“Wow!” Claire tried to high five her as they were waiting in the hall.
“Wow? We don’t have the account yet.”
“I’m not talking about the account, honey. I’m talking about that gorgeous man with the sexy voice. He just gets better looking with age. I can’t believe you’ve stayed away from him all this time.”
“Leaving everything else out,” Julia told her, “I walked away from him. Didn’t even call him for a long time. I thought for sure he’d hate me by now.”
“Not even close.”
The deep voice still sent shivers up her spine. Julia turned to find Luke standing almost directly behind her. She caught the familiar scent of his spicy aftershave and the memories it conjured up made her weak in the knees. She needed to get out of here. Now. But she couldn’t make herself move.
“Excuse me?” Well that was a dumb response.
“I said, no, I don’t hate you. Although I’d say we have some unfinished business.” He looked at Claire. “I’m happy to see you again. Thanks again for jumping in for Julia to finish the Hot Ticket campaign when she was…ill.” He turned his gaze to Julia. “I assume you’re feeling better these days?”
“Yes.” Her words came out in a whisper and she clutched her Coach bag in a death grip. “Much better.”
“Good.” His eyes held that same heated look she’d never forgotten, ratcheting up the beat of her pulse. “Then there’s no reason you can’t join me for a drink and dinner, is there? I’d like to have a chance to catch up on your life.”
“Oh, I don’t think…” No, no, no. Alone with Luke? Not possible.
“That’s right. Don’t think.” Claire was firm, as if reading her mind. “You need a night out. And don’t worry about the brat. I’ll stop by the house and check on her and Miranda.”
“The brat?” Luke raised his eyebrows.
“My daughter.” Julia wet her lips. Your daughter. “I… I have a teenager.”
“Oh.” A strange look washed over his face. “I wasn’t aware of any children other than the twins. Last time we saw each other I was under the impression…” He let his voice fade.
That she was close to being divorced. Yes, she had been. And now he’d found out she had another child. She knew exactly what he was thinking. That she’d gone from his bed to Charles’s and everything that happened between them was a lie.
“I’m sorry.” She dug deep for the courage to resist him. He was so close to her she couldn’t breathe. “I don’t think I can take the time for dinner, but thank you anyway.”
“Just a simple meal?” he pressed. “For old time’s sake?”
“Luke, this isn’t a good idea.” Butterflies awakened in her stomach and her palms began to sweat. No way could she be alone with him for an evening, only… She’d have to explain Courtney. Answer questions about the mess of her life. Tell Courtney and the twins. Explain why she’d waited all these years, kept it secret for so long. And then there was Rod. By now she might have the spine to stand up to him, but how could she let his rage spill over to Luke? Maybe affect this new position he had. How much influence did Rod and the firm actually have?
Oh, God, she was making herself crazy. But everything she felt for him burst through to the surface like a geyser erupting. She couldn’t walk away from him again, no matter what.
She stood there, mind spinning and whirling, unable to make her feet move.
Luke watched her with questioning eyes then looked at Claire. “So it’s all right with you if I capture your partner for a few hours?” He asked as if Julia had not said a word. “You can handle things for her?”
“Absolutely.” Claire was already moving toward the elevator when Luke put a restraining hand on her arm.
“I think we forgot to give you a folder you’ll need. Could we go back in the conference room for a minute?” To Julia he said, “I’ll be right back.”
They were back in seconds. Claire, grinning broadly, kissed Julia lightly on the cheek. “Don’t hurry home. I’ll clue Miranda in. You deserve a night out. And if Courtney makes a scene, I’ll take her home with me and do the school delivery and pick up tomorrow.” She stepped into the elevator and was gone.
“What? I’m… Wait. I don’t…” But the elevator doors were already closed. Julia turned back to Luke, curious. “What did you forget?”
“Let’s get my car.” He ignored her question. “I know just the place to take you.”
“Luke…”
But he was an unstoppable force, gentle yet firm as they took the next elevator down to the parking garage. She’d barely pulled in her scattered thoughts when they were in his car and pulling out onto the street. He made easy small talk as they drove to the restaurant. Julia, however, was so uptight she either babbled or said nothing at all. The electricity in the car sizzled and snapped around them and the sexual tension, raring back to life, was so thick she was sure she could touch it.
She gasped in surprise when they pulled up in front of Harry’s House, a restaurant newly opened in an old Victorian home. Friends and clients raved about it, but it wasn’t a place she’d been to yet. And nowhere she’d expected to see the inside of any time soon, since it had developed a reputation as a truly romantic rendezvous. Claire had waxed dreamily eloquent about it when Brad took her there for their anniversary. Although a couple of the rooms could accommodate parties as large as ten, it was mostly a place for lovers, for romance, for intimate dining. This wasn’t a place for casual conversation.
Oh well, she thought. At least they wouldn’t be out in the open for every set
