to drink and talk.

“All right.” Jo smiled at the men who shuffled away from the tall table as they approached.

There were no chairs, but Piper didn’t mind. Leaning on the tabletop with both forearms took enough weight from her feet.Jo pinned her with a serious look, but the play of the smile at her lips told Piper that something else was going on.

“Bunny and Bea didn’t seem to just be fighting.” Jo looked at Piper as though anticipating an answer to a question Piper hadn’t entirely asked.

Piper waited, but it didn’t take long before Jo had enough of the silence.

“I mean…” Jo laughed, and Piper melted a little. “Tell me if I’m wrong, but I sensed there was definitely something more there.”

“You aren’t wrong.” The words were out of Piper’s mouth before she knew it, and dread washed over her. “But Bunny isn’t out.”

“I know.” Jo glanced at the pair again, sobering slightly. “I did my research on you two before I contacted Siena. I wanted to know exactly how she handles tough situations. Bunny refuses to talk about it. She gets up and walks out on interviews if they deviate from the music to her personal life. Siena then plays crowd control, as do you.”

Piper was impressed at Jo’s knowledge, even if the knowledge seemed entirely focused on the other half of her music partnership. “Go on.”

Jo leaned forward, and her eyes gleamed with anticipation. Piper had to admit, Jo was far more clued in than she had previously given the woman credit for. It didn’t seem fair that she should be so beautiful, a pretty good musician, and smart as well.

“I think it’s time for those two to discover all the things they’ve been missing out on while they’ve been working us to the bone.” Jo lifted her drink to her lips again.

“And this?” Piper lidded her eyes as she looked over at Jo. She waved two fingers suggestively between the two of them.They needed ground rules if they were going to do any kind of work together—professional or personal.

Jo spluttered some of her drink on the table and focused on cleaning it up with one of the napkins she’d shoved in her pocket at the bar. “I think this plan is more important than some fun we might have.”

Piper took a deep breath and let it out. She had gotten along with Jo so easily, their energies meshed perfectly. She didn’t want to lose that with her usual lack of articulation when a woman seemed a little too interested too quickly. “It can never be anything more than just a little flirting and fun. I like you, Jo, and I’d really like to be your friend. It’s hard to always be around such calm energy.”

“I know exactly what you mean.” Jo winked, a grin playing at her lips. Did this woman ever not smile? Or was it just her pure sunshine energy pushing through every doubt in Piper’s mind?

Piper closed her eyes and sighed with relief. “So, we get the two of them together.”

“I think we need to do more than that.”

“Oh really?” Piper could have kicked herself as the words purred out sultry and low.

“I think we get them to fall in love.”

“Love?” Piper’s voice squeaked, and she wondered what on earth was happening to her.

“Definitely.” Jo finished the last of her drink and pushed herself back from the table. “But if we don’t head back soon, Bea just might send out a search party.”

Piper downed the last of her own drink and followed Jo. They weren’t holding hands this time, so Piper had the privilege of getting to watch the way Jo sashayed her way through the crowds.

“What the hell?” Jo jerked with a start.

Piper had been so caught up in watching Jo’s ass that she didn’t realize Jo had stopped walking until she ran directly into her from behind.

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