Page 63 of Tis The Season for Secrets
“Sorry, ladies, but you’ve had enough for the night,” she said, raising a pierced eyebrow.
“It’s only my third drink!” Juliet called over the music. She’d never been cut off before. She glanced at the group beside them, clearly much worse for wear, being given a tray of shots.
“Boss’s orders.” The bartender shrugged. “Though Mr Bryce said you’re welcome to head to the private rooms upstairs. There’s a private bar, and he feels you’ll both be more comfortable there.”
“Mr Bryce! Harvey must own this place.” Margot side-eyed Juliet, but before either could respond, the bartender moved on to the next customer. Juliet tried to wave down someone else to make the drinks, but the other bartenders in their tight black shirts and slacks pretended they didn’t exist.
Defeated, they made their way to an empty table. Most were too busy dancing to sit.
“Why would Harvey cut us off? How did he even know we were here? You aren’t even drinking, and it’s not like I’m falling over myself,” Juliet complained.
To add insult to injury, a sealed bottle of sparkling water and two glasses were dropped off at their table.
“We could try the private bar upstairs. It’s getting really crowded down here,” Margot grumbled.
“I want to dance, not sit in some stuffy room,” Juliet groaned, but Margot was too busy texting to listen.
“Will and Harvey are here?” Her eyes darted to the door.
Juliet didn’t have to search the crowd long before spotting them. Margot waved them over. Will looked the same as the night they’d first met in his long black coat over a blue shirt and black trousers. He whispered something to Harvey, who looked more relaxed in a dark red sweater and tan trousers, and his serious gaze cut through the cheerful room as he searched for her. Worried that he would find out she’d told Margot aboutYule, Juliet wanted to sink into the leather booth. She also wasn’t ready to tell him about her conversation with dear old Dad.
The dance floor was the only way to avoid any conversation about the day she’d had – even if her legs were a little numb from dancing and the generous margaritas.
Margot didn’t follow. Instead, she greeted the men with a warm smile and a kiss on the cheek. Juliet hoped they’d sit and talk while she had her fun dancing to more horrible Christmas remixes, but when she spun around Will was towering over her, looking rather amused.
“Can we talk?” he shouted.
“No, I’ve done enough talking. Dance with me!” Juliet grinned, dancing around him.
Will ran his hand over his face and leaned in, taking hold of her waist to stop her moving so much. “Let me take you home. Talking with your father couldn’t have been easy, but this isn’t the way to deal with it.”
“This is exactly the way to deal with it.”
He glared at another man who got a little too close to her, then pulled her flush against him. The stranger took the hint when she chuckled and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Leave or loosen up,” she argued. Will rolled his eyes, but he spun her until she was a little dizzy. “That’s more like it!” She laughed, loving this side of him.
Over Will’s shoulder, she noticed that Harvey had his arm around Margot’s shoulder. Harvey winked as he caught her staring. He raised a glass to her before returning his attention to Margot, who seemed far more at ease now that he’d arrived.
“Wait. How did you find us?” Juliet asked, a sinking feeling in her gut made her wonder if Margot might have had something to do with it. Could it be a coincidence that they’d ended up in a bar Harvey owned?
“Margot texted Harvey while we were with Mason. She told us where you were and that she was worried about you,” Will confirmed, spinning her around so her back was against his chest. It reminded her of the first night they’d danced together at the gala.
“Mason?” she gasped; her eyes snapped back to Harvey. “Holy shit, Harvey is from Yule?”
“Please keep your voice down! This isn’t the place,” Will reminded her.
Juliet tried to distract him from her faux pas by running her hands down his chest while she swayed her hips. He gritted his teeth, looking like he wanted to lock her up away from anyone else’s eyes.
“I need a drink, and we need to talk,” he huffed, clearly distracted. “There’s a private bar upstairs.”
“I thought we were cut off.” Juliet pouted, letting him guide her through the crowd.
“Harvey owns the place. So I’ve got access to every floor, and I’ll be your own private bartender,” Will whispered.
However appealing that sounded, Juliet hesitated as they reached the bottom of a long staircase. If she went with him, they’d have to talk about yesterday, and she wasn’t ready for that. Not now. She just wanted Will to hold her and help her pretend that all was right in the world.
“Actually, I really want to just keep dancing. Can’t you stay with me down here?”
