By that time the phone was silent again.
“If someone’s calling this late, Jude, it might be important,” she said. “If you want to get it, I won’t go anywhere.”
You should use the opportunity to get dressed and tell him you need to go. You should go. Now.
“Nothing is as important as this.”
His deft fingers coaxed a moan out of her and all thoughts but the feel of his hands on her body and the hard length of him in her hand evaporated.
Until the damn phone rang again.
“Jude, please answer that.” She got out of bed and fished his phone out of the pocket of his jeans.
“Here.” She handed it to him. “Just answer it.”
So they’ll stop calling.
She’d stolen a peek at the name displayed on the LCD screen. “It’s someone named Bob.”
“Yeah, that’s my agent. I assigned him a special ring tone. That’s why I wasn’t in any hurry to answer it.”
“So talk to him. See what he wants. Tell him you’re busy.”
Juliette picked up her dress off the floor and covered herself with it as she sat down on the side of the bed.
“It’s not that easy,” Jude murmured as he tossed the phone toward the foot of the bed.
He didn’t have to say another word for her to know Bob was probably calling him to pressure him about the season. Jude probably didn’t want to talk in front of her because he’d already made up his mind.
Her heart squeezed. Suddenly, she felt exposed and vulnerable. Her eyes stung with unshed tears, which was crazy. He hadn’t promised her anything. She’d even been talking about sex with no commitment. Where were these expectations coming from? Feeling his eyes on her, she slipped her dress over her head—as much to hide the threatening tears as to cover herself.
“I need to go home. Obviously, you have some things you need to take care of that you can’t do while I’m here.”
He reached out and touched her arm. “I wish you’d stay.”
She stood up and retrieved her panties. Slid into them.
Ugh. Jude had driven her out here. Unless she wanted to walk home, she was at his mercy.
She wasn’t good at things like this. Then again, she didn’t know what this was—other than a big mistake.
“Jules?”
She didn’t answer.
“Jules, look at me, please.”
When she glanced up, he was sitting on the side of the bed, the old comforter draped loosely over his lap. She dug her nails into her palms to keep herself from giving in to the tears that threatened.
“The only thing I want to take care of is what we were doing before we were interrupted.”
His eyes crinkled at the corners and danced with that same old Jude mirth that had always drawn people to him. He was charming that way. It wasn’t that everything was a joke. He just had a lighthearted, breezy way about him that made people like him. That made women forget what was good for them and drop their panties in the middle of the floor. She felt her neck turning red and wished that she had some place to hide until it subsided, but she didn’t. Even though she was fully clothed now, she felt exposed and 100 percent vulnerable to him.
“Jude, it’s not that I’m trying to keep you from achieving your dream. You have to understand I would never do that. It’s just that this is so dangerous. I don’t think I could bear it if I lost you.”
He stood up and slung the blanket around his middle. It rode dangerously low on his hips. The image of him standing there in all his sexy glory let her eyes confirm everything the feel of him had promised as they’d made love—the broad shoulders, the muscled chest, the washboard abs. Juliette’s mouth went dry. No wonder he’d caused such a sensation when that bull had torn off his shirt and he’d appeared bare-chested on national TV.
He was beautiful.
The people at Copenhagen would be idiots to let him go. She would be an idiot to let him go.
“I think that means you still love me.”
Yes.
No!
Liar.
“I’m still in love with you. I never stopped loving you and if you feel the same way, we will find a way to make this work.”
Not if he couldn’t let go of this obsession to be on top.
“I don’t know. I need to go. Will you take me home? My mom’s there and—” She shook her head. “I know I’m not a teenager anymore, but I need some time to think about things.”
The more she was around him, the harder it was going to be to say goodbye when he left. Because from the sounds of things, it seemed like he had already made up his mind to leave.
Chapter Nine
“Whose car is that?” Jude asked when he pulled up in front of Juliette’s house.
“It’s Howard’s,” Juliette said. “I’m glad he’s here. Maybe he can talk some sense into my mother.”
Jude had to park behind Howard’s Lincoln, which was parked next to Guinevere’s car in the driveway. Juliette’s Prius was in the garage, where she always parked it. If everyone kept converging at her house, maybe she should start parking in the driveway so she wouldn’t be blocked in. But that was the least of her worries right now.
She sat in Jude’s truck for a moment, gazing at the front porch. The light was on. It glowed a soft amber. Her mother must’ve turned it on, maybe when Howard arrived. He was a good man. Proof of that was that he was here, no doubt trying to win her mother back. Guinevere wasn’t an easy person to get along with, but Howard seemed to be the yin to her yang. He wasn’t a pushover by any means, but up until this point, he seemed to know how to handle her.
Juliette hoped they were in there working out their problems. Her mother may not have been lucky in love, but Howard was good for her. They were good for each other. And with Howard there, Guinevere might be distracted enough to forget about giving Juliette the inquisition over spending time with Jude tonight.
Juliette’s defenses were low right now. Her emotions were probably written all over her face. Emotions of love and confusion and...she didn’t know what.
If she’d been confused before she left the house this evening, her head was spinning now.
Jude said he still loved her. That he’d never stopped loving her. She loved him. But what were they supposed to do when even though they wanted each other, they seemed to want completely different things in life?
It seemed like an impossible situation.
Making love to him had been the equivalent of ripping open a wound that had scarred over without healing. She could see that now. After the fact. Now that she sat here aching and raw. More than ever it seemed as though he was going to risk everything and ride one more year.
She’d had to grit her teeth to keep from throwing down the ultimatum, If you love me you won’t go.
She hadn’t said it because she shouldn’t have to say it. If he loved her he wouldn’t go; he wouldn’t take the risk and put himself in danger. It should be that simple.
But he did love her and she loved him. At least they had that...even though it complicated the situation.
When it came down to it, she loved him so much that she wouldn’t force him into a situation he wouldn’t choose of his own volition.
“Thanks for driving me home,” she said.
He answered her with a kiss, slow and sweet. And she kissed him back trying to memorize this moment in case it was the last time. Because once she got out of his truck, it should be the last time—until they both figured out what they wanted and knew they were on the same page.
“I need to go, before my mother starts flicking the porch lights on and off.”
Jude laughed and leaned his head back against the headrest, running his hand through his hair. “Remember how she used to do that? She couldn’t
stand the thought of us being alone out here in my truck.”
“She was so concerned about what the neighbors would think,” Juliette said, the memory bringing a sad smile to her lips. “Never mind that her flashing the lights was like a neon sign that made everyone look.”
They laughed again and Jude leaned in and kissed her one more time. Then he pulled back just enough to lean his forehead against hers, his palm still cupping her cheek. He stroked her jawline for a moment before he said, “I guess we should say good-night. But I don’t want to say good-night. I want to share your bed. I want your face to be the last thing I see before I close my eyes and the first thing I see when I wake up with you in the morning.”
The thought awakened her hunger for him all over again.
“Guinevere would love that, wouldn’t she?” The question was more of a reminder to herself than it was meant for him.
“And I’m worried that once you get out of this truck, everything between us is going to change,” he confessed.
“Well, I think I made it clear how you could make sure everything ended up in your favor,” she answered. “At least as far as I’m concerned.”
“I know.” He scrubbed his hand over his eyes. “Don’t give up on me. Let me work on it, okay? I may still have some tricks up my sleeve.”
She nodded.
“You’re still going to be my date to the homecoming dance, right?” he said.
“I don’t know. You never asked me to be your date.”
He smiled and pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. “I’m asking you now. Juliette Lowell, will you go to the homecoming dance with me?”
She kissed him. “I’d love to go to the homecoming dance with you.”
“I’m getting you a corsage,” he said as he opened his car door.
“What? Wait. Where are you going?” Juliette asked.
He unbuckled his seat belt. “I’m walking you to the door.”
She unbuckled her seat belt, but stayed put, smiling at the idea of a corsage, letting him be the gentleman and open her car door. He took her hand and helped her out, pulling her into his arms for one more kiss.
“You need to get inside, before I get us both in trouble,” he said into her lips.
“My dress is blue,” she said.
His brows furrowed and he glanced down between them. “No, it’s not, it’s pink.”
“My homecoming dress. It’s blue.”
His eyes flashed. “Okay. Noted.”
He slipped an arm around her waist and held her tight against his side as he walked her up to the porch. He was just leaning in for one last kiss when the door opened.
“Is that you, Juliette?” It was Howard. Even so, the two of them flinched apart.
“Hi, Howard. Yes, it’s me. I’m glad you’re here. How’s my mother?”
Howard regarded Jude critically. “She’s fine. Fine. Everything is just fine. No worries here. She didn’t want to leave until you got home, and I wanted to meet your young man. I understand he’s quite a local celebrity. Howard Albright,” he said as he extended his hand to Jude.
Jude met his grip. “Jude Campbell, sir. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Yes. Yes. Very nice to meet you. Come inside, both of you. I brought your mother her favorite rum cake. Come in and have a piece with us.”
Jude hung back. “Thanks for the offer, but—”
“Nonsense,” Howard said. “It’ll take fifteen minutes. Come in. I’ve already got the coffee brewing.”
Juliette could smell the coffee when she stepped into the foyer. It smelled good. One of Howard’s many attributes was that he knew how to brew the perfect cup of joe. Juliette turned back to Jude. “You might as well come in. When Howard gets his mind made up, there’s no talking him out of it.”
She smiled at Jude, hoping that he understood she was humoring the older man.
“Well, since you put it that way...” Jude said.
Howard had already disappeared inside the house. Juliette hung back in the foyer while Jude stepped inside and shut the door. Franklin finally realized she was home, and he moseyed in to meet her. Looking sleepy, the red-and-white dog dropped down and stretched his front paws out in front of him and kept his rear end up in the air. He threw back his furry little head and howled his hello.
Juliette bent down and stroked his velvety ear. “Hi, buddy. Are you glad I’m home? I missed you.”
The little dog turned his attention to Jude and howled again. This time the modulated yowl sounded like a yodel. Jude squatted down and gave the little guy some strokes. The dog thanked him with a lick on the nose. “Whoa there,” he said as he stood up. “We don’t know each other that well. If we did you would know I don’t kiss on the first date.”
“Oh, yeah?” Juliette said. “That’s not what I hear.”
Her right eyebrow shot up. Jude pulled her into his arms again.
“Juliette, do you want some cake?” Guinevere called. “I’m plating it now.”
It was as if the woman had some sort of radar or uncanny sixth sense that told her the most inopportune moments to insert herself. But the thing was, they weren’t eighteen anymore. If she wanted to stand in the foyer of her own home and kiss a guy that her mother still didn’t approve of, she would do it. Except that she’d promised herself she wouldn’t kiss Jude again once she’d gotten out of the truck.
Okay, make that once he’d left the house.
Juliette didn’t answer her mother about the cake. Instead, she leaned in and tasted Jude’s lips again. She just couldn’t get enough.
“Juliette, cake?” Guinevere insisted.
“Yes, cake. Two pieces, please. One for me, one for Jude. And coffee for both of us. Thank you.” She kissed him again.
“Come on,” Jude said.
They walked into the kitchen, squinting into the bright light.
Guinevere made a point of looking at the clock. “It’s rather late, don’t you think?”
“It’s ten thirty,” Juliette answered. “I’m a grown woman. I can stay out as late as I choose.”
Guinevere harrumphed and carefully slid a piece of rum cake onto a plate.
“So, young man,” Howard said. “You’re dating my daughter? Technically, she might be my stepdaughter, but she’s the daughter I’ve always wanted and I’d like to know your intentions.”
It should’ve rankled Juliette. Did Howard think she was sixteen?
She sighed silently to herself.
But he was so earnest—not gruff in the least, but truly concerned for her well-being—that she simply turned to Jude and gave him the big eyes. Actually, she was interested in hearing what he would say being put on the spot like this.
Guinevere remained uncharacteristically quiet as Jude opened up and told Howard the truth—that he was at a crossroads in his life. He told him about winning the championship and his struggles with injuries the following year. He told him about Copenhagen and how they were still trying to come to a meeting of the minds and they would finalize things when they met at the Bull Riding Expo in Vegas the week of the twenty-third. He told him about his idea of opening a bull riding school in Celebration—something with a charitable mission.
Juliette was heartened at how open and forthright Jude was with this man he’d just met. She shouldn’t have been surprised, because for as long as she’d known Jude, he’d always been a what you see is what you get kind of guy.
She was just as surprised by the way Howard opened up.
“I understand where you’re coming from, son,” he said. “Life will throw you a curveball once in a while. You just have to roll with it and not give up. Even at my age—and I’ve been in business for a long time—I’m in the midst of a business crisis as we speak. I don’t mind sharing it with you because maybe you can
learn something.”
He glanced at Guinevere and smiled knowingly.
“Oh, Howard, I don’t understand why you feel the need to air our private business.”
But that was the end of her protest. She turned her attention to her plate, forked up a bite of cake and chewed it slowly as Howard continued.
“It seems I’ve hit a financial setback, but I’m not throwing my hands up. When something’s important, you work hard and you protect it. You persevere, because in the end it comes down to a battle between you and defeat. If you want it bad enough you will win. I’ve been working extra hours to court a new client that could make or break me. And it’s not going to break me. I’ll tell you that right now.
“I’m going to digress for a moment. Juliette, your mother has been worried because I’ve been working extra hours. I should’ve told her what was going on, but I didn’t. I didn’t want to worry her. But I want you to know everything is fine. I would never do anything to hurt your mother. She’s my pride and joy.”
Guinevere’s face softened and she looked downright smitten. Juliette hadn’t seen her mother look like that since—well, since before Juliette’s father had passed away.
“I’m telling you both this because, Jude, I expect nothing less from you where Juliette is concerned. You seem to be a nice, responsible young man and you seem to be crazy about our daughter. I get the feeling she’s crazy about you. And I have to say, if I were in the financial position to invest in your bull riding school, I just might do it. In fact, give me a few months to get back on solid footing and send me a proposal and we’ll see what I can do.”
Because Howard was just that kind of man. Honest, steadfast and generous.
For the first time in the history of Jude and Juliette, Guinevere hadn’t snarled at Jude as she said good-night and went home with Howard, leaving the two of them alone.
It was a moment Juliette had longed for. It only added to her confusion.
It would’ve been so easy to ask Jude to stay the night. It would’ve been like heaven waking up in his arms, but even though the universe had shifted and the world had tipped on its axis with her mother’s apparent acquiescence, Juliette knew until Jude made his final verdict in Vegas on October 23, she needed to slow things way down and protect her heart. She needed to put some solid distance between them starting now.
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