The women's envious stares followed them all the way down the street.
For dinner, Grace took him to Mike Anderson's Seafood to eat. She cringed as they brought out Julian's oysters and placed them on the table.
'Ew,' she said as he ate one.
Offended, he scowled at her. 'They're delicious.'
'I don't think so.'
'That's only because you don't know how to eat them.'
'Sure I do. You open your mouth and let the slimy thing slide down your throat.'
He took a swig of beer. 'That's one way of doing it.'
'That's how
'True, but would you like to try another way?'
She bit her lip in indecision. Something in his demeanor warned her it could be most dangerous to take him up on this challenge. 'I don't know.'
'Trust me?'
'Hardly,' she scoffed.
He shrugged and took another swig of beer. 'Your loss.'
'Oh, all right,' she relented, too curious by now to continue declining. 'But if I gag, remember I warned you.'
Julian hooked his heels around her chair legs, and pulled her so close to him that their thighs were pressed together. He wiped his hands on his jeans, then picked up the smallest oyster on his plate.
'All right, then,' he murmured in her ear. He draped his arm over her shoulders. 'Tilt your head back.'
She did. He stroked her throat with his fingers, causing chills to erupt all over her body. She swallowed, amazed by the tenderness of bis touch. Amazed at just how good he felt by her side.
'Open your mouth,' he breathed as he nuzzled her neck with his nose.
She obeyed.
He tilted the oyster to slide into her mouth. As the oyster slid down her throat, he ran his tongue up her neck in the opposite direction.
Grace shuddered at the unexpected sensations. Her breasts tingled and a thousand chills went through her. It was incredible! And for once, she didn't mind the taste of the oyster at all.
Her face flamed as she remembered where they were. Opening her eyes, she was immediately grateful that they were seated in a dark corner.
'Did you like it?' he asked playfully.
She couldn't resist smiling. 'You are incorrigible.'
'I endeavor to be, anyway.'
'And you succeed admirably.'
Before he could respond, her cell phone rang.
'Ugh!' she said, pulling it out. Whoever it was, it had better be darn important.
She answered it.
'Grace?'
She cringed as she heard Rodney's voice. 'Mr. Carmichael, how did you get this number?'
'It was in your Rolodex. I came by to see you again, but you're not home.' He sighed. 'I was so looking forward to being with you today. We still need to have that talk. But that's okay. I can come to you. Are you down in the Quarter again visiting your psychic friend?'
Fear cut through her. 'How do you know about my friend?'
'I know lots of things about you, Grace. Hmmm,' he breathed into the phone. 'You scent your underwear with rose potpourri.'
Grace froze as her terror swelled to titanic proportions. Her hands started shaking. 'Are you in my house?'
She could hear drawers opening and closing on the other end of the line. Suddenly, he let out a curse. 'You slut!' he snarled. 'Who is he? Who the hell have you been sleeping with?'
'Now that's-'
The line went dead.
Grace shook so badly, she could barely turn the phone off.
'What is it?' Julian asked, his brow knitted with concern.
'Rodney's at my house,' she said, her voice quaking. She immediately dialed the police to notify them.
'We'll meet you there,' the officer told her. 'Whatever you do, don't go inside until we get there.'
'Don't worry.'
Julian covered her hands with his. 'You're shaking.'
'You think? I only have a psycho in my house sniffing my lingerie and calling me names. Why should I be shaking?'
His deep blue eyes soothed her with their protectiveness. He tightened his grip on her hands. 'You know I won't let him hurt you.'
'I appreciate the thought, Julian, but this man is-'
'Dead if he comes near you. You know I won't leave you.'
'Not until the next full moon anyway.'
He looked away then, and she saw the truth of it. 'It's okay,' she said bravely. 'I can handle this, really. I've been on my own for years now. He's not the first client to harass me. I doubt he'll be the last.'
Julian's eyes snapped blue fire as he met her gaze. 'Just how many of these people harass you?' 'It's not your problem. It's mine.' He looked as if he were ready to strangle her.
Chapter 12
Grace reached her house at the same time the police arrived.
The young, heavy-set officer cast a suspicious glare at Julian. 'Who's he?'
'A friend,' she said.
The officer held his hand out to her. 'All right, give me the keys, and let me search the place. Officer Reynolds will stay out here with you until I finish.'
Grace dutifully handed over her house keys.
She chewed her thumbnail as she watched him enter.
He wasn't. The police officer came out a short time later, shaking his head.
'Damn,' she breathed.
Officer Reynolds walked her to her house with Julian one step behind. 'We need you to come in, and take a look around, see if anything's missing.'
'Did he make a mess?' Grace asked.
'Only in the bedrooms.'
Heartsick, Grace walked into the house and up the stairs to her room.
Julian trailed behind, and watched the way she held herself rigidly cool. Her face was so pale that it made her freckles all the more apparent. He could kill the man responsible for this. No woman should ever be this afraid, especially not in her own home.
When they reached the top of the stairs, he saw the door at the end of the hallway ajar. Grace ran to it.
'No!' she gasped.
Julian rushed in behind her.
The grief on her face made him see red. He felt her pain in his heart as if it were his own.
Tears streamed down her face as her gaze darted over the shambles. The bed had been torn apart and drawers overturned as if Zephyros had come through on a tirade.
