de on the back of the seat, thrusting out her breasts in a way I doubted was incidental. “Besides, why do I need one of your flunkies killing my game when I’m surrounded by all of these beautiful people?”
Noah’s jaw flexed. “All of these ‘beautiful people’ have their guards on the premises.”
“Exactly how many men do you think it takes to watch over me anyway?” Jamie picked at her nails. “I mean, I’m a lot of woman, but—”
“One,” Noah grated out. “It takes just one to take care of you.”
A hush fell over the table that for once didn’t have a thing to do with Teagan’s inappropriate comments.
“We have a guard?” Elle asked Mal. “Besides, who can Roth hire that’s bigger than you?”
“Size isn’t all that matters,” Teagan said primly.
Jamie laughed, the sound higher than usual. Almost as if she’d lost some of her lung capacity. “You’ve brought up a good point. Is being a bodyguard only related to size, Noah?” Her usage of his actual name was like tossing a match onto a puddle of gasoline. “Or how you use it?”
He didn’t say a word, just smoldered.
Mal threaded his hand through the ends of Elle’s swingy blond hair. “Pretty sure I accidentally backed over our guard.” His voice was still strained.
Jamie’s date chose that moment to reappear, balancing two drinks and a bucket of what looked to be crispy wings. “Hey, baby, drink special.”
Nash cleared his throat. “Oh, thank heavens for a deal.”
Lindsey laughed, shaking her head at him. “Shh. Be nice.”
There were now so many people crowded around the table I couldn’t even take stock of them all, except I knew one of them was Oz. I could feel him breathing down my back in a not-so-figurative way.
Not my concern. There were already enough hormones flying around this booth. I was not going there with a table full of witnesses.
Between the band and the bodyguards and the assorted others who were streaming over to our section in the VIP area, my head was swimming. I was pretty sure I got a glimpse of Lila and her husband Nick, yet another rockstar and Elle’s brother.
Bet he must’ve loved the pregnancy conversation if he was listening. I certainly hadn’t enjoyed it much. Hi, awkward.
There were some of the members of Warning Sign to boot, as if there weren’t enough bodies pressed into too small of a space.
My face grew warmer and the room tilted as I gripped the edge of the table. I wanted to get out—needed to—but Teagan’s thigh was up against mine on one side and Jamie was on the other. Nowhere to go.
I jerked up, trying to stand, but before I could even ask Teagan to slide out, Jamie’s date fumbled his drinks and Jamie’s purple one went flying across the table, splashing me in sticky liquid. And then the glass rolled off the table and landed in my lap for a nanosecond before shattering to the floor.
“Oh my God, let me help you.” Teagan finally shook herself out of her embarrassed stupor and grabbed for napkins, patting them all over me.
At my side, Jamie spewed curses and launched herself at Lindz, who scrambled back, but not fast enough. Jamie climbed up on the seat and pointed at her himbo. “Help Daisy clean up.”
He sneered. “Who’s Daisy? I don’t know these people.”
Noah stepped forward, moving through the newest surge of people toward our table. “You okay?”
“Look, he speaks! Always for our sweet Daisy.”
Noah didn’t acknowledge Jamie. Neither did anyone else.
I nodded, but the room revolved as Teagan rubbed napkins over me. Jamie’s sticky drink had dripped into unpleasant places, including the cups of my strapless bra. “Ugh, this sucks. Your pretty dress. I hope this comes out. Ugh. Men.” She shot a look at Jamie’s date. “So useless.”
Although I didn’t disagree at the moment, I wasn’t sure I could speak, so I sucked in a long, slow breath.
Calm down. You’re fine. You know what this is.
Panic attack number twenty-five-thousand.