by Leroux, Lucy
“I’m going with my gut on this one.”
“Yeah, I know. And it’s not like you.”
“High risk, high reward?” Ethan shrugged.
Jason’s pulled his mouth into a pucker, smacking his teeth. “You’re not the ambitious sort.”
“Of course I am,” Ethan protested. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have joined the bureau.”
His partner leaned back in his chair. “Nah. You came here because it suited you better than the army, but you still needed the adrenaline. You’re not gunning for a higher office. You want to stay in the field as long as you can, but you’re too much of a pit bull to leave a case unsolved. If you’re not careful, you’re going to get yourself promoted to a desk—which you’ll give up soon after out of boredom. But you’re not stupid and you want a nice life after retirement, thus the dabbling in real estate.”
“It’s hardly dabbling when you buy a whole apartment building.” Ethan blinked, wondering if the rest were true. He didn’t think about promotions, just finishing his next case. Cleaning up the streets and the boardrooms was an added benefit. So was the occasional fistfight.
“The Lorano is our ticket to cracking the Komarov crew. I can feel it.”
“You feel it?” Jason snorted. “There are so many jokes there, I can’t even.” Then he sobered. “I hope you’re right about the Russian. If Viktor turned informant, it would change everything.”
It was Ethan’s turn to tap the brakes. “Let’s not count our chickens yet. First, we get on that boat and find out what’s there. We’ll go from there.”
Jason sighed. “Fine. It’s your rodeo. I just hope we don’t end up all dressed up with nowhere to go on Saturday night.”
“We know where to go,” Ethan said, waving the rap sheet again.
The pen flew at him. He caught it neatly before it hit his face.
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
Ethan tossed the pen back. “Then choose your metaphors better.”
* * *
A few days later, Judge Ramsey approved the warrant. Ethan and Jason were leading the raid at the docks tomorrow night.
They had been getting ready all day, poring over plans and coordinating with the rest of their team. Ethan was in the mood to celebrate so when Jason invited him and Julie over to the hotel, promising they wouldn’t need a babysitter, he accepted on their behalf. He was sure he could talk Julie into a night out on the town.
He wanted her to meet his friends.
Once home, he danced up the first flight of steps, making Luna laugh. He stopped to strip off her little winter suit so she wouldn’t roast with the change of outdoor to indoor temperatures. The activity kept her awake and alert, so he took her to the second floor instead of the top. He could hear a lot of movement there, and he found Julie talking to an electrician while a second lay in a tangled pile of wires.
He took a moment to appreciate the picture she made. Julie wasn’t smiling or anything, simply talking in Spanish, using her hands for emphasis. Ethan watched as the man nodded respectfully, responding to an innate authority he hadn’t suspected his houseguest possessed until now.
Was it his imagination or was she standing a little straighter, too? She looked taller today, but as his eyes ran down her form in assessment, he immediately got distracted.
Damn. It should have been illegal for that woman to wear denim. The way the cloth hugged her curves always made his IQ nosedive. It was the way her narrow waist flared, stretching the material over an ass he wanted to take a bite out of. And Ethan wasn’t even an ass man. He’d always been a breast guy. But he didn’t dare look at those for everyone’s sake…. Suffice to say, confidence suited Julie.
She felt his eyes on her a beat later.
“Hey, Mommy, we’re home,” he called. He bounced a smiling Luna to make her giggle.
Tiny hands reached for Julie. She excused herself from the men, giving a final set of instructions in a clear and assured tone. He said goodbye instead of getting a rundown from them himself—one they showed signs of wanting to give him. But letting them think Julie was in charge was to his advantage.
“It’s nice having someone to run interference,” he observed as he herded his guest and her mini-me into the now-working elevator. “That could come in handy down the line. Me and the guys haven’t discussed it, but it would be useful to have a go-between—someone to run interference between us and the tenants. We were counting on the property management company to take care of their needs, but if the neighbors discover we live onsite, things could get complicated.”
He pictured late-night knocks asking for help with a plumbing problem. What if he had a morning meeting? Or worse, what if he was up late with a woman?
His overactive imagination sent a flash of creamy brown skin to his brain, front and center. He avoided looking directly at Julie as he opened the door to his apartment. He also didn’t offer her a full-time job. It was still early days.
Instead, he coaxed her into telling him about her day. As predicted, Julie was thriving in her new role. She’d watched dozens of online home improvement videos, and she’d spent a chunk of the day reading power tool technical manuals in between coordinating with the electrical crew.
“I think I can take over on the floor situation in the studio,” she said after summarizing what the workmen had accomplished. “It’s a lot easier than I thought it would be. You bought the kind that snaps together, so it’s mostly a matter of measuring.”
Wait. Did that mean she wanted to move out of his apartment? “You don’t have to do that,” he said quickly. “I’ll get to it this weekend. Or next week, tops.”
“But I should help, right? I mean, I learned how a toilet works today!” She waved her arms enthusiastically while Luna crawled to her doll and began to gnaw on its head.
Julie knelt to remove one of the yarn hair strands before the little girl choked on it. “I mean, I knew in theory how a toilet worked, but I never looked in the tank. I think I can fix most by myself now.”
He laughed. “I’ve never heard anyone be so enthusiastic about a toilet before. But I want you to forget about work for tonight—especially the floor downstairs. Do you have a dress by chance?”
Julie blinked. “Yes, why?”
Chapter Fourteen
Oh, this is wrong. Juliet grabbed on to Ethan’s arm, wondering what the hell was going on. Why were they at this fancy hotel? And why was the staff treating Ethan like he was some sort of VIP? They all seemed to know his name.
“I thought we were meeting your partner at his place for drinks,” she said, turning every which way to take in the dark mahogany paneling at the reception desk and the tasteful chandeliers overhead. Her heels clicked on the marble floor, the different colored white-and-gold stones forming a sunburst pattern in the center.
“We are,” Ethan assured her as he guided them into the interior of an opulent-looking restaurant. “He lives here. For the moment, anyway. Jason keeps saying he and the wife are searching for the perfect condo, but he’s been saying that for over a year. Personally, I think they’re going to be here until they start dropping kids and need more room than the suite they live in. It would take something like that to give this place up.”
Juliet’s mouth had dropped open at the beginning of his explanation. “How can your partner afford it?”
She’d never been to this hotel, but she’d been enough like them in her life to know this place was astronomically expensive. Yeah, Jason and Ethan could afford a night or two in this place. They had nice government jobs that came with expense accounts, but living here was something else entirely.
“I’ve told you about Mags, haven’t I?” Ethan asked. He put his hand on Juliet’s back to guide her to the back of the nearly full restaurant. The small touch made her already-nervous body overheat.
“Maggie and her brothers own this hotel and quite a few others,” he explained. “Well, they have a number of investors, too—their friends for the
most part. Jason texted that some were in town. I might get to see my godson, so they moved the party to one of the private rooms back here.”
Juliet swallowed, then nodded as agreeably as she could. She had no idea Ethan had friends like these. With every step, she grew more lightheaded until she was clutching his arm. When he glanced at her questioningly, she smiled weakly, forcing herself to ease her grip.
He doesn’t need to know that staying at a place like this was once normal for me.
Juliet glanced down at her black dress, adjusting the waistline self-consciously. It was one of the items from her old wardrobe she’d held onto because it was simple and utilitarian. Or, at least, that was what she kept telling herself whenever she was short on cash and considered selling it. This was the first time she’d worn it since moving to Boston.
Ethan pushed open the door, and Juliet was hit by a wall of sound—loud and boisterous conversation overwhelmed the conservative quiet of the main dining room. She hesitated at the threshold, wishing she had Luna in her arms to use as a shield when a group of very well-dressed men and women turned to stare at them.
What the fu—? Wow, this was an intimidating group. Everyone was young, fit, and obviously wealthy. It was hands down the most exclusive gathering she’d ever seen, and, once upon a time, she’d spent a semester rubbing elbows with the intellectual elite at Harvard.
Ethan gave her the tiniest of pushes, hoisting Luna up higher in his arms as a blond man broke away to come say hello.
“Hey, you must be Juliet,” he said, taking her hand and pumping it. “I’m Jason.”
Not again. “It’s Julie,” she corrected with a smile that felt stiff and painful.
“Of course. Sorry, Julie,” he said, reaching out and plucking Luna out of Ethan’s arms. “And this must be the little moon. Hey there, kid.”
Jason turned to Ethan. “Eva Stone texted they’re on their way.”
“Good,” Ethan said, wrapping a casual arm around Juliet’s waist to propel her forward again. “Eva is an old friend and my godson’s mother, so you’ll be able to meet Ethan Patrick.”
Another surprise. “Is he named after you?” she asked.
A very pretty brunette rose to greet them as they reached the table. “He sure is, and let me tell you the exciting story behind that. Hi, I’m Maggie. You must be Julie.” She held out her hand and shook, then turned to the toddler. “And this must be Luna.”
She nudged her husband, then held up her arms. “Gimme!”
Smiling broadly, Maggie took the baby. A whirl of introductions followed.
“You’ll be lucky to get that kid back.” Jason laughed when there was a pause in the greetings. “It’s not enough Maggie’s brother just had one. She’s kind of baby crazy at the moment.”
Laughing, Juliet sat next to Ethan who was beside a tiny pixie of a woman who introduced herself as Maia. The table was set for a dozen people with elegant china and real silver flatware, but that didn’t stop them from setting up two highchairs for Luna and presumably for Ethan’s godson. Maggie’s nephew was only a few months old, so he was upstairs napping with a nurse to watch over him.
Ethan joked around with his partner as a slew of waiters came in and out with trays of hors d’oeuvres and fresh bottles of both white and red wine. After a few rather liberally poured glasses, Juliet relaxed in a way she hadn’t been able to for years, enjoying casual conversation with their friendly hosts and their extended circle of friends.
The meal was devastatingly good. Foie gras was served with a fig compote on sweet malt bread. That was followed by a parmesan risotto made with cheese from Italy. It was topped with slices of rare duck, braised in a sauce the chef must have made a deal with the devil to learn how to make. Dessert was something chocolate she couldn’t pronounce, but it made her toes curl in her shoes.
Occasionally, she would look at Ethan seated next to her, who was laughing and joking around with genuine good humor. Half the time, he had his arms draped over the back of her chair. If he noticed she’d stopped talking to her neighbors, he would turn to her, deftly asking her something innocuous that would draw her back into the conversation.
It felt good and slightly surreal, as if she were having a glimpse of a life she might have had if she’d been born in another time and place.
The fact everyone was treating her as if she were Ethan’s girlfriend didn’t penetrate right away. By the time she realized they were eyeing her with a special type of scrutiny under their friendly welcome, she was too comfortable. The edges of her ever-present anxiety were pleasantly blurred by the delicious wine that had accompanied each course.
Juliet should have been panicking, but she was content to sit there and pretend it were true. It was only for one night. What could be the harm?
Somewhere near the end of the meal, Maggie stood, rushing to greet the couple who came in. “You’re late,” she called.
A petite blonde had walked in, flanked by a big dark-haired man carrying a sturdy-looking little boy.
Ethan stood, too. “My godson is here,” he said with an undeniable air of excitement. He took the little boy from his parents, swinging him up in the air until the boy shouted with glee.
Sergei and Eva, the parents, joined them at the table as the waiters hurried to serve them dinner so they could catch up. Ethan horsed around with the little boy for an entire ten minutes. Then he settled his namesake in the highchair next to Luna, but the boy started screaming the house down. A compromise was reached, and both children were put on the floor on a blanket to play together.
They made such an adorable picture, a slew of cameras was whipped out. Apparently used to the attention, the little boy decided to put on a show. He took Luna with both hands, grabbing her and kissing her cheek with a loud smacking noise.
A chorus of ‘awws’ from the adults greeted the gesture, but Ethan scowled, going over to pluck Luna from the floor as she started to cry.
Ethan picked up his godson, too, holding one child in each arm while he scolded the boy. “Hey, little buddy, there’s this thing called consent. You better learn it now. No kissy-kissy unless the girls say it’s okay.”
Ethan handed the boy to his father, shaking his finger as he came around the table with Luna in his arms. “He gets that from you. You better teach him not to do shit like that.”
The big Russian laughed, saying something in his native tongue. To her surprise, Ethan answered in kind.
“What did he say?” Juliet asked, bewildered.
Ethan laughed. “He said that’s what godfathers are for.”
He sat next to her, soothing Luna with a hand on her back, rubbing in little circles. Juliet tried to take her, but Luna buried her face in Ethan’s neck, hiccupping softly.
“I had no idea you spoke Russian,” she marveled.
“And you speak French,” he pointed out.
She blinked. “I do?”
Ethan twisted to face her. “You did a few minutes ago,” he said with a laugh.
“Oh,” she said, belatedly remembering a quick aside she’d had with Eva, who had been speaking about their most recent trip to Paris. “I spent a little time in France before my quinceañera,” she said, fudging the date.
In reality, she and her mother had spent most of her seventeenth year in Europe. Again, that was something Ethan did not need to know.
“Estas bien, my linda,” she soothed the still-fussy Luna, pressing a kiss to the girl’s soft cheek. Continuing to lean in, she whispered words of encouragement and love. Ethan turned his shoulder until the three were a private little knot, a separate and inviolable trio.
After a minute, he raised his head and announced Luna had had enough. He nodded at Jason as he stood. “That goes for you, too. We have a big day tomorrow.”
“Aw, ten more minutes, Mom,” Jason protested. His wife laughed, but she poked him until he stood and excused himself, too.
“Go on ahead. I’ll be up soon!” She waved airily, making a production of pour
ing another wine glass. Jason scowled, and she laughed. “What? I don’t have a career-changing raid tomorrow.”
“A what?” Juliet asked, brow creasing.
“Nothing, never mind,” Ethan said, managing to toss her coat over her shoulders with one hand while holding Luna in the other. They were out the door before she could ask anything else.
Chapter Fifteen
Julie was incredibly quiet on the ride up the elevator. She had lapsed into silence on the drive home and was now holding Luna like a shield, occasionally rocking the sleeping toddler instead of conversing.
Not ready to call it a night, he talked about a safe subject, his godson, until they were safely in his apartment.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I have complete faith that Eva, Ethan Patrick’s mother, will straighten him out. That kid will grow up right—that woman is a total boss. Even Sergei bows down to her authority.”
He said the last in a decent imitation of Cartman from South Park, but all he got was a lip twitch.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked finally.
“Oh, I was realizing why you’re so good with Luna. You were great with Ethan Patrick,” she said. “I’m surprised you aren’t married with kids of your own already.”
He shrugged, aware any truthful answer might tread on dangerous territory. “I guess I haven’t met the right person yet.”
Julie peeked from under her impossibly thick lashes. “Did you want to have kids with Peyton?”
Ethan glanced at her sharply. “Who mentioned Peyton?”
“I don’t remember. I think it was Maggie. She got a text from her at some point during the second course. She mentioned Peyton was on her honeymoon.”
He nodded, trying to read her face.
“Peyton is Maggie’s best friend,” he offered after a short silence.