Lucian met his cousin Daniel at the door. “I don’t want you here.”

Daniel stood just outside, sunglasses perched on his head. He briefly met Lucian’s gaze before quickly focusing over his shoulder. “I know and I appreciate you letting me come.”

“As if me letting you stopped you when you showed up here unannounced.”

“I’m sorry about that, but I had to see—”

“You don’t have to see anything.” Stepping forward, he gripped Daniel by the collar of his pale blue polo and dragged him in through the open front door. “If you ever show up here unannounced again or even cause Ms. Hughes’s heart to jump in her chest, I will put you down.”

His cousin’s eyes widened. “I—”

“Do you understand me? And you better think about that question before you answer, because this is the only warning you’re going to get.”

Daniel’s nostrils flared. “I understand.”

“For real?”

The man’s throat worked on a swallow. “For real.”

Lucian let go of the front of his shirt, and Daniel stumbled back. “Close the door behind you.”

Daniel did just that. After he closed the door, he caught up with Lucian in the main hall. “Are Devlin and Gabe around?”

Lucian snorted. “Why? You worried?”

Walking beside him, Daniel straightened his shirt. “Just want to be prepared in case I get snatched up again.”

He chuckled. “I prefer you to be in a constant state of fear.”

Daniel didn’t respond until they reached the steps. “I didn’t mean to scare the nurse. I didn’t know she would be here.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Lucian resisted the urge to turn and push Daniel down the stairs. “Your entire life is causing things you didn’t mean to.”

“That’s a little harsh.”

“Truth isn’t always nice.”

There was a gap of silence before Daniel replied, “That is true.”

They didn’t speak the rest of the way up to the third floor, but Lucian stopped him before they rounded the short hallway to Maddie’s rooms. “If my sister gets anxious or appears stressed out, you will leave immediately.”

Daniel faced him. “You know that I would never want to hurt Maddie or stress her out. You don’t have to tell me twice.”

Breathing in deeply, Lucian’s jaw locked down as he looked away. Daniel wasn’t bullshitting. As much as he disliked the little son of a bitch, he cared for Maddie. Always had. And Maddie cared for him. It was the only reason why he was here.

“Come on,” he growled.

The door to Maddie’s room was open. His sister was at the easel, painting away. Today it appeared to be a part of a child’s face. Possibly? And his sister was clothed prettily in what appeared to be some kind of dress-and-sweater combo.

But it hadn’t been his sister he’d noticed first. It had been Julia. How messed up was that?

She stood beside Maddie, her long, thick wavy locks of hair falling free around her face. God, she didn’t wear her hair down nearly enough for his liking. He wanted to sink his hands into her hair, fist the strands—

Shit, he needed to focus and not on that or he would go back on what he told her last night quicker than a strike of lightning.

Julia looked over as they entered, her gaze lingering on Lucian before moving onto Daniel. “Good afternoon.”

Daniel started forward, but stopped and looked in Lucian’s direction first. Lucian smiled tightly, and Daniel’s shoulders tensed. “Hello, Ms. Hughes. How are you?”

“I’m good.” She turned to his sister. “Madeline’s already eaten, but lunch has been bought up.” She gestured at the covered plates Livie must’ve just sent up.

“Do you mind if I sit with Maddie for a little bit and talk first?” Daniel asked.

Julia shook her head. “I don’t have a problem with that.” She turned to him. “Lucian?”

Of course, he did. He had problem when Daniel breathed, but he shook his head no. His cousin slowly walked over to where Maddie sat. Every movement was cautious as he sat in the seat Julia usually occupied.

“Hey, sweet girl,” Daniel spoke, voice light. “What are you working on?”

There was no response. Maddie kept on painting, but Daniel kept on talking to her like she was responding. The same way Lucian talked to her. He watched his cousin and sister for a few moments, and then his gaze crept to where Julia was.

The cream-colored shirt she wore hinted at the soft swells beneath as she bent at the waist, picking up one of the brushes that Maddie must’ve dropped. His gaze was hungry as he watched her place it on the tray beside Maddie.

As Julia moved back to give them some space, he walked over to join her by the doors. She glanced up at him, but quickly looked away.

He leaned over and whispered, “I liked the scrubs. Thought they were cute. Really liked you in that dress last night. Thought you were beautiful. But seeing you in jeans, finally? Fucking sexy as hell.”

Her gaze shot to his.

Lucian winked as he clasped his hands behind his back, fixing his expression into bored indifference when Daniel glanced over his shoulder at them.

“Don’t you dare,” she whispered the moment Daniel refocused on Maddie.

He raised a brow as he angled his body toward her and the doors, keeping an eye on his cousin and sister. “Dare what?”

“Stand there like you didn’t just say that.”

Lucian pressed one hand to his chest. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Her lips twitched as she rolled her eyes and then she smiled as she shook her head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Well, you can’t spell ridiculous without dic—”

Julia smacked his arm—smacked it hard, too. He chuckled when she turned bright pink, because Daniel looked over again. The lunch pretty much went like that. The three of them picked at the food while Daniel did the whole one-sided conversation, which was a stroll down memory lane.

There was little reaction from Maddie throughout the lunch. She stopped painting every so often and would look in Daniel’s direction, so Lucian guessed that was some improvement.

God, he hoped so.

If having Daniel here every single damn day would help Maddie, then he’d put up with it without punching the little prick out.

“You’re doing good,” Julia commented as he helped her carry the plates out to the hall, placing them on a tray. “I expected that I’d have to pull you off him at some point.”

“You have such little faith in me.”

“More like just low expectations based on your own words and Gabe’s.”

“What did he say?”

“Pretty much the same thing you’ve already said,” she explained, placing the linen over the used plates.

He checked in on Daniel and Maddie. They were at the easel, where they left them. His gaze swung back to her. “When did you talk to my brother?”

She bent down, picking up a napkin that had slipped off the tray. “Obviously when you weren’t around.”

“Really? I am feeling a little . . . jealous.”

Straightening, she pinned him with a droll look. “He stopped by when I was out on the porch. He told me he was leaving to visit some ex-girlfriend’s family.”

“He brought that up?”

Julia nodded, tossing the napkin on the tray. “Yeah. What?”

“Nothing. It’s just that . . . that was a rough relationship. He really had feelings for her.”

“What happened then?” Curiosity filled her voice.

“She got into a situation and we took care of it.”

Her brows lifted as she stared at him. “What does that even mean?”

“Exactly what I said,” he replied.

She stared at him a moment and then shook her head. “We better get back in there.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

He looked over at her as she started back into Maddie’s room. “Are you proud of me?”

She paused at the door. “Maybe a little.”

“I’ll take that.” Walking past her, he reached out, brushed his hand over her lower back and right over the curve of her ass. She sidestepped quickly and spun toward him. “Oops. Sorry. I’m so clumsy.”

“You had to go and ruin it,” she muttered behind him.

Grinning, he crossed the room. The smile quickly faded, though, when Daniel turned to him.

“I have an idea,” he said.

Lucian folded his arms. “Can’t wait to hear this.”

“What is your idea?” Julia joined him.

Daniel glanced back at Maddie. She wasn’t painting anymore. The canvas was filled. “This is her old room, but . . . none of her stuff is here.”

“Her stuff had been packed up. What could be donated was. Everything else was thrown away.”

Julia looked at him sharply, disbelief etched into her face. “What?”

“It wasn’t me who did it.” A little annoyed that she would even think that, he met her stare. “It was our father.”

She paled. “Did . . . did you know he did it?”

Part of him didn’t want to answer, but he did. “No. Not until it was too late.”

Sympathy flickered across her face as she reached over, folding her hand along his bicep. She squeezed gently.

“What about your mother’s stuff?” Daniel suggested. “You know how close she and my aunt were. Do you have any of her stuff still left or did Lawrence get rid of that too?”

Lucian tensed. “No. Her belongings are still in her room.”

“All of her stuff?” Disbelief colored his tone.

Working a kink out of his neck, he then nodded. “Her room has been like it was since the night she died.”

“Really?” Excitement filled Daniel’s gaze. “Maybe we can get some of your mother’s stuff for her. Something for her to look at, maybe touch? Does that sound dumb?” He spun on the stool, looking up at Julia. “You’re the nurse. What do you think?”

“I don’t think it’s dumb.” She folded one arm over her waist. “Exposing patients to their own personal items or those of a loved one is often used, especially if there are memory issues. And we don’t know if she is having memory issues.”

“So, it couldn’t hurt?” Daniel asked.

She shook her head. “Not if they had a good relationship.” Her hand slipped off Lucian’s arm. “Did they?”

“Yeah.” His voice was hoarse. “They had their issues. I guess like any mother and daughter, but they were close.”

“Is there anything in particular that you think Madeline would be drawn to?” she asked him.

God, the options were limitless. When Maddie was little, she played for hours in all of Mom’s jewelry, especially the long pearl necklaces. Then there were the photo albums and the journals her mom kept. Maddie was always messing with them. “There are some things I can think of.”

“So, what do you guys think?” Daniel looked between them.

Lucian wasn’t sure if he wanted to do this. Entering his mom’s room wasn’t something any of them did often. Hell, it was Livie who kept the room clean.

“You think it could help?” he asked Julia.

Her gaze searched him. “I don’t think it would hurt.”

Which meant it could do nothing . . . or it could help his sister. And to help his sister, he would do it.

“Okay.” Lucian scrubbed a hand over his jaw, glancing over at Julia. She nodded in agreement. “I can . . . I can do that.”

“Awesome.” Daniel spun back to Maddie, and Lucian thought he saw a ghost of a smile on his sister’s face.

Julia had just returned to her room when her phone vibrated in her back pocket. Sliding the phone out, her stomach dropped when she saw the familiar Pennsylvania area code.

Adam.

Instinct told her it was Adam, and that knowledge twisted up her insides as she stared down at the phone. He hadn’t called her since he’d texted, but she wasn’t a fool. She’d known that he’d call again . . . and again, but the brief respite had caused her to let her guard down.

Julia started to do what she always did. Her thumb hovered over the reject button, but she stopped. Avoiding him wasn’t working. Changing her number only derailed him until he ferreted out her new number. The old Julia would ignore this phone call.

But she wasn’t that Julia anymore, was she?

No.

She wasn’t.

The phone continued to ring, the sound as jarring as nails dragging down a chalkboard.

Something inside of Julia broke. Or maybe something inside of her changed. Either way, she reacted. Julia answered the call and her stomach pitched once more as she said, “Hello.”

“Julia.”

The voice was familiar in the way bad nightmares were, and the only response to the sound of Adam’s voice was a wince and a red-hot flaring of annoyance. Gone were the days where his voice would elicit disappointment and regret of all that could’ve been.

“You answered.” He sounded surprised. “Thank God. I’ve been worried—”

“Stop,” she cut in as she walked toward the doors. “You need to stop right there. You don’t have any right to be worried. That day has long since passed.”

“Julia—”

“No.” Her hand tightened on the phone as she lowered her voice. “You need to stop calling me, Adam. Our marriage is over—has been over for years. You need to stop.”

“Just because we’re not married, doesn’t mean I don’t have a right to know what the hell is going on with you.” And there it was. The surprise was gone from his tone. “You up and left the damn state and no one will tell me where you went.”

“You don’t have any right to know what I’m doing, Adam. How do you not understand that?” she shot back. “Wait. Don’t understand that. You obviously don’t. This is the last time I want to hear from you.”

“You don’t mean that.” He softened his tone. “Come on, Julia. I still care about you and I still worry.”

Turning from the doors, she drew in a deep, calming breath so she didn’t start cursing at the top of her lungs. “I wish you the best, Adam, always have, but I don’t worry about you and I don’t think about you. Our lives are completely separate now. I do not want to hear from you again and I mean that.”

Adam fell silent.

Her heart started pounding in her chest. “If you keep calling me, that’s . . . that’s harassment and I will file charges.”

His inhale was audible. “You’d do that to me? Knowing what that could mean for my job?”

“Yes, because you’d be the one doing that to yourself.” Her shoulders squared. “Call me one more time and not only will I file charges, I’ll call your wife. I will. We are done with this.”

Julia hung up the phone then, cutting off whatever he was saying, because the words weren’t important. Her heart was still slamming against her ribs as she waited for the phone to ring again.

But it didn’t.

The phone remained silent.

Much, much later, Julia lay in bed, the sheet and blanket twisted around her legs as she stared at the churning ceiling fan.

She couldn’t sleep.

Her brain wouldn’t shut down. The thing was she wasn’t even thinking about what she should be. Madeline and the lunch with Daniel as well as the phone call with Adam were the furthest things from her mind. She managed to not think about the dinner last night, what Lucian had said to her most of the day, but now?

Her priorities were totally messed up, because as she shifted onto her side and then rolled onto her back a few moments later, she was thinking about him.

When his hand had brushed over her ass this afternoon, she should’ve been offended. Hell, she should be in a constant state of offended around Lucian. Except she hadn’t been. Her body had immediately responded, flushing hotly. She was in a constant state of heated arousal.

And she was still so freaking hot.

Julia was burning up, like she had a fever that couldn’t be treated with aspirin and rest. Restlessness consumed her and she sat up, throwing her legs off the bed.

Truth was, Julia wasn’t just thinking about him. She was . . . she was trying to work up the nerve to do it.

To make that choice.

“Oh God,” she whispered, smoothing a hand over her face. Her hand was actually shaking as her heart thundered in her chest. This shouldn’t be such a huge thing. Either she went to him or she didn’t. And if she did, she knew what it would be. Sex. Nothing else but mind-blowing sex. She could deal with that.

At least she thought she could.

You will come to me.

She swallowed hard as she stared at her bedroom door. Her heart rate kicked up as she stood. Her legs trembled as she folded her arms over her chest. She could feel her nipples pressing through the thin camisole. She bit down on her lip and just for a moment she let herself imagine walking out the door, going the handful of steps that led to Lucian. She let herself imagine what would happen if she knocked on the door and he answered.

She thought about what he’d do to her.

And she knew what she would allow.

Never in her life had she been this nervous. Ever. Was that a good or bad thing? She didn’t know, but she was going to drive herself insane stressing over this. Was she going to spend every night wide awake and wishing she had the courage—

Julia exhaled roughly. Wishing she had the courage. Earlier today, she felt like she wasn’t that old Julia anymore. She stood up to Adam. Took charge. The old Julia would stay right where she was, spending a fitful night wishing.

How about she stop wishing? Stop fantasizing? And instead, starting living?