Page 42 of Nyx

"Exactly," Em says. "Meet Juliet. She's our new hire."

"Nice to meet you," she says, offering her hand.

I shake it. "You as well."

"Have you seen the guy out front?" she whispers loudly, purposefully loud enough to make Em sigh.

"I have," I answer with a smile.

"You calling dibs?"

I shake my head and laugh as I release her hand. "He's all yours."

The words come out with humor, but I hate the way they make me feel.

"Don't feed the animals," Em chastises with a lighthearted chuckle. "Traci went up to the restroom. She'll be down in a second."

"Perfect," Leona says. "Still waiting for an invite to the clubhouse. Any plans for the Fourth of July?"

"Just family this year," Em tells her.

"Again?" Leona asks, sounding disappointed. "Guess that'll keep me from trying to cage one of those tigers at the bar. Rumor is you have several new guys."

Em laughs again, but this time there's an edge to it. "I'll make sure to warn them. I'll have Traci meet you in the room when she gets back down here."

"Perfect. Only a handful more weeks, and I won't get to ogle the men standing outside," Leona says. "It was great to see you, Em, and nice to meet you, Julie."

"Juliet," Em corrects when I would've just let it go.

"Right," Leona says with a smile that doesn't meet her eyes before she turns and heads to the small office used for professional visitors to meet with the women.

"She seems lovely," I say when Leona disappears.

Em, Misty, and Victoria follow me to the small office, Em stopping in the doorway when Traci slowly makes her way downstairs.

"Leona is waiting for you, hon," she tells her.

Traci pulls in a deep breath, looking annoyed, but heads in that direction.

"She's a hellcat," Em says when she turns back to us. "Mostly harmless, but she's been trying to snag a Cerberus man for years. Most of the guys can spot her a mile away without even being warned first."

"She didn't even speak to Misty," I say, having noticed that before.

"Long story," Misty mutters.

"I have time," I say with a laugh.

Misty playfully rolls her eyes, making me feel like one of the girls for the first time in a long time.

"Long story short," Misty says. "She's been after a Cerberus man for a while, and thought it would be a good idea to hit on my married son one night while they were at Jake's, the local bar, unwinding."

"What?" I snap before I stop myself. "While he was out with the guys?"

"Nope," Em says, shaking her head. "Ivy, my daughter, was there. She waited like a predator and hit on him when some of the girls went to the restroom."

"No," I gasp. "That's so disrespectful."

"And having that conversation with her when I found out is why Leona Clark pretends I don't exist."