Becoming Juliet - Paula Marinaro Page 0,33
for a high five. “I told Reggie if P.J. wanted to know anything more about the new girl in town, he should ask her himself.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it. Wonder why he was asking.” Juliet bit down on her lip. When her hand rose towards her hair, she stopped herself mid-gesture, and took another long gulp of the cold drink.
“Pretty fish, small pond.” Layla shrugged. Then added after a small hesitation. “You are, you know.”
“A fish?” Juliet teased
“Pretty.” Layla replied.
“Yeah, if you don’t count the skinny, flat-chested, male-patterned baldness thing I got going on.” Juliet protested but really, the compliment had warmed her.
“Well, yeah, if you discount all those things.” Layla grinned “Seriously, girl, you are looking good.”
“Thanks. I do feel good. It’s a mixture of fresh country air, rocky road ice cream, and peroxide.” Juliet said breezily, glad to have the focus off P.J.’s nosy nature and on to more benign things.
“Rafael does work wonders, doesn’t he?” Layla reached out and touched a lock of Juliet’s hair. Then she eyed her friend’s breasts with appreciation. “And do I detect that we have moved on from the training bra?”
“B cup.” Juliet giggled and proclaimed proudly.
“So, I hear you’ve become sort of a regular at the diner.” Layla bit into a shiny Macintosh.
“I do like their hot turkey sandwiches. And those pumpkin donuts?” Juliet sighed.
“To die for, I know.”
“But a regular? I don’t know if I would call myself that.”
“Well, Jerri Lee would be real upset if you didn’t show up for your usual half dozen on Saturday morning. She puts them aside for you every week, you know.”
Not too long ago this conversation would have stopped Juliet cold. The thought that someone had made themselves familiar with her food preferences and her comings and goings? That would have evoked heart stopping, gut wrenching fear. But now Juliet had begun to understand that there was no malicious intent or ulterior motive in the people of Port Harbor. Here, Juliet was not the hounded and disgraced wife of a monster. Here, she was just another cog in the wheel.
“So, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander!” Layla leaned back on the bench as she spoke between bites of the sweet, crisp fruit. “What do you want to know about P.J. McCabe?”
Juliet hesitated as she thought about the beautiful, haunting symbol that covered P.J.’s back in deep black ink, the scars on his knuckles, the way his piercing dark eyes seemed to cut through her like a blade.
She thought of the legacy of violence he had come from.
“Has he been here long?” Juliet asked as a sudden, strong wind picked up. It rustled the leaves and shook the low hanging apples off the trees. She drew her sweater tight around her.
“Yeah, it’s been a while now.” Layla chewed thoughtfully. “I bet I know what you’re thinking. Just doesn’t seem the small town type, does he? With all that…testosterone. He’s a gorgeous hunk of man, for sure. With all that muscle, those dark bedroom eyes and hard body…” Layla let out a lustful sigh, and her eyes seemed to glaze right over with totally impure thoughts. “Everything about P.J. McCabe just makes a woman want to sin.”
Juliet couldn’t help but laugh at her friend’s expression. “And look at you…a happily married woman!”
Layla waved her hand in the air and laughed in that breezy way of hers. “Oh, I know. I love my Reggie to death. I’d never stray. Besides, I’m not entirely sure I could handle a man like P.J. McCabe. I’ve had my stab at the whole bad boy thing, and I wound up running home with my tail between my legs. Trust me when I tell you that my man is no pussy cat. Reggie’s got a wild side to him, for certain. But guys like P.J. McCabe? They take it to a whole other level. Ever notice how P.J. looks scary even when he smiles? He’s got this better to eat you thing going on.”
“I know what you mean.” Juliet thought of the many occasions that P.J.’s grin had made her feel as though he was the wolf, and she was the outwitted prey in a fairytale that ends badly.
“Yeah, he’s a lot of man, for sure.” Layla continued. “But underneath all of that rough and ready, P.J.’s a real sweetheart. He comes to the house on Thirsty Thursdays and plays cards with Reggie and the boys. Always brings his own beer, too. Not like some of those other