Page 27 of Vampires and Violas

Worried Noah will get the wrong impression, I attempt to step away. But Cassian tightens his grip on me, holding me hostage.

Looking elated, Ashlyn makes a beeline for us. Reluctantly, Noah trails behind her.

“You two are so cute,” she says when she reaches us.

Jabbing my elbow into Cassian’s side, I jerk away, and this time, he lets me go. “We’re not?—”

“Together.” She winks like she’s about to do me a favor and I should play along. “I know.”

“I—”

“So,” she says, cutting me off when I try to argue. “I was just telling Noah that you were hoping Cassian would take you to that new axe-throwing place tonight.”

She takes me so completely by surprise; I blink at her. “I…I did what now?”

“And we were thinking we might join you.” She beams at me and then at Noah.

I turn my eyes on Noah, and he cringes. He begins to protest, but Ashlyn bravely forges ahead.

“So, what do you think?” she asks exuberantly. “Should the four of us go on a double date?”

6

If I say no,Ashlyn will drag Noah out the door, and it won’t be a double date, but a regular date. If I say yes…

I can’t win this no matter what option I choose.

So, I choose Plan C: glare at Noah.

He glares back, silently telling me to fix this.

While we’re having our staring contest, Cassian lifts his hand to play with the ends of my hair. “Sounds fun, bunny,” he rumbles, his voice deep and flirtatious.

I knock his hand away. “Yeah, it would be great, but it’s Tuesday night, and we all work tomorrow.”

“I’m sure your boss will let you start a little later?” Cassian raises his eyebrows, looking at me like he wants to snack on my neck. “I’ve found her to be very…accommodating.”

Have you lost your mind?I ask him silently, my eyes boring into his. But all I get in response is a self-congratulatory smirk.

“Aren’t you self-employed, Piper?” Ashlyn asks.

Reluctantly, I rip my attention away from Cassian. “Yeah.”

“Great!” She loops her arm through Noah’s, much to his horror. “And I’m a night owl anyway, so I won’t be getting to bed anytime soon.”

Noah extracts himself from her grip. “I have to be up early.”

“That’s fine, Noah,” Cassian says smoothly. “You two can join us next time. We don’t mind going alone, do we, Piper?” He lifts his eyebrows suggestively, his expression full of unadulterated mischief.

“Oh, come on, Noah,” Ashlyn pleads, clinging to his bicep like a barnacle. “It’ll be fun.”

Noah’s eyes go between Cassian and me, and his frown deepens. With great reluctance, he finally says, “Okay.”

No.

“Yeah?” Ashlyn grins.

“I need to change out of these work clothes before we go,” Noah tells her.

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