“Exposure on a national level,” he clarified, leaning over to pat her back. “Outlook TV would be a prime place to begin.”
Julia nodded her agreement. “It’ll cost you,” she warned, “but if you’re willing to spend the money, I’m confident we could make you plenty more.”
Laughter resounded at the table, and everyone raised their glasses to toast.
“Well, now that that’s settled, I’m going to excuse myself to the ladies’ room, you guys,” Renee announced, before the coffee and cheesecake arrived.
Julia stood, as well. “I’ll go with you.”
The brothers watched Julia and Renee walk away. Correll waited until they were out of sight before he spoke.
“Interesting.”
Cortez chased an ice cube in his glass. “What?” he asked, without raising his eyes.
“This dinner. I’ve never seen you look so uncomfortable, man.”
“Not uncomfortable, just ready to get the hell out of here,” Cortez responded, his baritone voice sounding raspy.
Correll raised his eyes toward the ceiling. “What the hell for? You got two fine women here for you. Julia is lookin’ good.”
“And that’s about the fifth time you told me that,” Cortez noted drily, not hearing the edge in his own voice.
Correll propped his fist beneath his chin and studied his sibling for a long while. “’Listen, little brother. Are you as upset with Julia as you pretend to be?”
“As I pretend to be?”
“Come on, you know what I mean.”
Cortez leaned back in his chair and rolled his eyes. “Whatever,” he sighed, with a flippant wave of his hand.
Correll made no further comment and just watched his younger brother brood. He noticed that Cortez never answered his question.
“Do you know Correll well, too, Julia?” Renee asked, as she rinsed her hands in the porcelain sink.
Julia sighed, checking her hair in the mirror. “Pretty well.”
“He’s as handsome as his brother,” Renee noted, her brown eyes twinkling.
Julia could imagine where the conversation might lead. She had no desire to let Renee try matchmaking her to Correll. “He’s all right.”
Fortunately, Renee didn’t press the issue. She reapplied her lipstick and checked her high ponytail. Smiling, she turned back to Julia. “Well, I’m headed back out. Are you ready?”
“You go ahead, I’ll be right out.” Julia said, pretending to be searching in her purse for something.
When the swinging door to the ladies’ room closed, Julia ceased her phony search. She leaned against the marble counter and thought about Renee Scales. The woman seemed so nice. Perhaps she was good for Cortez. Quickly, Julia shook off her uncertainties. She checked her makeup and then headed out of the restroom.
Cortez was on his way to the restroom just as Julia entered the hallway. They didn’t make eye contact and had almost passed each other. Julia pressed her lips together and tried like hell, but she couldn’t keep quiet.
“Let me know if you need a hand,” she offered softly.
Losing the feather hold on his temper, Cortez grabbed Julia’s arm. None too gently, he hauled her against the wall. “I want you to get the hell out of here,” he whispered coldly.
Julia ignored the sinking feeling in her stomach at his words. She did not look away, though. Instead, she trailed one finger over the crisp, black whiskers of his beard.
Her dark eyes traced his fantastic features and a small smile tugged at her lips. “You really are scared of me, aren’t you?”
Cortez didn’t answer, but his cold stare faltered. Julia leaned close to study him more intently. What she saw there in his eyes seemed to weaken her resolve, and she blinked in realization. Without another word, she turned and walked away.
When Cortez arrived back at the table, he found Correll, Renee and Julia laughing. Everyone appeared to be having a great time, but Cortez had lost what little desire he had to socialize. One large hand curled around Renee’s arm, and he pulled her up from the table.
“We’re leaving,” he announced.
“Good night,” Julia called, not wanting to make a scene by commenting on the abrupt departure. She received a smile from Renee and a glare from Cortez.
“See ya, Renee,” Correll said.
Cortez nodded. “Talk to you later.”
“They sure make a nice couple,” Correll noted, watching his brother and Renee leave the restaurant.
Julia was still watching Cortez and did not realize anything had been said. Her dark gaze, though intense, held no trace of sadness.
“Julia?” Correll said softly, waving one hand before her eyes.
Correll laughed at the confused look on Julia’s lovely, dark face. “I was saying Cortez and Renee make a nice couple.”
Julia looked away and closed her eyes. “Yeah, they sure do.”
“Hey, are you okay?” Correll asked, leaning closer.
“Yeah. I’m fine,” Julia assured him, though she was close to tears. “I should get out of here, too,” she whispered, rising from the table.
“Wait a minute,” Correll called, following her through the restaurant. “Can I offer you a ride back to your hotel or something?”
“No, I have a car,” Julia replied hurriedly.
“Well, how about having a drink with me before you call it a night? We can discuss my venture with your network.”
Julia stopped and turned. She gave Correll a soft smile, but shook her head. “Maybe some other time?”
Correll pressed a kiss to her cheek and returned the smile. “Sure.”
On her way out of the restaurant, Julia took time to ponder Correll Wallace’s hospitality. Oh, he’d never been blatantly ugly to her the way his mother was. She figured that had more to do with the fact that he imagined himself finding his way into her bed once his brother was done with her. While any involvement was out of the question between her and Correll, Julia couldn't help but admit she was doing herself a disservice turning away the many men who dotted her doorstep. If only she weren’t so consumed by Cortez Wallace… For the first time in a long time Julia admitted to herself that her love and wants might not be enough to sway what was clearly a dead issue.
Chapter 11
“I thought you’d be walking on cloud nine after last night.”
Julia sent her sister a weary look and buried her face in her hands. “I should’ve stayed home.”
“That bad, huh?” Monique asked, taking a seat next to Julia on the sofa.
Julia groaned in response, leaning back against the cushiony sofa.
“Well, what happened? Can I have some details?” Monique propped her hand beneath her chin and glared at her younger sister.
“I’ve done everything I can think of to get Corky to change his mind about us. But he won’t. He’s set on making me see that it’s over.”
Monique appeared to be confused. “A few short hours ago, that would’ve spurred you on. I don’t get why you’re so down.”
“I’m having doubts,” Julia admitted, moving off the sofa.
“Come again?”
Julia massaged her neck. “Maybe I shouldn’t be doing this. I should probably go on back to L.A. I can imagine the work that’s cluttering my desk back there.”
“I see.” Monique sighed. “So you thought of this when? Between the time you saw him in the hallway and back at the dinner table?”
Julia smiled in spite of herself. “I just started thinking about what I said to Cortez. I told him I thought he was afraid of me, of what I made him feel.”
“And?”
Julia took a deep breath and turned away from Monique. “And then I thought if he is afraid, maybe it’s because he really does love Renee and he doesn’t want any old emotions to jeopardize what he’s got with her.”
Monique stood from the sofa and walked over to Julia. Gently, she turned her sister away from the window. “If that’s true, what does it mean for you?”
Jul
ia blinked, sending a lone tear down her cheek. “The only thing I ever wanted is for Cortez to be happy. All this time I hoped he’d find that with me. Now he’s found someone he actually wants to marry. It’s high time for me to admit that maybe this wasn’t meant to be.” Julia sniffed and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. “Besides,” she continued, “Renee’s a great woman. She really is. She’s sweet, kind and she loves him a lot. I can’t hurt her like this. If she makes Cortez happy, then I’ll just have to accept that, right?”
Monique’s brown eyes were wide as she watched the lovely young woman before her. “I can’t believe I’m hearing you say this.”
Julia shrugged her shoulders and gave a shaky laugh. “Trust me, Mo, I find it hard to believe myself.”
On the other side of town, Cortez lay in bed thinking about last night. His eyes stared out into space, as his palm glided over the smooth, wide surface of his chest. In the solitude of his own home, he could admit it. The truth was that he had been fooling himself for a long time about his feelings for Julia. He had always loved her. That fire, spirit, the sex appeal that exuded itself in her every move. The aggressive, take-charge attitude that was something he didn’t care for in any other woman. It made him want her even more. Julia could make him angrier than anyone, and he loved her for it. Feelings aside, the reality was that he was better off with a woman like Renee Scales.
He began to think about Renee. He wasn’t blind. He’d known she was developing feelings for him that went far beyond any he had for her. Still he hadn’t acknowledged them. He hadn’t told her there was no chance, and now there was this sham engagement story floating around. Sham or not, she’d be humiliated. Sure, she’d brought it on herself by perpetrating the lie in the first place, but hadn’t he been doing the same thing for his own reasons? The strokes against his chest became firmer and Cortez shook his head as images of Julia filled his mind.
“I’m gonna lose him.”
Correll frowned at Renee and leaned back behind his desk to watch her. “Hmph, I wondered how long it would take for you to come clean about your feelings. But a phony engagement story, Renee? That’s a bit desperate, isn’t it? Hasn’t earned you any brownie points with my brother, that’s for sure.”
Renee rolled her eyes. “Well, I’m glad to know I’ve got you to talk to,” she said, deciding to come clean about her true feelings. She and Correll had discovered something of a kinship shortly after she and Cortez began working together as coanchors. A time or two Renee even wondered whether she’d become interested in the wrong brother. She and Correll, however, were too much alike for anything romantic to last between them. With a heavy sigh, she fixed Correll with a hard look. “Now that I’ve had time to be around her, I realize that I can’t stand the woman. It’s like she wears sex on her sleeve. She’s so obvious and blatant with it.”
“Yeah,” Correll sighed lustily, obviously in favor of Julia’s demeanor.
“It’s disgusting,” Renee snapped, shooting him an angry look.
Correll leaned forward and braced his fingers together on top of the polished mahogany desk. “You’re taking this too hard, you know?”
Renee pointed a finger toward him. “I don’t think I’m taking it hard enough. I was a fool to suggest dinner tonight, but I needed to see them together. It’s obvious how much he still wants her. Any man probably would.”
“Damn right,” Correll wickedly replied, a wolfish grin on his handsome face.
Renee’s smile was just as wicked. “I’m glad you feel that way.”
“What are you cookin’ up?” Correll asked, his stare filled with suspicion.
Renee re-crossed her legs and settled more comfortably in her chair. “With your help, I think I have a plan to get Julia Kelly out of Cortez's life for good.”
Chapter 12
The telephone rang just as Julia and Monique prepared to step out of the hotel room.
“Damn it,” Julia groaned, dropping her purse on the table and heading to the phone. “Yeah?”
“Julia? You got a minute to talk?”
Julia frowned the instant she heard Correll Wallace’s voice on the line. She turned and waved Monique back inside the room. “How’d you get my number?”
“I got it from Renee so I could invite you to the party.”
Julia took a seat on the arm of one of the chairs. “Party?” she asked suspiciously.
“Yeah. I have pool parties all through the summer. I wanted to throw one while you were still in town. How about it?”
Julia knew Cortez was sure to be there. The best thing for her would be to see as little of him as possible. “Thanks, Correll, but I think I better skip this one.”
“Excuse me?” Correll asked, obviously surprised that she was turning down a function his brother was sure to attend. “It’s gonna be a good one, Julia. Besides a heated pool, I’ve got a Jacuzzi. Good people, good music. Plenty to eat and drink.”
“Listen, Correll, it’s probably not the greatest idea.”
“Okay. Look, just stop by for a while. You won’t be under pressure to stay. I just thought you could use a nice change of pace while you’re here.”
Julia rolled her eyes. “You got that right.”
“So, can I put you on the guest list?”
“All right, I guess you can put me down.” Julia accepted against her better judgment. She spent a few more moments talking to Correll about the date, time and place. When Julia hung up, she shook her head toward Monique.
“What the hell was that about?” Monique demanded.
Cortez greeted Julia with a dark frown when he opened his front door. There she stood on his front step, looking up at him with accusing eyes.
Julia prepared for Cortez to tell her to get lost. Of course, the look on his face could have done that just as effectively. Before he could speak, though, Julia raised her hand and took one final step. “I swear I didn’t come here to start anything.”
Cortez leaned against the doorjamb and let his chocolate gaze trail Julia’s body. “You didn’t come to start anything? Then that would leave you with nothing to do.”
Julia nodded, accepting the jibe. “I have something I need to ask you.”
“What?”
“Can I at least come in, Cork?”
Cortez watched her a moment longer. Then he muttered a dark curse and stepped away from the door.
“Are you trying to set me up with Correll?” Julia asked, as soon as they entered the sunken living room of the townhouse.
Cortez’s laugh was full and loud. “I wouldn’t do that to him.”
Julia’s smile reflected no humor. “So why’d he invite me to his party?”
Cortez shrugged and walked past her. “I’ve got no idea.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t care what you believe,” Cortez spat. “I wouldn’t do a thing to keep you around any longer than necessary.”
“Don’t worry, Corky. I won’t be around much longer,” Julia assured him.
“When are you leaving?” he asked, his back turned, trying to retain the firmness in his deep voice.
“Soon. I can’t keep putting off the Haven guys,” she said. “They should hear the news that I couldn’t change your mind about the job ASAP.” Julia waited for Cortez to turn and face her before she continued. “Anyway, I can see how happy you are with Renee. I guess I was ignoring that,” she admitted. Unable to tolerate Cortez’s intense stare studying her, Julia turned and headed toward the cluttered bookcase. “She really is a sweet person. I don’t think I could hurt her like that, you know?” she asked, turning back to face Cortez.
His heavy, black brows arched slightly as he watched Julia. It was obvious that he was searching for the motive behind her change of heart. Unable to believe she was for real, he headed across the room until he stood before her.
Julia lowered her eyes to hide the tears shimmering there. Cortez watched her for a long while. When he saw the moisture sparkling in on th
e thick fringe of her lashes, he lifted her chin with his index finger.
“What are you up to this time?”
“I’m not up to anything,” Julia assured him, blinking past her tears.
Cortez’s wide, sensual mouth tilted upwards into a sinister smirk. It was more than obvious that he was doubtful.
“Look, I admit that I came home to mess things up between you and Renee. It was stupid and wrong of me, but it’s the truth. And I’d be an even bigger fool than I already am to deny, to keep denying, how happy you are. You and Renee are really good together.”
Cortez could not look past the sincerity in Julia’s slanting, black stare. He could not believe she was standing there throwing in the towel. He was shocked that her decision fueled the need to have her in his arms.
Julia’s stare faltered when she felt Cortez’s finger trail from her chin across her jaw to the smooth column of her neck. The burning caress stopped at the front of her sky-blue silk blouse. She gasped when Cortez leaned forward and nibbled the satiny smooth skin beneath her ear.
“Cortez, what are you doing?”
“I don’t believe you’re giving up so easily. It’s not your style,” he whispered, as his lips sucked the diamond stud in her earlobe. Meanwhile, his massive hands explored her full breasts. The nipples instantly hardened and pressed against the delicate silk.
Julia’s gasp resembled a soft hiccup. She ordered herself to remain impassive, trying to ignore the coaxing thumbs caressing the firm tips of her breasts.
“Fighting hasn’t gotten me anywhere,” she managed to reply.
“So you’re just gonna let me go on with my life?” Cortez asked, sliding one long, perfectly toned arm around her waist and pulling her closer. His hand delved beneath her short-sleeved blouse and stroked her bare skin.
Julia opened her mouth to respond, but Cortez’s merciless taunting prevented that. All she could manage was a jerky nod.
Cortez pulled his hand from her chest and cupped her neck. He forced her head before his lips fell upon hers. His tongue nuzzled the dark interior of her mouth. They groaned in unison and the kiss deepened. Their tongues fought passionately as their hands sought to memorize every inch of each other’s bodies.
As Good as the First Time Page 10