As Good as the First Time

by Altonya Washington

  “You mind?”

  “Well, I still think you’re overreacting about the girl.”

  “Okay, well now you can see for yourself that I’m not.”

  “Hell, does Julia Kelly know how easy it is for her to unsettle you?”

  Cortez couldn’t help but grin. “Damn right she does. That’s the problem.”

  Correll laughed. “What the hell. It might be fun.”

  Julia was determined to wear something that would dazzle but not be overly suggestive. She decided to buy a new outfit and took a trip to one of Detroit’s many shopping centers.

  It didn’t take long to find something eye-catching. The pearl-gray dress reached just above her knee. The sleeves were long and flaring with a scooped neckline that revealed glimpses of ample bosom.

  “What do you think?”

  The store’s assistant manager smiled at Julia. “Honey, whoever he is, his eyes are gonna be working overtime tonight.”

  Julia laughed and turned back toward the full-length mirror. She couldn’t mask the wicked giggle that glided up her throat.

  “My, my, Julia Kelly.”

  The instant Julia heard Cora Wallace’s voice she uttered a silent curse. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath.

  “Honey, I know that’s you. Aren’t you going to speak?”

  “Hello, Cora,” Julia replied, whirling around to face the woman.

  Cora Wallace’s smile was undeniably phony. Her eyes, however, sparkled with interest and curiosity. “My, my. Imagine seeing you here…now.”

  “Yeah, my mother’s very happy to have me home,” Julia coolly replied, ignoring Cora’s sarcasm.

  “I’ll bet she was surprised.”

  Julia nodded. “She was.”

  Cora’s cool stare took in Julia’s attire briefly before snapping away. “You’re looking good. I never would’ve known you were here if I hadn’t heard your voice.”

  “I’m flattered you recognized it,” Julia said through clenched teeth.

  “You shouldn’t be,” Cora corrected her. “It’s hard to forget a voice that’s always tying up your phone lines.”

  “I haven’t called your home once in over eight years,” Julia informed the older woman. She didn’t bother to hide the distaste in her voice this time.

  Cora shrugged. “Well, I’m sure you managed to track him down elsewhere.”

  “All right, Cora, you listen to me—”

  “No, you listen. I’m warning you. Don’t interfere with my son’s life. He’s happy and engaged to a lovely lady.”

  Julia winced at the obvious insult, but she didn’t turn away as Cora continued.

  “I am so glad he’s so happy and in love with Renee. This wedding is going to go off with no problems and I want you to stay away from him,” Cora viciously ordered.

  Julia took a step toward Cora, her onyx stare blazing. “It’ll be pretty hard to stay away when I’m having dinner with him tonight.”

  Cora smarted as though she had been slapped. “How’d you manage that?” she whispered in an accusing tone.

  Julia turned and headed toward the dressing rooms. “You should ask your soon-to-be daughter-in-law.”

  Cora's eyes narrowed as she stood shaking her head at Julia's departure.

  Chapter 10

  “Ken, I’m just advising you to prepare yourself and the guys for the worst. Cortez Wallace can be a stubborn man.” I should know, Julia thought silently while speaking with Kenrick Owen that afternoon. “I may not be able to woo him into accepting our offer.”

  “It isn’t like you to be so pessimistic, Julia,” Ken threw back, not bothering to hide his amusement. “I think the fact that you’ve met your match is why we’re so eager to get Cortez out here. Heaven knows no else has the nerve to stand up to you.”

  “I’m hanging up Ken.” Julia’s thumb was poised over the cellular’s end button.

  “Listen, you haven’t met with him yet, right?”

  Julia hesitated on the answer when she saw Cortez walking into the quiet dining room of the restaurant where they’d agreed to meet for lunch.

  “I just want you guys to understand he’s no pushover.” Her words caught in her throat when he looked in her direction as the host pointed. “A pretty face with no substance—that’s not him,” she finished. “I’ll be in touch.” She ended the connection just as Cortez headed for the table.

  “Thanks for showing up,” Julia said when he approached. “I know it’s the last place you want to be.” She folded her arms across her navy suit coat in an effort to appear at ease.

  Cortez took his seat, not bothering with a reply. She’d be stunned to hear him tell her he’d rather be there than at the station being congratulated at every turn over his phony engagement. “Well, you’ve got me curious.”

  Julia waved a hand when the waiter inquired about refreshing her drink. “Curious? Could you be more specific? There’s so much to choose from,” she teased once he’d ordered a Sam Adams.

  Cortez crossed his long legs at the ankles when he reclined in the chair he occupied across from Julia. “Do you really have more to discuss about the Haven offer, or is this a joke?”

  Leaning forward, Julia smirked. “You mean will I try anything to be alone with you?” she clarified and watched him shrug. “My, you have gotten conceited over the last eight years. Letting your most eligible bachelor status go to your head, huh?”

  “Been pleased to wear it for eight years.” He smiled.

  “Better not let your fiancée hear that.” The cool in her expression became something far more intense when she spied the sharpening of his gorgeous features. “Nothing I say or do with you is a joke, pretense or show to prove a point, Cortez.”

  “What about dinner tonight with Renee?”

  “Call it curiosity.”

  Cortez thanked the waiter as he arrived with his beer and allowed Julia’s response to settle without rebuke. “The guys laid out a pretty impressive offer. I don’t see how they could top it,” he said, while tugging on the cuff of his moss jacket sleeve.

  Julia relaxed in her chair, happy to return the conversation to business. “They’ve still got a few tricks up their sleeves. I’m here to reiterate that proposal and remind you of what a coup it could be for your career.”

  “A coup, huh?” He took a swig of the dark brew and grinned. “I wonder about that, seeing as how you were so sure it’d fail.”

  “I’ll admit that was my own anger talking.” Julia nodded, tapping her nails against the stout beaded glass before her. “It’s a good concept, Cortez. Showing people the grittiness of a city known for glamour and stardom. Uncovering the fake beauty to get to the ugly places and ugly events that are too much of its reality is what this show has the power to do. It’s gonna fly, no matter who’s in front of the camera. I just think having a woman in those gritty situations would be far more interesting for the audience.”

  Cortez laughed. “Putting a woman smack dab in the middle of a war zone would get more ratings, is that it?”

  “Surely,” Julia agreed, raising her glass in toast before drinking from it. She took no offense when Cortez laughed and called her ruthless. “I can see you’re as much of a chauvinist as my male colleagues,” she accused.

  Shrugging, Cortez tapped his bottle to the table. “I don’t mind wearing the label. It just doesn’t sit well with me, putting a woman in that situation.”

  It was Julia’s turn to laugh. “She’s not out there on her own, you know?”

  “Things happen,” he challenged, taking a deep swig of his beer.

  “Yes, they do.” Julia considered. Her dark gaze fell to her nearly empty glass and she regretted not ordering a refill earlier. Suddenly, the discussion was weaving its way back toward topics best left alone. “Anyway,” she forced an airy tone to her voice, “I’ll be very happy for the opportunity to prove you all wrong.”

  “Once my show fails?”

  Julia hid her smile at the unconscious possessiveness
in his statement. “Actually, your acceptance is something I want very much, since they’re now willing to pit the shows against each other on two of their largest networks.”

  “Congratulations.” Cortez’s voice had a touch of surprise mingled in its deep octave. “Is it always so easy to bend them into doing what you want?”

  She couldn’t pull her eyes from the powerful hands on the bottle he held. “Well, they can’t deny my record.” She leaned forward to shrug out of the suit coat that was suddenly stifling her. “It speaks for itself, and this particular idea just hit ’em below the belts.”

  A muscle danced along Cortez’s jaw. He took the last swallow of his drink and studied the line of her collarbone and the heave of her breasts more easily visible once she’d removed the jacket. “Guess you made the right choice when you headed out to L.A.”

  “It wasn’t a choice,” she shared, intrigued by the way his eyes lingered on the rise and fall of her chest. “It wasn’t a choice,” she repeated when he was looking at her face. “It was a decision made on the spur of a very ugly moment.”

  Cortez’s long, sleek brows drew close as his anger began to be stoked. “Why didn’t you tell me what you heard? Why didn’t you trust me enough to face it with you?”

  “Face it with me? And against who? Remember, Cortez, this is your family we’re talking about.”

  His fist clenched. “You were my family.”

  “Sorry for keeping you waiting, Mr. Wallace.” The waiter arrived slightly out of breath. Julia welcomed the interruption since it was no exaggeration to say she was speechless.

  “The guys added a few more incentives to sweeten the pot,” she said, once their lunch orders were taken. “Could we focus on that?”

  Cortez only waved a hand, silently urging her to continue.

  “I’m coming!” Renee shouted in the direction of the phone. She had been hurrying to get ready for dinner when the steady ringing began.

  “Renee? Is that you?” Cora Wallace asked when she heard the girl’s breathless voice.

  “Oh, hi, Cora. I’m just trying to get ready for dinner over here.”

  “Honey, please tell me you and Cortez are eating alone.”

  Renee frowned at the almost frantic tone in Cora’s voice. “Well, no. We’re going out with one of Cortez’s old friends.”

  “Julia Kelly?”

  “Yeah, but how did you—”

  “Honey, what were you thinking inviting that girl out with you and Cortez?”

  “Relax, Cora. I only wanted to get to know Julia better.”

  “You’re makin’ a mistake with this one, Renee,” Cora cautioned.

  Renee smiled and shook her head. “I think you’re overreacting.”

  “You don’t know Julia Kelly. She’s been infatuated with Cortez her entire life.”

  “That may be, but Cortez is marrying me.” Renee commended herself on the ease with which she spoke the lie.

  Cora gave a short, humorless laugh. “Speaking of the wedding, you might want to consider moving it up a few weeks.”

  “Good night, Cora,” Renee laughed, before hanging up.

  Cortez attacked the tablecloth at Gravely’s Seafood with soft stabs of his knife.

  Renee sighed and covered his hand with hers. “What is your problem?”

  Cortez shook his head as his eyes narrowed. “This dinner isn’t one of your best ideas.”

  “Cortez, is there anything you’d like to talk about?” Renee asked, after watching him very closely.

  “Anything like what?”

  “Anything about you and Julia Kelly,” Renee asked, absently tugging at the collar of her lightweight red coat dress. “Obviously there’s a lot of history there. And you’ve really been on edge. I’m assuming she’s got a lot to do with it.”

  Cortez massaged the bridge of his nose. It’d be nice to put it all on Julia, but combined with this lie he was letting Renee get away with, there was much more feeding his agitation. He’d called himself a fool many times over for not ending the whole damn mess. Now he had to deal with these lingering feelings that Julia was re-stirring. He could only hope by dragging out the charade that Julia would accept that he was off limits and give up. She had to. Telling her he wouldn’t survive if she left him again wasn’t just his play at drama. It was the truth.

  Renee smiled and didn’t press Cortez to be more forthcoming. For show, and a fair amount of her own desire, she smoothed a kiss against his hair-roughened cheek. “Why don’t you put that aside tonight and enjoy the evening?” she whispered, looking up past Cortez. “We’re all here.”

  Cortez raised his sensual chocolate stare and saw Julia heading toward the booth. He grasped his lower lip between his teeth to keep his mouth from gaping open. The dress she wore emphasized every curve and natural attribute she had. It was obvious to Cortez that the dress was worn to make him uncomfortable. Stubbornly, he refused to give her the satisfaction of knowing she had achieved her goal.

  “Hey, guys. Sorry I’m late,” Julia breathlessly apologized, taking her seat at the table. She wanted to keep her eyes off Cortez, but it was hopeless. Her sparkling dark gaze was intense and steady.

  “Oh don’t worry about it. We should go ahead and order,” Renee suggested.

  Cortez realized that his gaze was trained on Julia’s chest and he looked away. “We should wait a while, since someone else is coming.”

  Renee frowned. “Who?”

  “I invited Correll.”

  “Oh,” Renee whispered, surprised by the information. She looked over at Julia, who seemed just as surprised, and smiled. “I better go snag a waiter to set another place.”

  “Where are you going?” Cortez asked, grabbing Renee’s hand when she stood.

  “The waiter—”

  “He’ll be over in a minute.”

  Renee patted Cortez on the cheek. “I better get him before it gets any more crowded.”

  Julia waited until Renee had left, to slide closer to Cortez in the cozy booth. “Are you afraid of something?”

  “What?” Cortez asked, his brown eyes snapping to her face.

  Julia shrugged one shoulder lazily. “I don’t know. Maybe about being here with me and Renee.”

  Cortez leaned his head against the cushioned back of the booth. “I thought it’d be nicer to have four instead of three.”

  “No, you just thought it would be easier.”

  Slowly, Cortez opened his eyes and watched her unblinkingly. Julia returned the gesture and waited for his response. Finally a slow, devious smirk tugged at her full lips.

  A grimace clouded Cortez’s gorgeous face and he glared at her. “You’re gonna push me too far in a minute,” he whispered, giving her a firm, warning glare.

  Julia gasped playfully, “I hope so.”

  “Sorry I’m late.”

  Julia and Cortez looked up when Correll’s voice floated down over them. Cortez smiled the moment he saw his brother.

  Julia’s gaze faltered briefly, but she managed a shaky smile.

  “Girl, Tez told me you were back in town,” Correll whispered in Julia’s ear as he hugged her. “His descriptions didn’t even come close.”

  Julia graced Correll with a dazzling smile and dismissed the memories of the words of warning she’d heard him give his brother all those years ago. Her gaze snapped to Cortez’s face. “His descriptions? Well, how far off base were they?”

  Correll had taken his seat. “I guess they weren’t really that far. He said you were still fine as hell, but I’m just glad I saw for myself.”

  Cortez had been silent, studying Julia intently. The sparkle in her onyx eyes when she laughed, the healthy, even tone of her dark skin and the blatant sexuality that surrounded her were impossible to ignore.

  “Correll! This is such a surprise!”

  Renee had finally arrived back at the table with the waiter. She took her seat and leaned over to kiss Correll’s cheek.

  “What’s goin’ on, girl?” Correll asked,
leaning back to allow the waiter to set his place.

  Renee shrugged and fiddled with a tendril of hair that dangled outside her high ponytail. “Not much, just trying to keep my head above water while I’m planning this wedding.”

  Correll’s laughter was full and honest in light of the fact that he already knew the entire business was a lie. “Is it getting to you?”

  Renee smiled and glanced at Cortez. “Sometimes, but it’s worth it for this guy,” she said, favoring Cortez with an adoring smile.

  Julia suddenly felt a tightening across her chest and began to cough. Reaching for her glass, she took several deep gulps. Many times during dinner, she raised her eyes to find Cortez watching her. She wondered if he was aware of the intensity of his gorgeous brown stare. Whether he was or not, it didn’t matter to Julia. She found herself having a rather nice time. Despite the circumstances, the evening passed quite enjoyably. In no time, the foursome was ordering dessert.

  “So, Correll, I hear you’re part of the ad game.” Julia’s dark eyes were alive with interest as she watched the man nod.

  “Started it shortly after Dad passed.”

  Julia watched Correll drink his gin while she recalled the death of Andre Wallace, whose heart problems had finally gotten the better of him. He passed shortly after opening his seventh Detroit area dealership.

  “I was more interested in being an entrepreneur like our dad.” Correll slanted a soft look toward his brother. “It was more about that than the actual advertising.” His broad shoulders rose beneath his cream shirt when he shrugged. “But I’ve got a few skills there, so—”

  “I’d say you’ve got more than a few,” Julia commended. “I’ve seen billboards, heard radio and TV spots about Correll Marketing practically every day since I got to town.”

  “He’s everywhere,” Renee raved.

  “Not everywhere.” Correll grinned bashfully. “Not everywhere. But I intend to be,” he added in a more meaningful tone. “That’s where I’m hoping you’ll come in, Julia.”

  She choked on her drink and fixed him with a frown. “Me?”