by Rye Hart
“He’s an idiot,” I said simply.
Julie nodded. “I realized that afterward,” she said. “It just sucked because I put so much into our relationship. I sacrificed my time and my energy. God, I even helped him track down his long-lost brother.”
“Long-lost brother?” I asked, frowning slightly.
“Yeah,” Julie said. “His mom had a kid just a few years after he was born. She couldn’t keep the baby, so she gave him up for adoption. My ex, he always knew about the baby, but he never met him. He wanted to, though. So, I helped him figure out which adoption agency his mom used and stuff.”
“But you never wanted to meet him yourself?” I asked.
“No.” She shook her head. “He didn’t want that. He said it was too new, too fresh. He didn’t want anything to complicate their relationship. Which, at the time, made total sense to me.”
I laughed. “Not really. If you went through the trouble of helping, you should’ve met his brother. I mean, at the very least.”
Julie shrugged. “I just chalked it up to confusing family dynamics,” she said. “I didn’t want to step on any toes, so I took a backseat.”
“Confusing family dynamics are a bitch,” I said knowingly.
“Yours?” Julie asked, raising her eyebrows.
“I’m adopted, too,” I said. “My parents adopted me when I was a baby.”
“Really?” Julie asked. “Wow, that’s crazy.”
I laughed. “Not really. Honestly, I never thought about it much until I became an adult. My mom told me when I was five, so it was just this thing I always knew. My friends came from their parents, but I didn’t. My parents chose me. In a way, it made me feel special.”
“That’s a really nice way to look at it,” Julie said with a soft smile.
“I think that’s why my parents are so hard on me,” I said. “They tried for years to have a baby of their own, but they couldn’t. So, when they got me, everything changed for them. They worry about me. They agonize over my decisions. They hover.”
Julie snorted. “Sounds like my parents.”
“Tell me more about them,” I said. I leaned forward and took a sip of my champagne.
Julie launched into stories from her childhood while I listened. We ate dinner slowly, neither of us in a rush to get home.
That night, for the first time, Julie and I grew closer. We’d been connected from the moment we met. Our physical attraction was undeniable. We could flirt and banter better than any couple. But after that night, things changed between us. Our connection deepened.
We talked about our families, our exes, our dreams. Anything and everything we could think of.
When I dropped her off that night and kissed her goodnight, it was different. That deep-seated longing was still there—my body ignited when she touched me, just like always—but there was something more beneath the kiss. Something deeper. Something meaningful.
CHAPTER 13
JULIE
Saturday was fast approaching, and I realized I didn’t have a thing to wear to Michael’s holiday party. I scoured my closet, pulling out every dress I owned. Still, I found nothing. By the time Thursday morning arrived, I was desperate for a little help.
I grabbed my phone and dialed Bethany’s number. She picked up on the second ring, her voice lively.
“Jules!” she said brightly. “What’s up?”
“Hey,” I said. “I’m heading into the city to do some shopping, you interested?”
“Hell, yes!” she said. “Just let me call the sitter.”
“You have time,” I said. “I’m not even dressed yet.”
“Take your time,” she said. “I’ll be home all day.”
“I’ll call you when I’m on my way.”
“Great!”
We hung up, and I quickly threw on some comfortable clothes. I doubted I’d be able to find a high-class boutique in Ennis. Plus, I really wanted a day out with my big sister. We hadn’t seen each other since we had dinner with our parents. It was a great reunion, but it didn’t give us a chance to really talk about anything.
I drove into the city, calling Bethany on the way. The route to Bethany’s house was a familiar one. She and Bryan moved into their neighborhood the week after college. They’d been there for almost thirteen years now.
As I pulled into the driveway, I remembered all the times I escaped to this house when I was younger. In high school, I would spend weekends with Bethany and Bryan just to have a break from my mom and dad. Then, in college, I used to bring my laundry over once a month. They never complained. If anything, they were both just happy to see me.
“Sister!” Bethany squealed when I let myself in the front door. “You’re here!”
“I am,” I said. She hugged me quickly and then ushered me inside.
Layla was sitting on the living room floor. A woman I assumed was the babysitter was sitting beside her, showing her different pictures in a book.
“There’s my girl,” I said. I scooped Layla into my arms and kissed her temple. She giggled and squirmed to get away.
“Put me down, Aunt Juwee!” She squealed playfully and kicked off me.
I laughed and set her back down. She was at the age of rambunctious behavior. Being held was for babies, and, as Layla liked to say, she was “a big dirl!”
“You ready to go?” Bethany asked. She grabbed her purse off the couch and threw it over her shoulder.
I smiled. “Yup. See you later, Layla Bug.”
“Bye, bye!” Layla waved at us as we slipped out the front door.
“New babysitter?” I asked as we climbed into my car.
Bethany nodded, a nervous expression crossing her face. She did her best to be a laid-back mother, but I knew it was hard for her.
“She has great references,” Bethany said. “But who knows?”
“You’re a worrier,” I said. “Just like Mom.”
“Do not compare me to our mother,” Bethany said severely. “I am nothing like she was.”
“If you say so.” I laughed.
Bethany scowled at me, but her mood quickly brightened as we drove closer to the city. There were a few shops downtown that I wanted to check out. I wasn’t sure how nice the party was going to be. Knowing Michael, it would be high-class to the utmost degree. That last thing I wanted was to be underdressed.
“What are we looking for exactly?” Bethany asked as we stepped into the first shop.
“I need a dress for this weekend,” I said. “I’m going to a holiday party at the Four Seasons, so I need something really nice.”
“Whoa,” Bethany said. She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Four Seasons? Fancy.”
“Not really,” I said with a shrug. “It’s just a company Christmas party.”
“For your new job?” she asked.
“No…” I trailed off, not sure how to explain things.
Bethany looked at me quizzically. I didn’t know how much I wanted to tell her just yet. Things between Michael and me were still new.
“Spill,” she said flatly. She put her hands on her hips and stared me down the way only a big sister could. “Now.”
I sighed and started flipping through the sales rack. I barely saw the dresses that slipped through my fingers, but it was a useful distraction until I could figure out the best way to explain.
“His name is Michael,” I finally said. “We met at this little café in Ennis. He’s really nice.”
Bethany just kept staring at me. She wanted more details, that was obvious.
“And?” she pressed impatiently.
“He owns his own company,” I said. “Making tools for oil rigs and things like that.”
“Wow.” Bethany nodded approvingly. “Wealthy?”
I nodded. “Extremely.”
“Hence the fancy-ass Christmas party,” Bethany said with a knowing nod.
“Yup.”
I hoped she would let the subject drop, but I should have known better. As we fiddled w
ith the dresses, her eyes kept returning to my face.
“What?” I finally snapped. “What else do you want to know?”
She laughed. “Everything!”
“Fine.” I groaned and turned to face her head on. “He’s amazing, okay? I’m completely smitten, and I feel like a total idiot for it.”
“Why?” Bethany asked. “Smitten is a good thing.”
“Not right now.” I sighed. “I just got my heart stepped on. I don’t know if falling for another guy is the best decision right now.”
“You can’t control when these things happen,” Bethany said. “Sometimes, you just meet someone and boom. The rest is history.”
“Easy for you to say,” I said. “You met the love of your life while you were still a kid.”
“I got lucky,” Bethany admitted. “This thing with Michael, is it serious?”
“We—”
Before I could finish my sentence, a familiar face caught my eye. Joshua was walking past the shop. He stopped right outside and looked around for a few seconds. My feet were frozen in place. I told myself to move, to duck behind the rack of dresses and hide, but I couldn’t. I just stood there and stared until, finally, he kept walking.
“Was that Joshua?” Bethany asked, her eyes wide.
“Yup.” I shook my head and exhaled slowly. “That was close.”
“You haven’t seen him since the breakup?” Bethany asked.
“God no,” I said. “And I don’t plan on it.”
“How do you feel about everything?” Bethany asked. “I mean, now that you’ve met someone new? Do you miss Joshua at all?”
I paused to think. My immediate answer would have been no, but this was my sister I was talking to. I wanted to tell her the truth, even if I didn’t want to admit it to myself.
“Sometimes,” I said softly. “But it’s not really him that I miss. Just the routine we used to have. Honestly, I barely think about him anymore.”
“Really?” Bethany asked. “So, then… Michael?”
“I don’t know how serious we are,” I said. “But I like him a lot.”
“Are you sleeping with him?” she asked.
“Personal much?” I laughed.
“I used to change your diapers,” she said with a scowl. “Just tell me.”
“Yes,” I said. “We’re sleeping together.”
“So, things are pretty serious then?” she asked again.
“They’re moving in that direction,” I said.
Bethany beamed and returned her attention to the task at hand. She quickly found me four dresses to try on, three of which were the perfect shade of blue to match my eyes. I grabbed a black dress that I thought would look great on me and hurried into the dressing room.
After trying on all the dresses, I still hadn’t found the right one. Bethany pushed for one of the blue ones, but it didn’t feel right. I wanted something perfect, something striking but elegant.
“You’re being too picky,” Bethany said.
“I just want to look nice,” I said defensively.
“And you will,” Bethany said. “But you just have to pick one. You look amazing in all of them.”
“You’re my sister,” I said. “You have to say that.”
She shook her head. “False. I would tell you if you looked like a bag of crap.”
I laughed and dragged her out of the store. There were a couple more shops down the street that I wanted to try.
“Do you think he’s still around?” Bethany asked, lowering her voice as we stepped onto the street.
“Who?” I asked.
“Joshua,” Bethany said.
“Oh.” I blinked. Joshua had been completely driven from my mind. Bethany questioned me about Michael so much that I barely had time to think about anything else.
“I know you don’t want to run into him,” Bethany said.
“Who cares?” I said, waving my hand casually.
“Really?” Bethany raised her eyebrows.
“Joshua who?”
I pranced off down the sidewalk with Bethany laughing beside me.
CHAPTER 14
MICHAEL
My jaw dropped when I saw Julie step out of her house. She was wearing a floor-length blue dress. It was the exact same shade as her eyes and, for a second, I couldn’t breathe. My eyes trailed down her body, taking in the full effect of her appearance.
The dress hugged her breasts and waist, fanning out at her hips and then trailing lightly down to her feet. It was strapless, so she wore a sheer wrap around her shoulders. Her high heels matched the wrap perfectly, and when she spun in a circle, I felt my insides tighten. My body reacted to her without my permission, driving me forward until I was standing right in front of her.
I reached for her hand, holding her at arm’s length so I could keep admiring her. She blushed slightly, making her look even more beautiful. When I kissed her lips, she sighed and rested her hand on my chest. It took all my strength to pull away from her. The limo was waiting, and I couldn’t afford to be late to my own party.
“Come on,” I said, tugging her gently toward the car. “Let’s go before I change my mind.”
“Change your mind about what?” Julie asked.
“About going to this stupid party,” I said.
“It’s your party,” she laughed, as I held open the back door of the limo.
“Which is why we have to go,” I said with a sigh. “But that dress looks like it was specifically designed to torture me.”
“Oh?” She raised her eyebrows as I slid in beside her. “You like?”
“I love,” I growled.
I kissed her quickly, sliding my tongue deep into her mouth. Her answering shiver was all I needed. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her closer to me while she tangled her fingers in my hair.
The driver pulled away from Julie’s house, but we barely noticed. We were lost in each other’s bodies, our hands roaming freely wherever we chose.
It wasn’t until I ran my fingers through her silky hair that Julie finally pulled away. She was flushed and breathless, her pale blue eyes burned with desire.
“We should stop,” she said, panting slightly. “Before you completely wreck my hair.”
“That’s not possible,” I said softly. “Come here.”
I kissed her again, but she pushed me away gently. With a soft smile, she settled in beside me so we could both calm down. Looking down at my lap, I knew she was right. I couldn’t exactly show up to the Four Seasons with a raging erection.
I kept my arm wrapped tightly around her while we drove toward the city. When we arrived, the party hadn’t started yet. Marcy insisted I show up early so I’d be able to greet all the guests as they arrived.
“This place looks amazing,” Julie said when we walked into the grand ballroom. “I can’t believe you did all this just for a company party.”
“The better you treat your employees and clients, the more successful your business will be.”
I grinned as Julie rolled her eyes at my professional rambling. Marcy and I spent over two months planning this party, making sure every detail was perfectly in place. Now that Julie was on my arm, I wanted the night to be even better.
“Let me get you a drink,” I said as we slowly made our way farther into the room.
“Oh, I can get it,” Julie said. “I know you have stuff to do.”
“Not yet,” I said. “Marcy took care of everything. I just have to greet the guests when they start to arrive.”
“When will that be?” Julie asked.
“Twenty minutes or so,” I said.
I led her over to the bar area and got us each a martini. Julie sipped hers slowly while I downed my first one in record time.
Julie chuckled. “It’s that kind of night, huh?”
“To be completely honest, I hate these things.,” I said with a shrug. “Besides, I reserved a hotel room upstairs, so I wouldn’t have to worry about getting home tonight.”
“Oh!” I said, suddenly understanding the implications of my words. “The limo is paid for through the morning, so you’re free to leave whenever you want to. You don’t have to stay. I mean, you can… I mean, I would love it if you stayed, but…”
I realized I was rambling and quickly trailed off, letting the end of my sentence disappear. Julie just laughed and took a step toward me. She drank the rest of her martini in one gulp and then turned to order another.
When she turned back to face me, she was grinning devilishly. My stomach flipped as she moved closer. Her hand was on my chest before I could blink. Then, her lips were on mine, and the entire world disappeared.
“Having a room upstairs sounds perfect,” she whispered as she pulled away.
I grinned and wrapped my arm around her waist. The party would be starting soon, and I needed to get back to the entrance.
“There you are!” Marcy called out as Julie and I came into view. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
“We were at the bar,” I said simply. “Marcy, this is Julie. Julie, this is Marcy.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Marcy said with a smile.
“You too,” Julie said.
“Mr. Smart.” Marcy turned her attention back to me. “The guests are beginning to arrive. The valet is directing them this way now. Are you ready to open the doors?”
“Of course,” I said. “Whenever you are.”
Marcy nodded and hurried forward. She threw open the doors to the ballroom and then stood back. I could already hear footsteps approaching.
“Marcy?” I said.
“Yes?” She turned to face me.
“Remember to have fun tonight, okay? You’ve earned it.”
Marcy smiled. Her entire body seemed to relax. Julie squeezed my arm, and when I looked at her, she was smiling appreciatively.
“What’s that smile for?” I asked quietly.
“You’re a good boss.” She shrugged. “It’s just surprising, is all.”
“You thought I’d be a tyrant?” I asked.
“Something like that,” she teased me with a wink.