Page 121 of Burning Daylight
Her eyes widen, and she drops the shaker onto the bar, pulling out a chilled martini glass, placing it in front of me, and then pouring. “Sorry, that was rude—it’s not my business.”
“Little bit, yeah.” I frown at her. “How do you know my brothers again?”
“No offense, but I don’t think it’s possible to live in this town andnotknow your brothers.” She gives a small smile, her eyes flickering between us. “Starting a tab?”
I nod, and then she grabs a towel and sprints away, busying herself at the other end of the bar.
Felicity sips her drinks and whispers, “Fifty bucks she had a thing with one of them.”
I glance at the martini, and then Ginny. “Probably Lance. He’ll fuck anything.”
She cackles. “Definitely not Paxton, that’s for sure.”
“Well, yeah,” I say. “He’s married, dude.”
Her eyes flick behind me and the smile drops from her face.
I spin around and immediately frown. “Ugh, I was hoping you weren’t here.”
Art Penngrove gives me a knowing look. “Little Juliette Calloway, slumming it in the HillPoint? WhatwouldDaddy Warbucks think?”
I roll my eyes at the comparison of a fictional character to my father.
“He’d ask why the rats talk now,” Felicity jabs back.
His eyes flick briefly to Felicity and then slide past her like she’s furniture.
She scoffs.
“You need to leave,” he tells me.
Again, Felicity cuts in before I can. “I know your dad has a fancy title and all, but that’s all it is, Arthur. Atitle.”
“It’smybar.” He glares at her.
“Maybe on paper.” She shrugs. “We both know you can barely run your own bath, let alone a business.”
His lips thin, and he refocuses on me. “Come on, Jules. I’ll take you home.”
“Hard pass, thanks.” I grab my drink and smile wide as I take a sip.
He reaches for my arm, but before he can, a deep voice cuts in. “She said no.”
My stomach flips.
Roman.
Art spins around, his gaze widening slightly when it lands on him. Art isn’t small, but compared to how tall Roman is, he looks like a kid wearing his dad’s suit.
I fidget in my seat, and Felicity gives me wide eyes and then wiggles her brows like she also finds him attractive.
“Roman Montgomery,” Art says. “This isn’t how I expected to meet for the first time, but this is family business.” He throws a thumb toward me.
Roman’s eyes flick to mine, then land back on him with a brow quirking. “And you’re family?”
“Close enough.”
“He’s not, actually,” I correct.
