Her response struck him as funny, and he tipped his head back and laughed, the sound echoing in the quiet parking lot.
“I’ll accept that answer for now,” he said, “But someday, you’re going to tell me yes without hesitating.”
“We’ll see,” she replied, and then she quickly got in her car and drove away, leaving him standing there staring after her.
As Connor watched her walk toward him now, he longed for her to return his smile, or at least look at him the way she’d looked at him that night. But then, what did he expect? They’d just started getting into a good rhythm with each other when the rug had been ripped out from under them.
A few weeks ago, she would have greeted him with a hug and a kiss (or four), and they would have gone into her house and maybe straight to her bedroom. Or, depending on how hungry she was, they might have eaten first. The woman had a hearty appetite, as he’d quickly discovered. She’d only denied him dinner that first time because she hadn’t wanted to admit they were on a date. Since then, she’d never turned him down for dinner again.
He leaned toward her as she came up on the porch, hoping for a kiss, but she turned her head to the side, and he barely grazed her cheek. The move gave him a sense of foreboding, but he plowed ahead.
“Mind if I come in?”
“That depends,” she said, her voice cool.
“On what?”
“On what you came over here for.”
Sighing, he said, “Maybe I just wanted to see you.”
She gazed at him skeptically, but he caught a flicker of hope there too. It was then that he realized he had his work cut out for him. She wasn’t about to welcome him into her home, let alone her bed, until he smoothed things over with her. And that’s exactly what he’d come there to do.
“Come on, Jules. I think we need to talk, don’t you?”
“Isn’t it the woman who usually says that?” she asked with a thin smile.
“You could have called me anytime.”
“I could say the same to you.”
Connor ran a hand through his spiky hair, which was getting a bit longer than he was used to. He’d been so busy since he’d returned from Denver that he hadn’t had time to get it trimmed. Denver—the trip that had changed his life forever—some for the good, some for the not so good. Case in point, his relationship with Julia, who stood there staring at him as if she were waiting for something. But what it was, he had no idea.
Finally, as if she’d grown tired of standing on the porch, she said, “You can come in, but we’re not having sex.”
Biting back a chuckle, he said solemnly, “Understood.”
“I mean it, Connor. Don’t think you can flash your panty-melting grin at me and expect me to hop into bed with you. I’m still mad at you.”
Obviously, he almost said. “Understood,” he repeated, but this time, he didn’t bother hiding his smile (or his panty-melting grin, as she’d referred to it).
He stood behind her as she inserted her key in the lock, and quietly inhaled her scent—strawberry shampoo and some soft, floral perfume she used. He realized he didn’t know the name of it and vowed to find out. He’d been on a mission to find out everything he could about this woman until he’d found out that he was a father. It still astounded him whenever he thought of it, which was constantly these past few days.
“Are you coming in or what?” Julia said as she held the door open for him.
He’d been so lost in thought that he hadn’t realized he was still standing on the porch. “Yes,” he said, stepping inside. “Thank you.”
He wasn’t sure what he was thanking her for. Maybe it was for not turning him away, which she very well could have. He hadn’t been completely upfront with her, and he regretted that now. Seeing the tight set of her shoulders, and the way she held herself away from him made him angry. Not at her but at himself.
He sucked at relationships. That’s all there was to it. He must have done something wrong with Cam to make her turn to another man, and now he’d screwed up with Julia too. But after walking away from Cam, he had no intention of inviting her back into his life. He didn’t want to walk away from Julia, and he didn’t want her to either.
“Do you want a beer?” she asked as he sat down on the couch. The one they’d made love on more than once.
“Sure, if you do.”
Punching her hands on her hips, she cocked her head and said, “And no trying to get me drunk either.” This time, she allowed herself to smile fully, and it lit up the room. He watched her walk away, admiring the curve of her backside, thinking about how it felt to cup it in his hands.
Settle down, man. You’re lucky she even let you in to talk.
Julia returned with two beers and handed him one before taking a seat on the loveseat opposite him. He was seriously tempted to join her there, but he figured she’d chosen the seat for a reason—to maintain her distance from him. He hated it, but he had to respect her decision, and he promised himself he wouldn’t rush things.
Taking a long slug of his beer, he racked his brain for where to begin while she eyed him and waited patiently. The woman was a picture of cool right then, sipping her beer calmly, the other hand resting in her lap, looking like she had all the time in the world.
If he only knew what was really going through her mind…
Chapter Four
God, he looks good. Too good, as usual. His hair was getting longer, and it was standing up in places where he’d run his hands through it. When he’d put the beer bottle to his lips, she’d wished it was a part of her anatomy instead. Any part would do. Damn! She should not be having this kind of reaction to him right now. You’re supposed to be mad at him, remember?
But she shouldn’t have been surprised. She’d always had this kind of response to Connor, even at the beginning, when she was determined not to like him. Looking back, she realized that their relationship had been explosive from the start. Like she’d explained to Harper, they hadn’t started out as friends and slowly progressed from there. Rather, she’d avoided him like the plague for weeks until she’d decided she didn’t want to anymore. After that, they’d gone from zero to one hundred in no time flat.
The whole thing was mystifying and unlike any relationship she’d had before. Especially with her ex, Alec, where everything had moved along slowly and steadily until it had petered out. She couldn’t imagine this thing she had with Connor dying out like that. Going up in flames, maybe, just like they’d begun. Peering at him over her beer bottle, she remembered what had happened the first time they’d drunk beer together…
The bar/restaurant was already getting crowded, but they managed to find a table that afforded them a view of the stage. While the band members tuned up their instruments, Connor and Julia ordered drinks, but this time, she opted for a beer instead of whiskey, and Connor did the same.
“What do you want to eat?” Connor asked as he perused the menu.
“I’m really not that hungry. I had a late lunch.”
He narrowed his eyes at her over the top of the menu. “You got something against dinner?”
Skimming her hands along the sides of her body, she said, “Does it look like I turn down food to you?”
Connor tipped his head back and laughed.
Ignoring him, she said, “I’m not hungry enough for an entire meal, but I’ll split something with you.”
“Cheeseburger and fries okay?”
“Sure.”
After the waitress took their order and left, Julia settled back in her chair and sipped her beer while she watched the band warm up.
“I always thought it’d be cool to play in a band,” Connor said.
“Do you have any musical talent?”
“Does singing in the shower count?”
“I think everyone does that.”
“Then no. Not one bit!”
She laughed. “I could see you up there with a guitar strapped across your chest, and your tat—” She halted when
she saw the way he was looking at her, his eyes lit up with pleasure. Nothing like making it obvious that she’d checked him out.
“You’ve noticed my tattoo?”
Julia shrugged. “I just happened to notice the edge of it one day when you were working outside at the studio.” Great! Now he’s going to think I’ve been gawking at him out the window.
“Have you been watching me out your window?”
Julia raised her brows at him. “Don’t get cocky. I said I noticed it, that’s all.”
Thankfully, the lead singer of the band stepped up to the microphone, and they stopped talking as he introduced himself and the other band members before leading into their first song. Shortly after that, the waitress brought over their food, and Julia turned her attention to eating and listening to the music.
The band played several well-known country songs interspersed with some of their own music, and Julia got so into it that she’d started singing a familiar ballad aloud. The song was “Amazed” by Lonestar, and it was one of her personal favorites, so she knew all the words by heart. She hadn’t even realized she was singing until she glanced over at Connor and saw him staring. Clamping her mouth shut, she forced herself to stop singing and simply listened to the rest of the song.
When it was over, Connor leaned in and said, “Maybe you’re the one who should be in a band. You have a beautiful voice.”
Julia shook her head vehemently. “Oh. No. I’m like you. I mostly just sing in the shower.”
“Remind me to take a shower with you sometime—just so I can hear your pretty voice again,” he said with a wink.
Leave it to him to make it about sex. Although her lady parts didn’t seem to think it was such a bad idea. Plus, she’d get to see the rest of his tattoo.
They ordered another beer before the band began playing the second set, and soon a few enthusiastic listeners got up to dance on the small dance floor that faced the stage. Julia admired the dancers, who seemed to lose themselves in the music. Of course, maybe their courage had been alcohol induced. In any case, she was content to sit back, watch, and tap her feet to the rhythm beneath the table.
When the band started playing another ballad, Connor suddenly stood up. Holding his hand out to her across the table, he said, “Dance with me.”
He’d formed it as a statement instead of a question, but that didn’t change her answer. “No thanks,” she said and then took another slug of beer.
Standing firm, arm extended, he said, “Come on, Julia. Take a risk.”
She suppressed the urge to shout, “I already am! I’m here with you, aren’t I?” Instead, she said, “The dance floor’s too crowded.”
“We’ll find a space. Come on before the song’s over.”
She’d run out of excuses. Besides, the people on either side of them were watching and waiting to see what she would do. Feeling pressured from all sides, she shoved herself out of the chair and took his hand.
Looking pleased, Connor led her to the edge of the dance floor and settled his hands on her hips. There was an awkward moment where Julia wondered where to put her own hands. Not that she’d never danced with a man before, but this was different. She and Connor weren’t a couple, and they weren’t in love. They were acquaintances at best.
Seeming to sense her indecision, Connor took her hands and placed them on his chest. And then he pulled her a little closer, to where their hips were almost touching. Still feeling uncomfortable, she ventured a glance at him and saw amusement in his eyes. But this time, instead of feeling irritated with him, she saw the humor in it too. They were both feeling their way with each other. The only difference was that Connor was more of a risk taker than her. In fact, he’d been the brave one all along—asking her out repeatedly even when she’d discouraged him, and now asking her to dance even though he’d probably expected her to turn him down.
The least she could do was enjoy the dance. Moving a step closer, she slid her hands further up his chest until they rested on his shoulders. The man had to be almost six feet tall, so she was grateful for the few extra inches that her cowboy boots afforded her; otherwise, she would have looked ridiculous trying to dance with him.
“That’s better,” he said, smiling down at her.
While they turned in a slow circle on the crowded dance floor, she became acutely aware of every point where their bodies touched. His arms had encircled her waist, and she felt the hard ridges of his bones beneath the muscle. In the tight space, their chests rubbed against each other, and she felt her nipples harden in response. Good thing the lighting was dim and she was wearing an extra layer.
When someone jostled them from behind, her hips jutted forward and brushed up against the bulge in his jeans. She tried to pretend she didn’t notice, but when she glanced up at him, he wore a telltale grin.
“Just ignore him. He’s got a mind of his own,” Connor teased.
If only it were that easy. There wasn’t an ounce of skin, bone, or muscle that she could ignore when they were dancing this close. Luckily, the next song had a fast tempo, so they left the dance floor. They finished their beers quietly after that, but every so often, she’d feel his eyes upon her, and when she locked eyes with him, he didn’t bother to look away.
Between the music, the dancing, and the company, all of Julia’s senses had come alive, and the air felt charged with possibilities. She hadn’t enjoyed herself this much in a long time, and she almost hated for the night to end. It was ten o’clock when they left the restaurant, the music still pumping through her veins along with something else—anticipation, fear, hopefulness? It was likely a combination thereof, and her nerves were thrumming by the time they pulled up in her driveway.
Placing her hand on the car door handle, she hurriedly said, “Well, thanks for tonight. I had a good time.” Not waiting for a reply, she started to open the door, but then she realized she’d been talking to an empty space. Connor had already gotten out of the Jeep and come around to her side to open the door and help her out.
“You didn’t have to…”
“I wanted to.”
They walked up to her door in silence, Connor one step behind her. She didn’t look back as she fished her key out of her jacket pocket, inserted it into the lock, and opened it. Once she’d stepped over the threshold, she finally turned around to face him. Bracing his hands on either side of the doorframe, he blocked her view of the outside, but it didn’t matter. She knew what was about to happen, but she didn’t need the neighbors to see.
Taking a step back, she motioned with her hand and said, “Come on in.”
Connor studied her carefully for a few beats before he stepped inside and closed the door firmly behind him.
“Julia? You’re staring at me,” Connor said, breaking her out of her reverie.
“Just waiting for you to talk,” she said.
“Sorry I haven’t called for the past few days. I was busy with work, and then I helped Cam get settled into her parents’ house.”
Julia stiffened. She’d guessed that he’d been spending time with Ava, but she preferred not to think about Cam being there too.
“The thing is, she’s not going to want to stay there for long, and I don’t blame her. It’s not easy moving back in with your parents once you get to be our age.”
She wanted to shout, “None of this is easy!” but instead, she just nodded.
“On the plus side, I think Ava’s getting used to me being around. She actually smiled at me the other day.”
Julia noticed how his face brightened when he said it, and she smiled back. There was no denying that his little girl was adorable.
“Have you told your family about her yet?”
“No, but I plan to this weekend. I’ve invited them all over on Saturday night, and I’d like you to come too. If you want to,” he added.
“Will Cam be there?” She hadn’t meant to ask, but as usual, the words slipped out.
Connor shook his head. “I convinced her to let
me have Ava for a few hours while she went out with her friends.”
Julia tried to hide her relief, but Connor already knew her too well.
“You have nothing to worry about, Jules. It’s Ava I’m interested in, not her mother.”
“Um-hmm.”
Setting his beer bottle on a coaster on the end table (she’d previously trained him on this), he stood up and stalked toward her.
Oh no. It was better when he was across the room from her. She couldn’t think straight when he got too close.
Ignoring her distress, or maybe because of it, Connor removed the beer bottle from her clutches and set it down on another coaster. Then, taking both of her hands in his, he pulled her to standing. She didn’t bother resisting because she didn’t stand a chance against his bulk, but she also didn’t immediately melt into his arms.
Holding her hands, he looked down at her and whispered, “I missed you.”
Stay strong, Julia. Stay strong.
“I should have told you about the baby before I left for Denver. I regret that now.”
She remained silent.
“I’ve been on my own for so long that I’m not used to sharing things. Hell, I was never that good at it, to be honest. But I’d like to be better—for you.”
She’d been staring straight ahead at his chest, and now she glanced up at him to see the sincerity in his expression. But words and actions were two different things, and she questioned his ability to change.
“This whole thing knocked me on my ass, and I didn’t want to take you down with me. You shouldn’t have to deal with any of this, Julia. You deserve better.”
That tripped the switch, and she couldn’t stay silent any longer. Jerking her hands out of his grip, she shoved against his chest, but it was like trying to move a mountain. He didn’t budge, but he looked at her with surprise.
“You don’t get to tell me what I should or shouldn’t have to deal with, Connor. That’s up to me. I’m not some fragile flower that needs to be handled with care. I’m stronger than that, and if you’d have opened up to me and let me in, you would have realized that.”
The Sweetest Mistake (O'Brien Brothers #2) Page 4