Page 23 of Hate On

Making a face at him, she said, “Just stop. Neither of us had a date so we decided to come together. It’s no big deal.”

“Tell that to the press reps who were swooning over you outside. They didn’t even notice me coming in behind you.” His grin widened. “I won’t have to worry about reading any of that shit tomorrow about how I’m throwing my life down the toilet or all their bullshit prattle about why this Castle is such a waste of space. For once.”

“Joseph…”

He held up a hand. “Hey, it’s okay.” There was no bitterness in his tone and he gave her a gentle smile as he chucked her under the chin, like she was still a little girl. “Iamthrowing my life down the toilet. And I am a waste of space. I like it that way.”

“You’re not a waste of space,” she said hotly. She was furiously protective of her family, even if Joseph was determined to kill himself via booze or drugs one of these days. Maybe that was why she was so protective of him.

He laughed softly and dipped his head to kiss her cheek. “Always my cheerleader, Jules.” He backed up a step, nodding past her. “Your date is on his way back.”

He turned to go, then looked back at her, a frown replacing the smile on his face. “Listen, sweetie. Be careful, whatever it is you’re doing here. There’s a lot of bad blood between our families. Stubborn as you are, that doesn’t go away overnight.”

* * *

“If you’re hereto talk about the deal, I know nothing.”

Julianna laughed as Moira Templeton held up her hands in mock self-defense. Swatting her friend on the arm, she said, “You know me better than that.”

“True.” Moira’s eyes gleamed and she gave a subtle look around before focusing blazing green eyes on Julianna. “What is the deal with you and Roman? Are you trying to shock the entire community showing up here together?”

“I’m almostpositivethe entire community isn’t that invested in my social life.” She rolled her eyes at Moira and hooked her arm with her friend’s, guiding her a little farther away from the chaos that lingered near the dance floor. “Come on, I want a table to lean on for a few minutes.”

She and Roman had danced a few times, but they had indeed drawn some stares and she wanted to get away from the attention for a while. He was out mingling and circulating, which was what she should do, and she would, soon.

But she hadn’t seen Moira in ages and wanted a few minutes to catch up. They’d gone to college together and with their similar backgrounds, had ended up with a number of classes together. They’d gotten close but life after school had pulled them apart.

“You just want to get away from the people whispering and speculating about yourdate,” Moira said mischievously.

“Oh, bite me.” Julianna smiled, oozing with charm as she said it, not willing to refute the comment. There was no point. When you were as close as Moira and Julianna were—or as close as they’d once been—it was a little harder to pull off a convincing lie.

“I’d rather bite him.” Moira sighed lavishly and winked at Julianna. “If things take a turn for the worse, I’ll take him off your hands. Because we’re friends.”

“Again…bite me.” She nudged Moira in the ribs in jest.

“Table!” Moira all but lunged to the left as a couple vacated it, leaving it open for a few brief seconds before the two women claimed it. They sat down gratefully.

Under the concealing surface, Julianna slipped her feet out of her shoes. The Ferragamo’s she’d chosen to wear with her dress did excellent things for her legs but terrible things to her feet. But that was women’s fashion for you.

“So how long has this been going on?” Moira asked.

Julianna rolled her eyes. “There is nothis,” she said. “We came together. End of story.”

“And there’s…nothing else?”

Julianna’s cheeks heated and the dim light wasn’t enough to conceal it at this close range.

Moira hooted with laughter. “Iknewit—it was the way he watched you. Please, please…tell me. Is he as beautiful in bed as I think he is?”

Julianna fanned herself in lieu of answering, rolling her eyes.

Moira pretended to wilt. “Lucky bitch.”

They grinned at each other in the way only friends can.

For a few more minutes, they chatted, then Roman appeared at her elbow, a black brow cocked to a dangerously sexy angle. “Trying to get an edge up on me, are you?”

Before she could even figure out how to answer, Moira swatted him on the arm. “You know better, Roman. I don’t play those games. That’s my father’s arena, not mine.” Her eyes gleamed at him, cat-green and just as mischievous. “Julianna won’t tell me. How long has this been going on with you two?”