Page 66 of Unseen Danger
Heat seeped into Nevaeh’s cheeks, but she covered with a snort. “More like he needed a babysitter for one day.”
The women laughed—all except Phoenix, who sat in a blue armchair and kept an eye on their shenanigans with Dag lying next to her.
“I don’t buy that.” Sof’s dark gaze swung to include everyone. “You should’ve seen how disappointed he looked when I showed up at the estate instead of Nevaeh the night of the concert. That’s when I knew it isn’t Jazz he’s into.”
“I think I was the one he was sad to see.” Jazz bounced into the room with a stack of plates she set on the table. “He probably hoped I’d take the night off instead of Nev.”
Great. What happened to Jazz covering for Nevaeh by pretending to like Branson?
“Now that she’s flirting with him, the poor man’s a goner for sure.” Jazz plopped onto the middle cushion between Sof and Nevaeh. She angled an annoying grin at Nevaeh. Knew exactly what she was doing, egging them on.
“I did not flirt with him.” Not exactly. Had she? “I only asked him about his cat.”
“He has a cat?” Cora’s eyes were the only ones that looked innocent in this bunch of jokers.
“Yeah.”
“A tiny little…what kind did he say it was?” Jazz nearly burst with her eagerness to share, and Nevaeh knew why.
“A Himalayan Persian.”
“That’s right.” Jazz nodded. “Her name is Princess.”
“Aww,” Bris’s voice carried over Sof’s snorting laugh, “that’s adorable.”
“Well, from what I’ve seen,” Sof talked through her grin, “he’s one of the rare guys who doesn’t need to worry about having a kitty named Princess. Right, Nevaeh?” She winked.
Something welled up in Nevaeh at Sof’s observation. Almost felt like pride. But she didn’t have any business taking pride in Branson and his indestructible masculinity. She reached for a plate and stood to fill it with cheese puffs.
“I think it’s very sweet.” Cora smiled at Nevaeh. “It shows he has a gentle side.”
The image of Branson snuggling with little Princess flared in Nevaeh’s mind. She dropped back onto the sofa and popped a cheese puff into her mouth before she said something that would give away her fluttering pulse.
“Exactly.” Jazz put her hand on Nevaeh’s shoulder. “He’s perfect for our girl.”
Nevaeh rolled her eyes, landing them on Bris. “Didn’t you say you had something serious to talk to us about?” She crunched another cheese puff.
“Oh. Yes.” Bris lowered her eyebrows and straightened her mouth. Only for about a second. “Your date for the wedding.” A grin broke her serious expression. “We all think you should bring Branson.”
Surprise tangled with the cheese puff in Nevaeh’s throat. She coughed, raising a fist to her mouth.
“You okay?” Jazz patted her back, totally failing to hide her laughter.
Nevaeh managed to swallow. “You all should wear a warning label: ‘Lame jokes. Choking hazard.’” A residual small cough escaped her throat.
“Here you go.” A glass of water appeared in front of her in Cora’s extended hand.
“Thanks.” She met the blonde’s sympathetic gaze.
“Hey, we’ve been waiting a long time for payback.” Sof’s gleeful grin didn’t hold a hint of apology.
And it shouldn’t. Nevaeh had been the instigator of teasing Bris, Cora, and Sof when they’d met the men who were now their husbands. Or about to be, in Cora’s case. Nevaeh sniffed dramatically. “Well, at least I knew what I was talking about. I knew you’d found your soulmates.”
“Oh, yes.” Sof laughed as she stood to grab some snacks. “That was all because of you.”
“That’s why we want to return the favor.” Bristol’s tease drew Nevaeh’s gaze. “Branson could be your soulmate, and we wouldn’t want you to miss out.”
“Besides, he’d look awfully good in a tux at the wedding.” Jazz nudged Nevaeh’s arm.