Royal Pain in the Ass (15 page)

Naturally a slow song would come on.
 
Harper
’
s hands fell to my waist and mine went around his shoulders with a good six inches between us.
 

“
But no funny business,
”
I warned him.

“
I wouldn
’
t dream of it,
”

I was feeling all the drinks, how many did I have?
 
I lost count after seven, so at least eight with that last shot, but there had to be more.
 
I felt dizzy and realized I was leaning on Harper.

“Sorry,”
I mumbled as I stood back.

“It
’
s alright,
”
Harper laughed.
  “You
’
ve had a few drinks in you.
”

I nodded.
  “A lot. 
I feel it a little bit.
”

Harper let out a throaty laugh.
  “You
’
re cute,”

“
Thank you, you have pretty eyes.
” 
I looked around and the world was spinning.
  “
We should stop spinning.
”

“
We have,
”

“Uh oh,”

“
What is it?
”

I shook my head.
  “
I don’
t feel so good,
”

“
Oh, Gwen!
”
Harper realized what I meant and picked me up and carried me over to the ladies room.
  “
Go check,
”
he indicated the door.
 
Gwen darted inside then held the door open for Harper.
  

“
Bad news bears,
”
I managed before I flailed out of Harper
’
s arms and puked in the sink.
  “
I don’
t feel so good, Gwen,
” I groaned. 
She rubbed my back and made soothing noises.
 

“
Harper, go get her a water,
”

I washed my mouth out in the sink and felt really heavy and let myself sink down to the floor.
 
I felt someone wrap my hand around a cup.
 

“
Drink this,
”
Harper soothed rubbing my back.
  “
I think her night is over.
 
Sam left with Lee a little while ago, and it looks like Tyson is Tracy
’
s newest target.
 
Want a ride home?
”

“
That would be lovely,
”
Gwen smiled.
 

“
Come on, you.
”
Harper picked me up and I felt asleep in his arms.
 
I woke up in a backseat.

“
Where am I?
”

“
Juliet, it
’
s Gwen.
  We
’
re almost home.
”

“
So, you
’
re the one everyone is making such a fuss over,
”
Harper smiled over his shoulder at me.

“
Yeah, something like that . . .
”

“
Harper,
”
Gwen started.

“Yeah?”

“
Can you carry her back?
”

“
Sure, to your house?
”

Gwen thought for a long moment.
  “
No, we have to sneak her inside.
”

Harper nodded.
  “
Harper the ninja is ready for service.
”

Chapter XI

I felt myself being lifted out of the car.
  “
Come along, love,
”
Harper smiled.
 
I cuddled against his chest.
 
He was so warm.

“You
’
re cuddly,”
I murmured.
 
I felt the pull of sleep.
 
I liked the way his chest vibrated when he laughed.
 

“Don
’
t get too cozy,
”
Gwen warned, I
’
m not sure if it was to me or to Harper.
  “
Harper, I
’
m going to show you the back way into the main house.
”

“
Harper,
”
I managed.

“
Yes, love?
”

“
Sing for me.
”

Harper laughed.
  “
What do you want me to sing?
”

“
Something pretty.
”

“
Close your eyes and I
’
ll kiss you.
  Tomorrow I
’
ll miss you, remember I
’
ll always be true.
”

“I love
The B
eatles,”

Harper chuckled and continued singing.
 
His voice was so pretty.
 

“
Shh, quiet now.
  We can
’
t get caught.
”
Gwen warned.

Gwen led him to my room and Harper laid me on the bed.
  “
Good night, sleep it off.
  You
’
ll feel better.
”

“I
’
ll have Laurel bring you some aspirin in the morning.
 
Harper, come on, I
’
ll be outside.
” 
Gwen gave us a moment.

“
Well, love, good night,
”

“
Good night,
”
I smiled up at him.
  “
You have pretty eyes.
”

“
Thank you, I think you
’
ve mentioned that.
”

“
Well it
’
s true,”

“
Good night,
”
he bent down to kiss me on the cheek but I turned and kissed him back.
 
He seemed surprised but didn
’
t stop.
 
His lips were so soft.
 
My hands reached around to the back of his neck and pulled him harder against me.
 
He made a small noise of surprise but returned my ferocity.
 
My hands fumbled to the bottom of his shirt, but he grabbed them and pulled away laughing.
  “No, no, love.”

“No?”
I asked confused.
  No?  “You don
’
t think I
’
m cute anymore,”

“
Oh, quite the contrary, love, but you are very drunk.
”

“I
’
m just tipsy,
”

“
Good night, I have to go,
”

“Stay?”

“I can
’
t, as tempting as that is,
”

“One more kiss?”

Harper sighed, a smile forming on his lips.
  “One more kiss,”
he kissed my forehead and tucked me in.
  “Now go to sleep. 
Tomorrow morning is going to come early for you.
”

I nodded.
  “
Night night,
”

I felt sleep overtake me.

Next thing I knew Laurel was gently shaking me awake.
  “
Juliet, you have to get up,
”
she soothed rubbing my back.
 
My head was killing me and I felt nauseous.
 
I looked around.

“
Ugh, what time is it?
”

“
Almost seven, come on let
’
s get you into a nice warm bath.
  You
’
ll feel better.
” 
She helped me sit up and the world span.

“
Oh god, how much did I drink?
”

“
Gwen told me all about it.
  I
’
ve told
Master Eastgate that you
’
re not feeling well.
 
He thinks you have the flu.
”

“
Ugh, I don’
t remember most of last night,
”

“
Gwen said you kept up with her, and she
’
s quite the drinker.
”

I groaned and covered my head with a blanket.
  “
Why is it so bright?
”
I whined.
 

“
Because you
’
re hung over.
”

“
What did I drink last night?
”

“
Knowing Gwen something strong and hard, and it probably had a bite to it.
 
Come on,
”
Laurel helped me stumble to the bathroom and into the tub.
  “I
’
m not leaving you alone in here, I
’
m not going to have you drown.
” 
Laurel helped me out and then brushed my hair while I lay in bed feeling the effects of a night of poor decisions.
  “
Gwen is going to come up and see you as soon as her shift is over, but your father wanted to check on you.
 
I told him I
’
d let you know when you were awake.
 
Are you ready for this?
”

I let another groan out.
   “
No, but I haven
’
t been ready for anything that
’
s happened so far.
  Let
’
s do this.
”

“
Alright, I
’
ll go get him.
”

I buried my head in the pillows and tried to remember what had happened.
  I
’
d gone out with Gwen . . . Sam drove us . . . we watched a band . . . Gwen and I were dancing . . . lots of shots . . . lots of beer . . . I didn
’
t remember anything but little patches of memory.
 
I needed to talk to Gwen.
 

It wasn
’
t long before I heard the door open and someone come in.
  “
Juliet,
”
my father
’
s voice was soft and soothing.

“Hey James,”
I managed and turned around.
 
The sun was still so bright.

“
Laurel tells me you aren
’
t feeling well.
”

I shook my head, but stopped when the world span.
  “I
’
ll be okay, just not feeling so hot today.
”

James came over and felt my forehead.
  “You don
’
t seem to be running a fever.
 
That
’
s good.
  Maybe it
’
s all the stress.
”
James sighed and sat on the edge of my bed.
  “I
’
ve been meaning to talk to you anyway.
”