Noah glanced at Brick with narrowed eyes. “Juliet has a lot of friends here.”
She sucked in a breath, wondering how Brick would react to the threat in Noah’s voice. Noah was generally pretty easy-going, but he had another side to him that was rarely roused unless Cleo was threatened.
And apparently, when he thought there might be some sort of threat to her. Which she hadn’t realized.
“I can see that. I’m glad she has all of you. But she has me now too. And I’m not going anywhere.”
“I like him,” Isa said loudly.
“I don’t.” Kiesha glared at him.
“I’m on the fence. He has to prove himself,” Cleo said with a sniff. Cleo wasn’t fond of most people. Her being on the fence was as good as he could have hoped for.
“I’m a bit on the fence myself,” Elias added with a grin as Brick glared at him.
“I’m with Cleo,” Noah said. “Needs to prove himself worthy.”
“Maybe we should strip him and send him out into the woods with a packet of matches and see if he survives,” Kiesha said with a toothy grin.
Ed groaned. “I told you to stop watching Naked and Afraid.”
“What do you say, Brick? You want to be out in the woods? Naked and afraid?” Kiesha asked as she pulled a sucker from her pocket and pulled off the wrapper.
“No.”
That was all Brick said and Juliet had to hide another grin.
Brick leaned over her. “You need anything, you get my attention. I’m going to be standing by the wall behind you. Elias is over there. Sterling on the other side of you.” They formed almost a triangle around her.
Sheesh, she wasn’t stupid. Of course, she remembered. They’d only spoken about it again before coming into the bar. She’d been here hundreds of times without incident.
As he settled against the wall behind her, Kiesha leaned over. “Is he just the bodyguard? Or is there something more going on?”
The others leaned in.
Shit. She was going to need something to give her some courage.
She slid close to her friend to whisper. “Pour me a drink and I’ll tell you.”
Kiesha’s eyes widened. “Holy. Shit.”
“What?” Isa asked.
“What is it?” Cleo demanded.
“Are you okay, Juliet?” Georgie sat next to her, looking concerned.
“Juliet wants a drink,” Kiesha stated.
Cleo and Isa just stared at her.
“So?” Georgie appeared confused.
“Juliet never drinks. Not once. Not ever,” Kiesha explained.
She blushed. She shouldn’t have asked.
“No reason why she can’t have one, is there?” Georgie asked.