Chapter Four – Julius

“I’m going out for a couple of hours, Adam,” Julius told his hotel manager when he came on duty at ten o’clock.

“I can take care of everything here, Mr. Harrison,” Adam replied.

“I know you can.” Julius swept an appraising eye over his young manager. Adam’s arrival at the hotel six months ago had taken a lot of strain off Julius. Used to doing everything himself, Adam’s confidence, organizational skills, and customer relations skills had allowed Julius to delegate more of the daily tasks. If he had a wife and family, Julius might even think of semi-retiring: his enjoyment of running the hotel was waning; lately, he’d become tired of the constant routine. Any new ideas for the hotel often came from Adam or his other staff, rather than Julius himself.

The fire had gone out of him. It had stuttered two years ago before slowly dying, until only embers glowed inside him. The thrill of building the hotel up from nothing, into a business he could be proud of, was gone.

He couldn’t remember the exact day, but he did remember standing on top of the Bluff, looking down on the town, and knowing he was no longer fulfilled. The fight had gone out of him; he needed something more, more of a challenge, a project to fire his imagination.

Or a woman to share his life with.

Now she was here. But why was she here and under what circumstances? He had to know.

“Have a good day, Mr. Harrison,” Adam said, as he watched his employer leave the hotel. The man was astute, good at picking up on the moods of people. It was a gift in the hotel trade, and Adam, like Julius, had it.

“If you need me, just call,” Julius said from the doorway, but he knew Adam wouldn’t call. He could cope with whatever came his way. Julius made a mental note to talk to Adam about a raise. If he wanted the younger man to take on a larger role in the hotel, so Julius had more free time, then he would pay him for it. Keep your staff happy, that was one of the first rules of business for Julius. Along with keeping guests happy too.

Happy. What did that feel like? Julius worked hard to ensure the people around him were happy. But the raw emotion had eluded him since that day he sensed her. Catherine. He’d been walking along the street, his mind on work, when the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Stopping dead in his tracks, he’d turned 360 degrees, slowly, letting his senses roam, until he figured out what was wrong. When he saw her, he knew, and for a few moments, nothing had been wrong. Everything was right. Julius had taken one step, and then another, towards her, crossing the street oblivious to anything but her.

She had her back to him, her long blonde hair blowing in the summer breeze, reminding him of the sun. In her hand she held a small bouquet of blue flowers, forget-me-nots; they were the same dazzling blue as her eyes. A smile fluttered across his lips, and his face flushed with excitement, his body filled with a longing, that only she could ease.

Julius was five feet away. The scent of her reached him, and he inhaled deeply; she reminded him of a summer meadow, warmed by the midday sun.

He was complete.

Until a man rushed up to her and took her hand, and she’d turned, revealing her swollen belly. The man kissed her cheek, and pulled her toward the town hall, where a small group of people was waiting. They all went inside the building, and Julius followed, his leaden feet trying to stop him from finding out the painful truth.

He didn’t enter the room where the ceremony was taking place. He didn’t need to hear her softly spoken I do. Instead, he’d stood and watched from the doorway as a ring, someone else’s ring, slipped onto the finger of his mate. Only as he left the building, his world in tatters, did he see the announcement: Hector Jackson was marrying his mate, Catherine Rosco, today. Right now.

His world shattered into a million pieces. What was he supposed to do? Wrecking her life and her happiness wasn’t an option. So, he’d walked out the door, and had sworn to let her go and get on with her own life.

That wasn’t so easy. She was there, in his head, like an incessant hammering on the side of his skull. He’d spied on her. No, that wasn’t the right word. He’d kept tabs on her, catching up with her life every few months. Until about a year after she gave birth to her second child. He’d turned and come face to face with her husband. Their eyes had met, locked together for an instant, before Julius had turned and walked away. At that point he realized he couldn’t keep doing this to himself— he was becoming a stalker.

So, he quit his high-powered job and bought a derelict house, and turned it into The Catherine Hotel. An everyday reminder of his mate, a woman whose heart belonged to another.

Or did it? She was here, with no ring on her finger, and no husband to be seen.

There were questions that needed answers, and Julius was done with shying away from them; it was time to take back his own fate and wrestle it to the ground and make it submit. If Catherine was free of her husband, either by divorce or death, then he, Julius Harrison, was going to claim her.

He ran across to his black Mercedes, unlocking it and sliding behind the steering wheel without giving himself time to consider how he planned to accomplish this. Maybe it was time to be forthright, to ask Catherine if there was a man in her life. If she broke down and cried for her loss he would comfort her, be there for her, until she was ready to move on and see Julius as the man who could make her happy for the rest of her life.

That sounded like a crass, bullshit move. But his heart truly was in the right place; she was his. Fate couldn’t have gotten it so wrong, surely.

He drove away from the hotel, away from his old life, with a sense of urgency. He’d waited for over twenty years to see her once more; however, now that she was so close, twenty minutes seemed like an unbearable lifetime.

When he reached Bear Creek, he parked his car close to Bear Creek Mountain Store, the store owned by Catherine’s son, Liam. Julius got out of the car and headed toward the store, with no idea of what he was going to say. Normally, he was good at saying the right thing at the right time. He was sympathetic when needed, commanding if the situation called for it, and humorous when the mood needed to be lifted.

Today, he was the same man who had stood and watched his mate marry another man. A man who had no words to explain what he was going through.

Humbled by the knowledge that he might have gotten his hopes up, only to see them dashed on the floor, leaving him broken once more, he opened the door and strode into the store. He had to put on a confident air. He couldn’t allow anyone to glimpse the turmoil beneath his smooth exterior.

“Hello.” A young woman appeared at the sound of the door opening. With a sweeping glance, she took in his smarter attire, from his shiny shoes to his spotless, expensive suit. “Can I help you?”

“I…” He looked more like a bank manager than a hiker. There was no point pretending to be something he wasn’t, so he asked, “Is Catherine here?”

“Catherine?” the young woman frowned. “No, she isn’t. I can call her son for you, though.”

“No, that…” His words were cut short as she disappeared around the counter and out through another door.

Within minutes, a young man with features that matched Catherine’s appeared. “Can I help you?” His expression held an element of suspicion: the protective son. Julius warmed to Liam immediately.

“I met your mom at the hotel yesterday. She was there with Beverly, your fiancée.” He stepped forward and held out his hand. “Julius Harrison.” He smiled, setting Liam at ease.

“Julius. Beverly has told me about you.”

“She has?” Julius asked.

“Don’t worry, it’s all good.” Liam wiped his hand before shaking Julius’s hand. “Good to finally meet you.”

“And you. Beverly is an incredible woman. You’re lucky to have met her.” Julius smiled. It was genuine, as were his words.

“Don’t let her hear you say that,” Liam laughed. “She’s a handful enough as it is.”

“I can imagine. She is a woman with her own mind,” Julius complimented, and hoped Liam would take it as such.

“She is. A very forceful mind.” Liam looked across at the young woman who was making herself busy tidying shelves. “I hope you don’t tell her I said that, Leona.”

Leona turned her attention to the two men. “Oh, I value my life and my job. Whatever you two say is safe with me.”

“That’s why Leona is my most prized employee,” Liam confided.

“Only employee,” Leona remarked.

Liam laughed. “What can I help you with, Julius? Leona said you were looking for my mom?” Liam’s protective side showed itself once more.

“Yes. I was going to ask her if she wanted to come and look at my hotel.” Julius listened to himself and groaned. That had to be the stupidest suggestion ever.

“Oh, right. Yes. Mom said she found the hotel fascinating.” Liam nodded and walked across to the door of the store. “She’s over at the café. At least I think she is. She went for coffee with Beverly, but Beverly has gone to work now. I’m sure Mom found someone else to talk with.”

“Perhaps I could go across and see if I can find her,” Julius suggested, joining Liam as he looked out of the window at the street outside.

“Sure. Just…” Liam gave Julius a sideways glance. “Look after her.” His voice filled with emotion and Julius sensed a deep pain there.

“I can assure you, my actions toward your mother are completely honorable.” Julius nodded briefly.

“I didn’t think they weren’t,” Liam said. “And don’t tell her I mentioned it, or I might be in trouble from both my mom and my fiancée.”

“I won’t, Liam. Thanks.” Julius left the store and crossed the street, walking toward the small café in the center of town. As he drew nearer, a prickle along his neck informed him Catherine was still inside the café. He slowed his pace, straightened his tie, and smoothed his silver hair back, feeling out of place. He should have gone to his private apartment and changed into something more casual before he came.

Too late now, his bear told him, giving him a mental shove to open the café door and get in there.

Julius shoved his bear back into a corner, telling him, we need to play this cool. If we don’t, we might blow it.

Cool? We’ve been playing it cool for the last thirty years, his bear answered.

That’s not true. Catherine was with another man, a man who fathered her children.

We should have claimed her, she was ours, his bear insisted.

I never wanted to break her heart, Julius replied, and opened the door, to bask in the light of his mate’s presence.

His bear snorted in amusement.

“Julius?” Catherine was seated at a table with another woman he didn’t recognize.

“Catherine… Cath. I have a couple of hours off from my duties at the hotel, and wondered if you would like to spend them with me…” He floundered. “At the hotel. I could tell you its history.” This was so much harder than he thought.

Catherine’s face flushed, he’d embarrassed her. He should have worded it differently, perhaps pretend he was just passing by. But he didn’t want to pretend with Catherine; he wanted to be open and honest.

“I’d like that. If you aren’t too busy,” Catherine replied.

“No, I have no other plans. I thought I could show you some of the rooms, they contain some of the original furnishings.” That sounded like the most boring thing in the world. He wasn’t giving a very good impression of himself.

“Really?” Catherine’s expression was eager, but then she remembered she wasn’t alone. “Oh, I haven’t introduced you, this is Sandra. Sandra, this is Julius, he owns the hotel in Bear Bluff.”

“I know it, The Catherine. I spent one of my anniversaries there.” Sandra’s sadness was palpable.

“Are you OK?” Catherine asked her gently.

“Yes. Look, I need to get going. You two have fun.” Sandra got up to leave, and Catherine got up too, her face full of concern.

“Are you OK? I can walk you home, if you want some company.” Catherine glanced at Julius and gave him a weak smile.

“I’m fine, honestly.” Sandra hugged Catherine and then walked to the door. “I’ll call you when I’ve spoken to Knox about visiting Will.”

“OK. Speak to you soon.” Catherine watched her go.

“Will Frasier?” Julius asked.

“Yes, do you know him?” Catherine asked as she followed Julius out of the café.

“I do. He’s a good man.” Julius led the way to his car. “Why are you going to see him?”

“Sandra and I would like to become involved with the project he runs.” She stood by his side while he opened the car door for her. “If I’m going to stay here in Bear Creek, I need something to do. I can’t get under Liam’s feet forever.”

As she slid into his car, Julius caught her scent. He closed his eyes and inhaled. She made his mouth water, just as she had that summer day. The day he had relived over and over again in his head.

Whatever it took, he would find some way to make Catherine stay. Some way to make her his.