CHAPTER 8

Michael

Julie and I spent all night texting. It took me a few hours to work up the nerve to send that first text. She didn’t answer right away, but once she did, we didn’t stop exchanging messages until both of us fell asleep. I don’t know whether I passed out first or if she did. All I know was I woke up on Sunday morning with my phone clutched between my fingers.

Grinning, I pushed myself out of bed and jumped in the shower. Part of me felt ridiculous. I was a thirty-year-old man, acting giddy over a woman I’d only just met. On the other hand, I couldn’t help myself. There was something about Julie that just drew me in. As much as I tried to distance myself, I knew it was no use. I would not be able to be my usual playboy self with her. She and I were connected. It happened fast, but now that it had, I never wanted to lose it.

The hot water fell over my face, coaxing me into full consciousness and clearing my mind. I saw Julie’s face swim before me, and I grinned again. My dick twitched as I remembered how it felt to kiss her. I shook myself, grabbing the shampoo and squirting a glob into my hand.

As I washed my hair, I tried to get a hold of myself. Every time I thought about Julie, I became a teenager again. She was just a girl, I told myself. Just a woman. There was no reason to get this excited over one person.

Still, my body had a mind of its own. I daydreamed about Julie during my shower. My body reacted instinctually, remembering exactly how Julie’s naked skin felt beneath my fingers. By the time I was done, I was desperate to see her again.

I shut off the water and climbed out of the shower. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I hurried back to my bedroom to where my phone lay on my nightstand. When I looked at it, I saw an unopened text from Julie.

“Sorry I fell asleep last night,” it read.

I smiled and immediately pressed the green button to call her. It rang three times before her sleepy voice filled my ear.

“Hey,” she said. “Good morning.”

“Morning,” I said. “How’d you sleep?”

“Great,” she said. A small yawn slipped through the phone, bringing a smile to my lips.

“Listen,” I said. “What are you up to today? I know you said you were free tonight, but I thought we could go for lunch. Interested?”

“Sure,” Julie said. “Just let me shower first.”

“Pick you up in an hour?” I asked.

“Perfect.”

We said goodbye, and I put my phone back on my nightstand. I felt like my smile would never fade. I didn’t know what was wrong with me.

What was it about this woman that made me act this way? If she were another girl, any other girl, I would have moved on already. I wouldn’t have thought twice about sleeping with her and then never calling her again. But I couldn’t imagine not seeing her. The thought of letting her disappear from my life was unbearable.

It wasn’t just the sex, although that had been life-changing. It was everything about her. From her pale blue eyes to her light brown hair to her undeniable intelligence and quick-witted personality. Julie Black was captivating.

I dressed in a hurry, and soon, I was on my way to her house. When I pulled up out front, she was already waiting for me.

“Hey there,” she said as she climbed into the passenger seat. “You’re right on time.”

“I told you,” I said. “I’m a gentleman.”

She laughed and fastened her seatbelt while I admired her. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, making her eyes even more striking than before. She wore a simple blouse and a pair of tightly-fitted jeans. My eyes raked themselves down her body, and I felt my breath catch in my chest.

“Where are we going?” Julie asked, snapping me back to reality.

“Just this little diner I know,” I said. “I think you’ll like it.”

We drove through town, the conversation never faltering. Julie told me about her visit with her family and asked how my weekend had been so far. I was embarrassed to admit that I’d done nothing but work. Julie didn’t seem to mind. She kept up her end of the conversation effortlessly.

“So,” I said. “Your mom really gave you a hard time?”

“Not too bad,” Julie said. “She’s been worse.”

“How so?” I asked.

“My mother has a very specific idea about the way I should live my life,” Julie said. “And if I don’t follow that idea to the letter, she just has to throw her two cents in.”

“I think that’s all moms.” I laughed. “You should have been there when I told my mom that I was going to open my company.”

“She didn’t like the idea?” Julie asked.

“God no,” I said, shaking my head. “She hated it. She was convinced I would fail and, being my mom, she didn’t want to see that happen.”

“I’m the miracle child,” Julie said. “My parents had my sister, then waited ten years before I came along. They thought they’d never have another child, so, when they did, they pushed all their hopes and dreams onto me. As the miracle child, I can’t screw up.”

“They worry about you more,” I said with a nod. “I get that.”

“You do?” Julie asked.

I nodded again. I understood more than she realized. We were almost to the diner and, as much as I didn’t want the conversation to end, I knew it had to. I pulled into the parking lot, and we made our way inside.

An older waitress seated us, and we ordered lunch, picking up a simpler conversation than before. We joked and flirted through lunch, Julie occasionally reaching across the table to take my hand. Every time we touched, I found it harder to focus.

By the time we were done eating, I was itching to get her alone. Julie’s eyes hadn’t left my face all through lunch. That same hungry look was staring back at me, making my stomach tighten and my palms sweat.

“Any plans for the rest of the day?” I asked as we climbed back into my car.

“Nope,” Julie said. “I’m all yours.”

I grinned and gunned the engine. The tension between us mounted on the drive home, but I did my best to keep talking. The closer we got to Julie’s house, the harder it became. I just wanted to be alone with her, to have an excuse to kiss her perfect lips again.

“Should I take you home?” I asked, hoping she would invite me inside.

“Well,” Julie said. “You’ve seen my place. It’s only fair that I see yours.”

“You’re right,” I said. I grinned at her and turned left at the next stop sign. “We’re not far.”

Julie gazed out the window as I drove down the back roads. My house was right outside of Ennis on ten acres of open land. When I turned the final corner and the house came into view, Julie gasped loudly and leaned forward.

“Holy shit,” she said softly. “This is where you live?”

“This is home,” I said.

Julie’s eyes flew wide as we pulled into the driveway. I was so used to the grandeur of my mansion that I almost forgot how huge it was. Looking at it through Julie’s eyes, I realized she’d probably never seen a house this big before.

“It’s practically a castle,” she said.

I laughed. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

“I would,” she insisted. “I half expected to see a moat surrounding the place.”

“That gets added next year.” I winked.

Julie rolled her eyes, but when we got out of the car, she begged for a tour. I happily obliged. My desire from earlier was muted as I watched Julie react to my home. Her face lit up with excitement as I showed her each new room. Her favorite, by far, was the library.

“It’s beautiful,” she said. Her tone was hushed, almost reverent.

“I thought you’d like this,” I said.

“You did?” She raised her eyebrows.

I shrugged. “You’re a writer.”

“Fair enough.”

She gazed around at the shelves of books, and I gazed at her. There, standing in the middle of my library, she’d never looked more alluring.

“So,” I said. “I was thinking…”

Julie turned to face me with a slight frown. I suddenly felt nervous, and I didn’t know why.

“Yeah?” she asked.

“My company is throwing a holiday party next weekend,” I said quickly. “On Saturday. I was thinking you might want to go with me?”

Julie’s answering smile was sexy as hell. She grinned slyly and sauntered slowly over to me. When she stopped, she was just inches from my face.

“As your date?” she asked playfully.

“Of course,” I said. My voice was low.

Julie’s lips were so close to mine that I could barely think straight. When we finally closed the distance between us, I felt my entire body react. It was a soft kiss, light and quick, but it was enough to make my dick twitch with need.

“I’d love to,” Julie whispered.

I grinned and pulled her back to me, my lips claiming hers as my own.