Page 55 of Hate to Crave You
“But don’t be surprised if she looks for some material goods for the next silent auction. They do a number of those throughout the year,” Julianna said, forcing her attention back to Moira.
“So…can I ask you a question?”
Julianna narrowed her eyes on Moira’s face, the studied casualness in her friend’s tone raising every bit of awareness she had. “You can ask,” she replied. “That doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”
“I’m just wondering how long you and Roman have been an item.”
Julianna blinked.
Blood drained from her face, then rushed right back, staining her cheeks red. She couldn’t control that telltale reaction and she knew that Moira got her answer without Julianna saying anything. Still, she tried. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, please.” Moira waved a hand. “Don’t bother playing coy. Even if I’d just been speculating, that reaction right there would have told me everything I needed to know. Which explains something else.”
As Moira leaned forward, elbows braced on the edge of the table, Julianna struggled to remain cool. “And just what does it explain?”
“Why you’re so adamant not to discuss anything about the sale.” Moira flashed her a slow, smug smile. “You’d never play dirty, Jules. It’s not in your makeup, but you’re not above having a slight advantage over the other party either. Except now you don’t seem to want one. It makes sense why. You’ve gotten personally invested.”
“I did not,” Julianna replied hotly. But she knew she was lying.
“Oh, really? You’re not thinking at all about how Roman will be affected if Castle wins the bid?” Moira asked, cocking a brow at her.
“I…” She stopped, then huffed out a breath. “Bite me, okay, Moira?”
Moira nipped playfully at the air. “Now let’s get back to business. I’ve got something I want to discuss with you and Roman. Together.”
That had Julianna straightening in her chair. “What do you mean…together?”
“You heard me. As in…both of you.” She waggled her eyebrows. “I assume you two can handle that.”
“I’m not surewhy,” Julianna said, shaking her head.
“It’s just this…idea that I have. It could involve you and Roman.”
“Would you keep your voice down?” Julianna rolled her eyes. “It’s not exactly public knowledge that Roman and I are together.”
“Is that a fact?” Moira cocked her head, then she lowered her gaze, studying Julianna’s neck. “Maybe you should have thought about that before wearing a pretty Montrose locket around your neck for the whole world to see.”
For a second, those words made absolutely no sense.
Then, panicked, Julianna clasped a hand over the hollow of her throat. The locket was warm against her skin, the engravings on it pressing against Julianna’s hand.
“Oh, shit,” she whispered, her eyes going wide. Her gaze shot to her mother.
Janice had her head bent toward Abigail’s, unaware of her daughter’s attention.
“Your mom doesn’t know either, does she?”
“Are youkiddingme?” Julianna demanded, panic welling inside her. “She’d freakout…oh, hell.” She recalled the way her mother’s expression had frozen and changed mid-conversation. “Mom saw my locket. Do you think she recognized it?”
“That design is pretty iconic,” Moira said wryly. “You might as well have his name tattooed on your ass. Actually, an ass tattoo would be more discreet.”
“Oh, shit. Oh, shit.” Covering her eyes with her hand, Julianna sucked in a breath.
“I think you need to chill out, babe,” Moira said.
Julianna dared to shoot a look at Moira. “My momknows.”
“I know.” Moira made big eyes at Julianna, clearly mimicking her. Then she waved a dismissive hand. “I also know your mother. She loves you. She wants you happy. And youare. I’ll be honest…I kind of figured there was a guy when we were talking on the phone. Then you saunter in here wearing that locket—”
