Page 19

Right,nowshe understood.

This was for Piper, who was enamored with Jo. Of course. Now being subjected to constant talk about the sisters made perfect sense. Piper had a massive crush. They’d been through this before, and they’d get through it again. It would either forminto a relationship or it wouldn’t, and Bunny would be there every step of the way in support of her best friend.

“It seems like this is the night to sing for fun instead of fans.” Bunny smiled at Jo before flicking a quick look over to Bea. How did she feel about all this? Was she as in the dark as Bunny had been just moments before? Or had she known the entire time?

Bea’s face was hard, her nostrils flaring just a little.

Well, that confirmed it. Bea had been led here on false pretenses as well.

“We’ve booked a booth, and we’re just waiting for it to be free,” Bea supplied, not standing up from the table.

“We have to make a reservation?” Piper really needed to work on her acting skills if she thought for one moment Bunny was buying the uh-oh moment she was trying out.

“You do!” Jo’s acting was no better. “But that’s okay, you can join us.”

“What?” Bea and Bunny asked at the same time, turning away from studiously not looking at each other to stare at Jo.

“We don’t mind, do we, Bea?” Jo stopped only long enough to take a half-breath before barreling on before Bea could butt in. “Plus, you never know what tips you might get from singing with the great Bunny and Piper.”

Bunny looked at Bea and was relieved to see she noticed Jo’s tactics as well. There was no denying that they were being railroaded into this. Bunny crossed her arms, flexing her muscles as she turned a glare onto Jo.

“You’ve got a good angle there, kid.” Bunny rocked back and forth from heel to toe, succumbing to the fact that this was what her evening was going to look like. Piper would hear all about it as soon as they left. Which would be far sooner than the hour. Bunny was going to get cramps in the next fifteen minutes, regardless of whether they started singing together or not.

“Have to think about the business, don’t I? Bea taught me that.” Jo shrugged, and Bunny couldn’t help but remember Piper at the same age. Always hungry for what to learn next. It was as though the two of them knew what the world thought of them with their slim bodies, and perfect hair and makeup and refused to let themselves be lulled into skating by on those things. They’d forced their way to where they were today, and it had been hard-ass work to get it.

“That’s perfect. Thanks, Jo.” Piper smiled, and Bunny felt vindicated in her first thoughts about Piper’s motivations for karaoke tonight.

“We need to go let them know we’ll need some more microphones.” Jo threaded her arm through Piper’s and started to walk toward what looked like a bar, but it didn’t have alcohol. Instead it had sound equipment, mostly cheap stuff that was easily replaceable. “You should have a seat, Bunny, we might be a while.”

“Sure, sure.” Bunny pulled out the seat across from Bea and plopped her ass in it, determined that the next time she stood up, she would be leaving this hellish idea in the dust. “Take all the time you ladies need.”

Without a backward look, the two of them hurried off. Bunny wouldn’t have been surprised if they broke out into a gleeful skip.

“Why do you keep insisting she has an angle?” Bea’s voice was low and dangerous.

Bunny shuffled in her chair, taking her gaze from Jo and Piper’s shrinking forms and landing directly in the stormy blue seas of Bea’s eyes. “It’s not a bad thing. She’s a clever kid. Why shouldn’t she be thinking about getting some tips when she’s managed to get us here to spend some one-on-one time with you both?”

Bea shook her head forcefully enough that the loose tie holding back the dark blonde locks let a few strands fly free. “So I suppose that’s why you think she set this whole thing up?”

“Actually, no.” Bunny dragged her chair a little closer so they could talk quieter. She didn’t need anyone else in this room overhearing what she was about to say. “I think they both set this up because they wanted an excuse to spend more time together.”

“What do you mean?” Bea’s eyes narrowed on Bunny’s, and for a moment, Bunny wondered if the woman had X-ray vision.

“Piper likes Jo, a lot. Believe me when I say I haven’t had an hour without your name and Jo’s name being mentioned in the last seven days, and I’m sick of it already. But coming here tonight, I get the sense that the feeling just might be mutual.” Bunny hoped she wouldn’t catch one of Bea’s tirades. Though to be honest, the last time hadn’t exactly led to an unfortunate or regrettable evening.

“Really? I thought Piper was straight.” Bea’s face lit up, and she immediately looked over at her sister.

Oh how Bunny wished she had never seen Bea’s smile and eyes so bright and alive. They suited her all right. So much so that heat pooled between Bunny’s legs and thoughts of dropping between Bea’s legs popped right back up into her brain.

“That doesn’t bother you?”

“No, not at all.” Bea’s eyes were so beautiful. Bunny wanted to pull her gaze away, but she couldn’t, no matter how hard she tried. To be fair, she hadn’t really been trying all that hard. She’d much rather look at Bea than Piper.

“And you want me to think you don’t have an angle?” Bunny asked.

“What?” Bea’s smile disappeared, and Bunny breathed a sigh of relief, which didn’t last long. She realized Bea's hard cold edges were just as sexy as the sweet loving big sister. And thecombination of the two did things to her insides that she’d long thought dead.

“You’re happy for your baby sister to hook up with Piper?” Bunny asked, needing clarification.