“Charles is long gone and the twins are adults,” she’d told him, jutting out her chin. “They’re earning their own money and so am I. You can shut off the financial spigot any time you want.”
“Cocky, aren’t you.” His eyes glittered with dislike. “I promised Charles you’d never have peace after what you put him through.” His voice was harsh, like metal grating on metal. “I intend to keep my word.”
“To what end?” She’d been proud of herself, not giving any indication of how much he rattled her.
“To carry out the wishes of a dying man. A man you destroyed. You weren’t worth half of him.”
“You can do what you want.” She was disgusted with the whole thing and tired of his games. “My ‘situation,’ as you call it, isn’t so unusual or scandalous anymore, Rod. Do whatever you want. We’ll survive.”
He’d eyed her from head to toe. “You took your moment of happiness, Julia, for what it was worth. That’s as much as you’ll ever get.”
But when he’d walked away from her, instead of the usual sick feeling a confrontation left her with, she’d felt strangely freed. Instead of wilting, she’d faced him down. That was the first real moment she’d had hope for herself. And for Luke, if fate every brought them together again. But again, that meant telling him everything, in a way that he’d understand. Trying to explain how difficult her position had been, that she’d been threatened on so many fronts and at the time didn’t have the strength to stand up for herself. At least she could tell him she’d tried to find him, if that would help.
“I didn’t think that was such a hard question,” Luke said testily when she was silent for so long. He handed her a plate of toast. “Did I mistake last night for something else?”
“No.” She was emphatic. Despite the devil waiting to destroy her, there was no question about what last night was. “You didn’t make a mistake at all.” She picked up a piece of toast, nibbling at it for something to do. “I just have to figure out how to do this.”
“Are you worried about your kids?” he asked, his shrewd eyes on her. “I’d think they’d be glad for you to have a little happiness after so long.”
“For one thing, I’ve never brought another man into the house, or even dated one,” she told him. “This would be a whole new experience for them. Exactly how do I explain you to them? Hi kids, here’s the man I slept with fourteen years ago and gave my heart to?”
“Did you?” he asked, his voice low. “Give your heart to me?”
“Yes,” she whispered, and in an instant, his arms were around her and he was kissing her forehead.
“Then we’ll work this out.” He sat down on the bar stool next to her. “This doesn’t have to be complicated, you know. I’m someone you did business with a long time ago. Now I find myself in the same city as you, I asked you to bid on our account and we went to dinner to renew our acquaintance. What’s wrong with that?”
And when he got a look at Courtney for the first time, what then? She needed time to figure this out. To plan how she would tell him everything. She didn’t even want to think how enraged he would be when she told him about Rod. And as Claire had pointed out so many times, rightfully so. What a stupid idiot she’d been.
“Julia.” He took one of her hands in his. “Beth and Andy are out on their own. They’re young adults. I can’t see them as a problem.”
“Maybe. But Courtney is another matter altogether.” Especially once he got a good look at her.
“Let’s try this.” He brushed his knuckles against her cheek. “Go home. Change clothes. Go to work. I’ll call you at your office on Monday and ask you out to dinner for next Friday night. That puts enough space between last night and our next…date. How’s that?”
“You make it sound so easy.” She gave him a tremulous smile. If only.
“It will be easy. This is our dance but you have to let me lead. Okay?”
“Please give me a little space to think about this,” she begged.
For a moment, his face tightened with suppressed emotion. Then he forced a smile. “All right.” He kissed her again, this time molding his mouth to hers, his tongue hot and searching. When he sat back he said, “You’ve got the weekend to mull it over. But I’m giving you fair warning. I’m not letting you get away this time.” He brushed his knuckles lightly over her cheek. “It’s still there, Julia. We’re both single adults. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and I’m going to find a way to make it happen.”
Her heart skipped and stuttered. “Oh, Luke. If only that could happen.”
He hugged her, hard. “It could, if you’d just say yes.”
She shook her head. It wasn’t that simple. “There are…complications.” Suddenly she needed to get away. Catch her breath. Think without his mesmerizing presence surrounding her. “I have to go, Luke. I’ll catch a cab.” She picked up her purse and suit jacket.
“Julia, wait. What’s wrong?” He reached for her but she eluded him, nearly racing for the door.
“Please. Just…I need to leave.”
With that, she shot out the door and raced down the hall to the elevator. He followed her into the hall, hurrying after her. Grabbing her arm, he managed to pull her to a stop.
“Julia, we’re still having dinner next Friday night. If you don’t call me with a time and place, I’m showing up on your doorstep, so you’d better be ready.”
“Luke, listen…”
He gripped both arms, his eyes boring into hers like twin lasers. “Whatever the problem is, we’ll fix it. But there’s no way I’m letting you walk out of my life a second time. Count on it.”
Oh, if only that could be true.
“Friday
