Page 8 of Star Crossed
“It’s printed on your card.”
“The judges I work with at home know my legal name, and seeing as how I live with the sheriff, all the important people know to put my real name on legal statements. It’s J-U-L-I-E-T.”
Romeo turned around in surprise, looking to the tall, blonde woman leaning against the side of the building and talking to a police officer with a clipboard. She wore jeans and a white shirt that dipped low in the front, showing the curve of firm breasts. Romeo studied her silently, taking in the cut look to her bare upper arms. She was a little too fit, a little too tall, and she probably intimidated most men because of it. Especially considering she was drop-dead gorgeous. Her hair, tied high in a ponytail was that unique shade of golden blonde impossible to capture from a bottle.
He’d seen this woman before, but for the life of him he couldn’t understand why he hadn’t paid more attention to her, because Melody Dylan might not be his type, but this one certainly was. Romeo was six-six and weighed two hundred and sixty-one pounds at his last weigh-in. Most women tended to wilt under him, but he could tell this one was different, and he found that decidedly enthralling.
“I think that’s the Deputy’s wife.”
“What?” Romeo whispered, not taking his eyes off the woman who was still giving her statement to the police officer.
“That chick you’re gawking at, she’s the Deputy’s wife.” Nova spoke low enough so only Romeo and Tino could hear. “I’ve seen her talking to him after fights, and I know she’s been on old fight footage. She used to compete in the circuit. They probably met there.”
Romeo remembered now where he’d seen her. At breakfast this morning she’d been sitting at Clay’s table next to Wyatt “The Deputy” Conner, a former light heavyweight UFC fighter who’d quit fighting to pursue police work full-time as a sheriff for his hometown. It was a bizarre career move that had made him even more famous than his fighting, especially considering his friendship with Clay Powers still left him heavily involved in the sport.
“She must’ve married the prick when they were young,” Nova offered. “If memory serves, her name’s been Conner forever.”
“Your memory always serves.” Romeo couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s like having a walking database at your side.”
“God, I hate that asshole Conner.” Tino sounded disgusted. “Can you believe that cocky hick is getting a fine piece of ass like that? What the fuck is wrong with the world? That guy is a total schmuck.”
Romeo couldn’t argue with that. He hated Conner more than Tino did. He was mouthy and arrogant and annoying as all hell. When Romeo finally worked up the strength to watch the after-fight footage last night, he’d ended up closing his laptop after a few minutes because Conner’s condescending breakdown of Saturday’s fight had him wanting to throw his computer through the hotel window. If he hadn’t already had a low opinion of police officers, Wyatt Conner would have done him in.
Romeo should have turned tail and left, but he couldn’t seem to move. He’d just prayed for a solution, and that smooth, sexy Southern drawl had echoed across the courtyard with a confidence that forced him to pay attention. A man who believed in omens might pursue the coincidence—and unfortunately for Juliet Conner, Romeo most definitely believed in omens.
Romeo pushed at Nova’s back, shoving him none too gently in the direction of the parking lot. “Why don’t you two take off?”
“You’re gonna try and nail Conner’s girl?” Tino asked incredulously. “The Deputy? Mr. Lawman himself? I’m sorta impressed right now.”
“Bye,” Romeo said rather than explain. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but there was an actual Juliet standing there looking gorgeous, and he couldn’t imagine just walking away without saying anything. “I’ll meet you at the hotel.”
“Rome, come on.” Nova grabbed his wrist when Romeo made a move to go after her. “You don’t wanna talk to this chick. She’s trouble.”
Romeo turned around and gaped. “You’re tellingmeabout trouble?”
“It’s a bad idea to piss off a guy like Conner. Old-school cops like to snoop, and we don’t need anyone in our business. You can get any woman you want. Cut this one loose.”
Romeo knew Nova had a point. Beautiful, compelling, forbidden, Romeo felt like he was walking away from destiny, but he nodded anyway. “You’re right.”
Nova breathed a sigh of relief. “Iamright.”
Romeo turned to leave, deciding to go back to breathing in and out and flushing the stink of hospital and the bitterness of failure out of his body. He was having a really hard time with this loss, and it was almost a sure bet a mob bullet would have been easier to deal with.
They walked along the sidewalk, heading toward the parking lot to find the rental car. Nova gripped Romeo’s shoulder, squeezing it affectionately, making it obvious he understood his inner turmoil. It didn’t help that they had to pass Juliet, who’d finished up her conversation with the police officer and was walking to the front entrance of the hospital. She had her gaze on her phone but looked up as they walked past.
“Oh!” Juliet gasped when she saw them. “Wellings, wait!”
Romeo turned to her. A pulse of excitement shot down his spine and found its way to his dick when she rushed up to him. With hair sparkling like spun gold in the sunlight, and eyes such a stunning shade of blue they seemed to glow, she was captivating up close, and Romeo’s breath caught as he studied her. She was taller than he’d realized, probably close to five-eleven, and Romeo liked that for once he didn’t feel like a giant while standing next to a woman.
“I wanted to say thank you.” Juliet reached out and touched his arm, her small fingernails brushing against his bicep. “What you did for Melody? That was just—” She swallowed hard, her eyes growing watery as she looked up at him. “I dunno why you risked your life like that, but I want you to know how much we appreciate it.Iappreciate it, because Melody’s the sweetest little thing in the world, and Clay loves her so much. I dunno what would’ve happened if you hadn’t stepped in.”
“Are they okay?” Romeo’s voice sounded rough even to his own ears. “I know the ambulance drivers said Powers would probably be okay, but he did get shot, and Melody was bleeding all over the place and—”
“Oh yeah, they’re fine,” Juliet assured him quickly. “They’re keeping Clay overnight, but he’ll heal up. Melody needed a buncha stitches, and her shoulder’s kinda messed up, but—”
“Shit, I did that.” Romeo winced. “I guess it was the adrenaline. I didn’t know my own strength.”
“Hey, it’s okay. Better a bum shoulder than the alternative.” Juliet held out her hand. “I’m Jules Conner.”
