Page 63 of Taboo

“And just so you know, she doesn’t pay attention to anything outside of Hawaii.”

May shrugged. “True, but it’s the reason I wanted to check you out. Your ex sounds like an asshole.”

Again, she blinked. “He is.”

“Yeah, I mean, even if you did run some kind of sex club, what business is it of anyone’s? I mean, I guess it is a business, but you know what I mean.”

She looked at Dee again, who laughed. “You look like everyone else the first time they meet May, but she’s just letting you know that she did look you up.”

May offered her a bright smile. “Being kind of known, at least in England, I thought I should disclose that.”

“Alright.”

“So, who’s the hot piece?” she asked, leaning back against the leather booth.

For a second, Julienne said nothing. The other woman was gorgeous, Hawaiian with long dark hair and green eyes, she was almost like Julienne’s opposite. She looked like she would be so…well, sweet. Instead, Julienne thought that she might be a little insane.

“Give her a break,” Dee told May with a chuckle, then she turned to Julienne. “I apologize for my friend’s rudeness.”

“It’s just…” Her brain went blank. There was so much to unpack there.

“What?” Dee asked.

She sighed. “I’ve never been very forthcoming, and it’s worse after what happened with my ex.”

Dee set her hand on top of Julienne’s that sat atop the table. “That’s understandable.”

“Do you want us to hurt him? We could.” This was offered from May.

“We are not going to England to rough up her ex,” Dee said, shaking her head. What was a little disturbing was that she didn’t laugh. No, Dee seemed to take the comment seriously.

May shrugged. “You and I both know that your brother could make this asshole’s life miserable.”

“We are not going to do that either.”

May leaned forward, setting her arm on the table, and offered Julienne a conspiratorial smile. “Her twin is Devon Stryker. You know, the computer/game genius. Or whatever.”

“She has no idea what he can do. She just thinks he can hack into anything and mess with things,” Dee explained.

“He can, though.”

Dee sighed and Julienne realized that this was probably a regular argument between the two friends. “Probably. But let’s not encourage him. I don’t want my niece and nephew to have to visit my brother in prison.”

May snorted. “Like they could catch him.”

“How did we get so off topic? We’re trying to get to know Jules and you’re threatening her ex with my brother, and now we’re arguing about whether or not he’s a criminal.”

Julienne couldn’t stop the giggle. “Bloody hell, you two need to have a show or podcast.”

May’s eyes widened, then she clapped. “Podcast…I like that idea.”

“No.” Dee turned her attention back to Julienne. “Back to what I was saying before my best friend suggested we commit felonies; I understand if you don’t want to share with us. But, I’m good friends with Nic, and I wanted you to know that if you need some girlfriends, we’re here for you.”

“Especially if you tell us about the hot Hawaiian you’re banging.”

“Maylea Aiona Chambers!”

She shrugged as if she didn’t care, but Julienne saw the way her eyes danced. She was trying to make it easier on her by lightening the mood.

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