Becoming Juliet - Paula Marinaro Page 0,38

of town. He was warned heavily never to contact or look for Daisy and Larry again. Then, courtesy of the Hells Saints Brotherhood, Larry and his mother were given a first class, one way ticket to wherever they wanted to go.

Now, as P.J watched Juliet twist at a ring that wasn’t there, a piece of the puzzle fell into place. There had been a husband, and whether Juliet was still married to the guy or not? She was still afraid of him.

It was just about an hour later that Juliet began to make her way slowly to the edge of the party. The plan was to sit down out of the way for another few minutes and make sure everyone was happily occupied. Then she would steal away through the woods, go home, curl up, and watch a classic movie on TMC.

The afternoon was cool, grey clouds hung heavy in the sky and there was a pleasant crispness in the air. The leaves had begun to turn and drop in earnest now and cover the carpet of dying grass. Juliet sat down on the wooden bench. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine that instead of winter, spring was on its way. She imagined that the sunshine that warmed her face had come to melt the ice and snow away. That underneath the dull brown landscape, sleeping flowers were getting ready to sprout up from the ground reborn. Their long green stems giving way to fragrant petals that would dance lively in the warm winds, grateful for another chance to bloom. She could feel the wind play with her hair and the tension leave her shoulders.

Juliet pulled the wool shawl tightly around her and felt herself begin to relax. The murmuring of conversation, the soft music, and the warm sun on her face all worked together to lullaby Juliet into a deeply restful sense of peace. She had begun to enjoy this brief respite when she lost the sun, and the loud crackle of leaves sounded out like a firecracker in the night.

Juliet’s eyes flew open, and there he was, big and hulking.

P.J. McCabe was standing in front of her and blocking out the light.

“Hey.” Juliet greeted him with hesitation.

“Hey yourself.” He sat down next to her without invitation. His thigh pressed against hers as he pushed himself into the small space.

Juliet couldn’t help but let out a yelp as his body crowded her in.

P.J. ignored the small noise and relaxed his back against the bench. His arms folded like a pretzel to cradle his head; his long legs stretched out. “So, nice party, huh? Figure we should use the time to get to know each other better. I mean we’re neighbors, right? And that’s what parties are for.”

“You’ve been talking to Layla.” Juliet tried and failed to shift her body away from his.

“Nope. Haven’t seen her in about a week.” P.J. shook his head. “Why? Should I have been?”

“She said almost the exact thing to me. Said you and I should get to know each other, and the party would be the perfect opportunity.”

“So, make you’re move, darlin’. What are you waiting for?” He smiled that better to eat you with grin.

“I have no moves.” Juliet said.

“Nothing? You telling me you got no game?”

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”

When P.J. shifted his big body, it gave her a chance to get away.

Juliet stood up and moved away from him.

“Do I scare you, Juliet?” P.J. stood up, put his hands on the bench and leaned over until his face was just inches from hers. Before she had a chance to respond, P.J. moved around to where Juliet was now standing. “You know, I didn’t think a woman as badass as you would frighten so easily.”

“Badass?” Juliet asked.

“Not every day a woman comes into the store sporting a shopping list that includes a deadly weapon.”

“So? I’m interested in owning a gun. That shouldn’t be such a big deal to you, for god sakes you own a gun shop.”

“True and I get plenty of women coming in to purchase a weapon. But your ask was different.”

Juliet, who had absolutely no interest in pursuing this line of conversation with P.J. McCabe, found herself being drawn in.

“How?”

“Well, for a starter…you decided on a weapon based on an internet video.”

“I was being sarcastic.” Juliet totally lied.

“Yeah, well we both know that ain’t true.” He moved closer.

“You don’t think I am capable of sarcasm?”

“Babe, I think you are capable of a lot of things.” P.J.