by Laura Burton
Julie groaned.
“Don’t remind me.”
The thought of turning up to a charity dinner with all sorts of wealthy people made her feel sick. There was also the endless list of “what if” scenarios crossing her mind. Harry didn’t let her know where she was staying, who they were going to meet, what to expect, nothing. He just said, “I’ll take care of everything. Just bring yourself… and clothes.”
Julie did not like the unknown. But she figured if everything went badly, she could give her parents a call and crash at their house.
I should drop by and see them anyway.
Emily spoke at top speed as they walked onto the subway and got a seat, surrounded by their bags. Julie daydreamed about Harry as Emily’s words floated over her head. The wobble of the train rocked Julie into a sleepy stupor, and before she knew it Emily snapped her fingers in front of her eyes. Startled, she jumped back and blinked at her.
“It’s our stop. Come on.”
The two of them pushed their way through the crowd of people at the subway and climbed the steps, heads bowed low. Rule number one: avoid eye contact and do not draw attention to yourself.
Julie wished she was carrying bargain bags. She and Emily were walking targets. Her friend had insisted on checking out the designer stores, and Julie spent so much money she was worried her credit card would set on fire. If it did, it would be for her own good. Though, she was going to have to live off mac and cheese for the rest of the month until her next pay check.
“But that Betsy Johnson bag is so gorgeous,” Emily reasoned as Julie stood in the store looking at herself in the mirror, a black and white polka dot satchel at her side. “It would be a crime not to get it. Besides, it’s just over a hundred dollars. It’s not like you’re splashing out on Gucci is it?”
Julie sighed. Usually she would suggest a bargain hunt in Jersey in all the outlets. But there was something about buying a bag full price that sent thrills through her.
They climbed the steps to Julie’s apartment, grumbling at the weight of their purchases, and burst through Julie’s front door. Emily dropped her bags to the floor and collapsed on the two-seater couch. Tabby meowed angrily and darted from underneath a chair to the back of the room.
“Tabby is so weird, you know,” Emily mused, kicking her shoes off and rubbing her feet. Julie shook her head with a smile and closed the door.
“I know right. Trust me to end up with a dud cat.”
Tabby was a rescue. The little old lady at the center said that no one wanted him because he was so skittish. He was going to be put down that afternoon, which broke Julie’s heart. So she adopted him. She suspected that he was abused by a man, because any male who came to the door was met with violent hissing and back arching.
“Now, promise me you will keep me posted the whole time you’re in England. If I get radio silence, I’m sending out a search party.”
“Yes, I know.” Julie rolled her eyes. Emily perched herself on the edge of the couch and eyed Julie seriously.
“I mean it. I’ve done background checks on Harold––”
“Harry,” Julie corrected. Emily inclined her head.
“He seems okay, but we don’t know who this weirdo is who is following you guys.”
“Emily, Harry has a whole team of security. I couldn’t be anywhere safer. Nothing is going to happen––”
“I still don’t have a good feeling, you know, and I always trust my gut.”
“Oh yeah? Like the time you were convinced a spider was crawling on your back?”
“There was a spider on my back. You didn’t see it because it jumped away.”
“Right, and spiders can totally jump.”
Emily launched into a rant about jumping spiders as Julie smiled at her, nodding every now and then to show she was listening.
But she wasn’t really listening, she was counting down the minutes until Harry rang the bell. Her stomach did backflips and her heart started to race.
Is this really happening?
The buzzer shook Julie out of her thoughts as a rush of adrenaline coursed through her veins. Emily stopped talking and grinned as Julie sped across the room and clicked the intercom.
“It’s Harry.”
Julie glanced back at Emily, who held her hands together excitedly.
“Come on up,” Julie said, then crossed the room to collect her luggage.
“Emily, I feel sick.”
“It’s okay. I packed some Cinnabons in your carry-on.”
“How is that going to help?”
Emily pulled Julie in for a hug and squeezed.
“Just be safe. I wish I could come with you, but Julian is sick and I have to take all his clients.”
They broke apart at the sound of a knock on the door and Tabby launched onto the couch with his ears standing up and his back fur on end. Julie took a deep breath and opened the door.
Harry came into view, wearing a black leather jacket and dark denim jeans. His hair was styled to the side and he flashed Julie a smile that made her go weak at the knees.
“Hey, there,” he said smoothly. Then his eyes moved from Julie and widened. “Emily Stewart?” Julie turned to see Emily looking sheepish as she offered a little wave.
“You got me.”
“How do you… Why are you…?” Harry seemed unable to find words to finish his questions. Before Emily could answer, Tabby jumped down from the couch and flew past Julie’s legs right toward Harry.
“Oh sorry, my cat hates—” Julie broke off as she watched Harry crouch to the floor and offer his hand to Tabby, who was purring and rubbing his back on Harry’s legs.
“Hates what?” he asked, looking up at Julie with his brows lifted. Julie glanced back at Emily and the two of them shared a look of surprise.
“Well, I’m not worried anymore,” Emily said triumphantly as she rose to her feet.
“Worried about what? Why are you here again? I’m confused.” Harry got to his feet with Tabby cradled in his arms like a baby.
“Me too,” Julie added through a laugh. Emily walked past and rested a hand on Harry’s forearm; her head didn’t even reach his shoulder.
“Someone has to look after Tabby. And yes… I should probably have mentioned that Julie is my best friend.”
Harry eyed Emily shrewdly, his lips pressed together as he murmured something inaudible.
“Well, here you go.” He handed Tabby to Emily, but the cat’s claws clung onto his jacket and Julie had to pry them off.
“Ready to go?” he asked Julie. She took one more look at Emily before turning back to Harry and nodding.
Let the adventure begin.
Chapter Fourteen
Love in the Air
Harry reclined in the soft leather armchair, drink in hand and watched Julie take in their surroundings.
“What is this for?” she asked, pointing to a silver platter with a neat pile of steaming facecloths.
“You know, to wash your face and neck. The air is considerably dry in here once we’re airborne.”
Julie nodded along looking dazed. Then she turned and pulled out a fold-down table over her lap.
“I can’t believe this.” She took her sandals off and wriggled her toes with her legs outstretched. Harry caught himself smiling as he watched.
A young woman entered the cabin, dressed in a perfectly pressed blue uniform. “Good evening Mr. Jackson, Ms. Andrews,” she said in Queen’s English. Harry glanced at Julie as she straightened in her seat and slipped her sandals back on.
“The chef would like me to take your orders,” the woman continued. Julie looked at Harry like a kid on Christmas day.
“Chef? Harry, this is so cool,” she said patting her legs with excitement.
Harry liked this side of Julie. Out in public, she was quiet and a little awkward, as if not sure how to fit in. The nervous glances and slight disgruntled look on her face told him she hated being around people as much as he did.
Harry
tolerated it. Understood that crowds, paparazzi, and attention came with his work. But he wished he could walk around incognito, without the security entourage and yelling men and women with their giant cameras.
“What’s on the menu?” Julie’s question pulled Harry out of his thoughts.
“What do you fancy?” he asked her. Julie shrugged and twirled her hair with her fingers. Was there something different about it? Her white-blonde waves were straightened out, yet it looked shorter. Julie drummed her lips with her fingertips in thought.
“I’m easy. I could eat anything right now.” She rubbed her stomach as it growled.
“I’ll have a filet mignon with a creamy mushroom sauce,” Harry said with a nod. The woman smiled in acknowledgement.
“And you, Miss?”
Julie chewed her lip as her eyes shot to Harry before she grinned sheepishly at the woman.
“Can I ask for a slice of pepperoni pizza?”
“That’s a great call. Forget a slice, bring in the whole thing,” Harry added.
The woman left the cabin, leaving them alone once more. Julie reverted back to her relaxed self, sandals off again and slouched into her chair.
“So,” she began as she swiveled her chair to face Harry. He resisted the urge to laugh. This new laid-back version of Julie was endearing and fun. “Has this plane got a TV?” she asked looking around the sparse cabin. A small cream leather loveseat sat facing a mahogany cabinet.
Harry picked up a white control and clicked. A large flat screen TV rose out of the cabinet and Julie clapped.
“This is the life,” she said.
By the time the plane landed, Harry’s cheeks ached, along with his stomach. The two of them binge-watched Julie’s favorite TV show, one about werewolves and vampires, and consumed far more calories than Harry’s nutritionist would like. The two of them relaxed together on the loveseat by the TV, Julie’s head resting on Harry’s shoulder, and all was right in the world.
It amazed Harry how comfortable he was with Julie. She was a breath of fresh air, grounding and authentic. In the plane, no one had to keep up appearances or worry about behaving a certain way. It was just the two of them, chilling out in a multi-million-dollar private jet.
Julie’s response to the lavish lifestyle was refreshing. She acknowledged it, but dealt with it all in a healthy, curious way. It was as if Harry was experiencing it all for the very first time. It excited him to think about the weekend he had planned. There was so much to see, so much to do. He hoped they would get some time to be alone.
“What’s our plan?” Julie asked as they got into the car that was waiting for them at the airport. Harry put his arm around Julie as she sidled in next to him. They fit perfectly together like two pieces of a puzzle.
“We’re going to my London apartment to get ready. We are having brunch with my parents in a couple of hours.”
Julie sighed.
“We should have slept on the plane,” she said, exhaling deeply. Harry rubbed her arm and hummed in reply.
“Don’t worry, after brunch, we can go back and grab a few hours before the dinner. We can talk about it later, but I don’t want you to worry about it. Once we’re inside, there won’t be any cameras. You’ve got to remember that these people, even though they have money, they’re just… normal people.” Harry found himself on a tangent. “Well, okay, some people can be pretentious and annoying, but the people at our table are mostly family or people who I consider family. You’ve got nothing to be nervous about.” Harry stopped talking at the sound of a snore. He tilted his head to catch a glimpse of Julie’s lashes touching her cheeks. He leaned back and secured his arm around her shoulders, squeezing gently as he looked out of the window. The English countryside rolled by as Harry grinned to himself. Of all the expensive treasures in the world, the one in his arms was the most precious.
Chapter Fifteen
Meet the Parents
Julie stretched out like a cat, arching her back and yawning loudly. She patted the impossibly soft bedding around her and blinked into the sunlight streaming in through the white curtains.
She had no recollection of going to bed. She wondered if the last week was a dream and now it was time to wake up and finish that dress for Noelle.
The sound of busy traffic outside had Julie sliding off the strange king-size bed and marching across the carpeted floor to take a look. Big red double-decker buses rolled past the window, along with black taxi cabs and cyclists. The endless stream of traffic and the smoggy air had Julie beaming ear to ear. She was home.
Well, sort of.
She spun around to take in the room. A large white wardrobe stood in the corner next to a recliner chair, and an antique writer’s bureau sat beside the bed with a desk lamp. Her luggage sat neatly at the foot of the bed, along with her sandals and her jacket lay folded on top of the bag. She looked down and wriggled her toes in the carpet pile and tried to recall what happened.
They were in the car. It was so warm and comfortable in Harry’s arms. The steady beat of his heart was like the ticking of a clock. His chest rumbled against her as he talked, and the car vibrations sent her off to sleep faster than you could say “good night.”
Harry must have carried me up to bed.
The thought sent butterflies to her midriff.
A knock on the door alerted Julie back to the present and she automatically called out. The door swung open tentatively and Harry’s face came into view. He had dark circles under his eyes and his hair was tousled.
“Oh good, you’re awake,” he said in a scratchy voice. “We need to leave in fifteen minutes.”
Julie’s stomach lurched.
“Where are we going again?”
“We’re having brunch with my mother.”
Right. What does one wear to brunch with the potential mother-in-law?
Julie flashed a smile and offered a thumbs up as Harry closed the door. She turned to her case. Times like these had her wishing she smuggled Emily along too. But it was the still only the crack of dawn in New York, and Emily would definitely be—
Julie’s phone vibrated, interrupting her thoughts.
“Why haven’t you called me yet? I’ve been worried sick.”
Julie’s shoulders relaxed as she sighed. Emily’s voice––although bossy and irritable––was music to her ears.
“Sorry, I fell asleep.”
“You’re supposed to stay awake. You’ll never cope with the jet lag if you sleep all day.”
Julie threw the phone on her bed and unzipped her bag as Emily ranted through the speaker.
“Tell me about the flight. How was it?”
“I don’t have time, Emily. I have to be ready in fifteen minutes for brunch with Harry’s mother.”
There was a moment of silence. Julie wondered if the phone had lost signal, but Emily’s voice came barking out of the phone once more.
“Fifteen minutes?” she screeched. Julie winced against the noise. “How are you supposed to—” There was a huffing sound and Emily coughed. “Right, put on the yellow dress, use the donut thing to make your hair into a nice bun. Forget the lashes, go for simple makeup. In fact, you look gorgeous, just wash your face and put a touch of mascara on. Maybe a little gloss.”
Julie nodded along as she pulled out a yellow jersey dress and held it up at her shoulders. “Is it cold over there? Wait, it’s March and you’re in England. Of course, it’s cold.”
Julie glanced out the window again.
“The sun is shining.”
“Wear the white cashmere cardigan. Unless you think it will rain….”
Ten minutes later, Julie––with Emily’s help––was looking fresh-faced and presentable. She found a tall mirror on the inside of the wardrobe door and inspected her work. She had carefully swept up her hair into a high bun at the back of her head and smoothed any flyaway strands with her fingers. The knee-length dress came out in an A-line from her waist.
“Thanks, Emily. This is great.�
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“Send me a picture, I want to see.”
Julie snapped a selfie in front of the mirror and sent it to Emily.
“Yes, perfect. Now, don’t forget the rules: stay away from politics, religion, and money. Compliment the house, but please for heaven’s sake keep it cool, Julie. Don’t gush. And be agreeable but have something to challenge too. You don’t want to come across as someone with no opinions.”
Julie’s head was spinning with all of the advice, and she was feeling nervous once more. She never considered how to navigate a conversation with these people. Wasn’t Harry’s mother married to a diplomat? These were not the type of people she was used to mingling with.
“You don’t want to come across childish. Don’t do your usual ‘oh this is so cool!’ speech.”
Julie’s cheeks burned. She had completely let herself go on the plane. She gushed. She swooned. She did all of the things Emily told her not to do.
The problem was, being with Harry made her feel like she could just be herself. Maybe that was a bad idea, she wondered.
“Thanks, Emily, I’ve got to go.”
“Good luck. Love you, Jules. You’ve got this.”
There was another knock of the door.
“How are you getting on?” The door swung open and Harry made eye contact with Julie, his hand flew to his chest and he widened his eyes at the sight of her. “Wow, you look…” He pulled out an inhaler from his leather jacket and took a deep breath. “Breathtaking,” he finished. Julie laughed.
“You look pretty good, yourself,” she quipped back, her eyes hungrily taking in the sight of him. He wore a relaxed white shirt under his black jacket and a pair of dark denim jeans. He had gelled his hair in place and must have splashed cold water on his face; his skin looked bright and dewy again.
Julie’s heart fluttered. The realization dawning on her that she was going on another date with Harry. They hadn’t really spoken about it, but it felt an awful lot like they were a couple. How did that happen?
Harry held out his elbow. “Ready to meet my mother?” he asked smoothly. Julie slid her arm through his and together, they walked out the room.