LITMIR.BIZ

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in the sheets.” He leaned toward her. “I can’t wait until your divorce is final. I want to see you more. Explore what’s happening between us. This is sudden and fast. I mean, Jesus. This time yesterday, we hadn’t even met. But I think it could be real. And if you’re honest, you’ll admit it hit us both the same way, right?”

      “Yes.” She spoke in a low voice. How did she handle this when her heart jumped at what he was saying? “It scares me.”

      He wouldn’t let her look away. “It scares me too. I don’t want to do something stupid and kill it before it even has a chance to get started.” He studied her face as if looking for answers. “If we sign this contract, you’ll be coming back here again. We’ll have time together to see where this goes. We can take a good look at the possibility of taking this to the next level. Sound good to you? Am I being presumptuous?”

      “No…yes,” she whispered, almost afraid to break the spell. “No, you’re not and yes, I want to.”

      “Then let’s get you to the airport so you don’t miss your plane.”

      Luke insisted on driving her to the airport, pointing out the scarcity of taxis the day before Thanksgiving.

      “Besides, it means I can prolong going home. We close the offices at noon today and I’d hate to be the only one left.”

      She didn’t want to leave him. Luke was right, what they shared went beyond sex. Was it possible to fall in love with someone so quickly? And now, still wrapped in the glow of their night together, she had to leave him.

      “Don’t come in with me,” she said, when they pulled up to the curb.

      “I’m not. I’m terrible with goodbyes.”

      “I guess you’ll call me about the contract?”

      “Right after Thanksgiving. If I can’t get you at your office, I’ll try your cell phone.”

      “All right. Well, goodbye then.”

      “Goodbye, Julia.” He looked as if he wanted to say something else, then simply held her to him tightly and kissed her, a long deep kiss saying more than words ever could.

      Julia finally pulled away, turned, and walked into the terminal.

      Chapter 6

      The plane was late. Naturally. Murphy’s Law. It put Charles in a foul mood that never let up. From the time he picked her up until they reached the house, his criticism ran nonstop.

      “There was no need for you to pick me up,” she finally snapped. “I told you I made my own arrangements. You’re the one who insisted, but it doesn’t give you permission to chew my head off. You no longer have the right.”

      “I do until I sign those papers,” he reminded her.

      For God’s sake. Would she never be able to draw a full breath again?

      When he dropped her at the house, she tried to stop him from coming in.

      “You’ll upset the children with this mood you’re in. Please try to remember by tomorrow you are their father and they expect a little affection from you.”

      He simply ignored her, pulled her suitcase from the trunk, and followed her into the house. It didn’t matter anyway. The twins were cranky and whining as soon as she set foot inside. The phone rang incessantly: her in-laws, Claire wanting information on the presentation, and play dates for the twins over the weekend. And Charles stood in the hallway getting on her last nerve, still wearing his coat and complaining yet again about the divorce as Miranda continued to prepare dinner.

      “It’s too late,” she said for the umpteenth time. “It’s done. And I honestly wish you’d go home and give me some peace and quiet.”

      “It’s not done yet.” He repeated what he’d said in the car, his voice like steel. “And maybe it won’t be.”

      Julia stared at him, weighted down by the block of ice suddenly lodged in her stomach. “You said you’d sign the papers,” she whispered.

      “Perhaps I’ve reconsidered.” His eyes shone with anger.

      She knew it was his pride talking, not emotion, but that made it much worse.

      Her head throbbed. “I can’t discuss this with you now. I have too much to do, getting your perfect dinner ready for tomorrow. I’ll have my attorney call yours on Monday.” She turned on her heel and headed for the family room, unable to spend another minute in his presence. Not even a bottle of aspirin would take care of the throbbing in her head tonight.

      Thanksgiving dinner was worse than purgatory. Her in-laws, always disapproving of her, carped constantly about her trip, chastised the children if they spilled something, and criticized the food. By the time they left, Julia’s headache, building since the previous day, had reached blinding proportions. Miranda handed her a cup of tea and she retreated to the bedroom to lie down with a cold cloth on her head.

      Friday, with the dinner behind her and no more menacing conversations with Charles, Julia dared to draw a full breath. Her headache finally abated, and she was beginning to think Charles was just making unnecessary noise. She dropped the twins at her friend’s house and allowed herself the luxury of a day hanging out in her sweats and curling herself into the warmth of the memories of Luke.

      On Saturday, she took the twins to see Santa Claus then out for lunch at McDonald’s, where they could exhaust themselves in the PlayPlace. The glow from her night with Luke stayed with her throughout the rest of the weekend, memories she allowed herself to indulge in. By Monday, she allowed herself to hope Charles would sign the final papers quickly and she could get on with her life.

      “Next time, you can stay home and I’ll go on the trip,” Claire said, grinning when Julia walked into the office. A blonde collection of high-energy molecules, she was a good foil for Julia. They balanced each other in both looks and temperament.

      Julia lifted an eyebrow. “And you say this because?”

      “Because then I’d get the phone calls from the guy with the sexiest voice in America.”

      Julia turned away, afraid Claire would spot some telltale sign on her face. A blush, at the very least. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

      “If you say so, kiddo.” Claire’s voice held a hint of amusement. “But Luke Buchanan’s called three times. He wants you to call him back as soon as you get in.”

      “It’s business,” Julia said, hoping to derail whatever Claire was thinking. “And I think it’s good news. He told me they’d probably make a decision this week whether to sign with us or not. Maybe they met this morning. It’s an hour later there, you know.”

      “Here’s for luck.” Claire held up crossed fingers.

      Julia went into her private office and picked up the phone, then put it down. This was just a business call. Nothing more. She needed to pull herself together and act like the professional she was.

      She looked at the number written on the message slip Claire gave her. The only thing familiar was the area code. Was this his private number? When she dialed and he answered himself, she’d guessed right.

      “Luke Buchanan.”

      “Good morning. This is Julia.”

      “Good morning.”

      She promised herself she would be strictly professional when they spoke, but the deep, warm sound of his voice sent shivers along her spine. Instantly, the image of their naked bodies tangled together in bed came unbidden to her mind.

      “Claire told me you called earlier.”

      “I did.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “How was your holiday?”

      “It was…as expected.” The less said about it, the better.

      Luke

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