Beach Reads Boxed Set

by Marie Force

  New tears wet Juliana’s cheeks. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

  He took her hand. “On Friday night I tried to get Paige to marry me right away. Do you know why?”

  Juliana shook her head.

  “Because I was terrified after I met you. I already knew everything was about to change, and I guess a part of me thought I should try to stop it. But I was powerless to stop it. In those first moments with you, I knew I wouldn’t marry her.”

  “Michael,” she sobbed. “Stop. Stop saying these things.”

  “Juliana, any man who would let you think, for even one minute, that you aren’t enough for him doesn’t deserve you.”

  “Please,” she whimpered. “Please stop.”

  With a hand to her chin, he turned her to him. “I knew I was falling for you when you jumped right in with Rachelle on Sunday night and did her hair. I knew it when I found you dancing in the kitchen when you were making me dinner. I knew it because my heart almost stopped when you told me someone hassled you on the street. I knew it when I heard you talking to Rachelle about what she saw, and you said all the right things—all the things she needed to hear.” He ran his thumb along her jaw. “And when I felt your fingers in my hair I knew I wanted them there always. Don’t tell me I don’t know what I’m saying.”

  He leaned over to kiss her gently, without demand, and for one breathless moment, she let him. Then she pulled away. “Michael. My head is spinning. Please don’t.”

  “I’m sorry. I know this isn’t a good time for you to be hearing this, but I couldn’t let you think this was about rebounds. I’m not going to pressure you or push you, so you don’t have to worry about that. I’m going to be so wrapped up in this trial for the next month or two I won’t have time for anything else. I just wanted you to know.”

  “I can’t stay with you anymore. Not now.”

  “Why? I just said I’m not going to do anything about it.”

  “Because everything’s going to be weird between us.”

  He took her hand again. “It won’t be weird because you’ll hardly see me. I don’t want you to go.”

  “I don’t know… I’ll only stay if you promise not to mention any of this again. I can’t deal with it on top of everything else.”

  “I promise I won’t say another word about it until you do.”

  She pulled her hand out of his grasp. “That’s not going to happen.”

  “We’ll see,” he said, starting the car to drive them home. “We’ll just see about that.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The next morning Michael sat at his desk lost in thought. He couldn’t believe the way he had bared his soul to Juliana the night before. He didn’t regret anything, though. Everything he told her was true.

  She hadn’t said a word to him on the way home. Once they arrived she went straight up to her room and closed the door. Despite her silence, Michael knew she had feelings for him, too. He could see it in the way she looked at him when she thought he wasn’t paying attention.

  That she was still mired in a ten-year relationship gave him pause. “But hey,” he said out loud, “she’s living in my house and not even talking to him.” The thought made Michael feel better about his chances with her until he remembered how wrong he’d been about Paige. But Juliana was different from Paige in every possible way. “That’s one thing I know for sure.”

  His assistant, Angela, came to the door. “Talking to yourself, Michael?”

  “Huh?”

  “Your mother’s on line two.” The demands from the press had gotten so out of hand in the last few days that Angela was screening his calls.

  “Thanks.”

  Angela left him to take the call.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “How are you, Michael? They mentioned your trial on the Today show this morning.”

  “We’re getting a lot of attention. Too much.”

  “How’re you holding up, sweetheart?”

  “Good. I’m ready to go.”

  “You know we’re all pulling for you. So how was the cotillion in Dixie last weekend?” His mother had long ago stopped pretending to approve of the Simpsons or their lifestyle.

  “It was interesting. I’ve actually been meaning to call you since I got home.”

  “Oh? Why?”

  “Well, I’m sorry to report the engagement is off.”

  “What? Are you serious?”

  “Try to contain your euphoria, Mother,” Michael said with a dry chuckle.

  “What happened?”

  “It’s a long story. Suffice it to say I finally saw the light.”

  “Hallelujah! Your sisters will be thrilled to hear this.”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Are you all right, Michael? I know you loved her. I’ll never understand why, but I’m sure you must be upset. I don’t mean to make light of it.”

  Michael laughed. “Yes, you do. I’m fine. Believe me, by the time the whole thing blew up, I could hardly remember what it was I loved about her.”

  “She must’ve taken it well.” Maureen’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

  “Yeah, not so much. In fact, I’m quite certain I haven’t seen the last of her. But right now all I’m thinking about is the trial.” Well, not all, but he wasn’t ready to tell his mother about Juliana. Not yet.

  “I know you’re busy, so I won’t keep you. I’m sorry if you’re hurting, Michael.”

  “I’m fine. Really.”

  “Keep us posted on the trial. We’ll have our fingers crossed for you.”

  “Thanks, Mom. Give my love to everyone.”

  “I will. You know you have ours.”

  She ended the call promising to check on him in a week or so. He smiled when he imagined the news of his broken engagement burning up the phone lines in Newport’s Fifth Ward and had no doubt he would hear from his sisters before the day was out.

  On her way home from her mother’s that evening, Juliana stopped at Collington Street where she cleaned out the fridge, took out the trash, and stashed the mail in her purse to deal with later. She was in and out of there in ten minutes. Even after the emotional exchange with Michael the night before, she still couldn’t bear to be in the house she had shared with Jeremy.

  Michael’s words had haunted her all day as she made polite small talk with her clients. How could he be falling for me? It’s preposterous. We haven’t even known each other a week!

  But there was something, Juliana acknowledged. She had felt it herself. More than once. It wasn’t love, though. No way. Things like that happened in the movies, not to real people.

  At times she wondered if her head would just explode from thinking too much. Ironically, though, she hadn’t had the urge to call Jeremy all day.

  Letting herself into Michael’s house, she flipped on the lights and supposed she could consider it her house, too, since she had written him a check for two hundred and fifty dollars. It wasn’t much, but it was all she could afford. He took the check only when she insisted.

  In the microwave, she defrosted the pork chops she brought from the freezer on Collington Street and put two potatoes in the oven. While the chops defrosted, she went upstairs to gather clothes from both their bedrooms and threw in a load of darks. All the while she tried not to think about anything other than what she was doing. Her brain was tired and overtaxed.

  Back downstairs she put the seasoned pork chops under the broiler, tossed a salad, and went through the mail she had picked up earlier. Mixed in with the junk mail and bills was a letter from Jeremy.

  She sat on one of the kitchen stools and opened it with shaking hands. Just the sight of his familiar handwriting made her heart beat faster as anticipation battled with anxiety and dread.

  [LTR]

  Dear Jule,

  I haven’t spoken to you in two days—the longest two days of my life. You said we couldn’t talk to each other, but you never mentioned writing. I hope you’ll read this and not just throw it away. I
can’t believe I agreed to this foolish plan of yours, but I also can’t believe how stupid I was. If I could hit rewind and undo anything in my life it would be that conversation we had on the beach.

  I’ve discovered since you left that freedom is a funny thing. Last week I longed for it. This week I’m terrified of it. I don’t want anyone but you. I know you won’t believe me because of what an ass I’ve been, but it’s true. I tried to go out with someone else. We went to dinner, but everything was wrong because she wasn’t you. I didn’t care about what she was saying, I didn’t want to kiss her, and I certainly didn’t want to have sex with her. I only want you. I’ve made a terrible mistake, Jule, and I know if I lose you I’ll be sorry about it for the rest of my life.

  All I think about is that you’re going to meet someone else. I worry about that constantly. It keeps me awake at night. Please don’t meet someone you like better than me. I think that would kill me. I’ve let my boss know I’m leaving here in three months whether the install is done or not. Even if I have to quit my job, I’m coming home to you.

  I’ve made mistakes. I know I have. We should’ve been married years ago. It’s my fault we aren’t, but I plan to rectify that as soon as we’re together again. Until then, I want you to know I’m thinking about you all the time.

  All my love,

  Jeremy

  [END LTR]

  Juliana read the letter again. All the things she had waited years to hear, mixed in with a few things she could have lived forever without knowing. He had longed to be free. Free of her. And it had taken him just two days to go out with someone else—the same day he sent the roses. He sure had been busy that day.

  After several minutes spent processing the letter, she got up to flip the chops and pour a glass of wine. When everything was ready, she pushed the food around on her plate without really eating much of it. She made a plate for Michael, wrapped it in foil, and left it in the oven on warm. The doorbell rang just as she finished cleaning up the kitchen.

  Looking through the peephole, she swallowed hard and had to think for a second about what she should do. Reluctantly, she opened the door.

  “Who are you?” Paige asked, pushing past Juliana. She carried a large shoulder bag and disregarded Juliana the way she would the hired help.

  Juliana cleared her throat and extended her hand to the other woman. “I’m Michael’s roommate, Juliana.”

  Paige ignored her outstretched hand. “Michael doesn’t have a roommate.”

  Juliana dropped her hand. “He does now.”

  “Where is he?”

  “At work.” Juliana noticed that Paige still wore her enormous diamond engagement ring.

  “Fine.” Paige took off her coat and plopped down on the sofa. “I’ll wait.”

  “Suit yourself,” Juliana said on her way upstairs.

  “Thank you, I will,” Paige said in a bitchy tone.

  Juliana closed the bedroom door and reached for her cell phone.

  “Hey,” she said when Michael answered. “Where are you?”

  “Why? Do you miss me?”

  “Really. Where are you?”

  “Juliana? What’s wrong?”

  “Um, Paige is here.”

  He groaned. “Tell me you’re kidding me!”

  “Sorry.”

  “Oh, God, that’s the last thing I feel like dealing with tonight.”

  “I shouldn’t have let her in, but I didn’t know what to do.”

  “It’s fine. She would’ve waited for me. At least this way I’m warned. Are you okay? Was she nasty to you?”

  “She wasn’t thrilled to discover you have a roommate, especially a female roommate.”

  He laughed. “I don’t imagine she was. I’ll be home in about fifteen minutes.”

  “Should I make popcorn?”

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying this,” he joked.

  “I’m only kidding. I’m not enjoying it.”

  “I know.”

  “Michael?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Don’t let her hit you again.”

  After a long moment of silence, he said, “I won’t.”

  Michael parked on the street and rested his head on the steering wheel. He had put in a fourteen-hour day, and all he wanted was to have some dinner, put his feet up, and just be with Juliana. Instead he was steeling himself for yet another showdown with Paige.

  After giving himself one last moment to prepare, he stepped into the living room.

  Paige jumped up. “Oh God, Michael! What did you do to your hair?” She made a face. “Well, it’ll grow back before the wedding.”

  He counted to ten before he allowed himself to speak. “What are you doing here?” Inside the front door, he dropped the bag of work he hoped to get to that night and pulled off his coat.

  Paige followed him into the kitchen. “Who’s that girl who says she’s your roommate?”

  “My roommate.” Reaching for the phone book, he smelled something mouthwatering coming from the oven, and his stomach let out a hungry growl. In the yellow pages, he found what he was looking for and picked up the phone. “Yes, I need a taxi at 8 South Chester Street. Thirty minutes? Okay. Thanks.”

  “Michael, what are you doing? We need to talk.”

  “We’re not going to talk, but you are going to listen.” He took a deep breath to summon the calm he needed to get through this. “I’m starting what’ll probably be the biggest trial of my career on Monday. Today’s Thursday. That means the trial starts in three days. I do not need this right now! So you’re leaving in…” He checked his watch. “Twenty-eight minutes. Go home and leave me alone. Am I clear? Is there any part of that you didn’t understand?”

  “Where am I supposed to go at nine o’clock at night?”

  Michael shrugged. “Not my problem.”

  “I’m not leaving. The least you can do is let me spend the night here.”

  “You’re not spending the night. Check into a hotel. I don’t care what you do, but you are leaving.”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh my God! You’ve got someone else! All this time I’ve been in Florida, you’ve been seeing someone else. She’s living here!”

  Michael forced himself to remain calm. “I have not been seeing someone else.”

  She ignored him and stormed into the living room. “Get her down here! I want a better look at the woman who’s been fucking my fiancé!”

  “That’s enough!” Michael’s control finally snapped. “This is my home, and I don’t want you here!” He opened the front door and tossed her bag onto the sidewalk. “I want you out. Right now!”

  “Why? So you can fuck your whore?”

  This time Michael saw it coming and grabbed her arm in midair before her hand could make contact with his face. “I don’t think so, Paige. I let you get away with that once but not twice.” While he had her hand he slid the engagement ring off her finger and put it in his pocket. “I’ll take that back, just so you’re absolutely clear on where we stand. Now get out.” He released her arm.

  She snatched her coat off the sofa. “You’ll be sorry, Michael! You’re going to regret this!”

  “No, I won’t.”

  “Everything all right, Mr. Maguire?” Officer Tanner asked from the sidewalk.

  “It is now. Ms. Simpson was just leaving. A taxi will be coming to get her in a few minutes.”

  Paige brushed by him.

  The moment she was outside Michael slammed the door closed and leaned his head against it for a minute. He turned around to find Juliana coming down the stairs.

  She held out her arms to him.

  Like a man who had found water after forty days in the desert, he went to her.

  Standing on the second stair from the bottom, she held him close to her.

  When he pulled back after several minutes, he was able to look directly into her eyes. His hand curled around the back of her neck, and this time when he kissed her he held nothing back. If kissing Paige had been about fire an
d heat, kissing Juliana felt like coming home. The heat was there, too, but it was almost secondary to everything else he felt when she responded with equal ardor. Coaxing her mouth open, his heart almost burst as her tongue tangled with his. He only ended the kiss when he remembered what she had said about him looking for a rebound. That was the last thing he wanted her to think.

  “I’m sorry.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “I didn’t mean to do that.”

  She caressed his face. “She was so horrible to you.”

  “To both of us.”

  “I know. I heard.”

  He winced. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. I never saw how truly awful she can be until this last week.”

  “She hid it from you.” Juliana kept her arms around him.

  “Either that or maybe I just chose not to see it.”

  “She’ll get the message after tonight. Are you all right?”

  “I was all right the moment I turned around and saw you coming down to me.” He tightened his hold on her and buried his face in her hair.

  “Michael,” Juliana said breathlessly. “I made you some dinner.”

  “I know. It smells good.” But he didn’t release her. Five minutes passed or maybe ten before he was ready to let go. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For being here, for offering comfort.” He kept an arm around her as they walked into the kitchen.

  She retrieved his dinner and shut off the oven.

  “What’s this?” He picked up Jeremy’s letter from the counter.

  “Oh. A letter. From Jeremy.”

  Michael handed it to her without looking at it and sat down to eat. “He’s not giving up either, huh?”

  Juliana shook her head. “He feels really bad about what happened last weekend.”

  “It’ll seem self-serving for me to say he should feel bad about it. This is fabulous, by the way. Thanks.”

  “I’m glad you like it.” She brought two glasses of wine to the table and sat with him. “He went out with someone else.”

  Michael’s fork froze in midair. “He told you that?”