《Arrogant Boss》 Chapter 1 Julian Hunt is a legend. A tech billionaire and a yboy phnthropist. He¡¯s not someone you meet, not without a six-month wait. Except I did-and not in that sweet, meet-cute kind of way. I wish. No, I manage to run headfirst into Julian Hunt in a nightclub. It¡¯s the spill-my-drink-over-his-suit kind of headfirst, the break-my-heel kind. But the arrogant bastard doesn¡¯t leave. No, he carries me to my car. He implies that I fell on purpose to catch his attention-how dare he!-and after I¡¯ve chewed him out, he asks for my number. I don¡¯t expect to see him again. After all, lightning doesn¡¯t strike twice. But when I walk into a business negotiation the next day, who¡¯s sitting on the other side?N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Julian Hunt. He¡¯s wearing a smirk and a perfectly tailored suit, and he¡¯s not there to y. He dominates. I walk out of the negotiation having somehow been offered my dream job. It¡¯s an offer far too sweet to refuse. But if there¡¯s one thing more intimidating than Julian Hunt at a nightclub, it¡¯s Julian Hunt as a boss. A persistent, dominant, sexy-as-hell boss. He might have decided that we¡¯d be perfect together, but I won¡¯t be tempted by his broad shoulders and wicked tongue. Julian might be a hunter. But I refuse to be his prey. ***** Emily ¡°Rx.¡± ¡°I am rxed!¡± Denise raised an eyebrow. ¡°As if. I can practically feel the tension radiating from you across the table. Tomorrow¡¯s going to go great. Both you and Turner have prepared for this for weeks.¡± ¡°I know. But-¡± ¡°No, stop thinking about it. A night of fun will do you good.¡± I took another sip of my fruity, wildly over-priced mocktail. ¡°Okay, okay, I won¡¯t think about it. You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°I always am. It¡¯ll go great, Em.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know what you¡¯re referring to.¡± Denise grinned. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit. The only thing you should be concerned about tonight are drinks, dancing, and dudes.¡± ¡°Dudes? Since when do we refer to men as dudes?¡± ¡°It was an alliteration. I know how you like slogans and catchy titles. Oh! My co-workers are here.¡± Denise waved at a group of women making their way from the bar. They were dressed to the nines, in sky-high heels and matching clutches, and looked far more used to this scene than Denise and me. We were in a packed club in the Financial District, a ce with a massive waiting list, all to impress Denise¡¯s new colleagues. She¡¯d been made a full-time writer at the online tform Yas. Yes, exactly like that-Yas. We both thought the name was a bit silly, and the tform vapid, but Denise was a brilliant writer and this was just a stepping stone to world domination. As the supportive friend I was, I hade along to celebrate her promotion-even if that meant going to a too-expensive club, putting on a pair of ufortable heels, and breaking out a red lipstick I¡¯ve worn too few times to justify the price. The music was a pulsing beat and bodies were writhing out on the dance floor. The club was packed. Just finding a table for the two of us had been hard enough, and I had no idea how we¡¯d fit three more people here. Despite my promise to Denise, I wanted to nce at my watch. Tomorrow was a big day for my brother, and I had to be sharp¡­ ¡°Emily.¡± Denise snapped her fingers in front of my face. ¡°They¡¯re approaching. Look alive.¡± ¡°Sorry!¡± Denise stood. ¡°Hi guys! I¡¯m so d you could make it.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± the blonde ring-leader said to Denise. ¡°We were ecstatic to hear that you were joining Yas permanently.¡± ¡°Just ecstatic,¡± a brte repeated from behind. I shook hands with all three of them and wished I could hear their names over the pounding beat. Their eyeliner was perfect, and I ran a hand through my loose hair self-consciously. The blonde took a seat next to me. ¡°What do you do at Yas?¡± I asked. ¡°I cover holistic beauty and experimental health.¡± ¡°Wow. What does that mean?¡± ¡°Trying a lot of funny-smelling products,¡± she said with an enviably raised eyebrow. ¡°What do you work with?¡± This was where I wished I had a better answer than the truth. ¡°I work in press and marketing.¡± ¡°No way!¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°For whatpany?¡± I cleared my throat. ¡°For Pet and Co.¡± She frowned. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard about that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pet and grooming business. Not really too exciting. I think it¡¯s-¡± ¡°Guys?¡± Elisa, the brte, shot us all a secretive grin. ¡°Have you seen who¡¯s in the VIP section tonight?¡± Blondie next to me leaned back. ¡°Do you mean theunch of Viper?¡± ¡°Yes. Did you know?¡± She looked superior. ¡°Why do you think we suggested this ce?¡± Chapter 2 Denise and I shot each other confused nces. ¡°What¡¯s Viper?¡± ¡°Some new app.¡± She waved her hand dismissively. ¡°That¡¯s not important. Who is in attendance, however, is. Some of the hottest names in tech are here. Rafe Christensen, Danny Stephens, and of course¡­ Julian Hunt.¡± ¡°Hunt is here?¡± ¡°I swear I just saw him.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t confirmed if he would attend or not.¡± The three of them craned their necks, trying to see across the club to the VIP section. Even from this distance, I could see the polished suits, the flowing bottles of champagne. Denise sidled closer to me. ¡°That¡¯s where we should be.¡± I snorted. ¡°Right. Doing what? We know nothing about tech.¡± ¡°Which is why they would love us! They¡¯d find it refreshing.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you dating that blogger?¡± ¡°No, that was ages ago! You have to keep up.¡± I grinned. ¡°I can¡¯t. ¡°You¡¯re impossible, Denise.¡± ¡°Come on, girls,¡± the blonde dered. ¡°Let¡¯s dance.¡± I grabbed my half-finished daiquiri and joined them on the dance floor. Nearly an hourter, I was done. I was so, so, so done. I could party with the best of them. But the business meeting for my brother¡¯s potential contract was at ten o¡¯clock the following day, and despite my promise to Denise, there was nothing more important. I grabbed Denise and gave her a quick hug. ¡°I have to go,¡± I spoke into her curly red hair, hoping she could hear me over the pounding bass. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Thank you foring. Good luck tomorrow! Tell Turner I¡¯ll be thinking of him.¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I will.¡± I grinned at her. ¡°Don¡¯t go too crazy tonight.¡± She gave me an innocent little smirk. ¡°Who, me?¡± I shook my head at her in mock disapproval. If there was someone who could handle herself, it was Denise. Party until five and then up at nine for work, and do a damn good job as well. It was very unfair, but she¡¯d always been like that. Too much energy for one person to contain. I made my way through writhing bodies, my clutch tucked tight under my arm and thest of my daiquiri in my hand. I needed to find a ce to leave the ss. Too many people. Too loud music. An arm wound its way around my waist and I twisted away. A man leered at me, a drink glued to his hand as his other reached for me. ¡°Dance with me, sugar.¡± I frowned. ¡°Definitely, not.¡± This, too, reminded me why I didn¡¯t go out too often. Denise kept pushing me to go out with more men, and while I agreed that my semi-celibate status wasn¡¯t exactly enjoyable, you don¡¯t find your soulmate in a club. I was by the exit when it happened. I heard a snap, and then I was airborne and tumbling. My hands reached out to try to steady myself and I fell straight into a passing stranger. A strong arm reacted but it was toote, and I hit the club floor with a crash. Embarrassment flooded through me and I scrambled onto smarting knees. ¡°Are you alright?¡± I pushed my hair back and looked up to find the owner of that deep, rumbling voice. Cheekbones. Expensive suit. A concerned expression. No no no. I recognized this man. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± He reached down and strong arms fitted themselves under my shoulders. I¡¯m lifted to my feet like a child, only to find that I can¡¯t stand properly. He frowned and looked down. I followed his gaze. ¡°Oh. My heel broke.¡± ¡°upational hazard.¡± His voice was smooth, polished. Dark. I cleared my throat and slipped out of my pumps. Barefoot, I only just reached his chin. Julian Hunt. Of all the men in the world, why did I have to trip into him? My eyes traced down the long column of his throat, his white shirt, the top button undone to expose just a hint of tan skin, a giant pink stain on his shirt¡­ I sped my hand to my mouth. ¡°Oh my God. I am so sorry, that was my drink, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Julian Hunt looked down. ¡°I think so. Strawberry daiquiri, was it?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m so sorry.¡± My cheeks were on fire. ¡°I¡¯ll pay for the dry-cleaning.¡± He smiled-actually smiled at that. ¡°Certainly not. I¡¯m just happy you weren¡¯t injured in the fall.¡± I blinked. ¡°No. No, I wasn¡¯t injured. I¡­ where is my bag?¡± We both looked at the dark club floor in silence. We were by the exit, so there was more light, but still not enough. I was also looking at it far closer than I would have liked, being barefoot on this disgusting surface. Julian found it first, grabbing the navy clutch hidden along the dark baseboard. ¡°This it?¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you again.¡± ¡°Anytime.¡± He cocked his head. ¡°Did you have a good time tonight?¡± Chapter 3 For a long moment, all I could do was stare into the curious green eyes looking back at me. Julian Hunt-billionaire yboy, America¡¯s tech sweetheart-was prolonging the moment. Making conversation with me. ¡°Yes, it was alright.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not exactly a ringing endorsement.¡± Maybe it was the fall, or maybe it was the teasing glint in his eyes, but I surprise myself with my answer. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you heard but there was aunch party tonight for an app. A bunch of rowdy Silicon Valley types were making a lot of noise from the VIP section.¡± His eyebrows shot up. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes. Sort of ruined the mood for the rest of us, to be honest.¡± I bent forward, and dear God, but I¡¯m flirting with him. ¡°Don¡¯t let them know, if you see one.¡± Julian¡¯s smile turned crooked. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry. I stay far away from that crowd.¡± My heart was beating fast. This was too much, and I was too inexperienced at this. This wasn¡¯t a college guy fumbling around. This was a man, a man who was experienced and wealthy and used to perfection and by God was he handsome. I wetted my lips. ¡°Thanks again for finding my bag.¡± Julian looked amused. ¡°One of my lesser talents.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Very impressive.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± He looked out towards the parking lot. ¡°Were you heading out?¡± ¡°Yes, I was nning to. My car is parked here.¡± ¡°But now you can¡¯t.¡± My eyes widened. I couldn¡¯t leave? Because now I had met him? But then he nced down at my bare feet. ¡°Because you have no shoes.¡± ¡°Oh. Right. I don¡¯t.¡± He shrugged. ¡°There¡¯s only one thing to do then.¡± Before I could register what he was doing, Julian Hunt bent and put his arms around me. I was lifted up with a very unttering screech. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t walk barefoot out of a nightclub,¡± he said, not looking winded in the least. ¡°There might be ss on the pavement.¡± ¡°But¡­ this is weird.¡± I was being carried by a veritable stranger-a famous stranger-and I hadn¡¯t been carried like this since I was twelve. His crooked smile was back. ¡°I¡¯ve never been bothered by ¡®weird.''¡± Julian Hunt smelled good. Too good. My arm wrapped around his neck as an employee opened the front door for us. ¡°Valet stand?¡± ¡°To the left.¡± People were lingering outside, some in line to get in and others just out for a smoke. All of them watched us walk across to the valet stand. My cheeks had to be on fire, that¡¯s how hot they felt. Julian didn¡¯t put me down when we arrived, just looked at me expectantly. So did the valet worker. ¡°Oh, right! Let me just find it.¡± I wed through my bag in search of the ticket. Seemingly unable to stop myself, I rambled on. ¡°My heel broke, by the way. That¡¯s why¡­ that¡¯s why he¡¯s being chivalrous.¡± The valet worker epted my ticket with a grin. ¡°I¡¯m sure, miss.¡± He disappeared to fetch my car and I nced up to see Julian grinning too. He was far too close like this-it was impossible to ignore just how excruciatingly attractive he was. He always had been, on the magazine covers and online interviews. But weren¡¯t famous people supposed to be, well, just less when you saw them in person? Shorter than you expected, or less attractive? They were not supposed to be more good-looking. ¡°You can put me down now,¡± I said. ¡°This will take a while.¡± In a smooth movement, Julian let me slide down. My feet touched the cold pavement and I pulled my jacket tighter around me. ¡°Stand in your shoes?¡± I nodded and slipped them on, mismatched heights and missing heels and all. ¡°Thanks for carrying me.¡± ¡°Just being chivalrous,¡± he repeated with a smile. ¡°I have to say, I¡¯ve had a lot of women do interesting things to get my attention, but fake-falling is new.¡± My eyes snapped to his face. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯mplimenting you on your ingenuity. The drink was a nice touch.¡± For a long moment, all I could do was stare at him. Julian Hunt might be handsome but he was surely not humble. ¡°You¡¯re serious,¡± I said slowly. ¡°How arrogant do you have to be to believe I willingly tripped just to get your attention?¡± His lips quirked at my tone, and the fact that he was enjoying my outrage only made me angrier. ¡°You¡¯re unbelievable. Do you think I snapped my heel on purpose? Waited for the right moment when you passed by the exit?¡± Julian¡¯s dark eyes were alight. ¡°You have a temper.¡± ¡°I do when I¡¯m being used of¡­ of¡­ I¡¯m not even sure what to call it.¡± ¡°Entrapment?¡± ¡°Yes. That.¡± ¡°Are you OK driving yourself home?¡± I blinked at him. ¡°Um, yes. Of course.¡± ¡°Are you sure? I could drive you home, if not. My Porsche is parked just over there.¡± He nodded to the front. I couldn¡¯t help myself-Iughed. This man was unreal. ¡°Was it really necessary to mention the car brand in that sentence?¡± His smile turned bashful, and then a bit teasing. ¡°No. I¡¯m bragging, aren¡¯t I?¡± Chapter 4 ¡°I think you are.¡± ¡°Damn.¡± He ran a hand through his admittedly very thick hair. ¡°You really didn¡¯t fall on purpose, did you?¡± ¡°Absolutely not. It was humiliating.¡± ¡°How much have you had to drink tonight?¡± ¡°I fell because my heel snapped, not because I¡¯m drunk.¡± Julian nced down at the stain on his shirt that appeared to prove otherwise, but I¡¯m quick to correct him. ¡°That was virgin.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Um, yes. The drink.¡± ¡°Thanks for rifying.¡± My cheeks flushed again. This was going all wrong, he was infuriating, and I needed to get home. I pushed my long hair back and saw his eyes follow the movement. ¡°I don¡¯t usually fall on strangers.¡± His grin was back. ¡°I¡¯m honored that I was the chosen one tonight, then.¡± The valet boy still hadn¡¯t returned with my car and I tugged my jacket tighter. Julian didn¡¯t seem remotely bothered by our odd interaction or the sudden silence. He looked just as serenely calm as in the photos of him, jawline screaming masculinity andpetence and power. Arrogant man. I was not like him-the ufortable silence was unbearable. ¡°Do youe here often?¡± ¡°As a matter of fact, no, I don¡¯t. Only when apps areunching and there¡¯s rowdiness to be had.¡± I bit my lip to keep from smiling, despite myself. ¡°Of course. A favorite past-time, is it?¡± He shrugged, powerful shoulders stretching out a perfectly fitted suit jacket. The man had held me for near on three minutes without a change in his breathing. ¡°It¡¯s practically a national sport in my circles.¡± ¡°Are you heading home now too?¡± He nodded. ¡°Yes. But I¡¯m-¡± A voice called out from across the parking lot. ¡°Julian, my man! Are youing?¡± A blonde man stood across the parking lot, his arm around a brte in strappy heels. They were standing next to a Hummer with music ring. ¡°Duty calls?¡± He ran a hand through his thick hair, a faintly embarrassed look on his face. ¡°I don¡¯t go to a lot ofunches. This isn¡¯t my scene.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s not. Just like you don¡¯t have a lot of experience with women fake tripping just to catch your attention.¡± I rolled my eyes and his lips quirked up again. ¡°Because of your shoes,¡± he said softly and caught a flyaway strand of hair. Gently, he tucked it back in ce behind my ear, and I stopped breathing. ¡°Can I call you?¡± Definitely not breathing. I found myself give a shallow nod. ¡°If you don¡¯t insult me again.¡± The eyebrow quirked again. ¡°I¡¯ll be on my very best behavior. Promise.¡± The sound of an approaching engine cut the intimacy as my car pulled up next to us. It looked small and ordinary suddenly, standing next to the magnificence that was Julian Hunt. The valet got out and left the car in idle. ¡°All yours, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± I slipped out of my shoes and handed him a tip. ¡°I guess this is it. I¡¯m sorry about your shirt again.¡± Julian leaned against my car and held the door open for me. ¡°I¡¯ll forgive you if you tell me your name.¡± ¡°Emily.¡± ¡°Emily?¡± ¡°Emily Giordano.¡± The mischievous look was back in his eyes. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± Julian bent so that we were eye to eye. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be in touch, Ace.¡± A shiver ran down my spine. ¡°Ace?¡± ¡°You could have barreled into anyone tonight, but you hit me.¡± He winked. ¡°You have excellent aim.¡± I opened my mouth to protest the sheer arrogance of his statement, but he shut my door with a grin and took a few steps back. With shaky motions, I put the car in drive and pulled out of the parking lot. What the hell had just happened? I had met Julian Hunt. He had strong arms and a crooked smile and he smelled amazing. I had probably never been so instantly attracted to a man before in my life. And then he asked if he could call me. Things like this-meeting men like this-didn¡¯t happen to me. It never did and it never had.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. He likely had no intention of calling me, and I wasn¡¯t even sure I would pick up if he did. He was arrogant and obnoxious¡­ and funny. Besides, he hadn¡¯t even asked for my number! I shook my head at my own musings. I would never see Julian Hunt again, and that was probably for the best. I couldn¡¯t startparing regr men to his standard or I¡¯d be single for life. I ignored the small part of my brain that wanted to think of maybe¡¯s and what-if¡¯s. Chapter 5 Julian Hunt was not for me, and I was certainly not for him. Julian At everyunch, there were two types of assholes. The first were the ones who went all-in at every event, who drank as much of the free champagne as they could. They handed out business cards and smiles like currency and stayed until closing, posting the whole thing on their social media. There might even be a live stream sometime during the evening. The second type of asshole arrivedte, posed for the requisite photos, said hello to everyone with a practiced handshake and left in time to get their sleep and workout in. I was in the second category. Yesterday¡¯sunch was as standard-mill as they go. I figured Viper wouldst maybe five to eight months. I saw versions of the same story all the time; poorly developed apps with an innovative interface and a slick promotional campaign. Investors inevitably backed them, like they did anything out of the Valley, despite the software being mediocre at best. Nothing I would ever invest in. Hell, Rafe and I had ced bets on how long we thought Viper wouldst. My press secretary, the one I had left, had correctly pointed out that going to theunch and getting photographed would cause a buzz. With our newunch up anding, Hunt Industries needed all the buzz it could get-so I went. But for all other intents and purposes, the night had been a bust. I¡¯d been more than ready to head out and leave the polite small talk behind when a young woman quite literally tripped into my arms. She¡¯de out of nowhere. I grinned just thinking about it. As soon as I saw her, I knew she would fit me perfectly-I could imagine pulling her close, bending my head down, having her reach up. Her body had been soft when she crashed into me. I had reyed the image of her flushed cheeks the entire morning, wondering if I could get her like that by other means. Long ck hair, shiny down her back. Eyes that had seemed just as captured by me as I had been by her. And when I carried her¡­ she smelled divine. If my body had called the shots rather than my brain, I would have carried her straight past the valet and to my car, taking her home and making her mine. She had seemed sweet and shy-until I made thement about the her attempts at entrapment. She¡¯d been so angry at me, her eyes shing as she scolded me for my presumption. Pushing her buttons was surprisingly amusing. I wanted to see her sh like that again-call me out and tease me. Emily Giordano. The name had been familiar, but it had taken me nearly an hour until I¡¯d made the connection. That was just my luck, wasn¡¯t it? She just happened to be Emily Giordano. As in, the brother of Turner Giordano. The boy genius my HR rep was meeting with today to discuss a potential starting contract. He¡¯d sent over information, and I was well aware of the young man¡¯s talents. It was why I wanted to hire him in the first ce. David had made it clear, though, that the way to the boy was through his older sister. A very beautiful, very feisty older sister. An older sister that might or might not despise me. This could be very fun. I called David and he answered on the first signal. ¡°Mr. Hunt, what can I do for you?¡± ¡°I want an update on the meeting with Giordano.¡± ¡°I¡¯m preparing for the meeting now.¡± I heard the sound of rustling paper in the background. ¡°They¡¯ll be here at ten o¡¯clock.¡± ¡°They? Is his sister apanying him to the meeting?¡± ¡°Yes. She was his legal guardian for several years and Turner made it clear that he wanted her to participate in the negotiation.¡± I thought of her shing eyes and her outrage. ¡°The older sister can¡¯t be bought.¡± He was quiet for a moment. ¡°Have you been reading the information I sent over?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I hadn¡¯t, but I would the second I hung up. ¡°I¡¯ll be at the meeting too.¡± This time David¡¯s silence was incredulous. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you had the time, but of course. The CEO being here when they arrive shows just how seriously we take Turner¡¯s potential. We need to charm them into epting this.¡± I tapped my fingers against the desk. ¡°We need to meet their demands and make them an offer they¡¯ll feel happy about.¡± ¡°That too. I think one of his mentors at MIT wants a word with us too. It might be the key to convincing him; the opinions of those he respects.¡± ¡°And his own opinion.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, of course.¡± ¡°Text me the location and time.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± I hung up. Pressing down the buzzer on my desk, I phoned my secretary. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Clear my schedule for theing hour.¡± Tim¡¯s silence was also shocked. ¡°Okay. Absolutely.¡± I leaned back in my chair and pulled up the file David had prepared on Turner Giordano and his family. I skimmed the section I knew by heart-about the coding prodigy. The things Turner could do had already made it possible for him to attend online sses by MIT, professors taking a special interest in him. It was only a matter of time before one of the big techpanies snapped him up with the promise of a big sry and unlimited bandwidth. I was damn lucky that I was still friendly with a high school buddy who was on the faculty, and that we¡¯d heard of Turner¡¯s potential first. My friend had spoken excitedly about a quiet kid who could write legions of code that magically sped up nearly the entire system of course registry.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. In his spare time. Coding like that could make mypany millions. It could change the technologyndscape entirely, if properly harnessed. But it was the sectionbeled Family that I focused on most. All of Turner¡¯smunication goes through his former legal guardian and older sister, Emily. Age twenty-five, educated media strategist with a major in marketing. Currently works for Pet and Co. Attached was Emily¡¯s resume. I grinned as I read through it. Straight A¡¯s,munity college. Had risen quickly in the ranks. I saw her shing green eyes in front of me again and the way she¡¯d protested when I¡¯d lifted her up. Hell, I couldn¡¯t remember thest time I¡¯d carried a woman like that. There was just something about her¡­ Below her dossier, David had added a hand-written caveat. Emily will likely need to be convinced that her brother should bypass college and begin working for us. College¡­ I remembered what a hell that had been for me, when all I wanted was to be let out of the gates and try my own hand at the world. To be misunderstood. Expected to behave one way and failing to live up to that. To want to test your wings right away. From reading Turner¡¯s bio, I had a feeling that might be what he needed. Chapter 6 I wasn¡¯t so certain, however, that Emily Giordano would be as easily convinced-particrly when she realized who owned Tech Jos¨¦. Hunt Industries. And who owned Hunt Industries? I did. I made sure to arrive at the meeting a few minuteste, giving David time to butter them up with small talk. I grinned at the thought of seeing her blush again. The conference door was half open when I arrived, and I heard clear voicesing from inside. I paused and waited for a cue. Anticipation curled in my stomach at the thought of seeing her eyes sh in agitation. ¡°I was led to understand we would only interview with you,¡± a familiar voice said. David spoke. ¡°Yes, well, I will also be here. But the CEO has expressed a particr interest in Mr. Giordano and wanted to be here himself as well.¡± ¡°David, whatpany owns Tech Jos¨¦?¡± I grinned and stepped forward. Emily. Ten minutes earlier ¡°He should be here by now.¡± I nced at my watch. ¡°It¡¯s exactly ten o¡¯clock. Let¡¯s give him a few minutes.¡± Turner twisted his ring around his finger, a habit to calm himself, and gave me a short nod. The lobby we were seated in was huge. Vast expanses of ss and white marble floors, tall palm-trees in massive pots. No receptionist, however, and no names. It all seemed to be done with key cards. Probably some fancy new prototype. I¡¯d lived in Palo Alto for twenty-five years, but this was the first time I¡¯d reallye face to face with these giant billion-dorpanies. A man with a pleasant smile and short blond hair hurried towards us from the elevators. ¡°Hello, and wee! You must be the Giordanos. It¡¯s a pleasure to finally meet the both of you in person. I trust you¡¯ve not had to wait long?¡± ¡°We arrived ten minutes ago,¡± Turner said in his usual blunt fashion. He didn¡¯t look David in the eyes, focused instead on the sharp lines of his shirt. ¡°Ah. Great. Well, my name is David and I¡¯m the head of recruitment here.¡± He extended a hand to Turner. My brother hesitated only a moment before he grasped Davids hand in a firm grip. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Hi. And this must be your sister? Emily, is it?¡± I shook David¡¯s hand. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m his older sister.¡± And you¡¯re going to have to go through me. ¡°Let¡¯s head upstairs, this way.¡± Turner and I followed David through the blindingly white lobby. This ce was easily as big as our entire house, and we were only on the first floor. David used his keycard to call down one of the sleek, chrome elevators. ¡°I like how this ce looks,¡± Turner told me. I smiled at him. ¡°Of course you do. It¡¯s all clean lines and free from clutter. Exactly your style.¡± He shot me a small smile without looking at me. He was turning his ring around and around again. ¡°You know exactly what you are going to say,¡± I told him quietly. ¡°You¡¯ve rehearsed this.¡± He nodded and while the fidgeting didn¡¯t stop, I thought it mellowed slightly. The elevator arrived and we followed David into the space. He attempted some small talk on the way and I handled it for us. No, it hadn¡¯t been difficult to find parking. Yes, it was unusually warm today. We walked down an open hallway. Windows opened up into widendscapes of desks with people working atputers. Arge tree grew in the middle of a courtyard surrounded by white desks. People didn¡¯t look up as we passed. I saw energy drinks and at least two Rubrik¡¯s Cubes. Good God. Turner would fit right in. David gestured to the office. ¡°These are some of our coders and software engineers. They¡¯re junior associates.¡± Turner cleared his throat. ¡°Would I also receive a desk out here?¡± ¡°Potentially, yes. But it might be possible to get you your own office.¡± Turner¡¯s shoulders rxed somewhat. I knew that was on his list of demands. The rows just continued. ¡°Tech Jos¨¦ looks like a bigpany. I was under the impression that it didn¡¯t have more than forty employees.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite right. But we are a subsidiary of a biggerpany, with holdings in several industries.¡± We were shown to a beautiful meeting room, with bottled water and muffins disyed on the table. They had really pulled out the big guns for this meeting-but then again, I knew Turner was considered valuable in their eyes. Turner and I took a seat as David opened his folder. ¡°As I was saying, we are a subsidiarypany. That gives us a lot of the resources we need but also allows us considerable freedom in terms of direction. We function like an in-house incubator, to use jargon.¡± He gave a smallugh, but neither Turner nor I joined him. ¡°Our motherpany recognizes your potential just as much as we at Tech Jos¨¦ do, Turner, and what you could aplish here. The CEO of Industries will actually join us here today as well. He should be here in a minute or two.¡± He smiled at us like this was a brilliant revtion. I frowned. ¡°I was led to understand we would only interview with you.¡± David looked taken aback by myck of thanks. ¡°Yes, well, I will also be here, of course. But the CEO has expressed a particr interest in Mr. Giordano and wanted to join us himself.¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. I leaned forward. ¡°David, whatpany owns Tech Jos¨¦?¡± But it wasn¡¯t David who replied. ¡°That would be Hunt Industries,¡± a voice said from the doorway. And leaning against it, an infuriating smile on his face, was Julian Hunt. I just stared at him in shock. If he¡¯d looked mysteriously handsomest night in the dark, he was blinding in daylight. Thick hair, a smirk, a perfectly fitted suit. No tie. Damn it, Emily. Chapter 7 I should have done better research. How had I never realized that Tech Jos¨¦ was a subsidiary branch of Hunt Industries? There was no way I would havee along today if I had known. After yesterday¡­ my cheeks flushed with humiliation. He had known. He had known right away, as soon as I had said my name. I shut out the small part of me that was thrilled at seeing Julian in the doorway. It couldn¡¯t be helped-he was an intensely attractive man, objectively speaking, and I wasn¡¯t blind. He stepped into the room. ¡°I¡¯m Julian Hunt. You must be Turner Giordano?¡± ¡°I am, yes.¡± Julian moved around the table and extended a hand to my brother, who looked at me briefly before shaking his hand. If Julian was curious as to why Turner didn¡¯t meet his eyes, he didn¡¯t show it. I cleared my throat. ¡°I¡¯m Emily. His sister.¡± Julian sped my hand and I looked straight into his dancing green eyes. ¡°Emily. What a beautiful name.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°When David informed me that you had agreed to a meeting, Turner, we were all very excited.¡± Julian took a seat, long legs stretched out in front of him. He took up too much space in this room, too much air. I nced nervously at my brother. He hadn¡¯t prepared for this eventuality. Hell, neither had I. Turner put his hands palm-down on the table. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± David looked down at his papers. ¡°Absolutely. Well, Turner, we¡¯ve been lucky enough to see a sample of the code you¡¯ve written recently. It¡¯s great. You¡¯re young but clearly very capable. We¡¯d therefore like to offer you a position here at Tech Jos¨¦. It¡¯s unusual, considering your age andck of university education, but we think you have great potential.¡± So that was how they were going to y it, I thought. Great potential. Turner had great potential, of course, but the way David phrased it made it sound like they were doing him a favor. I didn¡¯t know much about code, but I knew my brother, and Hunt Industries would be lucky to have him on their team. ¡°First and foremost, I am high-functioning autistic,¡± Turner said. ¡°So I¡¯m not as adept with interactions and social cues as you¡¯re likely used to. Therefore, if you want me to do or not do something, it would be efficient for all of us involved if you just say so directly. I will do the same with you.¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Julian gave Turner a solemn nod. ¡°Thank you for telling us that. We¡¯ll make sure to keep allmunications as clear as possible.¡± ¡°Thank you. Now, if I am to agree to work here, I have a number of demands.¡± I saw that David¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, but Julian regarded Turner with something quite different. It looked like respect. ¡°We¡¯re listening.¡± ¡°My code is great,¡± Turner said. ¡°I know it¡¯s just as good as what yourpetitors are working on, because I¡¯ve beenparing, and I have a lot more potential in me. Given the resources and time, I could do great things for apany of your size. I could also, of course, take my code and skill to anotherpany who would dly hire me. But I chose toe here first.¡± Julian nodded. ¡°We appreciate that. We¡¯ll try to amodate you, within reason.¡± ¡°I want my own office. It doesn¡¯t matter where it is or what it looks like. But my own space without people distracting me.¡± ¡°Consider it done.¡± Julian leaned forward and braced strong forearms on the table, looking for all in the world like the consummate young CEO. This morning, I¡¯d debated whether to have cereal or toast and now I was participating in a negotiation over my brother¡¯s future with America¡¯s favorite boy billionaire. What was my life? Only, he was very much not a boy-that had been clear from the moment he lifted me yesterday. From the faint stubble on his cheeks or his deep voice. My brother continued with his demands. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be¡­micro-managed. Poked and prodded every day. I know what I¡¯m doing and I will do it.¡± David opened his mouth to speak, but Julian cut in. ¡°Done. Having seen lines of your code, I don¡¯t think that will be a problem.¡± ¡°I want to be exempt from team-building exercises and any other obligatorypany outings or events.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee to joinpany events at your own discretion, or not,¡± David said. ¡°We understand.¡± I had to give it to the two men opposite us-I had not expected them to be so amodating. While I¡¯d always thought so, seeing them watch my little brother with such respect made me realize just how impressive Turner¡¯s skills must be. ¡°And my final demand. I want to have a mini-fridge in my office that is always stocked with soda.¡± I saw the corners of Julian¡¯s mouth begin to curl. This had been Turner¡¯s final demand, and the one he¡¯d fretted over the longest. He¡¯d asked me if I thought they could grant it, and quite frankly, I said it was the least they could do. ¡°There¡¯s amunal fridge in the lounge room,¡± David said. But Julian shook his head and shot both me and Turner a blinding, practiced smile. ¡°One stocked mini-fridge,ing up. I can¡¯t help but notice that you haven¡¯t mentioned any sry demands, Turner.¡± Turner turned to me. ¡°I don¡¯t know what an adequate sry is. I¡¯ve done some research, but nothing conclusive. Emily will tell you if what you are offering is eptable or not.¡± I squared my shoulders. This was why I was here. Not just to act as moral support, but to double-check all of the contracts before Turner signed anything. He was only neen. I¡¯d been working for the past six years, had experienced both good and bad employers. No one was going to exploit my baby brother on my watch. Julian watched me with those dark eyes of his. ¡°Of course. We¡¯re offering a starting sry of 52k a year, with a generous health insurance package and yearly bonuses. Your sry would be revisable upwards during quarterly performance meetings.¡± ¡°Here¡¯s a draft of the contract.¡± David pushed a piece of paper across the table at us. ¡°Feel free to take a look.¡± 52k. I struggled to contain my expression as I looked over the contract. It was a massive sry for someone without a university education. I¡¯d always known that these ces were practically flowing with money, but still. With that money, Turner could have a proper savings ount by the end of the year. He was a saver by nature, and he would be able to pocket so much for the future. Some of my nerves lessened. But I kept re-reading the line at the bottom of the contract: any line of code written during the employees time on Tech Jos¨¦ property will be considered the intellectual property of Tech Jos¨¦. I didn¡¯t know if Turner was going to invent anything, but it certainly wouldn¡¯t surprise me. And if he did, it would be entirely out of his hands. ¡°You don¡¯t look convinced,¡± Julian said. ¡°What are you concerned about?¡± I cleared my throat. ¡°Line 27, regarding intellectual property rights.¡± ¡°Yes. A standard part of any software design contract.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure it is. But if my brother takes this job, he will not go to college. He will be learning and developing on the job. I don¡¯t want thispany to end up taking advantage of any code he might write or software he may invent.¡± ¡°We understand that.¡± Julian nodded. ¡°But that use is applicable only to things written using Tech Jos¨¦ equipment and software on the property grounds. I also want to assure you that we have a very generous bonus structure and program. Turner will be wellpensated for his efforts in ordance with their reach. All employees of Hunt Industries are well-treated.¡± I nced down at the contract. It wouldn¡¯t stop bothering me, I knew. But the job was arguably a good one, and they had agreed to all of Turners demands. I had been proud of him this entire meeting. My baby brother, growing up. Getting a job. Finding his ce. It had always been a matter of time before the world realized what a genius he was. I knew I had to let go some time or another, and this was the ce Turner had said he wanted to work at. I sighed, resigned to the prospect, and looked across the table at Julian and David. I opened my mouth to agree, but Julian raised his hand. ¡°Before you object, Ms. Giordano, I have a suggestion.¡± He leaned back in his chair and looked with dark eyes between me and Turner. His gaze was spective. Chapter 8 ¡°You¡¯re a media specialist and youe highly rmended. We also happen to need a new press secretary for our press and marketing team for Hunt Industries. Both David and I understand your reservations, but to put your mind at ease, I¡¯d like to offer you a position at ourpany as well.¡± My face was a mask of shock. What? He could not be serious. Judging from the way David nced at him, this was not something Julian had discussed with anyone. A spur of the moment decision, then. And I was to entrust my brother to these men? ¡°But you haven¡¯t even seen my resume,¡± I spluttered. ¡°You don¡¯t know anything about me.¡± Julian leaned forward again, braced powerful his arms against the white table. Squared like that, with the thick hair pushed away from his forehead, he looked like a force of nature. ¡°We¡¯ve seen your LinkedIn profile. It¡¯s impressive, and I believe you¡¯d be a good fit here. Look at it this way-working at Hunt Industries will let you see first-hand what type ofpany we are. You¡¯d be part of our team, a member at hand who could influence the direction of thepany. And you¡¯d be working two floors above your brother¡¯s office, only a stone¡¯s throw away. There could be no better ce for you.¡± He¡¯d managed to tap into my concerns right away. But I¡¯d essentially be Turner¡¯s plus-one, shoehorned into apany that didn¡¯t actually have a need of me. I didn¡¯t believe for a second that they happened to have a marketing position conveniently avable. They were tacking this on as an addition to the sry benefits and health insurance and free chocte muffins and all the other things they were using to woo Turner. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hunt. But I¡¯m very pleased with my current position, and I don¡¯t think this type of buy-in would be suitable.¡± Julian gave a small smile, like I was reacting exactly as expected. I met his eyes with an annoyed re of my own. Turner turned to me. ¡°But Emily, you¡¯ve beenining about your current job for months. The odds of this job being worse than the one you¡¯re in aren¡¯t very high. It could be a good change for you.¡± His calm gaze was sincere, but I cursed inwardly. He was right, of course, like always. And now the others knew how much I hated Pet and Co. I turned back to the two men. David quickly smothered his smile, but Julian did nothing to hide his. Asshole. Turner looked straight at the space between them. ¡°If you hire my sister, you¡¯re going to have to double her sry inparison with what she¡¯s currently making. She¡¯s good at her job and she deserves it. That¡¯s my final condition for the job.¡± My heart nearly broke. Oh, Turner. My amazing baby brother, who remembered all too well the financial difficulties we had faced. ¡°It¡¯s a deal,¡± Julian said. He looked straight at Turner as he spoke, seemingly unbothered by the fact that Turner didn¡¯t return his gaze. ¡°I respect a man who stands up for his family like that. And I have no doubts regarding your sister¡¯s skills. If you agree, we¡¯ll draw up employment contracts for the both of you, containing your conditions in writing. There is no pressure to sign. Both of you may take the evening to read it over and get back to us tomorrow. How does that sound?¡± It sounded damn good, and I was sure he knew it, judging by the satisfaction on his face. I¡¯d have to quit my job. Turner wasn¡¯t looking at Julian or David, but rather tracing the edge of the table with a methodical finger. But he was smiling, small and true. ¡°It sounds good to me,¡± he said. ¡°My sister and I will read it and let you know tomorrow.¡± Now he was speaking for the both of us. Being his own man. He wanted this-I could tell. Given nearly unlimited resources, a steady sry¡­ he would grow so much from this. I knew that he¡¯d been concerned about finding somewhere to work that would suit him, and frankly, so had I. I would have to work for Hunt Industries. We rose and shook hands with both men. Julian held my hand a heartbeat longer than strictly professional-his dark eyes and brows startling against his fairplexion. His voice was pitched for privacy when he spoke. ¡°Happy to see you got home okay.¡± I pulled my hand out of his. ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Hunt.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a pleasure.¡± His eyes danced again. ¡°I look forward to hearing from you tomorrow.¡± Emily. Turner and I said yes. Of course we did. It was hardly even a discussion in the car ride home, and by that evening, we¡¯d both signed. When I called Denise and told her the whole story, she squealed so loud in my ear that I¡¯d had to hold the phone away from my ear until she calmed down. Turner would be given free reins and practically unlimited resources; we¡¯d both get a sry increase enough to make our lives easier. But best of all? I could quit my job at Pet and Co. Three years in a field that didn¡¯t interest me one bit had finallye to a close. I¡¯d been looking for a way to get out of that job for a long time anyway, and Hunt Industries represented the big leagues. The evening before my first day, I spent half-an-hour watching Hunt promotional videos to get a feel of the dress code. It still took me nearly the whole evening to pick out the perfect outfit for my first day. I know. I know. I was judging me too. But when I walked into that massive lobby in a pair of well-fitting suit pants and a silky blouse, I felt like I¡¯d struck just the right bnce between forgettable and sophisticated. I wanted to stand out because of my ideas, not my outfits. It was a style that should get its own genre: invisibly chic. I had no idea what to expect from this arrangement. It wouldn¡¯t surprise me if someone popped up and shouted ¡°psych!¡± as if this had all just been one big joke. Was that show Punk¡¯d still on? Because any minute now, I¡¯d have to go back to creating ads for dog food.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Turner and I said goodbye at the elevators. He walked away with his head held high and a lunch bag in hand, not showing any of the nervousness I knew he felt. My stomach was in knots, half of it for me and half of it for him. My grown-up little brother. But as he disappeared, I squared my shoulders and ran a hand down the silky material of my blouse. Let¡¯s do this, Emily. I was greeted as soon as I stepped off the elevator by a tall woman with a massive smile.¡±Emily?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Right on time! I¡¯m Rachel. Let me just start by saying that we¡¯re so happy you could start on such short notice.¡± I blinked. ¡°Hi. Yes, so am I. Thank you for taking me on.¡± She shook my hand in a firm, business-like grip before handing me a stack of folders. ¡°Here¡¯s all the information you might want on Hunt. It¡¯s a bit of a wee package, so to speak. I have to tell you, we¡¯ve been working with one position empty for nearly a month and it hasn¡¯t been easy, so you¡¯re a godsend.¡± ¡°You have?¡± ¡°Kamal was unexpectedly headhunted. He left us for London two days after he got the call.¡± Rachel pressed the button for the elevator. ¡°I was of course happy for him, but it left us one man short in the middle of an expansion and rebranding.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± I gripped the folders tight in front of me. Her eagerness was intoxicating, and suddenly I wanted nothing more than to be a member of this dynamic team. I might not have liked how I ended up here, but here I was, and I wanted to make sure that I pulled my weight. Chapter 9 ¡°Let me show you to your office first, and then to the break room. We usually have coffee or tea around ten-thirty with the entire marketing and press team.¡± ¡°You work jointly here?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Rachel shot me a wide smile. ¡°I¡¯m guessing there were more clear-cut divisions at yourst job?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Very strict ones, in fact, that had often seemed ridiculous to me. ¡°That¡¯s not really the way Hunt Industries operate. You¡¯ll see soon enough for yourself, but we have more of a coborative work environment here.¡± ¡°One of those tech firms,¡± I said with a smile. ¡°Do you also have arcade games and bean bag chairs?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she deadpanned. ¡°We do yoga during our lunch breaks. It¡¯s apany wide policy¡± I gave a startledugh. ¡°Really?¡± She grinned. ¡°No. But you¡¯re wee to petition Mr. Hunt for that. Who knows? He¡¯s had weirder ideas before.¡± Rachel showed me into an open office with floor-to-ceiling windows. ¡°It looks a bit bare now, but feel free to fill up the bookshelves and the desk with anything you might need. IT will be up here in a bit to set up yourpanyptop and cellphone. Let¡¯s go meet the team.¡± The team, as she so coboratively put it, was making a lot of sound in the break room when we approached. Rachel stopped in the doorway with her hands on her hips. ¡°We¡¯re meeting a new team member today. Is this really the way to introduce yourselves?¡± A motley crew of five looked up from the game of Hungry Hungry Hippos they were ying. My look of surprise and bafflement must have been clear on my face, because they all broke out intoughter. Rachel gave me a chagrined look. ¡°It¡¯s not like this often, I promise.¡± ¡°Hi everyone!¡± I gave a small wave. ¡°I was looking for the press and marketing team? But I see now that I¡¯ve must have gotten lost. Is this the kindergarten?¡± Thankfully, theyughed at my stupid joke. A thin man with a kind smile got up and extended a hand. ¡°I¡¯m Trent. It¡¯s nice to meet you. I¡¯m sorry about this-I brought one of my kids¡¯ old games in here today. We figured some of the junior software associates down at Tech would have fun with it during their breaks.¡± ¡°But we had to test it out first,¡± a dark-haired woman called out. ¡°You know, to make sure it works.¡± Rachel shook her head good-naturedly. ¡°These idiots will be your new colleagues. This is Trent, Veronique, Josef, and Sasha. Together with the two of us, Emily, we all make up the marketing and press team.¡± ¡°It¡¯s great to meet you all.¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Sasha smiled. ¡°Likewise. Would you like a cup of coffee?¡± ¡°I¡¯d love one, thank you.¡± ¡°But more importantly,¡± Josef said, leaning forward, ¡°would you like to join the game?¡± I smiled. ¡°I thought you¡¯d never ask!¡± I ended up back in my office with a spinning head and a huge, goofy grin on my face, settling down to read through all of the information on Hunt Industries. I had a lot of catching up to do and would try to stayte if I could. Rachel and I were more focused on traditional press roles, while Trent and Sasha handled marketing. Josef and Maria were copywriters and illustrators, and really talented too, if Trent was to be believed. This would be nothing like working for Pet and Co, but I had the feeling I would love every day. Isted until eleven before I sent Turner a text. Emily: How is everything so far? Turner: Good. They¡¯ve just installed my mini fridge and I¡¯ve had to reboot theputer they gave me twice. I¡¯m nning on rebuilding it tomorrow. I smiled at the text. He¡¯d have unlimited resources here to really explore the limits of what he could do. I¡¯d seen him tug at his restraints for years. Plus a job, with co-workers¡­ and somehow he¡¯d managed to score a job for me too. I knew how lucky I was to have a brother like him. I¡¯d nearly reached the end of my introductory information on Hunt Industries when there was a knock on my door. I looked up, expecting Rachel. But no such luck. Julian Hunt leaned against the frame, his hands in the pockets of a pair of perfectly tailored cks. He wasn¡¯t wearing a suit jacket this time and his white shirt fit snugly over a wide chest and broad shoulders. ¡°I had to swing by and check up on the newest addition of staff.¡± I cleared my throat. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be Turner?¡± Julian strolled into my office and took a seat in the chair opposite me, arms tracing the length of the armrests. A swath of wavy hair fell casually over his forehead and my hand itched to push it back. ¡°I just came from the eighth floor. He was doing well. Ripping one of thepany¡¯sputers to shreds, but I have no doubt he¡¯ll be able to rebuild it.¡± ¡°He will. It¡¯ll likely be faster and better, too.¡± Julian grinned. He had perfect teeth, I saw, except for a barely noticeable chip in one of his front teeth. Somehow that little w made him more handsome and not less. The world wasn¡¯t fair. ¡°You think the world of him.¡± ¡°He¡¯s my little brother. Of course I do.¡± I put my hands on my desk and fought to regain the upper-hand on my emotions. ¡°Mr. Hunt, I want to apologize again for the other night.¡± ¡°Call me Julian, please.¡± ¡°Julian. Thank you again. I¡¯m¡­¡± I fought the flush in my cheeks at the strictly unprofessional memory. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that-¡± He interrupted me again. ¡°It was my pleasure.¡± ¡°You knew who I was as soon as I said my name.¡± ¡°Maybe I did.¡± Amusement was clear in his eyes. ¡°And that my brother was considering working for you.¡± Chapter 10 ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Tell me something. Was there truly a space avable on the press and marketing team?¡± Julian crossed his long legs. ¡°Do you think I¡¯d manufacture a fake absence for you just for the purpose of acquiring Turner Giordano¡¯s prodigious brain?¡± The frankness in his gaze made me bold. ¡°You don¡¯t be a billionaire for nothing, Mr. Hunt.¡± I held up the prospectus I¡¯d been reading on the conglomerate. Exhibit A. He tsked. ¡°Millionaire, if you would be so kind. There are only five hundred billionaires in the country, give or take, and I¡¯m not quite there yet.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Common mistake.¡± He smiled again, shing that charming tooth. ¡°Have you enjoyed reading my CV?¡± I looked back down at the prospectus, titled The History of Hunt Industries and its Holdings, and back up at him. This man truly needed to be knocked down a peg. ¡°No. It¡¯s honestly not that impressive.¡± ¡°No?¡± I leaned forward, as if telling him a secret. ¡°Someone told me that the owner, this Hunt fellow? He¡¯s not even a real billionaire.¡± Julian¡¯s smile sank deeper somehow, connected with his eyes. He looked at me like we were friends. Like he knew me. ¡°There was a position free. One of our former press secretaries up and left three weeks ago. We¡¯ve been on the hunt for one ever since.¡± ¡°And if you could leverage that into getting what you want¡­¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s what I¡¯ll do.¡± Julian shrugged. ¡°Seems to have worked out well for all of us, no?¡± ¡°So far so good.¡± He leaned back with an infuriatingly smug expression. ¡°What do you think of your new ce of employment?¡± ¡°You mean judging by my four hours of experience?¡± ¡°Yes.¡±¡±The others in the marketing team seem like hard-working, nice people. Thispany seems¡­ unconventional.¡± ¡°How so?¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°The CEO is sitting in a lowly employee¡¯s office at noon on a Thursday, having an almost entirely unprofessional conversation.¡± ¡°Yes, well, I like to be involved.¡± ¡°And your employees like to y board games in the break room.¡± ¡°Really? Seems I¡¯ve been missing out. Perhaps I should spend more time down here.¡± ¡°Perhaps you should. Now, shoo. I need to get back to reading about thispany if I¡¯m going to be able to handle its marketing and press needs.¡± I didn¡¯t know how I got the confidence to speak so boldly to him. Perhaps it was my nerves, or the infuriating smirk he wore. He rose out of his chair. Really, men that tall and broad shouldn¡¯t also be able to move gracefully. ¡°Yes ma¡¯am. Your dedication to Hunt is noted and appreciated. Tell me onest thing-did your former employer mind the quick end of your contract?¡± I thought of the satisfaction I¡¯d felt when telling my former boss that I was finally quitting. I was so done with being wing-clipped, all my ideas for expansion and growth shut down. ¡°Yes. They minded,¡± I said. ¡°But I didn¡¯t.¡± His grin turned dark. ¡°I think we¡¯ll get along famously, Emily.¡± Emily. I raced through the lobby as fast as I could on my heels. I could not bete. Not when it was still my first week, and especially not when there was a damn team-building exercise scheduled first thing in the morning. I pressed the button to the elevator several times in rapid session, shifting from one foot to another. If only I¡¯d heard about the construction work earlier, and maybe I wouldn¡¯t have gotten stuck in traffic. I hit the elevator button a couple of times again. ¡°I hate to break it to you, but that¡¯s not really how technology works.¡± Of course. I turned to see Julian, a wide grin on his smugly handsome features. I pressed the button an additional ten times and ignored the irrational shot of adrenaline that coursed through me. ¡°You¡¯re the expert,¡± I said, ¡°but I¡¯m innovative.¡± The scent of his aftershave hit me like a tidal wave. This close he was tall, nearly a head above me even in my bestest and ckest of pumps-their heels still intact. The doors opened smoothly before us. ¡°Would you look at that?¡± He waved me ahead. ¡°Your method worked.¡± I stood as far away from him as the confined space would allow, clutching my bag with both hands. His presence was too big. It was sucking all the air out of the elevator, and all the rational thought out of me. I wasn¡¯t sure which would end me first. Julian leaned against the opposite wall. I forced myself to meet his gaze with a cool one of my own. He looked at me with far more familiarity than the situation warranted. Like we weren¡¯t practically strangers. ¡°Tell me how your first days have been.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve been great. Thispany demands some serious press and marketing strategies.¡± He nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a dynamic work environment. I know the press team is also very open to suggestions and input from all. There will be plenty of opportunities to make your mark.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. I looked away, staring intently at the number of floors passing us by. It annoyed me that he had figured me out sopletely and so quickly. That he knew I¡¯d felt trapped at Pet and Co. It made me feel on edge. Particrly considering the fact that he was so¡­ enigmatic. As charming as theye, but in a practiced way. The elevator slid to a smooth stop. And it didn¡¯t start back up again. Chapter 11 ¡°No. No, no, no. This cannot be happening right now.¡± Julian uncrossed his arms and bent to inspect the control panel. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be out of here in no time. Are you ustrophobic?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯mte.¡± Julian gave an infuriating little chuckle, like he thought I¡¯d said something witty. The yellow button was shing and I hit it, holding it pressed down. ¡°Someone will be with us soon. This qualifies as a valid excuse, you know, regardless of where you¡¯re rushing to.¡± I sighed. ¡°Rachel has a team-building session scheduled this morning.¡± Julian burst out intoughter, infectious and loud. It was exactly like him:rger than life itself. ¡°With trust falls and egg-and-spoon races?¡± ¡°God, I hope not. Although I was told to bringfortable footwear and a shirt I didn¡¯t mind getting dirty.¡± He was still grinning at me. ¡°By who? Josef?¡± ¡°Yeah. And Sasha.¡± ¡°I can see that. Well, I had a busy day scheduled, but you just made me consider skipping all that for a chance to join in on some team building.¡± ¡°You already know the team!¡± ¡°Do I, though?¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°There¡¯s one new member I don¡¯t know very well at all. Yet.¡± ¡°Well, the key to getting to know me is most definitely not trust falls.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s practically how we met, Ace.¡± I shot him a furious look. There were so many things I wanted to say, but I couldn¡¯t-he was my boss now. ¡°Not on purpose,¡± I ground out. ¡°And I don¡¯t think it increased trust.¡± He still wore that infuriating smile. ¡°Hmm. How do I do that?¡± Was he flirting with me? I bit my lip and fished out my phone, trying to avoid the power of his gaze. The man was a walking neon sign of sexiness. It wasn¡¯t fair of him to flirt with me. He¡¯d recover, but I¡¯de out permanently blind from the light. ¡°The key to gaining my trust is to make sure I get out of stuck elevators on time.¡± ¡°Right. Well, let me call service. They should already be alerted, but just in case¡­¡± I watched as he called someone named Tim and gave a few short orders, exining our situation. ¡°It¡¯ll be fixed in five minutes.¡± ¡°Five?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He cocked his head. ¡°I haveplete faith in my personnel.¡± ¡°Even those you hire without an interview?¡± The words came by their own ord, and it wasn¡¯t until they were out that my mind registered what I¡¯d said. I owed this man so much-my brother¡¯s job, my own-and a significant increase in both of our sries. But Julian Hunt justughed. This close, I saw that his eyes were a deep green, aforting and warm color. They were eyes you could lose yourself in. Ones I should stay far away from. ¡°Especially the ones I hire without an interview,¡± he said. ¡°That means the decision was based on intuition, and those decisions always turn out to be the best ones.¡± ¡°You have high expectations?¡± ¡°For you? The highest. Just make sure you get a few back-to-back bonding exercises under your belt, and you¡¯ll be up and running here at Hunt in no time.¡± ¡°Right,¡± I murmured. ¡°I will. Can I ask why you hired me though? I¡¯m not Turner. I don¡¯t have-¡± An electronic voice cut through the space. ¡°Mr. Hunt? The elevator is fixed. It¡¯ll start moving shortly.¡± ¡°Thank you. We were heading to the eleventh floor.¡± ¡°Sending you there now.¡± The elevator began its smooth ascent again and the attendant clicked off. Julian nced at his watch. ¡°Three minutes. And to answer your question, I think I have good people reading skills. And I read you the second I saw you, Ace. You have fire.¡± I was caught in his gaze, steady and intense on mine. What do you respond to something like that? A smile broke across his lips. ¡°This is your floor.¡± I swallowed. ¡°Right. Thanks.¡± Julian gave me a wink as I stepped out of the elevator. ¡°Good luck today.¡± ¡°Thanks. I think¡­¡± I trailed off, the elevator doors already shutting behind me, and he was gone. So I cleared my throat, squared my shoulders, and hurried down the hall. Turner and I carpooled home that day, just like we did most days. The house we¡¯d inherited from our parents was only a fifteen-minute drive from the office. My car was nice, but it was in need of a bit of a service. I would for sure treat it to a bit of pampering with my fancy new sry. It was right up there with paying off my student loans and buying a few sets of matching bras and underwear. Not that I was currently dating anyone who saw me undress, but a girl could hope. The image of Julian smiling came back to me, and I pushed it away firmly. No, Emily. Anyone else would do. Turner was quiet the entire drive. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± I asked him as I pulled up on our driveway. ¡°What I should do first thing tomorrow morning.¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡± Chapter 12 ¡°They have an inferior code structure for how they handle mailmunications. The servers¡¯ response time is too slow, and I know what the problem is.¡± We double-checked that I¡¯d locked the car before making it to the front door. I smiled as I dug around in my purse for the house keys, hiding in the bottom. ¡°That ce is going to be ten times better once you¡¯re done with it, Turner.¡± ¡°Maybe more like twice as good, Emily. That¡¯s more realistic.¡± He hung his backpack on the designated hook in our entry. ¡°It¡¯s my turn to make dinner tonight.¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯ll be downstairs and ready at 7 o¡¯clock.¡± We¡¯d operated on a standard schedule every week for the past four or five years, a whiteboard calendar in the kitchen making it easy to n for eaching week. Turner enjoyed punctuality and regrity, and Mom had installed that calendar when he was just shy of ten. Each Sunday we would all fill it out and then act ordingly. I had to give it to Mom-it had done a lot to boost my own punctuality and productivity as well. I retreated into Dad¡¯s old study while Turner busied himself in the kitchen. I¡¯d spent the entire day reading up on Hunt Industries and all former ad campaigns. Rachel had given me copies of their progress in formting new ones, with sketches of branding options and color schemes. My head spun in the best of ways. I couldn¡¯t wait to get back in tomorrow and brainstorm with the team. It had been a long time since I felt like that. Coincidentally, it had also been a long time since I¡¯d been around a man as attractive as Julian Hunt. My hands flew across the keyboard as if of their own volition. I¡¯m all for dogs, but Google really was man¡¯s best friend. An unsmiling image of Julian came up immediately. He was dressed in a tux and posing at a charity event for water purification technology for the developing world. He looked imposing and unreadable, nothing like the smiling man in the elevator. I scrolled down and clicked on the Wikipedia page dedicated to him. Thirty-four years old with one younger half-brother. His father, thete state senator Arthur Hunt, had remarried after the divorce with his first wife. Julian spent his college years creating software that heter sold for a record-breaking figure and used the money to set up his ownpany. They had now expanded into app development, software programming, technological advancements and start-up incubation. I sighed. I really would have to learn all that tech stuff if I was going to effectively market Hunt. I clicked on the sectionbeled personal life with apprehension. I had no idea what I¡¯d find. Was he also a well-known connoisseur of blow-up dolls? Did he own and operate forty ice-cream trucks? Had he been married for twelve years? Did he have five illegitimate children? The inte had very little information to share with me. A few brief rtionships with people of note, a couple of models and one b-list celebrity, but other than that nothing. He¡¯d never been married. I scrolled back up and was met again by the image of his tux-d, ridiculously handsome form. Even seeing it on a screen sent my heart into overdrive. Men shouldn¡¯t be allowed to be so attractive, particrly not ones who poked fun at themselves in elevators and smelled of sandalwood aftershave. It wasn¡¯t fair. This job was fun. It was exciting. And I knew I couldn¡¯t jeopardize it for this man, particrly not when any interest he had in me was for, without a doubt, something short-lived and temporary. Men like Julian Hunt very clearly didn¡¯t end up with women like me, that much was clear. I couldn¡¯t delude myself that he would. I nced down at the time. 6:58. I closed theputer and followed the scent of spaghetti carbonara to the kitchen. Tomorrow I¡¯d prove to everyone that I was kick-ass at my job-and I would prove to myself that my foolish attraction to Julian Hunt was only due to a dry spell, and nothing more. Emily. Pet and Co ran about ten marketing campaigns a year. Hunt Industries ran about a hundred, and that was only in the continental US. Any fears I might have had about Julian¡¯s motivations behind hiring me were dismissed by the veritable mountain of projects Rachel dropped on my desk. ¡°We¡¯re nning onunching seven new products in theing thirteen months. I know this looks like a lot, and that¡¯s because it is.¡± She grinned at me. ¡°But it¡¯s also going to be a lot of fun.¡± I smiled back at her. ¡°I¡¯ll read up on this right away, and hopefully I can take on a more productive role tomorrow.¡± ¡°Sounds awesome. Tomorrow¡¯s meeting will start around eight-thirty in meeting room C, by the way.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Josef ims he¡¯s going to bring home-made bagels for everyone, but I wouldn¡¯t trust him.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to eat breakfast before.¡± ¡°Good. But if he asks¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t hear it from you.¡± I pretended to zip my mouth shut. She gave me a wink and left my office, her bright skirt swooshing around her legs. The camaraderie at this office was aplete one-eighty from Pet and Co. There, the best I could hope for was the asional encouraging thumbs up from the receptionist. That was it. No other socialization took ce, neither at work nor outside of it. I threw myself into the world of app creation and software developing. Taking art as a subject in high school really helped me with this, I thought sarcastically. The most advanced thing I¡¯d ever done in this field was rebooting myputer when it asionally crashed. Did that count? I¡¯d made it half-way through the information folder on a new data storage technique when a knock on the door interrupted me. I kept my eyes glued to the spot where I was, as not to lose it. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even look up now when you have visitors?¡± I closed the folder. ¡°Mr. Hunt. To what do I owe the pleasure?¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you think of my presence as a pleasure.¡± I resisted the urge to roll my eyes again. I hated that he managed to look both rich and casual, powerful andzy, leaning against the door in a suit that was doubtless Italian in origin. It had to be the undone top button. Theck of a tie. The infuriating smirk. I hadn¡¯t seen him around for the past week. Not because he wasn¡¯t an active participant in thepany-he seemed to be highly involved in everything Hunt Industries did-but rather because he was always so busy. ¡°I¡¯ll add that to the list of figures of speech to avoid using around you.¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re catching on. Well, get up and let¡¯s go. I¡¯m here to take you to lunch.¡± ¡°Lunch?¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Yes. There¡¯s a restaurant on the first floor of this building. I want to make sure you¡¯re settling in all right.¡± ¡°Is that¡¯s the CEO¡¯s job?¡± Surely that should be HR¡¯s role. Chapter 13 ¡°David outsourced it to me.¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re so underworked?¡± His eyes glittered with mirth. ¡°Notoriously so. Come on, let¡¯s head out.¡± A few people turned heads as we walked down through the corridor. Some eyes touched on me briefly before skating off again, no doubt wondering what I was doing with him, alone. ¡°Do you often take your employees out for lunch?¡± ¡°Yes. I like to make sure I know what¡¯s going on in all departments.¡± He pressed the elevator button. ¡°I regrly meet up with Rachel and Trent, for example.¡± Some of my initial apprehension and nerves settled. Not entirely, because I was still very aware that I was in a confined space with a man who could easily ce in the top ten of People magazine¡¯s list of the world¡¯s sexiest men. Getting used to him would take time. I honestly didn¡¯t know how others did it. The only way I managed was to pretend he was a nobody, someone that didn¡¯t intimidate me. Someone I could be snarky with. Julian straightened his suit jacket. ¡°Tell me more about yourself.¡± ¡°I thought you already knew my life story, you know, considering my LinkedIn profile was soprehensive.¡± People in the lobby gave us a wide berth, their gazes circling back tond on Julian several times. He walked on as if it didn¡¯t bother him. I supposed he¡¯d grown used to it. ¡°I know you¡¯re twenty-five and I know you went to City College. I also know that you¡¯re incredibly hard-working. There¡¯s hardly a month unounted for in your employment history.¡± He held the door open for me as we entered the busy lunch restaurant. Without waiting to be seated he directed us to a table along the back, next to tall windows. ¡°I also suspect that you felt stagnate in yourst position. You¡¯d been there for nearly three years and had climbed your way up to be the chief marketing officer and press strategist. But Pet and Co is a smallpany and you¡¯re a person with big dreams.¡± ¡°I am?¡± He gazed serenely back, the picture ofpetent ease. ¡°You¡¯d written that you won an award for a creative writing ss in college and that you graduated summa cumude.¡± Julian¡¯s smile turned smug. ¡°Shall we say that like recognizes like?¡± I opened the menu. ¡°Seems like you already know all there is to me.¡± ¡°Oh no. I have plenty of questions to ask.¡± ¡°Professional ones.¡± I met his green gaze again. It was almost painful to look at him this close, with clear cut cheekbones and thick hair. I didn¡¯t have lunch with men like this. Men like this didn¡¯t have lunch with me. The waiter arrived to take our order. I chose the first thing I saw on the menu-pasta primavera-and a bottle of still water. How did people rx around him? I didn¡¯t think it was possible. Maybe that was how he was so sessful. It was physically impossible for anyone to bezy when around him. My nerves were on hair-trigger alert, ready to respond to anything and everything he might throw my way. ¡°Professional questions, yes, but I also want to know other things about you. Like-¡± ¡°No, I didn¡¯t have a Julian Hunt poster on my wall growing up.¡± Hisughter was surprised. ¡°Emily, you¡¯re in danger of bing my favorite employee.¡± ¡°Is that a dangerous thing to be?¡± Julian nodded with mock sadness. ¡°Kamal was before you, and look where he ended up. Shipped off to the Old World, never to be seen again.¡± ¡°A job he took voluntarily.¡± ¡°Tomayto, tomahto.¡± Julian waved a hand. ¡°Tell me about how your first days have been here at Hunt. I want to hear about the team-building exercises.¡± So I told him, trying and failing to rx. He still felt far too intimidating to be around, just by the sheer power surrounding him . His name was on all my documents-it was on my security badge! Our food arrived and I bent forward to breathe in the scent of parmesan and basil. Julian watched me. ¡°You¡¯re a foodie?¡± ¡°Sure. Who isn¡¯t?¡± ¡°There are some really great restaurants in this area.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure there are,¡± I said. ¡°I haven¡¯t been to that many, but there¡¯s a new Korean ce down the block I¡¯ve been wanting to try.¡± ¡°Really?¡± He took a bite of hissagna. ¡°I imagine a woman like you would spend every other night being asked to dinner.¡± I looked down at my food. Did he just give me apliment? ¡°Sometimes. Not quite as often as you do, I¡¯d wager, Mr. Hotshot.¡± He grinned and looked like he was going to say something witty or sarcastic, I was certain, but I cut him off. This was dangerous territory. ¡°What did you think about the marketing suggestions we brainstormed yesterday? I know Rachel CCed you the email.¡± He closed his mouth and watched me with amusement, like he was perfectly aware of what I was doing. Retreating to safety.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I liked them. Particrly the one about rebranding Hunt Digital Security as something geared towards the average person. I¡¯ve been ying around with developing a sub-division that deals more with individual consumers and not just the corporate clients, so that could go hand in hand.¡± I nodded and took a sip of my water. ¡°I think we could bundle it with some of the other more user-friendly software applications thepany has been working on. Make it into a must-have software package when buying a newputer-regardless of the hardware.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a really good idea.¡± ¡°You think?¡± ¡°Yeah, I do.¡± Julian leaned back in his chair and regarded me in silence. His eyes were spective. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± ¡°Damn. You really, really care about this job, don¡¯t you?¡± I felt like a child again at school, called out by a ssmate for actually liking a homework assignment. ¡°Um, yes. I hope I¡¯ve made that clear. I¡¯mmitted.¡± ¡°Like I feared.¡± He shook his head and took another bite of his food. Chapter 14 I narrowed my eyes at him. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯d been nning to ask you out. You know, maybe not right this second, but in a week or so. But now I already know what you¡¯ll say.¡± Julian shook his head again, a sad expression on his face. ¡°That it would be entirely unprofessional.¡± ¡°Exactly. But it¡¯s such a shame.¡± I stared at him. This man was impossible. No-he was right out insane. And he deserved to be knocked down a peg. ¡°What makes you so sure I¡¯d even ept bing one of your wham-bam-thank-you-ma¡¯am¡¯s?¡± I asked him. ¡°Theoretically speaking, I mean, if I wasn¡¯tmitted to my job.¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°First and foremost, I never implied my intention was a one-night-stand.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. I rolled my eyes again. ¡°Sure. Well, what makes you think I¡¯d ept?¡± ¡°We have chemistry,¡± he said, holding up a finger. ¡°We are great at verbal sparring. Surely you¡¯ve noticed that as well? Or do you talk this freely to everyone?¡± ¡°Lenny, our mailman, and me are like this.¡± I held up two intertwined fingers. Julianughed. ¡°Alright, so it¡¯s me and Lenny. I can handle a bit ofpetition. And thirdly¡­ well, you¡¯re the most beautiful woman I¡¯ve seen in a long time. I think we¡¯d be good together.¡± ¡°These are all hypotheticals.¡± ¡°They¡¯re very real arguments, Ace. But since you¡¯remitted to your job, you can¡¯t possibly ept me.¡± Julian put a hand over his heart. ¡°Leaving me eternally disappointed.¡± I rolled my eyes at his silliness, trying to y it cool despite my racing heart. Julian had asked me out, even if it was in a joking manner. Julian Hunt. I remembered the feel of his arms around me, how he¡¯d carried me without missing a beat. The masculine scent of him. But I knew how this would y out if I epted. And I was not going to be the girl who had a fling with the boss early on and who was then transferred to a different department only a monthter. No. I wasn¡¯t going to give people the chance to gossip about me at the water cooler. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find someone else who can lick your wounds, Julian,¡± I said. ¡°You won¡¯t even remember my name next month.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t bet money on that. But don¡¯t worry-I won¡¯t expose my fragile ego any more by asking if you might have gone out with me, had I not been your boss.¡± I snorted. ¡°Fragile? I¡¯ve never met a more self-confident man.¡± Julian grinned and waved at the waiter for the check. ¡°And you never will, Ace.¡± Julian. She¡¯d said no. It didn¡¯te as a surprise-from the moment I saw Emily Giordano¡¯s gorgeously flushed face in that club, I knew I¡¯d met a force to be reckoned with. She stood up for the people who mattered to her, had yed an honestly pretty shitty hand of cards in life really well, and was smart as a whip. The fact that I never knew what woulde out of her mouth made her damn near impossible to stay away from. Wasn¡¯t that just typical, though? You meet an amazing woman and before you really truly understand how amazing she is, you go and offer her a job which makes you the only man in the world she will categorically not date. I hadn¡¯t thought that one through properly. It had been a long time since I¡¯d met a woman so responsive. Passive was not in Emily Giordano¡¯s register, and she didn¡¯t try to pander or tter around me. She even had the balls to openly question my decision to hire her, a decision that undoubtedly worked out well for her. I didn¡¯t have a good answer. Offering her the job had been a spur of the moment idea, a brilliant one at that. I knew it would bring Turner over to us, but more than that, it¡¯d ensured her eyes lit up with agitation. She enjoyed a challenge, alright. Taking her out for lunch had been a¡­ stretch. I hadn¡¯t lied-I did sometimes go out for lunch with employees to pick their brains on a project or another. asionally. Perhaps once or twice a year. But knowing I was only three floors away from seeing her beautiful eyes sparkle as she called me out on my bullshit was enough to break my willpower. But then she thought I¡¯d offered her the chance for a one-night-stand or some cheap fling. She thought her job would be in jeopardy if we became better friends. In retrospect, of course that¡¯s what she assumed. Hell, that must have been what she thought I was doing at that idiot club with Rafe-womanizing and schmoozing. I had my work cut out for me. I had to ensure she started seeing me in a different light, like a man she¡¯d consider spending time with. It would be a challenge, but I had never backed down from one before. ¡°Sir?¡± My assistant¡¯s head popped through the half-open door. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°It¡¯s your mother¡¯s birthday next week. I just wanted to ask if you¡¯ve prepared anything or if I should schedule a flower delivery?¡± I sighed. ¡°Schedule a flower delivery.¡± He nodded and shut the door behind him. Honestly, he was the best assistant I had ever had-no-one was more organized-but sometimes I thought he followed my life so closely it left no room at all for his own. As if summoned by the mere mention, my phone lit up with my step-mother¡¯s name. With a sigh, I decided not to answer. For while my mother was living with her sister in Florida, my step-mother was still in California. And she was driving me insane. To say that we had different views on life would be an understatement. More than that, though, were our different views on Ryan. My little brother meant well, but he often got himself in all kinds of trouble. Some of that trouble might leave rather permanent dents one day if he kept it up-he was getting older. Being bailed out by your brother worked at twenty-one, but it wouldn¡¯t look so cute at twenty-five. I¡¯d had this discussion with my step-mother a thousand times already. No doubt she wanted to schedule another screaming match. Everything was dragged up; my father¡¯s legacy, money, the future. A problem for another day. For now, I needed to ensure my appunch would go smoothly. I needed to meet a reporter for a two-page spread. Chapter 15 And I needed to figure out a way to date Emily Giordano. ¡°Emily?¡±¡±Yes?¡± Josef leaned against the door to my office, Sasha peering around his shoulder. ¡°A bunch of us are heading down to Shoots and Hoops after work.¡± ¡°You shoulde!¡± ¡°Are those for our meetingter?¡± I nodded at the big box of donuts Josef was holding. ¡°Yep.¡± Sasha leaned down and took a whiff. ¡°Honey-zed.¡± I could basically feel myself salivating. ¡°Have I said how much I enjoy working here?¡± ¡°Yes. Repeatedly.¡± Josef grinned. ¡°Anyway, the entire team is going for drinks after work, and that includes you. No excuses, Giordano.¡± I bit my lip. I wanted to. I knew that Turner wouldn¡¯t mind, and he was an adult now. Technically, I didn¡¯t need to be home every evening anymore. But it didn¡¯t feel right to stop-and not when it was my night to cook dinner. But I had to let go someday. Last week I saw that he¡¯d circled a few ads for apartments for rent in the newspaper. If he decided to move out-which he could, with his ample sry-I¡¯d have to adjust. ¡°Sure. Of course, I¡¯ll join you.¡± ¡°Awesome! We head out around six.¡± I shot Turner a text and received, predictably enough, a positive response. He¡¯d pointed out more than once that he didn¡¯t think I spent enough time with friends, not inparison to what he perceived to be normal in others. Yeah, I know. High standards to live up to. Shoots and Hoops turned out to be a pool and dart bar, and I had to give it to the ce, the marketing was on point: their logo was a bullseye. The beer was served in German-looking sses, the music on full st was old, and the bar stools all wobbled. I loved it. ¡°Cheers to a damn good month!¡± Trent dered as we toasted. My ss was filled to the brim, so full I couldn¡¯t stop some from running over the rim. ¡°And to the newest addition to the team,¡± Sasha added and tilted her beer towards me in acknowledgment. A solid mouthful gushed out and over Trent. ¡°Shit!¡± He scrambled to wipe at the stain on his jeans as Sasha turned beet red. I handed them a few napkins and thought, not for the first time, that something had to be going on between them. ¡°We¡¯re still waiting for one person.¡± Rachel nced over her shoulder. ¡°If he even shows up.¡± Josef frowned. ¡°Who? The whole team is here.¡± ¡°Bossman said he¡¯d swing by after whatever event or dinner he¡¯s attending tonight.¡± ¡°Yeeeeees!¡± Trent gave a victorious fist pump. ¡°I need a chance to exact revenge.¡± ¡°Revenge?¡± ¡°Yes, in dart. He wonst time we were here, but I¡¯ve been practicing since then.¡± ¡°Good luck with that,¡± Rachel snorted. Josef wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at all of us. ¡°I wonder what hot date he¡¯s been out on tonight.¡± The others broke out intoughter and I forced myself to join. I¡¯d seen it when I googled him; images of Julian Hunt in perfectly made suits with beautiful women on his arm. I had no doubt he regrly turned those eyes and that smile on anyone who caught his interest. ¡°We can¡¯t live our lives waiting for the boss,¡± I said. ¡°Come on. Next round of shots is on me.¡± The group responded with hollers and shouts, and for a moment I just grinned. I¡¯d never really had a group of friends like this. During my time atmunity college, I worked part-time and was busy taking care of Turner, who¡¯d only been fourteen when our parents died. It was high time I made sure to take every opportunity that came my way to have fun. That included learning how to y darts, which Trent was apparently a self-proimed expert at. ¡°The key is to bnce the dart perfectly between your two fingers, like this¡­¡± He demonstrated with a feathered dart. ¡°You keep your eye glued to the bullseye¡­ and then you throw.¡± He missed it with a solid two inches and let out a suffering sigh. ¡°Sometimes you hit. Sometimes you don¡¯t.¡± Rachelughed beside him. ¡°And you call yourself an athlete!¡± ¡°I most certainly never have.¡± ¡°Sure you have,¡± she pointed out. ¡°Last time we were here you said you could have gone pro if you hadn¡¯t suffered a knee injury.¡± Trent rolled his eyes at her and handed me a dart. ¡°She remembers everything,¡± he told me in a hushed whisper. ¡°Avoid her at all costs.¡± Iughed and watched as he threw another dart. This time he only missed the bullseye by a hair. ¡°Damn!¡± ¡°So close,¡± I told him. ¡°Let me try.¡± I held the dart carefully in one hand, shifted my weight to my right leg and did as Trent said-I kept my eye glued to the little red dot in the middle of the board. It went wide,nding along the green outer rim, only scoring me a measly ten points. A familiar, huskyugh rang out behind me. ¡°I think you all need to be taught how this is done.¡± Trent grinned. ¡°d you could make it. I need that rematch.¡± ¡°You can have a shot at it, at least,¡± Julian said. ¡°I won¡¯t give up the title as reigning champion without a fight.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. I nced in his direction and then back at the dart board. Dressed in a pair of grey cks and a white shirt, he¡¯d rolled the sleeves up to his elbows and undone the top button. No tie, no zer, and his hair curled down over his forehead in a deliciously thick wave. Men shouldn¡¯t be allowed to walk around like that without a goddamn warningbel. I handed the darts back to Trent without acknowledging our boss standing right there beside us. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to the table. Good luck!¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Trent grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure our team wins.¡± I felt Julian¡¯s eyes on my back as I headed back to our table. Chapter 16 Keep it together, Emily, I told myself, despite the fact that my stomach had descended into a knot of nerves the moment I¡¯d heard his irritatingly smug voice behind me. I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d even be able to handle another sip of my drink from the way my stomach clenched. My useless attraction to him was getting inconvenient. I slid into the seat next to Josef and Sasha. As we spoke, I found out that they¡¯d both worked at Hunt for about two years. The entirepany seemed incredibly young. ¡°Hunt has really been growing exponentially the past couple of years. I¡¯m guessing you joined the team just as it was starting to pick up steam?¡± Sasha nodded. ¡°Yep. There were no shoes to fill, which I liked. It¡¯s really a great workce since we¡¯ve been able to build something from scratch. We¡¯ve gotten to try all the new crazy product ideas thepany hase up with.¡± ¡°You mean what Julian hase up with.¡± Josef nodded to where the CEO was throwing darts. He had a wide-legged stance and was facing the dartboard with a look of deep concentration. His bicep curled once, twice¡­ and then he threw the dart. I swallowed and looked away. ¡°Hey, judging by the size of ourst Christmas bonus I¡¯m notining. The man is a machine.¡± ¡°But he still goes out with you all like this?¡± ¡°Sometimes,¡± Sasha nodded. ¡°Doesn¡¯t happen very often though. He¡¯s busy. You know how it is.¡± She waved a hand in dismissal, and I could see it-all too well. Julian at events and gs and meetings with foreign investors. Josef grinned. ¡°Look, Trent is in the lead. Seems like it¡¯s only by a few points, though.¡± We all nced over to where they were facing off. Trent wore a smug expression. Julian was throwing, his powerful body leaning slightly forward. He had three darts in one hand and threw first one, then the second¡­ His smile grew wider by the second.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Trent said something to Julian that we couldn¡¯t hear, but Julian¡¯s response was clear to all-a raised eyebrow. Then he threw his final dart straight into the bullseye. ¡°No way!¡± Trent eximed. Sashaughed at my side. ¡°He¡¯s going to be insufferable now.¡± ¡°Julian?¡± ¡°No, Trent. Won¡¯t shut up until he gets a rematch.¡± I watched Julian¡¯s smile, all glorious victory. He was a man who loved to win, it seemed, but not to gloat. Both of them ambled over to us, Trent audiblyining, and joined us at the table. Julian slid into the seat next to me. I was aware of the palpable heat of him next to me, the warmth of his body as our thighs touched. ¡°Hey,¡± he said. ¡°Hi.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t say hello to me earlier.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I?¡± I took a sip of my beer, trying to stave off the nerves in my stomach. ¡°I must have forgotten.¡± He gave a huskyugh. ¡°I¡¯m sure, Ace.¡± ¡°Congrattions on your victory.¡± ¡°You saw that?¡± There was a trace of smugness in his voice. ¡°Yes. I¡¯d say it wasparable to Gettysburg or Waterloo.¡± ¡°Mine was far more legendary.¡± He reached over and grabbed my drink. ¡°What are you drinking?¡± ¡°Lager.¡± He took a sip. ¡°God, but that¡¯s light.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mister-I-only-drink-aged-whiskey.¡± He eyed his own high-ball ss. ¡°I had a beer earlier. I just prefer ones that aren¡¯t, you know, water.¡± ¡°Funny,¡± I said dryly. His hand rested on his thigh, distractingly close to mine. It was broad and tanned with square nails. I sighed. It only seemed natural that even his hands had to be the epitome of masculinity. ¡°Something bothering you, Emily?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°I¡¯d hope not. Especially not now that I¡¯ve graced you all with my presence.¡± I nced meaningfully around at my co-workers around the table, engaged inughter and conversation of their own, and Sasha and Rachel over by the dart board. I turned back and gave Julian a pointed look. ¡°Yes, clearly we are all basking in your glow.¡± Heughed again. Rxed against the worn leather of the sofa like this, his handsome features seemed entirely human. His brown hair gleamed under the low lights and for a moment I could imagine him as anyone. Just an ordinary man, with no Amex cards or scheduled Forbes interviews. ¡°Where were you before this?¡± His eyes softened. ¡°Why do you want to know?¡± ¡°Just making conversation,¡± I said, forcing myself to look away from his dark-green eyes. I kept a hand glued to the table to keep myself from vaulting at him. How could the others act normal around him? He seemed to set my every nerve ending on fire. ¡°I had dinner,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Not that far from here.¡± I took another sip of my watery beer and thought of the photo model he¡¯d surely been wining and dining. ¡°Was she pretty?¡± His smile was back, teasing and quick. ¡°Emily, why are you asking me that?¡± ¡°You¡¯re impossible.¡± I rolled my eyes, trying to hide the flush of embarrassment already creeping its way up my cheeks. He leaned in closer and I could smell him, the light cologne of musk and smoke. ¡°Yes. She was very pretty.¡± My stomach dropped. ¡°Awesome.¡± ¡°But too old for me. Plus, she happens to be my step-mother. My little brother was there too.¡± I shook my head at his dancing eyes and the crooked grin on his face. Asshole. Chapter 17 But Julian onlyughed at my obvious irritation. ¡°I think your jealousy is cute.¡± ¡°I was not jealous.¡± ¡°Mhm. Sure.¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± He took a sip of his whiskey. ¡°Do you know how to y pool?¡± ¡°Yes, a little.¡± ¡°Great. I have a suggestion.¡± He held up a finger in warning. ¡°You and me, pool table number three, in five minutes.¡± Iughed. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯repetitive as hell and I want to keep my job.¡± I crossed my legs on the high stool but didn¡¯t miss the way his gaze flicked down, observing the movement. ¡°Oh, you think you might actually win?¡± ¡°I set high goals for myself,¡± I shrugged. ¡°Sometimes I achieve them. What can I say?¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll make it interesting. We¡¯ll y for stakes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not betting money on this,¡± I scoffed. Whatever I lost would be proportionately huge inparison to what it would be to him. He grinned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, nothing so mundane as that. No¡­ if I win, we have a standing dinner appointment every week.¡± ¡°What?¡± Julian shrugged, a wide shoulder brushing against mine. ¡°I find you interesting and I want to get to know you better. Dinner every week would allow us the time.¡± ¡°You want dating me to be conditional on your win?¡± ¡°No.¡± He raised a finger at me and put on a mock stern voice. ¡°As you told me-you want to be professional. So this is professional. Consider it¡­ the beginning of a blossoming friendship.¡± I narrowed my eyes. ¡°Right. Well, if I win, I want to drive your car.¡± ¡°Which one?¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°The one you bragged about the first time we met. Your Porsche.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not nning on crashing it?¡± ¡°I promise I won¡¯t. I just want to¡­ take it out for a spin.¡± Honestly, it was the first thing that came to mind. But the more I thought about it the better it sounded. I had never driven anything that ran as smoothly as that car would. It felt like poetic justice. ¡°Deal.¡± Julian stretched out his hand and I hesitated only slightly before grasping it. It was warm and dry and fully enveloped mine. ¡°Well? Shall we?¡± ¡°Ladies first,¡± he grinned and grabbed our drinks from the table. None of the others seemed to notice our departure-Josef and Rachel were deep in conversation on some new movie or another, while Trent and Sasha were battling it out at the dart board. The pool tables were nearly abandoned. Soft indie music yed from the stereo as I grabbed a billiards queue from the wall. I didn¡¯t know if I wanted to win or if I wanted to lose-both oues were just as tempting ¡°Do you want me to show you how to hold it?¡± I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling. ¡°No. I want to start. Eight-ball?¡± He shot me a crooked smile and moved to line up the billiards balls in the triangle frame. The low lighting yed beautifully over his strong forearms and capable hands and I forced myself to focus on the game. Porsche. You¡¯ll get to drive a Porsche.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°So confident. Well then, go ahead.¡± I bent over and lined up my shot. He was gazing at me with hooded eyes, no doubt expecting me to fail and for the white ball to bounce uselessly against the side. I hit the triangle dead center. The formation broke apart and three billiard balls rolled into separate pockets. ¡°Whoops.¡± ¡°Damn, Ace.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take stripes.¡± I lined up my next shot. As I bent over to set up the move, I shot him a sly look through myshes. ¡°What? Don¡¯t tell me you expected this to be an easy win for you?¡± The smile he shot me felt as intimate as a kiss. ¡°No, I never underestimate a beautiful woman.¡± I smiled and focused on the pocket I wanted the purple 4-ball to enter. Beautiful. He¡¯d called me beautiful. I pocketed two more balls before it was his turn. ¡°Wow,¡± I remarked as he stalked around the pool table, searching for angles. ¡°Awful many solid balls out there.¡± Julian raised an eyebrow at me. ¡°Most women would prefer them to striped.¡± I rolled my eyes at him, but he only grinned, unrepentant. He pocketed two of his own in rapid session. There was something beautiful in watching him move, his strong arms handle the queue, the way his forearms and biceps flexed. I was so entirely and irrationally attracted to him. Although to be fair to myself, I figured that any straight, female and with eyes would-and it seemed like he was well aware of it. Julian missed the next shot and cursed under his breath. ¡°My turn now. Perhaps you should spend some quality time with the keys to your Porsche, because they¡¯ll be in my hands soon.¡± ¡°I¡¯m only getting warmed up,¡± he said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your Thursday evenings will be mine. Tell me, where¡¯d you learn to y?¡± Chapter 18 ¡°My father.¡± I lined up another shot. The striped one I¡¯d been aiming for rolled into the pocket perfectly. ¡°He loved this game. I had a queue in my hand from the age of six.¡± Julian leaned against the pool table next to ours, putting him right next to where I was nning my next move. He crossed his arms over his chest and I looked away from the way his arms bulged. ¡°Are you as good as him?¡± ¡°No.¡± I never had the time to reach his level, because he died when I was eighteen. ¡°Where did you learn?¡± ¡°College.¡± I shot and missed, sighing. ¡°Right. Your Ivy League college experience.¡± ¡°Have you been reading up on me, Ace?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°It¡¯s part of my job.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± His voice was deep and spective. ¡°I wonder if you know all the truly important things.¡± ¡°Such as?¡± ¡°What¡¯s my favorite color?¡± ¡°Um, white? ck?¡± He grinned. ¡°Just because I¡¯m wearing those two colors? Your mind works in very obvious ways. No, it¡¯s yellow.¡± ¡°Yellow? That¡¯s an awful color.¡± He looked momentarily affronted. ¡°It¡¯s the color of the sun.¡± ¡°Is it? I was taught never to look directly at it.¡± Julian shook his head at me. ¡°You¡¯re impossible. And clearly, you need to get to know me better for your job, if nothing else. I should win this game just to give you the ability to pick my brain. I¡¯d be doing you a professional courtesy.¡± I pursed my lips. ¡°How do you manage to walk with all that weight?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t follow.¡± ¡°With an ego that big?¡± There was a gleam of interest in his eyes. ¡°Ace, trust me, it¡¯s not my ego that¡¯s the biggest-¡± ¡°No. Don¡¯t finish that sentence.¡± I held up a hand to stop him. ¡°You¡¯re really making me question whether I even want to drive your stupid Porsche.¡± Heughed, delighted, before he sank another ball. The tables were quickly turning and we now had the same amount of solids and stripes left. It was time to really show off. I pocketed the remainders of mine in quick session, and before long, there was only the eight ball left for me. ¡°Damn. I hadn¡¯t expected this.¡± I hid my smile against my shoulder. ¡°Clearly.¡± But as I leaned over and lined up my final shot, I thought about the demand. I wanted to win. It would be fun to drive a car like that. Dinners with him were a bad idea. It wouldn¡¯t lead anywhere and might jeopardize my job. But maybe, just maybe, I¡¯d had enough of being sensible. I missed the shot. Julian tsked. ¡°Rookie mistake.¡± He proceeded to pocket his final balls in rapid session. I leaned against the wall and watched him move. A dinner a week. He¡¯d likely be bored after the first two, but I couldn¡¯t find it within myself to dread that prospect. Any time spent with Julian Hunt felt like time spent gloriously alive. He nced up at me before he lined up the eight-ball. ¡°Have you cleared your calendar, Ace?¡± I gave a long-suffering sigh. ¡°I think I can pencil you in, if I must.¡± He leaned forward in concentration, and I could see him biting the inside of his cheek to focus. High cheekbones and a perfect jawline, just faintly illuminated under the low lights. How was he real? He made the perfect shot. The eight-ball rolled in a perfectly straight line, hitting the pocket with a satisfying thud. Julian grinned up at me in triumph. ¡°Once a week you¡¯re mine, Giordano.¡± ¡°As long as it¡¯s only once a week, Hunt.¡± He murmured something barely audible under his breath and turned away to put his queue back in the stand. I watched the ripple of back muscle through the white of his shirt. I couldn¡¯t have heard that right? It sounded like he¡¯d mumbled ¡°yeah, to begin with.¡± I was so far in over my head. Denise, who had stuck with me through thick and thin, turned out to be surprisingly unsupportive. ¡°You agreed to do what with him?¡± ¡°Only dinner, though. And only once a week.¡± She grinned at me. ¡°Damn. I hate to give it to him, but the man is good. Getting you to date him on a dare.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not dating, not really.¡± ¡°But you want it to be. Don¡¯t you?¡± I frowned. ¡°He¡¯s my boss.¡± ¡°But he¡¯s hot.¡± ¡°God, yes. But what am I supposed to do? This situation has me so far out of my depth.¡± Chapter 19 ¡°Eat dinner, flirt a bit.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Do lots of nasty, dirty things together between the sheets. You know the drill.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see why not.¡± Denise raised an eyebrow at me. ¡°You¡¯re long overdue for a bit of romance.¡± I couldn¡¯t disagree with her on that. ¡°Yes, but the fallout would be terrible. I¡¯d have to sit through meetings with him at least once a week-that¡¯s unavoidable. And the way this office works, I¡¯m not sure I could hide it from the others. They¡¯re like bloodhounds when ites to gossip. Last week one of them found out a software engineer was pregnant just from a two-second nce at her browser history.¡± Denise poured another cup of broth into the risotto she was making us for dinner. ¡°It sounds to me like you¡¯re creating problems.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°When was thest time you were properly out on a date?¡± I raised a finger in warning. ¡°No, don¡¯t make me say it.¡± ¡°Emily.¡±¡±Two years, as you very well know. But I just never meet anyone! Besides, I can¡¯t exactly take a man home to the house I share with my baby brother. It¡¯s not like I have time, either-I¡¯ve been far too busy with my career.¡± Denise pointed at me in usation with a wooden spat. ¡°I counted three separate excuses in that response.¡± ¡°Congrattions,¡± I deadpanned. ¡°You can count.¡± ¡°Deflect all you want, but we both know that this is the first time in a long time that you¡¯ve expressed an interest in anyone.¡± ¡°True, but it¡¯s not just anyone. I wish you could see him. You¡¯d see why. Anyone with eyes would express an interest in Julian. It¡¯s effortless.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°No? Have you developed a sudden aversion to chiseled jaws? ¡± ¡°I¡¯ve actually developed a strong preference for one man¡¯s jaw in particr. There is no one else for me now.¡± I grinned. Every time I met Denise she had a new crush or fling. ¡°I have a fourth excuse. Your incredibly active dating life means I can just live vicariously through you.¡± She tutted and shook her head so vigorously that her reddish curls bounced. ¡°That¡¯s the easy way out. You¡¯re going to have to take a chance sometime, Emily.¡± ¡°But what if I lose my job?¡± ¡°What if you gain love? Or at least wild, crazy sex you¡¯ll remember forever?¡± I sighed. ¡°Tell me about your new man.¡± She smiled so widely I could practically see her mrs andunched into a description of the new cook over at El Vino, an Italian Michelin-star restaurant in the nearby town. They¡¯d already met up twice and he was going to take her to meet a few of his friends next week. ¡°Which means,¡± Denise said pointedly to me, ¡°that you¡¯re next.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°To meet him. If all goes well.¡± ¡°Wait, hold up. When was thest time you let me meet one of your flings?¡± She blushed. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ I just don¡¯t feel like this is a fling.¡± ¡°Really?¡±¡±Really.¡± ¡°Well then, I¡¯d love to meet him! And who knows, perhaps he has some cute friends.¡± ¡°Yes! That¡¯s the right attitude. Either you get with Julian or with someone else, but you¡¯re not allowed to be lonely all your life. I won¡¯t allow it.¡± She was teasing, but a part of me realized the truth of her words. I was twenty-five. I did want love in my life, despite the things I might say to the contrary. And while Julian was undoubtedly not the right candidate, he had certainly made me remember that men existed. And that some were very, very, very charming. He was also very good at reminding me that he existed-there was a text waiting for me when I got home from Denise¡¯s.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Julian: 14 Rosso Blvd at 0700 on Thursday. That was all he¡¯d written-an order. I googled the ce. It was a fancy French restaurant, with photos of white linen cloths and candles. It looked¡­ intimate. Emily: No way. That¡¯s far too romantic. What if someone recognizes us? Or rather, you? Julian: You¡¯d rather we share a meal at some fast food restaurant along a highway? You¡¯re killing me, Ace. Emily: I have a better suggestion. Kalispera. It¡¯s a Greek ce with an appropriately friendly atmosphere. Julian: I¡¯ll hold you to that. Nerves settled in my stomach. I could almost see it: Julian¡¯s powerful suit-d frame and manly appearance in that small, homely ce, all folded up on a wooden chair. Long legs stretched out in front and a smirk on his face. I¡¯d force him to eat tons of tzatziki and dolmades and make sure I got to know my boss better. For professional purposes, of course-but there was no lying to myself. I would enjoy spending time with him. The prospect of telling Turner where I was going was impossible. He was going to ask questions, require an exnation, and I could hardly exin it to myself. It would make it real, real in a way it certainly wasn¡¯t, not yet. Besides, he was Turner¡¯s boss as well-not just mine. So with guilt and nerves churning in my stomach, I said I was going out with Denise for dinner. Turner didn¡¯t even look up from his book. ¡°Meeting her again so soon?¡±¡±Yes.¡± ¡°Good. You need friends.¡± He turned a page and continued reading. My kind, beautiful brother. Of course that would be his response. ¡°That¡¯s actually perfect because some of the software engineers want to go out for a drink on Thursday evening and I debated whether I should join them. If you¡¯re not home I can go.¡± I frowned. ¡°You¡¯re neen. No way you¡¯re going out.¡± Turner nced up at me with all the exasperation of a younger sibling. ¡°Emily, it¡¯s not a club. It¡¯s a bar frequented by coders around the corner from work and I hear they don¡¯t check IDs. I have no interest in trying alcohol. I will order a diet Pepsi and I n on staying for an hour, maybe even an hour and a half if the conversation is interesting.¡± Chapter 20 I met his calm gaze. I had no reason not to trust him, and he was an adult now. With his own job, with colleagues who invited him along to drinks after work. For all intents and purposes, I should be pleased- he was fitting in. He was socializing with people who liked tech as much as him. But I felt like he¡¯d grown up a little too fast, all of a sudden, when faced with the reality of it. ¡°You¡¯re right. I hope you have fun.¡± ¡°You too.¡± He turned his attention back his book, but I couldn¡¯t quite let him slip away from me yet. ¡°Will you make us spaghetti carbonara on Friday for dinner?¡± ¡°Sure, if you want.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± I said softly. What do you wear to a semi-casual, semi-professional dinner with your billionaire boss? Google was surprisingly unhelpful on the topic. I tried on a smart grey suit and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked professional. It was a look that could easily transition from day to night. But I looked like awyer. Two pencil skirts and four blousester, I pulled out the blue and orange sheath dress I¡¯d bought years ago but been too afraid to wear. It was gorgeous, which had made me buy it despite the price tag. I zipped it up and brushed my hair until gleaming. I looked fun and flirty. A woman with personality, but with a sophisticated side. It wouldn¡¯t raise any eyebrows in the office, but I hoped it would raise one person¡¯s eyebrows-tonight. I didn¡¯t want to fall into bed with Julian, to be wooed like one of the countless women I imagined that he¡¯d pursued, but I couldn¡¯t stand the thought of him looking at me and ncing away. I wanted his attention. At work that Thursday, I threw myself into nning theunch strategy for an uing productunch and prepared the Monday pitch with the team. Despite the busy day, my mind couldn¡¯t help spinning like a dryer stuck on thest cycle, round and round and round. I thought about whether or not this dinner was a good idea (it wasn¡¯t), if I could back out with my dignity intact (unlikely) and if I¡¯d ever been this excited by a non-date before (I hadn¡¯t). My phone buzzed around five o¡¯clock and my heart leaped in anticipation.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Julian: I¡¯m flying in from out of state and we¡¯re thirty minutes dyed. I have to push our dinner back to 7:15. I¡¯ll make it up to you. A million different responses shed through my mind before I finally settled on what I thought was the right amount of teasing and fun. Emily: That¡¯s fine, I guess¡­ Though, if you truly valued punctuality, you¡¯d just step up and fly the ne yourself. Julian: It crossed my mind, but I don¡¯t feel like getting arrested today. Emily: How are you going to make it up to me? Julian: What a wealth of answers I could give to that question. But what I have in mind will have to wait for more of a face-to-face situation, so to speak. My heart made pathetic little double-beats, ignoring the orders my brain issued. He¡¯s your boss boss BOSS! Clearly, my fingers ignored them too, typing out a flirty response as if on their own ord. Emily: Sounds ominous. Julian: Don¡¯t worry, I can be gentle. Heat pooled in my stomach and I closed my eyes against the images his words conjured. His tall, powerful frame behind me, pressing kisses to my neck. Feeling the strength of him against me, the reach of his hands¡­ Keep your head in the game, Emily. I couldn¡¯t fold like a house of cards at the first little gust of wind. Emily: Threatening everyone¡¯s safety by texting while flying? That¡¯s a scandal if I¡¯ve ever heard of one. Please don¡¯t give us press secretaries more work than necessary, Mr. Hunt. Thank you. Julian: There¡¯s wifi in first-ss. But I¡¯m very ttered that you¡¯re worried about my safety. Asshole. I was just about to slip my phone back into my bag and away from my unruly fingers when another text came through. Julian: I¡¯m looking forward to tonight. Me too, I thought, smoothing a hand over my dress. Despite all my reservations, decisions and ns, I felt more electric and alive than I had in months. I¡¯d made the decision to y with fire-I just had to ensure I didn¡¯t get burned in the process. I arrived at Kalispera exactly on time. The ce was just as cute as I remembered it. Julian wasn¡¯t there, but the waiter showed me to a table in the back, right next to a beautiful stone wall. Looking around at the rustic decor and the charming details, I quickly realized that I¡¯d made a mistake. There might not be white linen cloths at this ce but it was stupidly romantic anyway. Two tables over, I saw a couple quite literally holding hands on the wooden table, illuminated by the low lighting. Could I ask them to, you know, leave? Maybe tell the waiter to turn up the dimmed lighting? I smoothed a hand over my dress and felt incredibly brave and incredibly foolish at the same time. My phone buzzed. Julian: So sorry, but I have to cancel. Raincheck? My jaw hit the floor so hard I might need stitches. What? How dare he, when I was here and waiting? Husky, masculineughter rang out behind. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Ace, but I just had to see what your reaction would be. You looked genuinely disappointed.¡± ¡°You.¡± Julian raised his hands catingly and slid into the seat opposite me. ¡°Whoops.¡± He hung his grey dinner jacket over the back of the chair and methodically rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, revealing tan arms and a thick silver watch. It was like I saw him rx in front of my eyes, go from the imposing CEO to a normal man. ¡°How long were you watching me?¡± ¡°Just for a few minutes.¡± His smile brought an immediate softening to his features. ¡°You look great, Ace.¡± I grabbed one of the menus. ¡°Anything for Hunt Industries.¡± ¡°I envy my own employees for getting to spend the entire day with you looking like that.¡± I shook my head at his exaggerated ttery. ¡°Look at your menu, idiot. I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°No, ma¡¯am. You¡¯re the food expert and this restaurant was your idea. So you order whatever you think we¡¯ll like.¡± ¡°Really?¡±¡±Sure.¡± Julian ran an absent hand through his thick hair, mussing it up and away from its neat wave. ¡°I trust you.¡± I dove into the menu with the fervor of someone being asked to choose a college major. When the waiter came I rattled off a list of my favorite Greek dishes and some new ones I¡¯d always wanted to try, making it clear that we¡¯d be sharing them all. Chapter 21 Julian watched me in silent amusement, eyes sparkling. ¡°What?¡±¡±You¡¯re cute when you¡¯re passionate.¡± I bit my lip and looked away from his yful eyes. Somehow,ments like that hit much harder than the hyperbolicpliments of beauty. I cleared my throat. ¡°The deal was professional dinners.¡± ¡°No, they weren¡¯t supposed to be intimate in nature. But they¡¯re definitely going to be personal.¡± ¡°Personal?¡± His voice dropped in volume. ¡°We¡¯re not here to discuss business, Emily.¡± I swallowed at the warmth in his voice. ¡°Then I want to know more about you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m at your service,¡± he said and opened his arms wide, revealing a strong frame and a chest that practically begged to be slept on. ¡°Ask away.¡± ¡°Where were you today?¡± ¡°That¡¯s professional.¡± ¡°Come on. I¡¯m genuinely curious.¡± ¡°Both you and Rachel have ess to my calendar.¡± ¡°I want to hear it in your own words.¡± ¡°I was in Anta. There¡¯s a new start-up I¡¯m thinking of acquiring, and their offices are there. Well, office is a bit strong of a word-it¡¯s two young women working out of their college dorm, but they very ambitiously called it an office when they invited me.¡± He snorted good-naturedly. ¡°I approve.¡± ¡°What are they developing?¡± ¡°A program designed to encourage young women to code. There are tons of organizations like that already, but I haven¡¯t invested in any yet and would like to add more of the equality-mind set to Hunt. They¡¯re on to something unique as well, with their interface.¡± I softened as I watched him talk. He truly was passionate about his work. He had more than enough money to be idle for the rest of his days, but that didn¡¯t seem to interest him at all. He wanted to build, to create, to contribute something worthwhile. ¡°That¡¯s really cool. Both for its own sake, of course, but also because we could really spin that for marketing and press purposes.¡± Julianughed. ¡°Are you always this cynical?¡± ¡°Realistic,¡± I corrected. ¡°And that¡¯s what you hired me for.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, yes,¡± he grinned. ¡°But sometimes I find myself wishing you¡¯d be a little less realistic.¡± I ignored the thrilling current that shot through me at hisment. ¡°Why did you start Hunt Industries?¡±¡±No.¡± ¡°No? What kind of answer is that?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s my turn. How¡¯s your brother settling in? I know how much that mattered to you.¡± ¡°Better than I could have hoped. Your connection speed is excellent, apparently, and after he put theputer back together it¡¯s now able to process more code than before. Honestly, all of this is like a differentnguage to me. I don¡¯t understand it, but it¡¯s clear that he¡¯s enjoying his work.¡± ¡°David tells me he¡¯s basically taken the software department by storm. Coders drop by all the time to pick his brain for adaptions to any single line.¡± I smiled, picturing Turner trying to exin things that came so easy for him to those with less cognitive function. God knows I¡¯d been on the receiving end plenty of times. ¡°He¡¯s out tonight with a few of the other coders, so it seems like they¡¯re a good group.¡± Julian looked thoughtful. ¡°Is that difficult?¡± ¡°Is what difficult?¡± ¡°That he¡¯s now an adult, and out on the town tonight.¡± ¡°A bit.¡± I rubbed my neck, the skin warm from the heavy weight of my hair. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you know this, but I¡¯ve been his legal guardian since he was fourteen.¡± His eyes gentled. ¡°I heard.¡± ¡°Our parents died in a car ident. Hit straight on.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Emily.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± I cleared my throat. ¡°It is what it is. But that¡¯s why I¡¯m sometimes¡­ a bit overprotective. With the exception of our grandparents in Louisiana and a few cousins in New York, Turner and I are all the family we have.¡± ¡°And now he¡¯s grown.¡± ¡°And now he¡¯s grown,¡± I echoed. ¡°All is as it should be, only I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯ve necessarily caught up. How about your brother? He¡¯s about Turners age?¡± ¡°He¡¯s twenty-one and causing me no end of trouble.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Oh?¡±The waiter arrived and interrupted whatever potential response wasing with arge tter of dishes. It smelled heavenly-tes of souki, a bowl of pita and moussaka. When the table was nearly covered with dishes, the waiter ced a single long-stemmed rose in a thin vase in the middle and lit a candle. He smiled at both of us before he left. ¡°There we go! Have a nice meal, you two.¡± I frowned at Julian. ¡°Don¡¯t say it.¡± His eyes danced with silent mirth as he looked from the flower to me. ¡°Good thing you chose somewhere non-romantic.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a flower. And a candle. It doesn¡¯t mean anything.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Julian responded with a straight face. ¡°Because romance is all in the atmosphere and the chemistry, not in the details. We could be in a dumpster and I¡¯d still be swooning.¡± ¡°It¡¯s such a shame that you happen to be my boss, then.¡± ¡°If only there was an easy solution to that?¡± ¡°You could quit,¡± I said with a straight face. ¡°Give it all up for love, grand gestures and so forth.¡± Julian¡¯s face split into a wide grin that somehow only made him more handsome. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure that Hunt industries would thrive without me.¡± Chapter 22 ¡°Hey, I don¡¯t make the rules.¡± ¡°Well, in here you do, Giordano. Tell me what these dishes are because I¡¯m starving.¡± Slowly, my defenses fell. He was charming and funny, and not once did he seek to cross some line like I had been expecting. We had more inmon than I had anticipated, but in some ways, our differences were practically irreconcble. ¡°You really haven¡¯t been to the movies in years?¡± ¡°No, not that I can recall.¡± ¡°Years, Julian. You can¡¯t be serious.¡± ¡°I can see whatever I feel like at home,¡± he shrugged. ¡°I just don¡¯t get around to going to an actual movie theatre.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just sad.¡± ¡°No, sad is someone who doesn¡¯t want to order dessert.¡± He gave a pointed nce towards the untouched dessert menu between us. ¡°I¡¯m full! Stuffed! I¡¯m like one of those dolmades,¡± I told him, ¡°and I couldn¡¯t possibly eat another bite.¡± Julian looked at me through hooded eyes. ¡°Alright. You got to make the rules regarding food, but that means I get to decide on drinks.¡± ¡°Julian, we have work tomorrow.¡± He called the waiter over and promptly ordered two small sses of ouzo. ¡°We won¡¯t have more than one each, don¡¯t worry.¡± The chilled sses of anise-vored liquor arrived not two minutester. I looked down at mine in distaste. I knew it was traditional, but it was damn strong and I¡¯d never been fond of licorice. ¡°Eyes up here, Ace,¡± he grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s cap off the night with a round of Never Have I Ever.¡± I couldn¡¯t help myself-Iughed in astonishment. ¡°The game you y in high school?¡± ¡°Yes. You drink if you¡¯ve done something, and you don¡¯t if you haven¡¯t. Simple as can be.¡± Julian¡¯s face was teasing, as if he didn¡¯t really think I¡¯d agree to this. But I¡¯d nevercked courage. I raised my ss high and touched it to his. ¡°It¡¯s on, Hunt.¡± ¡°Ladies first.¡± ¡°Alright. Hmm¡­ Never have I ever started apany.¡± He rolled his eyes. ¡°Come on, Ace. These are tiny sses. We don¡¯t get many chances here. Isn¡¯t there anything else you really want to know? I promiseplete honesty.¡± ¡°Never have I ever been kicked out of a club,¡± I said-and didn¡¯t reach for my ss. Julian sighed and took a small sip of his ouzo. ¡°It was college, alright? You have to remember that I¡¯m older than you. I have had more time to make bad decisions.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not older by much.¡± ¡°Eight years.¡± His reply was instant. He¡¯d calcted the age difference between us, just as he had known about my parents. ¡°That¡¯s not much.¡± His smile grew. ¡°I agree. Alright, it¡¯s my turn. Never have I ever stolen anything.¡± I took a sip of the burning liquid, but Julian didn¡¯t touch his ss. ¡°Come on! Everyone¡¯s taken something at some point. You really haven¡¯t?¡± ¡°No.¡±¡±Not even, like, a piece of gum when you were a kid?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± His smile was angelic. ¡°Not me.¡± ¡°Probably because you never needed to,¡± I grumbled. Julian rolled his eyes. ¡°Right. Now tell me about your great crime story.¡± ¡°I stole a small beaded bracelet from a grocery store. I was six or seven and just wanted to see if I could. I felt so bad I told my Mom and we drove back to return it.¡± Julian shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve hired a thief. I guess I should be happy she has a remorseful heart, at least.¡± And a very deceitful one, I thought, thinking about how it regrly speeds up around him despite my decision to be professional. ¡°Your turn.¡± He looked at me with a challenge in his eyes, eyebrows slightly raised, as if he knew exactly what kind of thing I¡¯d say. He was probably expecting something cutesy and fluffy. So I raised my chin and gave him something else. ¡°Never have I ever had a one-night-stand.¡± ¡°Damn, Ace.¡± Julian raised the ss to his lips and took a sip. ¡°You¡¯re making it hard for me to show you what a catch I am.¡± Not letting my eyes drift from his, I slowly raised my own ss to my lips and took a burning sip. ¡°And here I thought I had you all figured out,¡± he murmured. His gaze flicked down to my lips and I wet them unconsciously. Heat raced through me, and the air grew thick. Julian¡¯s voice was husky. ¡°Never have I ever thrown a game of pool because I wanted an excuse to spend time with someone I¡¯m interested in.¡± Shit. ¡°That¡¯s really what you¡¯re going with?¡±¡±Yes.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Hmmm.¡± I made a show of reaching for my ss, slowly lifting it up. His eyes lit up in triumph as I drank. ¡°I knew it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself. I don¡¯t get out much.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m happy to be of service.¡± He leaned back, toying with the small ss in his hand. ¡°It¡¯s your turn.¡± ¡°Never have I ever been unfaithful,¡± I said. Neither of us touched our sses. He smiled. ¡°Never have I ever said ¡®I love you¡¯ just to getid.¡± Again, neither of us touched our sses. Julian raised an eyebrow. ¡°Looks like we have some things inmon after all, Ace.¡± ¡°If we keep going at this pace we¡¯ll be here all night.¡± Chapter 23 Julian leaned forward and let his hand rest on the table. My own ached with the desire to reach out and feel if his skin was as warm as it looked. When he finally spoke, his voice was a husky murmur, sending shivers down my spine. ¡°Never have I ever been attracted to a colleague.¡± We both threw back thest of our drinks. In the silence that followed, Julian looked away, his jaw working. ¡°Come on, Emily. We need to get out of here or I¡¯m going to do something decidedly unprofessional.¡± It had been nearly a week since the dinner with Julian, and he¡¯d canceled on our next dinner only hours before. Luckily I had a best friend with a mission, and after some hastily arranged ns, we were driving to dinner. A dinner I was going to enjoy and not spend going over every possible reason to why he had canceled. ¡°Hey, this is the exit, right?¡± Denise peered out of the passenger seat window. ¡°Yes. There¡¯s valet parking.¡± ¡°Fancy.¡± She gave a peal of nervousughter. ¡°El Vino is stupidly fancy. Michael told me they have a three-stage interview process for waiters.¡± ¡°And the food¡­ I¡¯ve been dreaming of eating here for months.¡± I¡¯d never been to El Vino-lord knows it was over my budget!-but Denise¡¯s insider connection meant we¡¯d be served the chef specials at a discounted price. My friend was happily infatuated, and I got to eat Michelin-star food at a discount. Win-win. A quick nce made it clear that she was still fiddling with her jewelry, quietly staring straight ahead. It was unlike her to be so nervous. ¡°You look stunning. This guy doesn¡¯t know how lucky he is.¡± Sheughed, as if I was being silly, and straightened up. ¡°I¡¯m the lucky one.¡± ¡°Are you nervous?¡± ¡°A bit. It¡¯s silly, isn¡¯t it? I haven¡¯t been nervous with men for so long but here I am, thinking about Michael in that kitchen. We¡¯ve only been on six dates total. I counted.¡± I smiled. ¡°Six dates is like a lifetime for you.¡± ¡°I know! That¡¯s what makes it feel so serious.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t wait to meet him if he makes you feel like this.¡± Stepping out of the car I stretched up to my full height. I might not be supermodel tall, but I¡¯d put on a pair of strappy high heels and a ck cocktail dress. I¡¯d listened to peppy music as I got ready and staunchly refused to think about Julian or why he had canceled tonight. Or how much I wanted to see him again, outside of work. Denise threaded her arm under mine and we walked inside the dimly lit restaurant. We were met by expensive, oak decor and soft background music. ¡°Denise Lloyd,¡± she announced to the hostess. ¡°I believe we have a reservation?¡± The waitress gave us a megawatt smile and quickly led us to a secluded table. ¡°You¡¯re very wee here,dies,¡± she said. ¡°Let me start you off with aplimentary ss of champagne.¡± Denise and I turned to one another as soon as she left. ¡°Wow,¡± Denise stage-whispered. ¡°This. Is. Awesome!¡± ¡°I should start sleeping with head chefs too if this is the way you¡¯re treated!¡± Sheughed. ¡°This ce is really prestigious too, to get to work at.¡± ¡°For sure.¡± I nced around at the other guests, all dressed up to the nines. Couples and families dined on white linen-d tables and from the vaulted ceiling hung a gigantic chandelier. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s incredible.¡± Denise reached across the table for my hand. ¡°And very romantic. Watch out when we get our champagne, because I might have put a ring in the ss.¡± I pretended to frown. ¡°Now you¡¯ve ruined the surprise! We got the drinks and toasted to her good fortune. I¡¯d seen Denise gush over dates often, but there had been very few men she¡¯d blushed this brightly over. The food we had was divine. The portions were tiny and served on over-the-top tes, but the vors mingled in exactly the right way. The sea-bass was perfection. I raised my fork in warning to Denise. ¡°You¡¯re never breaking up with him. Never, ever.¡± ¡°Not even if he¡¯s terrible to me?¡± ¡°No. And if you do break up I¡¯m going to take his side.¡± She chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve known you for¡­ eleven years now?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. You can¡¯t makesagna like this.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t me you. He is pretty fantastic. And speaking of men¡­ Will you please tell me how it went with the bossmanst week? I¡¯ve waited for two entire courses to ask you because I was hoping that maybe you¡¯d bring it up yourself.¡± I took a sip of my red wine. ¡°Well¡­¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Well? Silence only means one of two things. Either it went terrible, or you slept with him even though you said you wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Denise!¡± ¡°So you did?¡± Her eyes are round. ¡°Wow. And it¡¯s been so long! How was it? Tell me everything!¡± ¡°Denise, I didn¡¯t go home with him. He¡¯s my boss!¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Boss, schmoss. So it was terrible.¡± ¡°No. It was¡­ really nice. We had a really good time.¡± ¡°Good,¡± she repeated. ¡°That¡¯s what I say to describe my dentist appointment.¡± ¡°No, it was amazing! He¡¯s really charming and funny. I guess I knew that already, but it¡¯s different when all that charm is solely focused on you for two hours. And I think he¡¯s much smarter than people give him credit for.¡± Chapter 24 ¡°He¡¯s the founder of what, twenty-seven different apps? The CEO of a billionaire dorpany? And you didn¡¯t think he was smart?¡± I put down my fork and tried to exin. ¡°No, I know. It¡¯s just not something I think I considered before. He¡¯s so intimidating, physically and personality-wise¡­ I just thought he was rich and did what rich people do. You know. Nothing, really.¡± ¡°Did you kiss?¡± ¡°No. I told you, these dinners were supposed to be as friends.¡± She raised a skeptical eyebrow. ¡°But it¡¯s clear both of you want more.¡± I thought of the tension between us during the final round of Never Have I Ever, his eyes darkening with interest. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s clear we¡¯re attracted to each other.¡± ¡°When are you meeting him next time?¡± I sighed. ¡°It was supposed to be tonight, but he canceled. Said he would make it up to me.¡± ¡°I bet he will,¡± Denise said with a wink. ¡°In a way that will make both of you happy.¡± ¡°Oh, shush.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a shame he¡¯s your boss because he sounds truly great. Not that that particr problem couldn¡¯t be solved in one way or another. ¡± There was a sudden outcry of raised voices, rmingly loud in the otherwise calm restaurant. Two people were arguing loudly at a table across the room. Denise whistled under her breath. ¡°Wow. That¡¯s some real trouble in paradise.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but agree. The woman was blonde, bedazzled with jewelry and wearing an expensive looking dress. She was also incredibly upset, hands moving animatedly as she outlined some problem.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Opposite her sat¡­ my boss. Julian was gripping the edge of the table and tension radiated from stiff shoulders. I couldn¡¯t stop staring. ¡°No way.¡± ¡°What? Do you know them?¡± I shook my head slowly. ¡°That¡¯s him. That¡¯s Julian. I can¡¯t believe it, he blew off our dinner for someone else?¡± ¡°What!¡± Denise leaned forward, squinting towards the table. ¡°Oh, what a day to forget to put in my contacts. He looks attractive, Emily¡­ although very blurry at this distance.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. What a dick!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not sure they¡¯re on a date. They might be having a business meeting or something.¡± I shot her a withering gaze. ¡°That woman is dressed up to get looks, not to sign contracts. And they¡¯re arguing.¡± They were still going at it, fighting with the obvious familiarity of two people who know each other well. Julian¡¯s profile was strong and the sharp jaw clenched tight. Even at this distance, I could see that his eyes were narrowed. I had never seen him angry before and shivered. ¡°Look,¡± Denise said. ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s an exnation. Maybe he took her here to break up with her. Because he wants to be with you?¡± I didn¡¯t believe that, but I appreciated her effort. ¡°Maybe. But that would mean that he¡¯d been in a rtionship or actively dating while he was trying to, you know¡­¡± ¡°Seduce you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± It hurt to hear it so inly, but that was the truth. That was exactly what he had been trying to do-somepetitive little game. Maybe he yed with me on the side while continuing on with the women he actually cared for in his life, women who looked like goddesses and wore Cartier bracelets. She was probably his age, maybe closer to forty, and polished to perfection. ¡°You should go over there.¡± ¡°And do what? Denise, that¡¯s a private conversation.¡± I sunk deeper into the velvet chair and pulled my curtain of hair forward to shield my face. ¡°And he better not notice me here.¡± Denise, ever the kind friend, leaned forward and put a hand on mine. ¡°We can leave if you want.¡± ¡°No. No, I want to meet Michael, of course. And when will we ever get to eat food like this again?¡± I tried to grin at her over the table. ¡°Julian Hunt won¡¯t keep me from trying whatever delicious dessert a Michelin-star head chef has created.¡± We spent the rest of the dinner peeking around the corner to try to spot what was happening over at Julian¡¯s and Blondie¡¯s table. They didn¡¯t argue for long and Julian settled the bill with angry movements, his face still locked in rigid lines. I wondered what the woman might have done to make him that angry. I wondered if I really knew him at all. They left the restaurant side by side, but not touching, disappearing out into the night. Denise put down her ss. ¡°Stop it.¡± ¡°What?¡±¡±I can practically see your mind whirling.¡± I sighed. ¡°I can¡¯t help it! What if they¡¯re going home together? Maybe they live together. Maybe they¡¯re married.¡± ¡°Emily.¡±¡±It didn¡¯t say that he was married on his Wikipedia page. But maybe it¡¯s just not up to date.¡± I reached to fish out my phone, determined to find answers, when Denise caught my arm. ¡°Emily! You¡¯re spiraling. Think. Does he wear a ring?¡± ¡°No.¡±¡±Has anyone at the office mentioned a wife or a girlfriend?¡± ¡°No,¡± I admitted. ¡°You might see him at work tomorrow. Ask him. Don¡¯t let doubts and fears cloud your judgment. Just literally ask for the truth. See what he says.¡± Her words made sense. ¡°You¡¯ve always been so good at this.¡± ¡°No,¡± Denise said in a level voice. ¡°I¡¯ve just dated a lot of men. I recognize the patterns.¡± ¡°Okay. Yeah, I¡¯ll do that. I¡¯ll just ask him about it tomorrow. I¡¯ll be casual and cool about it. A cool girl.¡± ¡°Maybe she¡¯s an angry ex and they just had a wild negotiation about how they¡¯re going to divide custody of their sixteen rescue dogs.¡± Somehow, Denise managed to keep a straight face. ¡°I bet she argued to keep all the Chihuahua mixes.¡± I smiled. ¡°I can actually imagine him getting angry about that.¡± She tried on a scowl. ¡°No, Pam, you¡¯re not taking Steve or Bill! That¡¯s where I draw the line!¡± Iughed. ¡°Steve and Bill?¡± Chapter 25 ¡°Come on, he¡¯s a techie! What else would he name his hypothetical dogs?¡± ¡°You have a point. I bet she named her dogs things like Velvet and Sunset.¡± ¡°There you go,¡± Denise smiled. ¡°And if he turns out to be a two-timing scumbag? Well, then you were smart to put up boundaries in the first ce and you keep doing what you do best-kick ass at work.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best friend a girl can have, you know that right?¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s on the card you send me every Gntine¡¯s day.¡± ¡°Only because it never stops being true.¡± Her eyes shifted to something behind me, widening in surprise. ¡°Oh Michael¡¯sing! Must be quiter in the kitchen now.¡± I smiled at her flushed cheeks and nced over my shoulder. A tall, slim man in a chef¡¯s outfit was making his way around the tables, nodding asionally to guests as he passed. He just grinned at Denise when he arrived, and she at him. ¡°Hi.¡±¡±Hi there.¡± Denise cleared her throat. ¡°Um, this is Emily. I¡¯ve told you about her.¡± I extended my hand. ¡°Hopefully all good. Are you the one we should thank for all this delicious food?¡± He grinned. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m Michael. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯te out earlier, but it was really busy. We almost had a full house tonight.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Denise said. ¡°I¡¯m just d you could slip away for a moment to say hi.¡± ¡°Did you enjoy thesagna?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± ¡°It was divine,¡± I added. ¡°Sublime. Perfect. I might actually need to get a thesaurus, that¡¯s how good it was.¡± Heughed again and put a hand on Denise¡¯s shoulder. They looked good together, like two matching pieces of a puzzle. He was all calmpetence inparison to her lively exuberance. ¡°I¡¯lle have a seat with you as soon as service is over and we can chat for a bit. It should be after you¡¯ve had dessert.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see you soon!¡± Denise smiled soppily after him as he left. I grinned at her and waited for her to finally turn back to me. When she did, there was clear warning in her eyes.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t say it.¡± ¡°What?¡±¡±I know I turn into a lovesick fool around him.¡± ¡°You do, but I¡¯m very happy that you do.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She reached over and put her hand on mine for what had to be the third time that night. And here I thought I was doing well! ¡°You¡¯ll be that happy too one day, Emily, I know it.¡± I didn¡¯t let my smile falter as I looked at her. Oh yes, I would be happy soon indeed-as soon as I could give Julian a piece of my mind. My former step-mother¡¯s announcement had made an already terrible day about ten times worse. She just had to meet. She had vital information about Ryan. The truth was that she was just impossible. Why my father had chosen to marry her after divorcing my mother had always been somewhat of a mystery to me, despite the fact that I could see that she had some obviously attractive qualities. She was an excellent cook and she¡¯d always doted on my younger brother. But you don¡¯t indulge a son who was twenty-one years old and regrly ended up all kinds of trouble. If it wasn¡¯t withw enforcement, it was broken bones and crashed cars. I¡¯d tried to talk to her about Ryan for nearly two years and everything I¡¯d said had fallen on deaf ears. As long as he knew he could always run to her for more money and a free beach house to party in, nothing was going to change. Father had left her more than enough in his will to sustain her for the rest of her life, without the need to ask me for money. This, too, was something I had made clear to her on more than one asion. It wasn¡¯t that I couldn¡¯t, it was more the principle of the thing. Like how we couldn¡¯t talk without a three-hundred-dor bottle of champagne at one of Palo Alto¡¯s fanciest restaurants. Yeah. Like I said-impossible. Worst of all was that I¡¯d been forced to cancel my hard-earned dinner with Emily to handle the step-momzi. Emily had responded pleasantly to the rain check, but I hoped she wouldn¡¯t use this as some sort of excuse to spook. I¡¯d understand it if she did. This job was a major step for her, which was something I respected. Getting involved with me must look like a surefire way toplicate things. I knew I had to make it clear that it wasn¡¯t-I¡¯d never hold anything personal against her professionally. It helped that I was 99% sure she was attracted to me. Hell, she even admitted that she threw the game of pool to ensure I¡¯d win the weekly out-of-office meetings. I¡¯d suspected it at the time, but It still made me feel ten feet tall when she confirmed it. The problem? I just wanted her. The more time we spent together, the more I had a suspicion that Emily Giordano might be just what I¡¯d always been looking for. She was clever and kind, and more real than anyone I¡¯d met in a long time. If I had to wait until she realized that I could be the same for her, I would do just that. Meanwhile I¡¯d take every opportunity to talk to her. She was only two floors down, a short elevator ride away. On my way in to work the next day I was thinking it would be so easy to go there just to draw out one of her wide smiles. But I knew she wouldn¡¯t appreciate that, not at work. I could respect that. So I settled on texting her from my office. Julian: Sorry again about yesterday. Hope you didn¡¯t miss me too terribly. But the response was a long timeing, which was weirdpared to how rapid-fire she¡¯d been the past week. I found myself ncing at my phone far more often than I would have wanted that morning until she finally answered me. Emily: I guess you had more important things to do. I frowned. So she was annoyed that I had to cancel. Julian: Family emergency, unfortunately. Emily: Sorry to hear that. Hope nobody was terribly hurt? God, how easily her mind drifted to the morbid. Julian: No, nothing so drastic. Are you free tonight? I¡¯d like to make it up to you. Emily: I can¡¯t tonight. Chapter 26 Hmm. Either she¡¯d gotten very cold feet all of a sudden, despite how well hit it off the week before. Or she was pissed off. Great, Julian. Somehow, I¡¯d managed to screw this up before it had even begun. This required a face-to-face conversation, one where I couldy the charm on thick. Nobody saw me as I took the stairs the two floors down to see herter that afternoon, but I knew I¡¯d be noticed as soon as I hit the marketing department. Emily cared about her job, so I had to make sure none of the others would suspect what was going on. How? By making the rounds. Trent was deep into his work, sses pushed high. He looked up at me in the doorway. ¡°Oh, hey boss. Do you need anything? I haven¡¯t missed that we¡¯re having a super important meeting now, have I?¡± ¡°You¡¯re good,¡± I said. ¡°I just had a few minutes and thought I¡¯d hear how the newunch strategy is going.¡± ¡°It¡¯s phenomenal. Josef and Sasha are working on some graphics that I think you¡¯ll love. The original concept was actually Emily¡¯s idea.¡± ¡°It was?¡± ¡°Yeah. Great hire. Rachel¡¯s not in at the moment by the way. You just missed her, I think she had some appointment across town.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± I pretended to look disappointed. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°See you around, boss.¡± I strolled out and down the hallway to where I knew Emily¡¯s office was. Her door was ajar and I could hear the faint sound of upbeat pop musicing from inside. I couldn¡¯t help myself-I grinned. It seemed this woman would never stop surprising me. A fierce protector of her family, an excellent pool-yer, a witty conversationalist and a sugary pop fan. I knocked. The music was instantly shut off. ¡°Come in!¡± I leaned against the frame and watched as her face went from pleasant to guarded. Yep. I had definitely managed to annoy her. ¡°Pop music, huh?¡± Emily closed a notebook she¡¯d been writing in.¡±It makes me happy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure it does, although it seems like I don¡¯t. Are you annoyed at me, Ace?¡± ¡°Whatever would give you that impression?¡± Iughed. ¡°The fact that you¡¯ve looked at me for about five seconds since I arrived. Or that you haven¡¯t answered my text about rescheduling dinner.¡± She looked past me into the hallway and made a quick motion with her hand. ¡°Come in, for God¡¯s sake. I don¡¯t want anyone to hear you.¡± Dutifully, I stepped inside and shut the door behind me. ¡°But now you¡¯re alone with the boss,¡± I pointed out. ¡°Tongues might wag even more.¡± She rose and put her hands on her hips. God, but she was luscious. I wanted to map every curve of her body, learn the terrain. Find out how she kissed and how my name sounded on her lips. ¡°It¡¯s a risk I¡¯m willing to take.¡± I held up cating hands. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for rescheduling sote. Truly.¡± She flicked her dark hair back. ¡°No worries.¡± ¡°What do you want me to do? Beg?¡± She leaned against her desk and crossed slender arms across her chest. Somehow it only entuated the curve of her waist and her breasts, making me all the more aware of her beauty. ¡°You sound desperate, Hunt.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s call me persistent.¡± Because she was a fucking catch, and I wasn¡¯t stupid. Emily raised an eyebrow. ¡°I didn¡¯t stay at home yesterday evening, you know. After you blew me off.¡± ¡°No?¡±¡±No. I went out to dinner with a friend.¡± Hot jealousy tore through my chest and I had to force down the unreasonable reaction. She was free to do whatever she wanted. The only thing I had was hope and the fact that she might be attracted to me. If I hadpetition I¡¯d only have to work harder to prove that I was someone she could trust. ¡°I see,¡± I said smoothly, schooling my face back into impassivity. ¡°Did you have fun?¡± ¡°Yes. As a matter of fact, we went to a really nice Italian ce.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. I grit my teeth. ¡°The whole white table-cloth, candles and flower deal?¡± She leaned forward, her eyes zing with anger. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so d. Tell me, did you two y Never Have I Ever? Did he make you blush, set your heart racing?¡± She ignored my questions. ¡°Let¡¯s y another game. Guess who I saw at the restaurant?¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°You.¡± Her voice was an usation. ¡°Blowing me offst minute to go on a date is rather low behavior, but whatever.¡± I stared at her. ¡°What?¡± ¡°At El Vino? You were sitting in the corner.¡± Emily nced down at her nails. ¡°You were with a blonde.¡± I couldn¡¯t help it-my face split in a grin. ¡°You¡¯re jealous.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, Julian. We¡¯re friends.¡± ¡°Bullshit. You¡¯re just as jealous as I am.¡± ¡°We¡¯re just friends, you and I.¡± ¡°Alright, sure. So why did it bother you, seeing me with her?¡± She huffed. ¡°It¡¯s just not decent behavior, that¡¯s all. Canceling on a friend like that. I actually think it¡¯s rather rude.¡± I took a step closer. She might not have intended to, but she¡¯d given a lot away. ¡°I don¡¯t buy it.¡± Chapter 27 ¡°Julian, honestly, you¡¯re impossible.¡± Her green eyes were narrowed as they red into mine. ¡°I¡¯m not jealous.¡± ¡°Great. Because I am.¡± Her eyebrows shot up. ¡°Of my dinner date?¡± I ignore her question. ¡°I¡¯ll be straight with you. I told you why I had to cancel-a family emergency.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Yes, but I saw-¡± ¡°My step-mother. She insists on going to fancy ces whenever we meet to discuss family business. It¡¯s annoying, but it¡¯s most certainly not anything you should feel threatened by.¡± Emily nced up at me through thickshes, conflict in her eyes. The woman was a stunner. ¡°Your step-mother?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m sure you could even look it up online if you don¡¯t believe me. Honest.¡± Sheughed suddenly, and an unexpected thrill ran through me at the sound. ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe over and say hello?¡± ¡°You two seemed to be arguing. And, well¡­¡± ¡°You thought I was taking another woman out to dinner?¡± ¡°Yes.¡±¡±I have a suggestion, Ace.¡± I cocked an eyebrow and took a step closer, so that we were only inches from touching. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve just established that you don¡¯t want me to date anyone else. No, don¡¯t object. Your jealousy did it for you.¡± Emily pursed her lips. ¡°I was just annoyed.¡± I couldn¡¯t help smiling. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll call it annoyed. I haven¡¯t dated anyone since I met you, and I won¡¯t-if you won¡¯t.¡± ¡°You want us to, what, promise not to date anyone? But we¡¯re not dating each other either!¡± I nodded. ¡°Exactly. We spend time together, and neither of us gets jealous. Win-win.¡± A slow smile spread across her features. ¡°You¡¯re were jealous of my date, too aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Hell, yeah.¡± I wish I had seen the fucker, so I would have known what kind of guys she usually preferred. ¡°Where were you sitting?¡± ¡°Near the back.¡± Emily inched closer and I had to tilt my head down to meet her eyes. I could feel the heat of her body, see the curve of her breasts. It would be so easy to pull her flush against me and feel her softness. ¡°We don¡¯t see other people while we¡¯re dating¡± I murmured. ¡°That stops.¡± ¡°Indefinitely?¡± ¡°Yes. Until we¡¯ve¡­ figured out whatever this is.¡± Emily leaned in, almost as if she was swaying. Her lips were open slightly. I couldn¡¯t help it-I bent my head and touched my forehead against hers, our mouths so close I could feel the warmth of her exhale. ¡°Let me tell you a secret,¡± she breathed. ¡°What?¡±¡±I was out with Denisest night, my best friend since middle school. Not a boy in sight.¡± I smiled in relief. ¡°You baited me.¡± ¡°Yes. And somehow, it worked.¡± I could kiss her like this, give us both what we clearly wanted. Her luscious, warm lips were only an inch away from mine. We didn¡¯t break eye contact as Emily wet her lips, almost absently. Fuck. My entire body hardened in response to the subconscious invitation. But I couldn¡¯t-we couldn¡¯t-not here. I stepped away. ¡°No. Her hand found my forearm, as if she wanted to keep me close. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Not in here. It¡¯s not a good idea.¡± Emily¡¯s eyes were still molten. ¡°The door is closed.¡± ¡°Exactly. And if I kiss you here, it won¡¯t stop with just a kiss.¡± Emily rolled her eyes, the desire in her eyes now mixed with a familiar teasing glint. ¡°You¡¯re that sure of yourself, Hunt?¡± I backed up towards the door even though it physically hurt me to move away from her. ¡°I¡¯ve never had any bad reviews. Meet me on Sunday. Midday. I have an idea.¡± ¡°What about tonight?¡± I grinned. Now she was the one hungry for me. ¡°I thought you had ns?¡± ¡°Yeah, well, ns change.¡± ¡°They do. Sunday. I¡¯ll pick you up.¡± ¡°Text me,¡± she murmured. ¡°Oh, I will.¡± ¡°Wear somethingfortable.¡± That¡¯s all the information Julian gave me for our Sunday date. I didn¡¯t ask for more details, but I did tell him to park down the street because I still hadn¡¯t told Turner about us. It wasn¡¯t like there was anything to share really, at least not yet. And at the moment I had far more pressing issues. What didfortable clothing mean? Yoga pants and a sports bra? Sneakers and sweats? I settled on a pair of dark-wash jeans, a white shirt, and a brown leather jacket. Looking in the mirror, shaking out my long hair, I thought I looked chic. Someone who might even be described as cool. Chapter 28 I¡¯d need that-because lord knows I wasn¡¯t particrly cool in Julian Hunt¡¯s presence. He¡¯d walked into my office on Friday as if he owned it (sure, he technically did) and challenged me about myck of response to his texts. He¡¯d been right to do so. He¡¯d been right on several ounts, actually. I had been jealous, which meant I was getting far more attached to him than I had expected. And then he¡¯d given me the best non-kiss of my life. We were literally inches away from touching and I had felt the warmth from his lips¡­ But then he¡¯d walked away. Impossible, infuriating and intoxicating man. Turner was in the living room, sorting through our old collection of movies and DVDs. So much of the house was still a patchwork of stuff from our childhood together with Dom and Mad¡¯s old things. We¡¯d made a vow to sort through things every now and then when we felt strong enough. Lately, Turner had taken to it. He looked up as I walked past, a stack of VHS tapes before him. ¡°Are you heading to the mall with Denise?¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll be home for dinner.¡± ¡°Good. It¡¯s your turn to cook dinner tonight.¡± ¡°Yes, and I found a new recipe I¡¯m going to try.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. I heard him groan as I grabbed my purse and headed towards the front door. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the food we normally make? We know it works!¡± ¡°A little experimentation has never hurt anyone!¡± ¡°Yes, Emily, it most certainly has!¡± I grinned as I closed the door behind me. ¡°Bye!¡± A sleek, silver Porsche was waiting for me two blocks down. Julian was leaning against it, casually dressed in chinos and a ck leather jacket. He had sunsses on, arms crossed, looking deadly attractive. He couldn¡¯t possibly be here for me. I was the girl who still knew all the songs to childhood musicals by heart and used to ask teachers for extra homework. Girls like us don¡¯t get guys like him. Julian looked over and his handsome face split into a smile. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m doing something wrong,¡± he teased. ¡°Picking you up down the street. Did you sneak out of your bedroom window?¡± ¡°Yes. I scaled the ivy and crawled through a bush, too. Look. We match.¡± He nced from his leather jacket to mine. ¡°So we do. Let¡¯s go. I¡¯m taking you to lunch.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I had to dressfortably? To eat?¡± Julianughed as he opened the passenger door for me. The interior of the car smelled like new leather and I sank deep into the seat. We would practically be hugging the road in this car, it was so low. This had to be the Porsche he¡¯d been talking about the first time we met. ¡°No,¡± he replied. ¡°It¡¯s for what we¡¯re doing before.¡± ¡°What are we doing before?¡± ¡°That, my friend, is a surprise. I have to keep you on your toes.¡± ¡°Consider me kept.¡± I smile at him and open the passenger door. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I finally get to ride in the infamous Porsche.¡± Julian snorted. ¡°Famous, if you please. She has a ster reputation.¡± He drove with one hand on the steering wheel, eyes glued ahead, the faint scent of his aftershave making it difficult for me to think. Somehow he managed to lookpetent regardless of what he did-moved like a man sure of himself and his rightful ce in the world. I wasn¡¯t sure any man after him would be able to live up to this. Before long we were driving through thick forest, greenery, and shrubs. Gorgeous, as always, and not for the first time I was d to live in a ce where nature always was close. He broke the silence first. ¡°So your brother doesn¡¯t know about us, then.¡± ¡°No,¡± I said. ¡°Though what are we, exactly?¡± ¡°You tell me, Ace.¡± ¡°Friends. Dinnerpanions.¡± I paused. ¡°Leather jacket aficionados.¡± Julian¡¯s fingers tapped against the steering wheel. ¡°Thest one. He doesn¡¯t know that we¡¯re both aficionados?¡± ¡°No. I think it might be safer to avoid telling him something that I don¡¯t really understand myself yet.¡± Julian nced at me. ¡°And we work together.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As much as I tried, I could never forget that fact. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t mind being your secret for now.¡± I leaned back in the seat and watched him. ¡°Am I yours? Your secret, I mean?¡± ¡°No. In the office, yes, because I know you want it that way and I respect that. But I can¡¯t wait for the day you¡¯re more. I¡¯ll make sure the whole world knows you¡¯re mine.¡± I rolled my eyes at the exaggeration, trying to hide the way my heart had leaped at his answer. Being around Julian made me feel both brave and beautiful, and more powerful than ever before. ¡°Don¡¯t hold your breath, Hunt.¡± Julianughed. His right hand rested on his thigh, fingers drumming along to the music as he drove. I contemted reaching out and threading my fingers through his and see how it felt like. Pretend there was an us. I shook away the crazy impulse. We hadn¡¯t even kissed yet, for Christ sake. He turned off from the highway and up on to a dusty road, off the tarmac. Tall trees crowded the side of the road, wilderness all around us. ¡°Oh no,¡± I said. ¡°Is this the part where you say that ¡®you¡¯re sorry, but there¡¯s just no other way?¡¯ And then you barter me to a drug cartel or toss me to the wolves. Don¡¯t tell me that you¡¯re secretly a billionaire mass murderer, Julian.¡± ¡°Millionaire,¡± he replied smoothly. ¡°And no, I¡¯m not going to go American Psycho on you. Look ahead.¡± I squinted. There was something at the end of the road, just past the trees. Buildings came into view and behind them¡­ an asphalt track. ¡°No way. Is that what I think it is?¡± ¡°It is.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a race track. Julian, are we racing?¡± Chapter 29 ¡°You admitted that you threw the pool game. I¡¯m happy you did, but it¡¯s only fair that you get what you bet on as well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to get to drive your car? This car?¡± ¡°Yes. There¡¯ll be an instructor, too. We¡¯ll race and then grab lunch at their restaurant.¡± He nced at me sideways, as if gauging my reaction. ¡°Good surprise? Bad surprise?¡± ¡°Amazing surprise. This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime kind of experiences.¡± Heughed. ¡°Oh, Emily. That¡¯s the kind of mindset we¡¯re going to have to change.¡± It didn¡¯t take long before we were dressed in a racing tracksuit each with thick padding on the shoulders and stripes down our arms. An instructor led us out to the course, his hand shading his eyes from the sun. ¡°The track is warm and dry today,¡± he said. ¡°We haven¡¯t had a drop of rain for days.¡± Julian pulled on a pair of leather driving gloves. ¡°That¡¯s good. This is Ms. Giordano¡¯s first time driving on a race track.¡± ¡°You¡¯re in for a treat, then,¡± the instructor said to me with a smile. ¡°We¡¯ll start off with a safety demonstration and then take it slow. I¡¯ll be in the car with you for both of your turns and we¡¯ll explore whatever you feelfortable with.¡± He put a hand on the roof of Julian¡¯s Porsche, smoothing along the polish. ¡°This is a fine 911 Carrera.¡± ¡°It is, isn¡¯t? I haven¡¯t taken her out muchtely, so it¡¯ll be great to stretch her legs a bit.¡± ¡°She¡¯ll perform just nicely, I think.¡± Fredrick, the instructor, had us memorize the track and the safety rules. Where to stop, where to break, the maximum speed we could hit and still make it around safely, and then he and Julian set off. I stood in the empty stands and watched as he took the course in bursts of speed and slow, controlled turns, taking the curves with expert precision. It might be my first time on a race track, but it didn¡¯t look like Julian¡¯s first try-not by a long shot. When he finally pulled up next to me, the car¡¯s engine was practically purring. Julian stepped out with a wide grin. ¡°That,¡± he said, ¡°was excellent.¡± I smiled at him. ¡°You looked like an absolute pro. I¡¯m sure the car is quaking at the prospect of being driven by me.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± He tweaked my nose. ¡°Go out there and give it your all.¡± ¡°Will you watch me drive?¡± Julian grinned. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t miss it for the world, Ace.¡± I raised a finger in warning. ¡°But no critiquing afterward or I¡¯m never going anywhere with you again.¡± ¡°Critique? Emily, I¡¯m already surprised as hell that you¡¯re so enthusiastic about this. I had no idea you were into motorsports. At best, I hoped this would give you augh and we¡¯d have a nice lunch.¡± He ran his hand through his disheveled hair and for the first time I realized that, just maybe, he asionally got a bit nervous too. ¡°It was a fantastic idea. Now, have a little rest and let me show you how it¡¯s really done.¡± I shot him a cocky grin and walked around the car to the driving seat. Fredrick talked me through the modes of the car, and when I feltfortable in the seat I gently pulled out of the waiting lot. The car purred under my hands. I¡¯d never been a car person, but it felt like driving silk-the car was just so responsive. ¡°And now, I want you to let go. Let the car tell you what to do, and listen to when I tell you to brake or speed up. Other than that¡­ The track is yours, Ms. Giordano.¡± It took me a few rounds to get a hang of the curves and the long stretches of road, to learn the ins and outs of the car. But once I had it? Speed was addictive. I¡¯d never driven as fast as I did on that track. A wide smile was stered on my face from start to finish as the car hugged the curves. Fredrickughed at my exuberance when he finally instructed me to pull back up to the waiting lot. I unbuckled my seat belt and took a few shaky steps out of the car. Julian was grinning at me. ¡°Did you see that?¡± ¡°I sure did.¡± ¡°This is hands down the best day ever. I can¡¯t believe you took me racing, Julian.¡± He winked at me, hands in his pockets as he stepped close enough that I could smell his aftershave again. Fredrick cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯ll fill up on fuel and park her by the restaurant for you, sir.¡± ¡°Thank you, Fredrick.¡± I heard the purr of the car as it pulled away, Julian still focused on me. ¡°You did some excellent turns out there, Ace.¡± ¡°Oh, did I, Mister Expert?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± He reached out and hooked his fingers into the belt loops of my jeans, pulling me closer. This close, his handsomeness was no less overwhelming, sharp angles and soft eyes. His hand cupped my cheek and his thumb slowly traced a line from my cheek to the corner of my lips. ¡°Look at that smile,¡± he murmured. Perhaps it was the adrenaline or the happiness, but I rose up on my tip-toes and touched my lips to his. He responded instantly. Reverent hands traced up my sides, cupped the back of my shoulders and tugged me closer. He kissed me with soft, sweet carefulness, like he¡¯d wanted to do this forever and couldn¡¯t believe it was happening. I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave in to the sensations. His hair was silky in my hands, and as I tugged, Julian groaned against my lips. The softness snapped and the heat between us exploded into fire and mes. Julian¡¯s hands pulled at my waist so that my body was flush against his. I could feel the heat of his skin through the thin material of my shirt. Our mouths opened, tongues touching. He was hard everywhere I was soft and our bodies fit together like they were made for this. Made to twine and support and kiss. Under his guidance, the kisses grew slower, his tongue coaxing and gentle. He pressed his lips to mine one final time before lifting his head. But I wasn¡¯t ready to let go yet. I buried my face in his neck and breathed a kiss at the hollow of his throat, right on the pulse that raced there. Every nerve ending of my body felt frayed, my stomach giddy with butterflies. His arms were tight around me. ¡°Hell,¡± he murmured against my hair. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect¡­ that.¡± Iughed against his skin. ¡°Yeah. Wow.¡± Julian pushed me back slightly to look at me, his eyes warm. His lips looked swollen and I flushed at the sight. ¡°You okay?¡± ¡°Yes.¡±¡±Not going to spook on me?¡± ¡°No,¡± I smiled. ¡°Definitely not.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Chapter 30 Julian slung an arm around me and tucked me into his side, as if it was the easiest thing in the world, as if we belonged together. Intertwined like that, we headed for the restaurant. ¡°Good,¡± he said. ¡°Because we are certainly doing that again.¡± After lunch, Julian dropped me off two blocks away from my house, a bemused expression on his face. ¡°I can¡¯t get over the feeling that I¡¯m sneaking around with you. But we¡¯re both grown, and it¡¯s the middle of the day.¡± ¡°Do you like it?¡± His eyes darkened. ¡°Sneaking around?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡±¡±Sometimes, yes. It can be very thrilling. Like how I¡¯ll sneak down into your office tomorrow, just to make sure you-¡± I shook my head, smiling. ¡°Julian, not at work, we can¡¯t.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not fair.¡± He reached across, one of his hands smoothing back my hair. ¡°How can you expect me to work two floors above you and not swing by to spend time with you?¡± ¡°Because you have work to do. You have to be a proper billionaire, or haven¡¯t you heard? You¡¯re not there yet.¡± Julian¡¯s crooked smile appeared again. He was so handsome it hurt, my heart stuttering under his gaze. ¡°I see. Mydy has demands.¡± ¡°Thedy does, yes. She demands to be left alone at work so she can do her job, for one, which she went to college for and very much enjoys.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes glittered. ¡°Such a modern littledy. A true inspiration to us all.¡± His eyes shifted down to my lips briefly, and I was suddenly intensely aware of how close we were in the non-moving car. I swallowed. ¡°She also demands to be let out of this car soon.¡± ¡°Eager to get rid of me?¡± ¡°Please. I¡¯ve been counting the minutes until I could finally leave.¡± Julian¡¯sugh was husky. ¡°There you go again. Has your mouth ever gotten you in trouble?¡± ¡°Never.¡± Yes. It got me in this car with you. ¡°Did you have a nice time today?¡± ¡°Yes, I did.¡± I leaned my head against the soft leather headrest. ¡°I had a fantastic time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d, Ace.¡± Our eyes caught and held. ¡°I¡¯ll see you at work, Julian.¡± ¡°You will,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s therge building with myst name on it.¡± ¡°Asshole.¡± ¡°You love it.¡± I smiled at him, my hand on the car-door handle. I should go, and yet¡­ this man was lethal. His eyes were warm. ¡°Kiss me before you leave.¡± I leaned over the center console and touched my lips lightly to his. My hand curved around his cheek, traced his jaw, the kiss soft and proper. I traced his bottom lip with my tongue and he groaned in response. ¡°Emily¡­¡± ¡°Whoops.¡±He shook his head, eyes warm. ¡°You¡¯ll be the death of me.¡± I shot him a smile and closed the door behind me. The pavement back home was as familiar as the back of my hand, but I still managed to stumble on a crack in the ground. I hadn¡¯t done that since I was eight and bruised my knee. Damn man with his damn kisses. Goodbye kisses, too. The ones you give to someone you¡¯re nning on kissing again, and again, and again. The earth underneath me had shifted a little. These thoughts and more spun around in my head on Monday morning as I headed in to work. All day I was distracted-his presence was everywhere. I saw the Hunt logo on a folder and thought of him. Thepany¡¯s website had arge photo of him, surrounded by a group of software developers, and I caught myself staring at it nkly for longer than I was proud of. Get it together, Emily. Rachel popped her head into my office around noon. ¡°Emily? We¡¯re all heading to meeting room C for the meeting on the new branding logos. Are youing?¡± I nced down at my watch. Shoot. ¡°Yes, of course. I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Collecting my papers quickly, I arrived at the conference room in a huff-not that there was any need to hurry. Josef and Sasha were pouring everyone coffee and Trent was still setting up the mirroring from hisptop. Still, I hadn¡¯t been this distracted at work for¡­ as long as I could remember. An hourter and the entire team was frustrated. ¡°It¡¯s not working,¡± Josef dered. ¡°I understand what we¡¯re going for here, but something about it just doesn¡¯t resonate.¡± ¡°The color is too light,¡± Sasha pointed out.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. I frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s light enough,¡± I said. ¡°If we want it to work together with the other Hunt subsidiaries, then we need to streamline them.¡± ¡°But if we do that, we run the risk of thisunch blending in with the rest.¡± Rachel put her hands on her hips. ¡°I think we need to take in a design consultant on this. Someone who can bring a pair of fresh eyes to the project,e up with some new ideas.¡± There was an outcry of objections from the various members. I didn¡¯t know if bringing in consultants was amon practice or not at Hunt, but it made sense to me. We¡¯d all been sitting with this for so long that we were practically blind. My phone vibrated in my pocket. A week ago, I would have waited to check. Now? My heart sped up immediately. I snuck it out and put it alongside my folder. Julian: I hate to do this after this weekend, but I have to go on an urgent work trip. I¡¯ll be gone most of the week. Despite myself, my stomach sank with disappointment. I wouldn¡¯t see him today then, or tomorrow, it seemed. Emily: This is how it¡¯s going to be? You take a girl to the racing course, show her a good time, and then you leave. Julian: Yes. It¡¯s kind of my MO. There¡¯s nothing better than a one-race-stand. Chapter 31 I had to stop myself from groaning. Emily: Minus points for that one, Hunt. Julian: I know. I could feel it as I hit send. Still find me cute? Emily: Super-duper cute. Like a floppy-eared puppy or a baby otter. Julian: Very amusing, my sarcastic friend. Emily: Let¡¯s just say that my internal reaction to you has always been ¡°aw.¡± Julian: That¡¯s only because you haven¡¯t seen what I can do. You¡¯ll never use the word ¡°floppy¡± again. I quickly hid my phone along my leg and looked up. None of my colleagues were even looking at me, deep in discussion about a consultant, but I felt like I was flushing all over. When I looked back down I saw that I¡¯d gotten another text. Julian: I can tell by your sudden silence that you have no idea how to respond to that. That¡¯s okay. You don¡¯t have to. But I hope you¡¯re picturing it. Emily: You¡¯re an asshole. I¡¯m in a meeting and now I can¡¯t look anyone in the eye. Julian: Texting onpany time? I entirely approve. Emily: You¡¯re texting onpany time too, buddy. Julian: I am thispany. Emily: Fine, hotshot. But absolute power corrupts. Julian: Good thing I have you to keep me grounded. Emily: Where will this urgent trip take you? Julian: New York, then Anta. I get back this weekend. Will you save some time for me? Emily: I¡¯ll try. My boss is pretty demanding¡­ Julian: Fingers crossed. I slid my phone back into my pocket and re-focused on the meeting. Josef was just finishing up a long tirade about the problems with a potential consulting hire-his opinions came as a surprise to absolutely no one. My phone was quiet in my pocket, but I felt its weight. One week. Denise clutched at my arm in the darkness. ¡°This reminds me why we stopped going to these ces.¡± I pulled her closer as we narrowly avoided getting hit by a group of girls stumbling on high heels. The music was ear-deafeningly loud, the ce packed-one of San Francisco¡¯s hottest clubs. ¡°We¡¯re only twenty-five,¡± I told her. ¡°We can¡¯t throw in the towel yet.¡± ¡°I know. Plus, I have to see Michael.¡± I smiled. Yes, the reason we were here, the one reason we¡¯d decided to go out again to one of these high-end clubs far from home. The calm and collected Michelin-star head chef had apparently been contracted to provide hors d¡¯oeuvres and catering for theunch of a social media app. Yeah. If that wasn¡¯t the most San Francisco thing you¡¯d ever heard, I don¡¯t know what was. Anyway, seeing as it would attract quite the illustrious crowd, he had asked Denise if she wanted to go to the event. Which was why he let her bring me, clearly the most illustrious of them all. ¡°He said our names would be on the VIP list.¡± Denise took my hand and pulled me through a throng of men who smelled like smoke. Arge banner hung behind the DJ with the name of the new app. ng, it read. I thought it sounded like an essential oil, which only proved how little I knew about tech. Denise spoke with a club hostess, and with a nod and a smile, we¡¯re both let through to the VIP area. ¡°Space!¡± Denise said. ¡°There¡¯s so much space up here!¡± ¡°And can you feel it? The air is so much fresher on the other side.¡± Sheughed and found a table for us. She was right-the VIP section was both roomier and far less crowded than the general area below. There was space to dance, a private bar, and tables filled with food lined along the walls. I squinted. ¡°Is that an ice sculpture?¡± ¡°Yes. Apparently, the app creator requested it. It¡¯s supposed to be shaped like the app¡¯s logo.¡± ¡°Well, it looks like something very different. It looks like- ¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say it.¡± A dark voice warned behind us. ¡°You¡¯ll regret it.¡± Denise and I turned to where a tall, blond man grinned. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I just couldn¡¯t let you finish that sentence. I know I should have, though. Constructive criticism and all that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean¡­ Um. I¡¯m Emily.¡± He shook my hand. ¡°I¡¯m Rafe.¡± ¡°Rafe!¡± Denise extended her own hand. ¡°You¡¯re the creator of ng, if I¡¯m not mistaken?¡±¡±I am, yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure.¡± ¡°Likewise. I¡¯m d to see that you could make it to our littleunch party.¡± ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t precisely call it little,¡± I said, ncing down to where hostesses were walking through the crowd with sparklers.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Rafeughed. ¡°You¡¯re right. Go big or go home, I suppose?¡± ¡°In that case, we¡¯re never going home,¡± Denise remarked. ¡°Have youdies had anything to drink yet? I¡¯d love to get you each a ss of champagne. There¡¯s an open bar here in this section, and there¡¯s great food over by the wall.¡± Chapter 32 ¡°Great food by a great chef,¡± Denise said. ¡°Of course! You¡¯re that Denise. Michael mentioned that he was bringing along two guests.¡± Denise¡¯s face flushed beautifully at being recognized and at having her new boyfriend talk about her. I cleared my throat. ¡°Did you work on this app for long?¡± He nodded and waved at a waiter to bring us something to drink. ¡°Nearly eighteen months.¡± ¡°Wow. That¡¯s impressive.¡± Rafe grinned. ¡°Yes, but not quite as-ah, here he is! d you could make it, man.¡± Denise nced past me, and I heard her small intake of breath. ¡°No way,¡± she murmured. ¡°Em, you won¡¯t believe this.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t miss it for the world.¡± The voice was very deep and very familiar. I watched in shock as Julian and Rafe shook hands. He looked¡­ just as I remembered. Tall, with dark, thick and unruly hair. My throat went dry. It had only been five days but I realized that I¡¯d really missed him-missed seeing the way his eyes danced or hearing whatever preposterous joke he¡¯d make. There was no one else quite like him. Julian¡¯s attention snapped to me immediately. ¡°Emily?¡± ¡°Julian,¡± I said weakly. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d see you here.¡± His voice was soft with pleasure. ¡°Neither did I.¡± Denise reached around me and extended her hand. ¡°I¡¯m Denise, Emily¡¯s friend.¡± ¡°A pleasure. I¡¯m Julian Hunt.¡± ¡°Let me check where those drinks are,¡± Rafe said. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± All three of us watched as he made his way to the bar, only to be stopped by a group of men before he could reach it. ¡°And he was never seen again,¡± Julian said morosely. ¡°The problem withunch parties is that they¡¯re never enjoyable for theunchee.¡± ¡°Theunchee?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a technical term,¡± Julian said with a wave of his hand. ¡°You¡¯ll learn the jargon eventually.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± I drawled. ¡°Right.¡± Adrenaline raced through me, my whole body reacting to being close to him. He was wearing a tailored suit, no tie, and the top button was undone. I was stupidly attracted to this man and the week apart had only cemented that fact. Denise nced between us and I could see the smile hovering on her lips. ¡°So, Julian,¡± she said in a sing-song voice. ¡°What do you do?¡± ¡°I work in tech and development as well.¡± ¡°So original,¡± Imented and took a sip of my drink. ¡°Not at all. I¡¯m-what do they call it these days? Basic?¡± I rolled my eyes at him. There was not a single thing basic about the man, and he knew it. He grinned at me. ¡°I work with Emily here, actually.¡± ¡°Cool. Hmm.¡± Denise nodded, and then leaned forward, her red hair spilling everywhere. ¡°I¡¯m trying really hard to pretend like I don¡¯t already know all of this, but I¡¯m not a very good actress.¡± Julian¡¯s smile split into a wideugh, his eyes glittering. I shot her a re. ¡°Denise!¡± ¡°Come on, you knew what you were getting into when you offered to share your PB and J with me on the first day of sixth grade. I can¡¯t be held ountable for my behavior. Oh! I think I just spotted Michael! I¡¯ll see the two of you in a little while!¡± I watched her scamper off in the direction of the food, fleeing from the scene, very abruptly leaving Julian and me alone. I¡¯d have to thank her for itter. Julian slid into the seat she¡¯d vacated, and I was immediately hit by his cologne, the strong frame of his shoulder and his thigh touching mine. We looked at each other in silence for a few moments. ¡°Hi,¡± I whispered. He smiled. ¡°Hi.¡± ¡°When did you get back?¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°About four hours ago.¡± ¡°You look good. New York agreed with you.¡± ¡°It was the same as always.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Tall buildings and too many people. I missed this ce.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± I inched closer, eliminated the sliver of space between us. ¡°This club in particr?¡± Julian smiled crookedly and gave me a very obvious once-over, eyes trailing down my neck, skimming over the tight ck dress I wore, and the small glittery bracelet that circled my right wrist. I felt naked under the heat of his gaze. ¡°Judging by its current clientele, yes.¡± I swallowed. ¡°How do you know Rafe? Do you belong to the same ¡®Titans of Industry¡¯ club?¡± Julian snorted. ¡°Yes. We¡¯re on the same mailing list and we go to meetings every month.¡± ¡°Comin about the estate tax?¡± ¡°Always. Wepare notes for world domination.¡± ¡°My money¡¯s on you.¡± His hand reached out, fingers tracing down my bare arm. Goosebumps followed his touch. ¡°And why are you here? Are you looking to hook up with someone?¡± ¡°And if I were?¡± Chapter 33 Julian¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Then I¡¯m happy I came. I¡¯ll be the one in the back, waving a giant homemade sign saying ¡®pick me, pick me.''¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. I burst outughing. He was being silly, but my insides warmed at the thought. Doubt had crept back during the days he¡¯d been gone. Was I making a stupid decision? Jeopardizing my career for mere attraction? A fling? How long would I have until his attention waned? ¡°No. I¡¯m here because Denise practically dragged me along. She¡¯s dating the Michelin-star chef who¡¯s catering the event.¡± ¡°Michelin-star, huh?¡±¡±Yes.¡± ¡°That just apanies his name? Necessary to include in the description?¡± I bumped his shoulder with mine. ¡°Yes, it is. When your best friend starts dating a hotshot you have to brag a little bit. Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll get there someday.¡± ¡°Will I?¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°And what might a woman say about me, someday?¡± I pretended to consider it. ¡°That¡¯s tricky. I mean, billionaire is ruled out-we¡¯ve already established that. Software developer? Sounds too nerdy. Entrepreneur, I guess.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound too good.¡± I shook my head sadly. ¡°I¡¯m not liking your odds, buddy. But hang in there.¡± He leaned his head back against the seat with a dramatic sigh. ¡°What¡¯s a poor man to do? I¡¯ll just have to rely on my dazzling good looks, brilliant wit and piles of cash.¡± I reached out and patted his thigh. It was meant to be a yful gesture, amiserative touch in the game we were ying, but his hand caught mine. Our fingers threaded, his skin warm and rough against mine. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he warned. ¡°Or I¡¯ll kiss you right here right now, and I don¡¯t care if your friend sees.¡± Heat raced through me. I wanted that kiss. I wanted him, this crazy fling and all the crazy consequences that it might lead to. Would it jeopardize my job? Undoubtedly. But I hadn¡¯t let my guard down in so, so long. And no one had ever made me feel like him. Ever. I stood up and tugged at his hand. ¡°Come on.¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± I kept my hand in his and steered course for the bar. ¡°We¡¯re going to have a drink, and then we¡¯re going to dance.¡± A very loud and very annoying sound cut through my sleep. The sting sound refused to stop,pletely without mercy. I blinked my eyes open. Daylight. I was in my own bed. There was no one else in it with me. I closed my eyes again at the blinding headache that followed the establishment of those three little facts. With eyes still closed, I reached out and grabbed my obnoxiously loud phone. How was it still ringing? Didn¡¯t phones have mood sensors these days? If not, they should. My mood was loud and clear: make another sound and I¡¯ll throw you in the toilet bowl. It took me two attempts to read the name on the screen. Denise. I rolled over and pressed answer, burying my face under theforter. ¡°Mgghnnagh,¡± I said. Her pealingughter came through the phone. ¡°I take it you¡¯re feeling super perky and happy?¡± ¡°Ugh, Denise, I swear-¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been up since six. Made pancakes, did theundry. Even managed to clear out my closet while I was taking a break. Then I did my taxes for this year, the next year, and theing decade.¡± ¡°I hate you.¡± ¡°I know you do.¡± ¡°Honestly, you¡¯re not sparking any joy for me right now.¡± Sheughed again and the sound cut through my head like a knife. I rolled over and forced my eyes open. The world waited for no one, it seemed. ¡°Did little birds help you dress in the morning too?¡± ¡°Funny you should ask, because yes, yes they did.¡± ¡°I hope they all flew into your window on their way out,¡± I mumbled. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°I just wanted to check that you¡¯re okay, Em. You were pretty¡­ indisposed when we left the club.¡± I swallowed at the flood of hazy memories. ¡°God.¡± ¡°Yes, you could say that,¡± sheughed. ¡°Honestly, you were hrious.¡± ¡°God! Why did I behave like I was an eighteen-year-old with a stolen ID?¡± ¡°It happens. Don¡¯t feel bad, Emily.¡± ¡°I do. How can I show my face at work?¡± ¡°No one knows but Julian. You¡¯re making this into a bigger deal than it was, honest.¡± I sped a hand to my mouth as an awful thought struck me. ¡°I didn¡¯t throw up?¡± ¡°Nope. Your record is still clean from freshman year.¡± ¡°Does Michael hate me? I¡¯m sure he does. If he tells you that I¡¯m a bad influence and you should stop being friends with me, you shouldn¡¯t listen.¡± Deniseughed again. ¡°He doesn¡¯t. No one does. We had all had a bit to drink.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± I said slowly. ¡°I¡¯m going to ponder my awful existence and think through everything that happenedst night. If I need help confirming something I¡¯ll text you.¡± Chapter 34 ¡°I¡¯ll reply,¡± she said. ¡°But please take an aspirin before you do any pondering.¡± ¡°No promises.¡± ¡°Emily.¡±¡±Thank you for taking the cab with me home yesterday,¡± I said, remembering. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m not about to send you off with a guy I just met, regardless of how hot he makes you.¡± I groaned. ¡°Was it that obvious?¡± ¡°Emily, you two made out in the middle of the dance floor.¡± ¡°Okaythankstalktoyoterbye.¡± I hung up and stared at my ceiling for a solid five minutes. If I wanted to be seen as a grown woman, one capable of handling a little office fling with no drama and no consequences, I had effectively blown that image to smithereens. With my self-respect in tatters, I pulled the sheet up to cover mepletely. Hiding from reality to cope with reality, so to speak. Last night had been¡­ there were no words. I decided to do what I¡¯d told Denise I would, and went through the entire evening, step by painful step. Where had it gone wrong? Julian had shown up. We¡¯d spoken, and I¡¯d made the decision to go for it. Fortune favors the bold and all that. We¡¯d done tequ shots, and he¡¯d licked the salt from the back of my hand. He¡¯d told me I looked stunning-I could still feel the exhale of his breath on my ear as he whispered it to me. I shivered at the memory. We¡¯d danced for a bit, ridiculous movements to make the otherugh. Denise and Michael had joined in asionally, and we¡¯d had another round of shots. This time I¡¯d demanded to lick the salt off of his hand. We¡¯dughed and danced some more. He was a good dancer, and I¡¯d made sure that we moved closer. Close enough that¡­ we¡¯d apparently made out. Vague recollections of hot lips against mine came back and I touched my mouth. It seemed impossible. But no. I¡¯d challenged him to a racing duel. I¡¯d said that he smelled good enough to eat. I¡¯d told him that he was the best kisser of my life¡­ ugh. That was a memory I couldn¡¯t touch, not even with a ten-foot-pole. A shback hit me with vivid force. He¡¯d had his arms around my waist, and I¡¯d said that he coulde with me home. Or, for honesty¡¯s sake, I¡¯d demanded it. Julian hadughed and bent to kiss my lips again. ¡°Not tonight, Ace. Not like this. But don¡¯t you dare think it¡¯s because I don¡¯t want to.¡± Well, he clearly had more honor and self-discipline than I did. There was no way I could show my face around him again. If he hadn¡¯t minded the eight-year age difference before, he most certainly would now. I¡¯d acted like a teenager. ¡°That was the best kiss of my life.¡± Bleh! There was a rhythmic knock on my door. ¡°Emily? It¡¯s nearly noon. I made breakfast and left some eggs on low heat for you. But you¡¯re going to have toe and eat it soon or I¡¯ll turn the heat off.¡± I groaned again, this time with guilt. Turner. What a great role model for my neen-year-old brother,ing home drunk in the middle of the night. That hadn¡¯t happened since¡­ ever? Despite the pounding headache, I swung out of bed and pulled on my robe. ¡°Sorry, Turner. I didn¡¯t mean to sleep so long. I¡¯ll be downstairs in a bit.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Good.¡± I hopped in the shower and prayed that the warm water would wash away the shame. It didn¡¯t, but my caramel-scented shampoo and conditioner brightened my mood. Bought at a hair salon, the (ridiculously) overpriced set had been a spur of the moment splurge, but not a shower had gone by where it had failed to make me smile. As Denise would say: targeted self-care-get the expensive shampoo and you can survive a shitty car. I trudged down the stairs fifteen minutester. My hair was wet and my head still ached, but I felt roughly 1500% better. It¡¯s scientifically proven that showers have that effect. For real. Turner sat by the kitchen ind with a familiar book and didn¡¯t even look up when I entered. ¡°Are you re-reading that biography again?¡± He nodded and shut it gently. ¡°I¡¯m sure there were things I missed the first time.¡± The smell of bacon and eggs wafted from the stove. He¡¯d put aluminum foil over the pan to keep it warm. My heart swelled. ¡°You¡¯re the best little brother in the world, you know that?¡± He snorted. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating.¡± I grabbed a te and started scooping up food, pausing to shove a piece of bread into the toaster. ¡°Perhaps. What I mean is: I¡¯m very happy and grateful that you¡¯re my brother.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± A faint blush crept up on his pale cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m happy that you¡¯re my sister too.¡± ¡°Despite the fact that Ie home at unseemly hours?¡± I took a seat opposite him at the ind. I might be ying it for jokes, but I was worried. I had tried to be a role model for so long, but now we were both adults with full-time jobs. Thendscape had changed and I didn¡¯t know how to adapt. ¡°You said you were going out with Denise and that it might runte. I wasn¡¯t worried.¡± ¡°Good.¡± I headed to the fridge to hunt down some orange juice. ¡°What are your ns for today?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve finished going through all the VHS and DVDs. Could you look over and see if you agree with my sorting? If you do, I¡¯ll drive them over to Goodwill this afternoon.¡± ¡°Of course, yeah. Thanks for doing all that.¡± He shrugged. ¡°It needs to be done. I was thinking that we could start on the rooms upstairs next.¡± Unease churned in my stomach, but I pushed away the fear. He was right. I¡¯d kept the house mostly as it was when we¡¯d lived here as a family, but we were both grown now. One of us would move out soon, and judging by the circled apartments I¡¯d seen in the newspaper I figured it might be Turner. We couldn¡¯t live in the past. ¡°That¡¯s a great idea. I¡¯ll help you. Maybe we can start on Mom¡¯s hobby room upstairster.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± He opened his book again and we fell back inpanionable silence. I studied him as I ate. His jaw had grown sharper, and his shoulders slightly wider. When had I missed that? When had he grown up? I felt my phone vibrate in the pocket of my sweatpants. I dreaded who it might be and took another big sip of OJ. ¡°Your phone is buzzing,¡± Turner pointed out. Chapter 35 ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious?¡± No. Just ashamed and wallowing in self-pity. ¡°A bit.¡± ¡°Check it,¡± Turner said and returned to his book. I smiled at his unruly mop of hair and his disinterest. Time to bite the bullet¡­ I unlocked my phone. Julian: I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re in somewhat of a delicate state today. I could feel the heat that flooded my cheeks at his observation. Emily: The most delicate of states, yes. Julian: Does it help if I say I am too? Emily: Sure, but I¡¯m guessing you¡¯ve alreadypleted your morning run. Julian: ¡­ Julian: I plead the fifth. I sighed and put my phone down on the counter. He was being nice about it, but I¡¯d still made a fool of myself. I¡¯d have to apologize or find some way to backtrack from the sex-crazed, lustful, clearly too infatuated woman I¡¯d beenst night. We¡¯d been on two ¡®outings¡¯ that I had staunchly refused to call dates earlier. Yeah, I had been in crazy territoryst night. My phone buzzed again. Julian: Promise me you won¡¯t spend the day overthinking. Hah. Was I that obvious? Emily: Considering I was probably underthinking yesterday, I better make up for it today. Julian didn¡¯t reply. No, instead he called me, his name shing across the screen. Hell. Could I not answer? Would that be suspicious? My mind raced. In what situation could you text, but not talk on the phone? Someone who was in a library could. Could I say that I was? ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Turner asked, peering over at where my phone was aggressively ring. ¡°A friend I met outst night,¡± I replied. Hopping off the stool, I headed for the door to the backyard. ¡°I¡¯ll take it out here.¡± Turner nodded and returned to his book, and I thanked my lucky stars that my brother was not the nosy type. With a nervous hand, I pressed answer. ¡°Hey.¡± Julian¡¯s tone was teasing. ¡°I was starting to wonder if you were ever going to pick up.¡± ¡°I was considering not to. You know, since my bags are fully packed and the car loaded up. I¡¯m leaving for Canadater today to start a new life.¡± Hisughter reached me through the phone. ¡°It¡¯s cold up there this time of year.¡± ¡°Shoot. I¡¯d forgotten to pack my ski things. Thanks for reminding me.¡± ¡°You know, I was really surprised to see you therest night.¡± ¡°I can imagine it was quite a shock,¡± I said and took a seat on one of thewn chairs. The sun hadn¡¯t yet passed the roof of our neighbors house, and the backyard was a tad chilly. ¡°Happily surprised,¡± he amended. ¡°I had a good time.¡± ¡°Despite the fact that I acted like a drunk sorority girl?¡± ¡°Because of that,¡± he said. ¡°I have a suggestion.¡± ¡°What?¡±¡±You said you might¡¯ve saved some time for me this weekend. Let me swing by your ceter with a box of donuts. Ensure you¡¯re actually okay.¡± Iughed weakly. The offer of delicious, sugary and fried treats beckoned before me like the gates to heaven. But I felt hollow and my head still ached like a mother-lover, as my grandma would have said. ¡°Technically, we spent time together yesterday,¡± I pointed out. ¡°That was our once a week.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Are you turning down food? Ace, now I know you¡¯re actually sick.¡± ¡°Just hungover. I¡¯m going to recuperate and spend some time with my brother, but I¡¯ll see youter this week. Perhaps I¡¯ll be the one bringing you some donuts.¡± ¡°I look forward to it.¡± ¡°Bye, Julian.¡± ¡°Bye.¡± Perhaps I had pushed too hard. But how could I resist teasing her after what she¡¯d said to me on Saturday? Hearing her say that she wanted me was perhaps the single biggest ego-boost I¡¯d ever experienced in my life. Lord knows I wanted her, wanted to make her smile andugh and gasp in my bed. Now, if only I could get her to say it sober¡­ Given her dedication to her job, I knew there¡¯d be a bacsh of some sort. That¡¯s where the donuts came in-I would try to bribe her out of her shell with gooey goodness and let her know that she had nothing to worry about. But that had failed. Thoughts of Emily distracted me from the things I actually had to do, like running apany or lecturing my brother. At least I had help with the former, but trying to talk sense into my old-enough-to-know-better brother? I was entirely on my own. Ryan sank further into one of the chairs in my office. ¡°Come on, Julian. You¡¯re being unreasonable.¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°How am I being unreasonable, exactly? For requiring you to have aplished something to get your trust fund?¡± ¡°Look, it¡¯s not what Dad intended when he gave you the reins, and you know it.¡± Chapter 36 It was exactly what Dad had intended when he not only put me in charge but wrote a letter detailing how he wanted his affairs taken care of. That he didn¡¯t trust Ryan¡¯s mother with these decisions or to make the tough calls. He¡¯d been right on both ounts. ¡°I understand that you¡¯re upset,¡± I tried. ¡°I know what it¡¯s like to be twenty and think you know everything. What I¡¯m saying isn¡¯t-¡± Ryan slumped in the chair and pushed his cap down further. ¡°I get it. My ideas are stupid.¡± I sighed and prayed for patience. ¡°No, they¡¯re just a bit underdeveloped sometimes. If you have something real you want to do, something you¡¯ve thought through, I¡¯ll be happy to hear it. But I don¡¯t think opening a diving school off the coast of Costa Rica is going to be your big break, nor should it be paid for by your trust fund.¡± ¡°It¡¯s basically a done deal, Julian. Why don¡¯t you believe me?¡± I crossed my arms. ¡°I can imagine that it might feel that way. But under no circumstances will I wire transfer 40, 000 dors to your friend ¡®Jacko.''¡± Ryan rose, animosity clear in every line of his body. ¡°Fine. I guess I¡¯ll see you around or something.¡± ¡°Come over for dinner this week.¡± He shoved his hands in his pockets. ¡°I¡¯m probably heading to Mammoth to ski with some friends.¡± My heart sank. ¡°Alright. Text me when you¡¯re back.¡± He gave a nomittal nod and headed towards the door of my office. His anger was so palpable that I almost felt like checking my head for horns. ¡°Ryan, you know I care about you. That¡¯s why I¡¯m doing this.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± The door shut behind him. I sank down in my chair and rubbed my temples. That went as well as I¡¯d been expecting, which was to say disastrous. Ryan and I had never truly been close, something I med about a hundred different people for, including myself. Attempts I made as an adult to rectify that sometimes went very well and other times¡­ like this. It was as if he wanted me to be a fun-loving big brother-a part I usually yed dly-but who also indulged him in a way that Dad never had. I knew that my step-mother mainly saw me as a financial asset, and it pained me that some of her perspectives had been passed down to Ryan. The one good thing on my schedule for the day was a meeting with the press and marketing team. The yearly LA tech industry event was happening this week, and Hunt Industries was scheduled to hold one of the seminars and introduce a few new updates. But the meeting meant I¡¯d have a chance to see Emily for the first time since she blew me a drunken goodbye kiss on Saturday night, heading into the cab with Denise. I was 99% sure that she¡¯d blush with embarrassment when she saw me. Hell, I would bet on it if I could. The team was already gathered when I arrived at meeting room C. Faint traces ofughter and discussion could be heard through the ss window and I paused just out of sight. Emily was deep in conversation with Rachel and Trent, her hands moving as she spoke. Her dark hair was loose and long, and now I knew just how silky it felt through my fingers. Sasha slipped them a newspaper article and the entire group broke out intoughter. Emily¡¯s eyes glittered with happiness.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. She was beautiful, truly, from the inside out. A heart-shaped face framed by her long dark hair, eyes that switched from beguiling to angry to teasing faster than clouds during a storm. I wanted her in my bed. I wanted her in my life. As if she read my thoughts, her gaze found mine through the ss and on cue her cheeks flushed a lovely, blush pink. I couldn¡¯t help it-I grinned at her. Rachel looked up to see what had caught Emily¡¯s attention and, always insolent, rolled her eyes at me. ¡°Will you join us or continue standing outside like a weirdo?¡± ¡°Wait a moment,¡± I told them, raising a hand. They all watched me as I pretended to inspect them all, my eyes narrowed. ¡°You passed.¡± Press and Marketing was one of my favorite departments, after the technicians and the software developers. They tended to be quick thinkers, witty conversationalists, and creative thinkers. Just like Emily. As opposed to the, ahem, ounting department or our in-housewyers. Though thank God they exist, as I shuddered at the thought of having to work in Excel on a daily basis. ¡°Do you want to start?¡± Trent asked, but I shook my head. ¡°No. Go ahead, run your drill.¡± Emily was two chairs down, too far for me to reach under the table. I nced her way but her attention was staunchly on Trent. ¡°Alright. Well, this will be the LA Tech and Industry Conference sixteenth year. It¡¯s a massive event, attracting both national and internationalpanies as well as hundreds of investors, web developers, and contractors. I know that not all of you were on the team when the conference came aroundst year, so I rmend that you use theing two days to read up. Naturally, the event also draws considerable media and press coverage. We¡¯re going to be there for two full days, and by full, I mean busy.¡± Rachel leaned forward. ¡°And by busy we mean the don¡¯t-drink-too-much-water-because-you-won¡¯t-have-time-to-use-the-restroom kind of busy.¡± I cleared my throat. ¡°Our HR rep would frown on that. Please, everyone, I encourage proper hydration.¡± Trent ignored our interjections. ¡°Most of what we¡¯ve been working on for these past few months will be disyed. The rebranded interface, the new colors and logo-it will all be there. Hunt Industries will run a monitor and a workshop.¡± Trent turned to me, expectation in his gaze. I rose and braced my hands on the table. ¡°This year we¡¯re releasing a 2. 0 version of the software we developed two years ago but had to pull from market. It¡¯s essentially video chat for doctors.¡± I pulled up an image on the connected projector so they could all see. ¡°It connects doctors with patients in their own homes. Naturally, this isn¡¯t meant to rece actual hands-on healthcare, but it allows for people to call and ask about things that don¡¯t require a visit to the hospital. Parents might want to ask about a rash on their kid¡¯s arm, what to do for a bee sting-that sort of thing. It will save enormous amounts of time and resources for both the patients and the medical staff.¡± I flicked through the different images, showcasing the interface and the testing rounds. Emily was in the back, watching me withrge eyes. While I didn¡¯t suffer from stage fright, I was intimately aware of her eyes on me. ¡°A trial version is avable in select areas around the US at the moment, but we want this system to go national. The aim is to get buyers, investors, media-we want everyone to get involved.¡± Trent nodded. ¡°We have prepared a long line-up. These are going to be busy days, folks, with interviews and articles. I want you to check and double-check your emails continuously theseing days.¡± I took a seat, and Rachel cleared her throat. ¡°Let¡¯s go through the roles. I¡¯ll be joining Julian in LA to handle the press section of things-his schedule is packed from morning to evening. Josef, you¡¯re following along as well to help with the set-up of the workshop. Trent, Sasha, and Emily will hold down the fort here. Constantmunication between us during this time will be crucial.¡± I frowned. ¡°Just two from the press and marketing team?¡± Trent nodded. ¡°We figured that was the best division ofbor. Do you disagree?¡± ¡°Emily should join as well. She works with press, and this tends to be ourrgest event of the year. She¡¯ll need to know what to do for next year. Let her shadow you, Rachel.¡± I could see Emily¡¯s piqued interest from the end of the table. The conference would be the best ce for her to meet people and learn more about the industry she was new to. And it would let her see you in action, a small voice whispered in my mind. I couldn¡¯t help it. I wanted her to see me as someone she respected, and not just as some rich yboy almost-billionaire, as she kept reminding me. Rachel nodded thoughtfully. ¡°It makes sense. What do you think, Emily?¡± Chapter 37 Emily¡¯s smile was blinding. ¡°I¡¯d love to join you. I¡¯d be doing more or less the same work as here, but being on the ground would give me hands-on experience. I¡¯d be happy to go.¡± ¡°It¡¯s settled then,¡± I said. ¡°Call down to administration and have them book her onto our flight and add another room to the hotel booking.¡± Trent frowned. ¡°Last I heard, it was full. Administration made reservations for Hunt months back to make sure we got the right number of rooms in the hotel right next to the conference.¡± ¡°We could share my room,¡± Rachel offered. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind?¡± Emily shook her head. ¡°Not at all.¡± ¡°Great. It¡¯s settled then. I¡¯ll send all of you updated agendas and material, and we¡¯ll talk againter.¡± I caught the look of excitement on Emily¡¯s face, nearly identical to the one she¡¯d worn when she realized we were going racing, and my heart did an odd little twist. I didn¡¯t know what we were doing, or where we were heading, but I knew I wanted to make her smile like that many, many more times. I was in an airne, in a first-ss seat, on my way to LA on a business trip. Each of those four things on its own-airne, first-ss, LA, business-trip-would have been enough to give me the happiness equivalent of a sugar rush. All four at the same time? Pinch me. Traveling like this had never happened when I was in college, and never in my childhood. Our family holidays had been amazing, but they¡¯d mainly been road trips, except for the time we visited my grandma in New Orleans. When I worked for Pet and Co, I had gone on a business trip to an exhibition on cat litter in Sacramento that included an overnight stay at a motel. If I would never have to analyze another ad for cat litter or dog food in my life I¡¯d die a happy woman. They greet you by name in first ss. Wee on board, Ms. Giordano. Would you like something to drink? If it hadn¡¯t been eight o¡¯clock in the morning, I would have asked for champagne. Okay, fine, if my co-workers hadn¡¯t been around I would have asked for champagne, despite the early hour. Rachel and Josef were working across the aisle from me, their fingers flying over keyboards. It was only an hour-long flight but apparently, things were already getting hot and heavy down at the conference. I took a steadying breath. I¡¯d done all that I could do. I¡¯d practically worked until midnight every day for the past week to ensure I knew everything I might need for these events. If someone asked me to describe the SEO n for the new healthcare system, I could recite it forwards, backwards and sideways. HTML, CSS, UX, UI, API, and SDK. It was like practicing for the SATs all over again, but I felt shakily confident in my newfoundputing knowledge. If everything else failed, I¡¯d hold up my press badge as a weapon, shouting I create ads, not apps! It would have to do. I¡¯d packed my suitcase with three of my best business-casual outfits, perfect for the kind of expensive-but-slouchy look that seemed so popr in the tech world. Josef always wore button-downs and chinos, for example, and Rachel regrly sported silk blouses in neon colors and casual prints. My stomach was a mess of excited nerves. My first real work trip. I was going to kick ass. I was going to get a solid hour of work done on the ne and then skip along to the first-ss bathroom to spritz on perfume and run a brush through my hair. I¡¯d arrive in full control and smelling of florals. At least I¡¯d nned to-but then a certain someone chose the seat next to me and ensured I couldn¡¯t think of anything but him. Either it was a cosmic joke, or it was the maneuvering of a very influential, very charming, very insistent CEO. Julian propped up a smallptop on the tray table but didn¡¯t open it. There were a million things I felt like saying to him, but none in front of our co-workers across the aisle-who might or might not be listening. Julian¡¯s hand tapped against the chrome of his closedptop. ¡°Are you excited, Emily?¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you again for suggesting that I should go on this trip.¡± His eyes flitted to where Josef and Rachel worked across the aisle before they returned to me. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. It¡¯ll be a good learning experience.¡± ¡°I think so, too.¡± This was the first proper conversation we¡¯d had since the phone call on Sunday, apart from the necessary work talk. I needed to make up for what happened over the weekend-make sure he knew I wasn¡¯t just a young employee who couldn¡¯t handle her alcohol. I wanted to be as cool as the women he usually dated. But my mind refused toe up with witty things to say. It had gone silent, unable to focus on anything apart from the way our legs touched and how close his hand was. Julian nced across the aisle again and his jaw clenched in frustration. With a meaningful nce at me, he pulled out his phone. My confusion was short; he offered it to me after a few seconds of typing. He¡¯d opened a new page on Notes. I should have requested seats far away from them. I couldn¡¯t help the smile that spread across my features. My fingers brushed against his as I took the phone from him. Why? What would you have done if we were alone? Julian¡¯s smile was sly as he typed his reply. Ordered us both something to drink and challenged you to another game of Never Have I Ever. I¡¯ve never yed it airborne before. This time, his fingers lingered slightly over mine as he handed me his phone. I grinned and typed my response. Please don¡¯t mention anything pertaining to alcohol around me ever again, please and thank you. Also, it¡¯s not even nine o¡¯clock in the morning. He was openly smiling now. Don¡¯t start. You were cute. You¡¯re an enabler, I typed back. Shame on you. If by ¡®enabling¡¯ you meanplimenting a beautiful woman I¡¯m interested in, then sure, I¡¯ll take it. I can enable you all night.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. The blush spread across my cheeks like wildfire and I pulled my hair forward to cover my expression. Our co-workers had only to look across the aisle to see us. Beside me, Julian coughed to hide hisughter. Damn man with his damn words. I should say no out of principle, I wrote back. Anythingplimentary on my part and your head might explode. Good call. We are on an airne, after all. We weren¡¯t even talking about anything real at this point, but the smile that hovered on my lips refused to disappear. I take my civic duty very seriously. Julian snorted. Dropping you off around the block from your house, passing notes in ss¡­ why do I feel like a high schooler around you again? My heart beat erratically in my chest as I read his words. That made two of us. I¡¯m still waiting for you to ask me to prom. You can¡¯t just assume, you know. Julian didn¡¯t share my hard-won restraint-his mega-watt smile was wide. Perhaps I want to make it special. When you least expect it, Ace. Consider yourself warned. I rolled my eyes at him and settled back in my seat. Our legs were touching from the thigh all the way down to the calf, now. As I watched, Julian deleted our whole conversation and jotted down a much longer message. Chapter 38 I want you to know that I¡¯m not going to hold you to anything you said on Saturday evening. I want you sober and sane when you finally admit that we¡¯re perfect together. I looked up at him, his eyes glittering with humor and sincerity. ¡°Okay,¡± I murmured. His hand traced a line across his leg, nearing where mine was resting. ¡°Just okay?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s great. I¡¯m-¡± ¡°Julian, do you know-. Oh, sorry. Were you going through the agenda?¡± Rachel leaned across the aisle, her expression focused. ¡°Yes,¡± Julian responded smoothly. ¡°But I think we have it under control. What¡¯s up?¡± I exhaled shakily and opened my ownptop. A narrow escape, sure, but I knew I was in deep, deep trouble. I was developing feelings for Julian freaking Hunt. Imagine if Disnend had been designed by the editorial staff of the magazine Forbes, and sponsored by the founder of a massive social mediapany. Can you picture it? Neither could I until I was standing wide-eyed inside the LA Tech and Industry Conference. It was a mixture of people, gadgets, and oddly enough-an intable bouncy castle. At one stand, a man was projected into a scarily realistic hologram ten feet away. Drones whirred above us. ¡°Soak it in,¡± Rachel said to my right. ¡°This is nerd paradise. Keep a steady hand on your phone, or someone might take it.¡± ¡°There are pick-pockets here?¡± ¡°No, I mean someone will offer to reprogram your software and give it back to you with fourteen new apps, all in the beta stage. Just hold on to it.¡± I padded my phone through the pocket of my grey zer. I¡¯ll protect you, little one. ¡°Thanks.¡± Rachel handed me a badge with my name and the logo of Hunt Industries on it. ¡°This is your lifeline. It gets you in everywhere you need to go.¡± Josef put down the heavy bag with camera equipment next to us and quirked an eyebrow. ¡°She¡¯s right. I¡¯ve been told there¡¯s even a ck market for them, for people who didn¡¯t manage to get ess to this ce.¡± ¡°What a great business idea.¡± ¡°I know right?! You could probably get a couple of hundred bucks for it.¡± ¡°And your severance check,¡± Rachel said dryly. She was eyeing a map of the hall and the connecting buildings. ¡°We¡¯re setting up shop in studio eighteen. Come on, you two. Let¡¯s head over there before we have to meet Julian for his first interview.¡± ¡°The man is a machine,¡± Josef grumbled, bending to pick up the camera bag again. I could only agree. I¡¯d seen Julian¡¯s schedule for the conference, and if I¡¯d been anxious about my own, it was absolutely nothingpared to his. For a solid hour today, he had ten-minute interviews scheduled back-to-back with various tech magazines. During these two days, he was the face of the brand, and the world was watching. By lunch, my feet ached. By afternoon, my head had joined the chorus too. I had shaken so many hands, each person I met more smiley than the next, that I probably ought to douse my hands in sanitizer. ¡°You work for Hunt Industries? That¡¯s amazing!¡± was the standard response. Somehow, the name seemed to unlock something-a gleam in their eyes. Sure, I¡¯d known how big Hunt was when I took the job, but it was something else entirely to see people¡¯s perception of me change with the statement. Julian¡¯s reputation certainly preceded him. I was handed twelve resumes-I counted them-all of which I politely slipped into my purse and said I¡¯d pass on to HR. Rachel and I were texting every five minutes. Are you setting up for the interview with B. H. Wells? Yes, questions read through and approved. Are you almost done with the press conference? Yes, heading your way now. Should be in studio nine in a minute. I hadughingly suggested that we should have brought walkie-talkies, but it was the truth. Astonishingly, Julian looked just as put-together and devilishly handsome as he had on the flight in the early morning hours. He¡¯d changed from his chinos and zer into a fitted dark suit, sans tie, and his hair was neatlybed back. He seemed to be wearing all of his titles at once-bad boy billionaire, yboy phnthropist, Ivy League graduate, CEO and a world yer on the tech scene. The faint trace of a smile never left his lips, as if he was ready to break out into it¡¯s-nice-to-see-you-again at any given moment. And why hadn¡¯t he run for President yet? Who knew? I didn¡¯t doubt that he¡¯d win that too if he put his magnificent mind to it. Rachel or I spent a not insignificant portion of the day just escorting him back and forth between interviews. We were his armor-the bulletproof vest. Someone came up to talk to him-Sorry, Mr. Hunt doesn¡¯t have time right now. The interview ran over time-We¡¯re going to have to cut it there. Mr. Hunt has a busy schedule. We yed bad cop so he could sh an apologetic smile and without offending anyone. Yeah, he could¡¯ve run for President. I remarked as much when we were waiting back-stage for a panel he was participating in. How tech is both a disruptive and creative force. It would be live streamed, and Julian would be joined by several other creators and moguls. His name was the listed first on the prospectus. ¡°Politics? No, I¡¯d be a terrible politician.¡± I shook my head and peeked around the curtain. The assembled crowd was massive. ¡°That¡¯s a shame. You¡¯d gain a lot of support, no doubt.¡± All women eligible to vote, no doubt. Julian pulled me back, an arm around my waist. ¡°How does it look out there?¡± ¡°Good. A lot of people.¡± He quirked an eyebrow. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I don¡¯t have stage fright.¡± I would rather have walked naked into a beehive than do what he was about to do, but I kept that to myself. ¡°And you¡¯re all set? Have everything you need?¡± Julian ignored my questions altogether. His lips curled into that crooked smile that meant he was about to say something outrageous. ¡°How many times have you been asked out today?¡± ¡°What?¡±¡±This ce has a 9-1 distribution of men to women. Half of them have most likely never seen a beautiful woman before. And a woman like you?¡± He ran a strand of my hair between two fingers, eyes warm. ¡°You could walk out of here leading the pack.¡± I swallowed. ¡°Three times.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not surprised.¡± There was no reason to borate, nothing to be defensive about, but my voice was breathy when I added: ¡°I turned them all down.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Julian¡¯s eyes darkened. His hand reached down and sped the badge hanging around my neck. ¡°I like that my name is on this.¡± Chapter 39 ¡°I couldn¡¯t get them to drop it.¡± His eyes shed back up to mine, humor dancing in them. The cor of his shirt was slightly askew, and I reached up on my tip-toes to fix it. I stiffened the cor and ttened the fabric over his wide, strong shoulders. ¡°There,¡± I murmured. ¡°Now you¡¯re ready.¡± We were close enough that I felt the warmth of his exhale. ¡°I was born ready.¡± ¡°Mhm?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± He bent to close the distance between us, lips about to close on mine, but a deafening sound rang out from the speakers. We both jerked back. ¡°Sorry! Just some mic feedback.¡± The moderator called out. ¡°We¡¯re almost ready to begin-all of our panelists are waiting backstage. Sorry to have kept you waiting, folks.¡± ¡°Showtime,¡± I told Julian, curling my hands into fists. A dimly lit space with my stunningly attractive and expert-kissing boss? Deadly. Julian grinned and took my hand in his, pressing a kiss to the soft skin at my wrist. ¡°Wish me luck, Ace?¡± ¡°Break a leg,¡± I whispered. ¡°Our first panelist is none other than the young tech genius from San Francisco who gave us Audio-Feed. He¡¯s here this year to introduce two new products hispany is releasing, and we couldn¡¯t be more excited to hear about them. Julian Hunt, everybody!¡± Julian gave me a wink before disappearing out on stage. He walked confidently and gave the crowd a single, strong wave before shaking hands with the moderator. I sank down on the chair provided for me backstage and tried to catch my breath. He was a force, and I wasn¡¯t sure if I was strong enough to survive him. My phone screen lit up with a new message from Rachel. Is he on stage? Everything OK? I took a deep breath and typed back a quick response. Yes, he¡¯s fine. Damn fine. Dinner that evening was a simple affair-the four of us grabbed pizza in a small restaurant opposite the conference hall, wall to wall with our hotel. It was nearly ten in the evening, but I wolfed down slice after slice as if I was carbo-loading for a marathon. Which I was, in a way. We still had another day of the conference to go. Rachel picked a piece of pepperoni from her pizza and nced over at Julian. ¡°You¡¯ve never joined us for post-conference victory pizza before, boss.¡± He raised a finger at her. ¡°Only because you¡¯ve never invited me.¡± Both Rachel and Josefughed at that. ¡°Right. As if that was what was missing. An invitation.¡± He rolled his eyes and reached for another piece of the barbecue chicken. The others might have dropped it, but I was curious. ¡°What do you usually do? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve hit the gym or something previous years. No one can have that much energy, not even you.¡± Julian looked over at me with glittering eyes, as if daring me to let him prove just how much energy he had. I looked away quickly. ¡°Oh no,¡± Rachel said. ¡°He usually has dinner with some of the other big names, discussing world domination. Three tech titans walk into a bar¡­¡± ¡°Or you go on some steamy date. It was an actress when we were here two years ago, right? I can¡¯t remember the name now.¡± Josef frowned. ¡°It made the headlines. Great publicity for thepany, boss.¡± ¡°Josef,¡± Julian chided. ¡°She was in a space movie that year, I think. Right?¡± Julian took a bite of his pizza and avoided my gaze. ¡°I¡¯m a man of discretion.¡± Rachel was grinning. ¡°Josef, Julian¡¯s personal life might be a goldmine for us, but we don¡¯t tell him that.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± I leaned back in my chair. ¡°No famous dates this time around?¡± Julian yed with the rim of his ss and shook his head slightly. His gaze felt like a caress, warm and secretive, holding a secret only we knew. ¡°No, not this year. I¡¯m actually seeing someone.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Rachel said. ¡°I can imagine she¡¯d object to you taking Hollywood out on the town.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Julian¡¯s gaze slid to mine again. ¡°She might. Not that I¡¯d want to, anyway. I¡¯ve always been a one-woman kind of man.¡± ¡°Is this a serious thing?¡± Josef asked. ¡°It¡¯s in the early stages so far,¡± Julian said. ¡°But I have high hopes.¡± My heart was beating so loudly I was amazed that nobody called me on it. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if Rachel turned to me at any second with a shocked gasp, dering that she knew I was the woman in question. J¡¯use! I met Julian¡¯s gaze. He looked exactly like I felt. Calm on the surface, smoldering below. ¡°But it¡¯s going well so far?¡± He gave me a small smile. ¡°I think so, yes. Even if I don¡¯t always know what she¡¯s thinking.¡± The mood had changed between us, and I¡¯m sure I wasn¡¯t not the only one who¡¯d noticed. I reached for thest slice of pepperoni and cleared my throat. ¡°Just invent an app for telepathy.¡± The othersughed and the conversation continued away from dating and Julian and me. Under the table, his knee touched mine gently. I nced up to see him give me a questioning look. Are you okay? I smiled at him. I¡¯ve never been better, I thought. Hunt¡¯s new health app wasunched with roaring sess the next day. It was thetest in a trend that seemed to be sweeping the tech world, with a revolutionary interface and a tform capable of reaching thousands of healthcare providers within months. Julian was practically aglow on stage when he introduced it. Calm and controlled, in a fitted grey suit, he projected confidence. But underneath it, I could tell that excitement was thrumming through him. This was his passion. He genuinely believed in his work, in his creations-in what he had to offer the world. I watched him from the back of the room, just as transfixed as the rest of the audience. It had be clear to me that I didn¡¯t just like Julian. I was head over heels. Later that evening, the full day done, giddiness hung in the air. Theunch had been phenomenal. I could hear the Hunt technicians joking with each other as they packed down our workshop gear,ughter, and exhaustion in their voices. I knew how they felt. I was starting to realize that these hugeunches and events had a lot inmon with sporting events. Once the adrenaline was spent, all you had left was a tired sort of happiness. Rachel grinned at me. ¡°Finally, huh?¡± ¡°Yes, finally,¡± I agreed. ¡°My stomach is practically eating itself.¡± Sheughed. ¡°So is mine. You¡¯ve done some really great work these days, by the way. I was d to have you by my side.¡± Chapter 40 ¡°It¡¯s been fun! We¡¯ve had some great teamwork.¡± ¡°We have. Thank God it¡¯s over though. I think I could use about two week¡¯s vacation.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Rachel zipped up her jacket. ¡°I¡¯m heading to my sister¡¯s for the evening. She lives here in LA, so I¡¯ll spend some time with family and sleep at hers. Congrattions, Emily. You get the hotel room all to yourself tonight.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± I said weakly. ¡°That¡¯s a good thing, no?¡± ¡°Yes! Yes, I mean, of course I don¡¯t mind. I hope you have a great evening. See you at the airport tomorrow morning then?¡± ¡°Yes, bright and early.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Too early.¡± I watched her grab her bag and give me a cheery wave as she hurried out of the conference hall. So I¡¯d be alone in my room tonight, with Julian Hunt himself just two doors down. My mind went straight for the gutter. I tried to stop it; I gave directions, I called out, I coaxed. But there was no use. The facts were the facts-there was nothing in the way of the of us spending time together tonight. Nerves were already going haywire in my stomach and I forced myself to take a deep breath. I hoped we would spend the night together. I¡¯d been fighting my attraction for him from the beginning, but it was a useless battle and I¡¯d made a strategic retreat. When a man like that is delivered into your life, you don¡¯t waste him, and I didn¡¯t n to. Only¡­ it had been a while since thest time I had sex. Between working and taking care of the house and Turner, meeting men hadn¡¯t really been on my to-do list for thest few years. And while living vicariously through Denise had given me manyughs, it hadn¡¯t really prepared me for this moment. My eyes tracked Julian on the other side of the room. He was helping the technicians carry arge beam and had taken off his fitted zer. He said something, and I saw the others grin as they carried it across to an electric truck. He really could talk to anyone, I thought. I doubted any of the other CEO¡¯s who had attended the conference stayed to help packing down afterward. Julian bent, muscr thighs straining against his suit pants as they carried the heavy beam. Absently, he pushed his shirtsleeves up higher to reveal strong forearms. I wondered how they¡¯d feel around my bare waist. I wondered how I¡¯d managed to stay away from him for so long. I wondered if he wanted me as much as I wanted him. As if hearing my thoughts, Julian turned. A smile broke across his features as he saw me and strode over. ¡°Are you watching me, huh?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± I said. ¡°Rachel is going to be at her sister¡¯s tonight. She just headed out.¡± ¡°Alright, good to know.¡± ¡°As in, she¡¯s staying the night there,¡± I rified. I was probably the most uncool woman in the history of dating at the moment, but it felt really important that he got this point. Julian¡¯s eyes slid to mine. ¡°I see. Well, we should get dinner, in any case.¡± ¡°Sure. We¡¯re all done here now, anyway.¡± He nced down at his watch. ¡°It¡¯ll just be the two of us, actually. Josef is grabbing a drink with some programmers from anotherpany.¡± ¡°Fraternization, but okay.¡± He chuckled and leaned in close, his voice soft against my ear. ¡°Just us, it seems. I hope you¡¯re alright with spending some time with me alone again.¡± My stomach did Cirque-du-Soleil worthy somersaults. ¡°I¡¯m okay with that.¡± We headed towards the exit, his suit jacket slung over one shoulder. How could he still smell amazing after a full day of running around? ¡°You have two options.¡± ¡°I do?¡± My room or yours? ¡°There¡¯s a restaurant in the lobby of the hotel. That¡¯s the simple option. Or, I could make some calls and try to find a reservation for a nice ce somewhere else. It¡¯s thedy¡¯s choice.¡± ¡°Oh, I see,¡± I said with an exaggerated nod. ¡°This is a date, and you need to get some paparazzi photos taken. Well, I¡¯mmitted to anonymity.¡± Julianughed. ¡°Both Rachel and Josef like to run their mouths sometimes. No, I just want to spend time with you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hotel restaurant. It looked good enough, and it¡¯s already prettyte.¡± He nodded and held the door open for me. ¡°Sounds great to me. I have a feeling I¡¯ll be paying more attention to the beautiful woman opposite me than my food anyway.¡± The hostess made sex-eyes at Julian when we arrived. A part of me was annoyed at her, but the other part was in full agreement. You and me both, sister. ¡°We have the perfect table for you, sir.¡± She shot him a blinding smile as we followed her to a table in the back. ¡°I¡¯ll get you both a menu in a second. Meanwhile, would you care to start with something to drink? A ss of wine, perhaps?¡± Julian¡¯s eyes were on me. ¡°What would you like, Emily?¡± ¡°A ss of white wine, thank you. And some still water.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have a ss of red,¡± Julian said. ¡°Coming right up!¡± ¡°Wow,¡± I said when she retreated. ¡°Does that happen everywhere you go?¡± ¡°Does what happen everywhere?¡± I rolled my eyes at him. ¡°Never mind.¡± Our menus arrived and we ordered in quick session. The table we¡¯d gotten was secluded, half-hidden from view from the other guests.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Our conversation flowed as naturally as it had the previous times we¡¯d spent together. He was easy to talk to, a skilled conversationalist, and highly receptive to whatever stupid joke I was making. Julian cut his steak with expert precision and I admired the strength of his hands, the five o¡¯clock shadow along his jaw. My body felt alive with energy. Tonight. He¡¯d hinted enough times that he wanted me. I felt woefully inexperienced suddenly. How do you initiate something more intimate after this? Should I slip him my room key before dessert with a sly wink? Was a coy smile enough? Thest time I slept with a man, it had been with a former co-worker following a particrly wet Christmas party. It had been memorable only in how exceedingly unmemorable it was. Julian probably had high standards. I took another peek up at the hard cut of his jaw, the way the light yed across the wide sy of his shoulders. Two years ago, on this day, he¡¯d dated an honest to God actress. Like, someone whose job description included looking beautiful. Chapter 41 What if he used names for positions? Some sort of advanced sex jargon? ¡®Let¡¯s do the overhand twisted pretzel, Emily.¡¯ There was no way I could fake knowing how to do that. I¡¯d end up breaking a leg, or worse, embarrassing myself in front of him. Julian put down his knife and fork and was looking at me with an amused smile. ¡°You¡¯ve gone quiet over there, Ace.¡± I shook my head stronger than the question required. ¡°No, I¡¯m just thinking.¡± ¡°About what?¡± ¡°About¡­ Oh! This.¡± I grabbed my purse. ¡°I spoke with a press agent today about a great opportunity for you and Ipletely forgot.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°It¡¯s been a busy few days.¡± ¡°Yes, but this seemed exciting¡­¡± I searched through the veritable ocean of business cards I¡¯d amassed. Julianughed at me. ¡°I know, I know. It¡¯s like they¡¯ve bred and multiplied in here when I wasn¡¯t looking.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a conference rookie move if I¡¯ve ever seen one. Us seasoned professionals learn to say no, or toss them the first opportunity we get.¡± ¡°But they mighte in handyter¡± He snorted. ¡°Emily, you don¡¯t need to keep all those, trust me. Unless you¡¯re looking to switch jobs?¡± I looked up. ¡°Oh, they¡¯re not for me. Well, mostly not. I tried to take as much information as I could for Turner.¡± Julian blinked at me before his gaze warmed. ¡°You really help him, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Well, of course. This is his chosen field, what he wants to work with. As long as he¡¯s on this path I might as well try to pave as much of it as I can.¡± He leaned back, eyes thoughtful. ¡°Remind me to ask for your advice on my brother someday.¡± ¡°Ryan?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± He raised his fork in caution, a piece of sirloin pierced on it. ¡°Not tonight, though. Tonight we¡¯re having fun.¡± It felt like he had a direct hotline to my heart and my stomach and¡­ slightly lower than that. I gulped down my wine. ¡°Fun, huh.¡± ¡°Yes. And before you try, this doesn¡¯t count as one of my allotted weekly dinners.¡± ¡°Oh, it doesn¡¯t?¡± His eyebrow quirked. ¡°No. This is circumstantial. Work, dinner is needed, and we made the best out of the situation. But it doesn¡¯t count.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Which means we¡¯re going somewhere theing week. I have a ce in mind.¡± ¡°Where?¡± He leaned back and grinned. ¡°You know what? I think I¡¯m going to let that be a surprise.¡± I rolled my eyes to hide just how excited that made me. ¡°Fine. Be that way. See if I care.¡± His grinned widened. ¡°Well. So?¡± ¡°So¡­¡± I trailed off, unsure of what he was expecting. Was this the point where we went upstairs to his hotel room? I hadn¡¯t finished my pasta. It was really good pasta. But then again¡­ my eyes raked up his chest, the strength in his arms. Pasta had nothing on him. I¡¯d go gluten-free for life if that was the required sacrifice. Julian nodded to my purse. ¡°So, what did you want to show me?¡± ¡°Right! Let me look¡­ here it is.¡± I pulled out a silver ted business card. ¡°I was approached by one of the producers of those online lectures, on ideas that are worth spreading. They¡¯re nning an event in San Francisco eight months from now and they¡¯re really interested in having you as one of the keynote speakers.¡± I slid the business card over to him. I¡¯d already photographed it, front and back, and starred it on my phone. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be so cool?¡± ¡°A talk?¡± ¡°Yes. You¡¯d be amazing.¡± ¡°You think?¡±I frowned at hisck of enthusiasm. ¡°Julian, of course. You were excellent on that panel yesterday and you¡¯re a great public speaker.¡± He seemed to ponder the idea, ncing out over the mostly empty restaurant. ¡°I suppose I could think about it. But those speakers usually have something to say, some wisdom to impart.¡± ¡°You¡¯re passionate about your business and about the positive impact technology can have. You have loads of wisdom to share! I can¡¯t think of a single reason why not.¡± His lips curled into a small smile and his eyes were warm when they met mine. ¡°You really think that highly of me?¡± ¡°Yes, I do. The world deserves to hear what you have to say.¡± His hand rested on the table between us, and I reached for it instinctively. My intention was a quick squeeze but he flipped it over and took mine in a tight grip. ¡°You didn¡¯t always think this highly of me.¡± He avoided my gaze, eyes on our sped hands. His thumb rubbed small circles in my palm. ¡°No, I guess I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°When did it change?¡± ¡°My view of you?¡± Julian nodded, and I couldn¡¯t help smiling. ¡°Want me to pad your ego a bit?¡± His hand tightened on mine. ¡°Indulge me, Ace.¡± ¡°Gradually, I suppose. Over those once-a-week dates. The race track. Watching you at work¡­ you were truly great at this conference.¡± His eyebrows shot high. ¡°So watching me work was a turn-on?¡± ¡°Hugely. Talk to me about bytes and vectors, please.¡± Chapter 42 Julianughed. ¡°If only I¡¯d known that from the start! I would have talked about nothing else. I would have been in your office all day and bored you to death.¡± His hand was warm on mine, and our knees touched under the table. We¡¯d finished eating, and our sses were long since empty. Be brave, Emily. ¡°Let¡¯s go upstairs,¡± I told him. ¡°I want to spend more time with you.¡± His eyes were dark and calm, but I felt the energy radiating off him. It always had, as if he vibrated at a slightly higher frequency than everyone else. ¡°Alright. Let me just settle the bill.¡± ¡°We¡¯re splitting it.¡± Julianughed, actuallyughed. ¡°We most certainly won¡¯t. Besides, this is a work trip. If it makes you feel better, consider this a part of a per diem.¡± We were silent as he paid, the still overly attentive waitress fluttering hershes. This time I took a tiny step closer to him and slipped my hand under his arm. Julian rewarded me with a soft smile at my open disy of affection, a smile I was growing increasingly fond of. It felt secret. Something he didn¡¯t show to the stage or the crowds of adoring fans. We walked in silence towards the elevators. I felt electric, the air between us humming with things unsaid and promises unfulfilled. The voice in my head refused to stop ranting. He smelled fantastic. How do I initiate this? Why hasn¡¯t he initiated it? It would be so extremely awkward if he turned me down, I realized as the elevators closed behind us. Again. How could I show up to work after that? But why would he? I knew he was attracted to me, even if he¡¯d always been respectful about it. Julian¡¯s hand skimmed across my waist as he reached to press the elevator button. ¡°You have to actually tell these things where you want to go.¡± His voice was husky, sending goosebumps across my skin. ¡°Whoops,¡± I murmured. The corridor on our floor stretched out before us, wide and empty. I knew we¡¯d reach my room before his-I¡¯d already spied the number on our booking sheet. Yeah. I¡¯m just stalkerish like that. We walked in silence to my door. ¡°This is me,¡± I said and waved to room 802. ¡°Home sweet home.¡± Julian smiled. ¡°I had a really nice time tonight. Thanks for dinner.¡± I nodded. 808, that was his room number. Turner once told me that eight was a lucky number in China, that people paid premium money for phone numbers with lots of eights in them. I¡¯d never been superstitious, but I suddenly clung to the fact. His hotel room was lucky. What could go wrong, Emily? Julian opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. ¡°Do you have a minibar?¡± He nodded slowly. ¡°I do.¡± ¡°How about a round of Never Have I Ever at yours?¡± I leaned against my hotel door. ¡°I¡¯m not tired quite yet.¡± Julian¡¯s swallow was audible. ¡°Good idea. I¡¯m in 808.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be there in a few minutes. Just let me freshen up.¡± His gaze didn¡¯t leave me as I opened the door and slipped inside. Hunger. That was what I had seen in them. It made me brave, made me giddy with nervous anticipation and triumph. Alert the press-somehow, this was going ording to n. I pushed my hair back and took a good look in the bathroom mirror. I was wearing the same makeup I¡¯d applied at 7AM that morning, my formerly pristine blouse wrinkled every which way, and my hair was, to put it in mild terms, a mess. Okay, Emily. Think. I stripped down, tied my long hair up and hopped in the shower. I scrubbed away grime and quickly shaved my legs. I brushed my teeth. I moisturized everywhere and ran a brush through my hair. When finished, I saw a somewhat wild-eyed but put-together woman in the mirror. Dark hair hung shiny down my shoulders, and the soft cashmere sweater I¡¯d put on hugged my chest. Sure, I wasn¡¯t a model or an actress, but I looked pretty good. I felt sexy and clean. Deep breaths. The door to my hotel room shut with an audible, ominous click, and I walked down the corridor to his room with my shoulders back, rehearsing the n. Have a drink first. Have sex second. Easy enough. The numbers on his hotel door stood out withrge, gold-ted numbers. ¡°Wish me luck, guys,¡± I murmured to the eights and knocked. Julian opened his hotel door almost immediately. For a long moment, all we did was look at one another. ¡°Hey,¡± he said softly. ¡°Hi.¡± He¡¯d taken off his suit jacket, white shirtsleeves rolled up. His hair looked like he¡¯d been running his hands through it. Slowly, his eyes raked down my newly changed attire, my throat going dry. ¡°Um, are you going to let me in, or¡­?¡± Julian winked. ¡°My bad.¡± His room wasrger than mine and Rachel¡¯s, though only by a little. A massive king-sized bed dominated the center and I forced my eyes not to linger on it, or my mind to psych myself out at the thought of what mighte next. By therge windows was a small seating area. A cart from room service stood next to it,plete with an icy wine cooler. I ran a hand over it, small water drops chilling my fingers. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Julian grinned and watched me peruse the different drink options on disy. ¡°You said you wanted to avoid alcohol for all eternity, and I¡¯m nothing if not supportive. So I ordered an assortment of non-alcoholic drinks for us.¡± There were ice-cold bottles of Coke, Pepsi, Fanta, fresh-pressed orange juice, Shirley Temples and what looked like virgin daiquiris. I grabbed one of them, a red and sloshy drink with a tiny umbre.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, nodding as if I had spoken. ¡°That was the drink I figured you¡¯d choose.¡± ¡°I¡¯m that predictable, huh?¡± ¡°Sometimes.¡± I bit my lip and kept my gaze on his. With calcted movements, I left the seating area and took a seat on his bed. A hand behind me, I leaned back and watched him. Not so predictable now, Hunt. His gaze had darkened as he followed my movements. With a quick move, he opened a can of soda. ¡°What did you want to y again?¡± Chapter 43 ¡°Never Have I Ever,¡± I said. Sitting here, with him staring at me like that, I couldn¡¯t think of why I¡¯d been nervous. He made me more feel more powerful than anyone ever had. Julian smiled crookedly. ¡°Ladies first.¡± ¡°Never have I ever injured myself when trying to impress a girl or a guy.¡± Julian took a sip of his coke with a long-suffering look, and I motioned with my hand, making the universal sign for and? He sighed. ¡°Fine. I attempted a skateboard trick in front of a girl I had a crush on when I was eleven. Ended up breaking my wrist. My right wrist.¡± ¡°Wow. That must have been very painful.¡± ¡°I spent the next five weeks getting out of every school assignment because I couldn¡¯t write with my left. Not legibly, at least.¡± ¡°Did you at least get the girl?¡± ¡°No. She ended up going to the school disco with my best friend.¡± ¡°Poor baby,¡± I murmured. ¡°I¡¯ve since made a full recovery,¡± he informed me. ¡°Both my heart and wrists are intact.¡± ¡°d to hear it. Your turn.¡± ¡°Never have I ever fallen in love at first sight,¡± he dered, and didn¡¯t drink. I sighed and took a sip of the frosty, sweet drink. Julian¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°Wow. Really, Ace? I figured you¡¯d be more of a get-to-know-the-guy kind of girl. One to take it slow.¡± I patted the space next to me on the bed. ¡°Come here and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± The bed sank as he took a seat next to me, and I scooted up further, sitting cross-legged against the headboard. ¡°It was with my first crush, Dustin. He was in the year above me in school and when I saw him at a roller-skating party, I was lost. I knew I had to be with him, at all costs.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Young and foolish.¡± Julian was smiling that soft, secretive smile, the one that made my chest hurt. ¡°That¡¯s cute, but could you really qualify that as love?¡± I wagged my finger at him. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare say that to fifteen-year-old me. I wrote his name on every page of my notebook and thought I knew exactly what love was. Dustin and I would grow old together.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± I said. ¡°Heter dropped out of high school and got a girl pregnant when he was seventeen.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Ouch.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± I swiped a hand across my forehead dramatically. ¡°Dodged a bullet there.¡± ¡°On to better and bigger things.¡± I couldn¡¯t help myself. ¡°Bigger?¡± Julian¡¯s eyes turned t with surprise and desire. He put his drink down and turned to me fully. I was struck again by howrge he was, how much physical space it felt like he upied. The bed felt small with him sitting on it. ¡°I want to y another game.¡± ¡°You do?¡± ¡°Truth or dare. If we¡¯re going to y these games, we might as well go full high school.¡± ¡°Alright. But I warn you-if you dare me to run through the lobby half-naked, shouting something obscene, I won¡¯t. I¡¯m a rule-breaker like that.¡± Julian¡¯s lip curled into a crooked smile. ¡°Trust me, I would never dare you to undress in front of people.¡± I took a long sip of my drink to pad my suddenly parched throat. ¡°Alrighty then.¡± ¡°Truth or dare?¡± ¡°Truth,¡± I said. ¡°When was thest time you were in love?¡± ¡°Wow. When you said truth, you really meant, like, truth.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be able to return the favor soon enough.¡± ¡°It was with myst boyfriend. It ended years ago.¡± It wasn¡¯t a difficult question. James was the only one I¡¯d really been in love with, although I supposed it had been a form of puppy love. We¡¯d dated from the age of neen to twenty-two, but I was such a different person by the end that I¡¯d forgotten why we had ever liked one another. Julian opened his mouth but I stopped him. ¡°No, it¡¯s one question per turn.¡± ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯ll y nice.¡± ¡°Good.¡± I traced the rim of the daiquiri ss. ¡°Last time you were in love?¡± ¡°Very original.¡± ¡°I felt inspired.¡± Julian nced out of the window to the dark city beyond. ¡°It¡¯s honestly been a while. Myst rtionship, too, I suppose. It ended a couple of years ago.¡± I nodded. ¡°So we¡¯ve established that.¡±¡±Truth or dare?¡± ¡°Truth. Hey, I don¡¯t feel like moving from this room. Can¡¯t we just dere that we only do truth?¡± He gave me a crooked grin. ¡°Or we just say that all potential dares must be limited to this room.¡± Heat swept through me at his gaze, at his words. ¡°Mhm,¡± I said. ¡°Clever addition.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been known to have smart ideas on asion. Tell me honestly, then. What was your first impression of me? Right off the bat, when we met at that club.¡± I looked down at my drink, choosing my words wisely. ¡°Honestly? I thought you were an asshole.¡± Heughed. ¡°Yes, you made that clear.¡± Chapter 44 ¡°But I was attracted to you from the first second.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes darkened again, gaze heavy. ¡°Something we have inmon, it seems.¡± ¡°So it would seem.¡± ¡°I choose truth,¡± he said, voice low now. ¡°Have you ever had sex in a hotel room?¡± His eyebrows shot to the ceiling, and I could swear that he leaned in closer. ¡°I have,¡± he replied. ¡°Have you?¡± I shook my head and took a sip of my drink. ¡°No, I never have.¡± Heughed, a low and husky sound that sent goosebumps down my spine. ¡°I think we¡¯re starting to mix up our games.¡± ¡°We can create new ones.¡± I scooted closer to him on the bed. ¡°Do whatever we like.¡± His hand found my ankle, bare skin below the hem of my pants. His thumb smoothed over my skin, sending shivers up my body. Such a small, innocent touch, and yet¡­ He suddenly nced down and then back up at me. Very carefully, he leaned closer and took a deep breath. ¡°Julian, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Ace, did you shower beforeing over here? I smell soap. And your leg is¡­ very smooth. Did you shave too?¡± ¡°Maybe. Yes.¡± Julian¡¯s hand paused on my leg and he closed his eyes with a groan. ¡°Oh, Emily. I need you to know that I didn¡¯t ask you to apany us because of¡­ I had no expectations. I genuinely thought it would be a good learning experience, that you¡¯d enjoy it.¡± His thick hair, usually wavy and pushed back, curled around his temples. On impulse, I reached out and ran my fingers through it. ¡°I know that. I still want you.¡± With a sigh, he reached up and gently removed my hand. ¡°This is not how I wanted it to happen.¡± His rejection was soft, but it was rejection nheless. It hit me like a freight train-how I must look to him, dressed up and showered and delivered to his hotel room. My stupid, silly seductress persona. I moved away from him. But I moved too fast. My ss tipped slightly in my hand and the bright red drink sloshed over the edge. It spilled down my thumb and along my wrist, staining the edge of my shirt. ¡°Shit.¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± I was up and off the bed in a heartbeat, heading to the bathroom like an Olympic sprinter. My cheeks were ming-I could feel the heat rushing up to my face, my eyes tearing up. Step 2, proposition him wasplete. Too bad it was aplete failure. I turned on the faucet and tried to wash away the sticky, sugary liquid. I didn¡¯t look in the mirror. I knew I¡¯d see someone with blotchy skin and hurt eyes and I might do something stupid, like cry, because of my own foolishness. He waspletely within his rights to turn me down. Nothing to be upset about. I heard footsteps, and then silence, the only sound that of the rushing water. ¡°Emily, are you alright?¡± I looked over to see him leaning against the bathroom door, with his strong jawline and handsome face all concerned. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°Emily, I need you to know that-¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, Julian.¡± I didn¡¯t look at him as I toweled off. ¡°The only reason I don¡¯t think-¡± ¡°Honestly. I understand that you¡¯re not the one to-¡± He crossed the space between us in two quick strides and spun me around, trapped me within the circle of his arms. ¡°Damn it, Ace, will you listen to me?¡± I was lost to the green of his eyes, filled with emotions I couldn¡¯t name. All I did was nod. ¡°I nned on doing everything by the book with you. I want to date you. I want to make sure you feel good, feel secure. I¡¯m not in a rush, Ace.¡± His fingers on my waist moved, stroked along my ribs, and I found myself rising up on my toes to get closer to him. ¡°Seducing you on a work trip wasn¡¯t a part of my n.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°And you object to a change of n?¡± I asked. Julian¡¯s hands tightened around me, his lips only inches away now. I knew how they felt and I knew how he tasted. It was all I could think of. ¡°I¡¯m afraid of the consequences.¡± ¡°Because we work together?¡± His smile was tight. ¡°No. I¡¯m afraid you might bolt after.¡± ¡°What if I promise I won¡¯t?¡± My hands found their way up along his chest, traced his shoulders. ¡°I¡¯d want to believe you,¡± he murmured. ¡°Not sure I can.¡± I fit myself against him, my breasts against his chest and my hips aligned with his, and touched my lips to the corner of his. ¡°Believe me.¡± Julian groaned in defeat against my mouth. ¡°You¡¯re lethal,¡± he murmured. And then he kissed me. It wasn¡¯t like the race track or even that night at the club-there was nothing sweet or reverent about these touches. Both of us too eager and too heated. We had wanted this for too long. Julian¡¯s lips traced my jaw and my neck. I burned everywhere he touched, as if fire trailed his hand and his lips. A strong hand pulled the neckline of my sweater to the side and I had to grasp his shoulders as he followed the length of my corbone with kisses. More. I needed more. Chapter 45 I grabbed the hem of my sweater and pulled it up, wanting it off. Julian gave a huskyugh at my eagerness andrge hands helped me tug it off. He fell silent immediately. I shook my hair out and watched as his gaze and hands skimmed my sides, up to trace the curve of one bra-d breast. ¡°Ace,¡± he murmured. ¡°You kill me.¡± I tugged at the buttons of his shirt, just as eager to get to his skin as he was to mine. ¡°Fair is fair.¡± Julian helped me with the buttons and I could finally pull his shirt off. If I¡¯d ever thought that it was the form-fitted suits that made his chest look so broad, I was proven spectacrly wrong.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. He was cut like a swimmer, wide and strong goodness tapering down to a taut waist. Abs and muscles and a smattering of dark, dark hair across his chest. My hands were on him the second the shirt dropped-exploring the ins of his stomach, the stretch of his shoulders and the warmth of his skin. I wanted all of him, all of theyers between us gone. ¡°Wait.¡± I reached back, my hands finding the zipper of my skirt. Julian watched me as I slowly let it drop and fall into a puddle on the floor, leaving me in only my underwear. His chest rose and fell in deep, agonized breaths as his gaze swept over my body. ¡°Ace¡­¡± Whatever he was going to say disappeared in movement and want. Julian grasped my waist and lifted me up, cing me on the edge of the cool marble sink. The cold made me gasp. Julian smiled against my lips. ¡°Whoops.¡± ¡°I forgive you,¡± I murmured, my lips at his neck. ¡°Thank you.¡± His hand seared a path down my abdomen and onto my thigh. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful. Absolutely stunning. I¡¯ve thought that since the first moment I saw you.¡± I didn¡¯t recognize myself. I should be nervous-I should be second-guessing myself right about now. The whole situation was surreal, me sitting in a brightly lit bathroom with the most handsome man that¡¯s ever walked the earth. But I didn¡¯t even hesitate as I reached back and unsnapped my bra. The straps slid down my arms and I tossed them away. Julian gave a slow, strangled sound. ¡°Holy hell, Ace¡­¡± Maybe that¡¯s why I wasn¡¯t nervous. Julian¡¯s gaze made it clear that he wasn¡¯t somewhere else or thinking about somebody else. I¡¯d spell-bound him just as deeply as he¡¯s captivated me. His hands were big and rough and everywhere-they were teasing my nipples, pulling me close, and tugging at my hair. The fire that had always been between us was an inferno now. We were close to each other, skin against skin, but I want closer still. I wanted to feel his body against mine-inside me. ¡°You¡¯re still dressed,¡± I said against his lips. ¡°Not fair.¡± Julian gave a weakugh and stepped back just enough to let me push his suit pants down his hips. They were quickly discarded of, revealing the impressive bulge in his boxers. My throat went dry. Of course, he had to be extraordinary in all areas. His hands tugged me forward on the counter, grabbed my knees and I wrapped my legs around him. We fit perfectly at this height. Julian swept my hair back and trailed his lips and tongue up my neck. I could feel the heat of his breath, the pounding of his heart. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the bedroom.¡± I was not moving from that spot. I couldn¡¯t-I needed him, and I needed him now. I ran my hand down his stomach and shook my head. He was hard and wedged close, but I managed to stroke the length of him through the fabric of his boxers. Julian growled and rested his head against my shoulder. ¡°Fuck,¡± he said. ¡°Alright. But you first.¡± Strong hands grabbed a hold of my panties and tugged. Obediently, I raised my hips and he slid them down my legs. Nerves came back in a rush as I was suddenlypletely bared to him. But the sudden sense of insecurity was soon over-Julian¡¯s hands were there immediately. Long fingers stroked up my thighs and a warm hand cupped me entirely. One of his fingers parted my slit and found my center, and I couldn¡¯t help but moan. I looked up at the ceiling and gave in to him, to his hand and his fingers. I couldn¡¯t watch what he was doing to me. It was too much-the illusion would shatter, and I¡¯d revert back to the self-conscious woman I was instead of the vixen I was channeling tonight. Julian kissed me as his fingers continued their torturous exploration. With exquisite slowness, he slid a finger inside. I gasped. ¡°You¡¯re wet.¡± His voice was incredulous. ¡°You¡¯re so wet for me already.¡± I wanted tough. Of course I was. Julian was the single most attractive man I¡¯d ever met. He would be able to raise me from the dead with one of his crooked smiles. I reached down and stroke his cock through his underwear, and he rewarded me with a sharp exhale. His hips buck once, involuntarily, into my hand. ¡°And you¡¯re hard as a rock.¡± Julian¡¯s wrapped his arms around me and all of a sudden I was off the counter-I was in the air, being held close to his strong body. ¡°That¡¯s it. Bedroom, Ace.¡± ¡°No. Here.¡± Our eyes met, and his went nearly ck with desire when he realized just how much of a tinderbox I was. One match and I¡¯d ignite. His hands released me and I slid to the ground. Our bodies were touching from head to toe. Strong fingers gripped my hips and dug into the skin of my ass. ¡°You sure?¡± I wasn¡¯t acting on thought anymore-only instinct and desire. I turned around and bent over, resting my arms against the cool marble. ¡°I need to feel you inside me.¡± I could see him in the mirror, could see the exact moment his careful restraint stretched and snapped. With quick movements, he pulled off his boxers. My mouth went dry at the sight of his ready cock, proud and swollen. ¡°Condoms.¡± His voice was a growl. ¡°I¡¯ll get one. Stay.¡± I was left bent over in the bathroom with my pounding heart. I¡¯d always anticipated that being intimate with Julian would feel good, and that giving in would be like this, which was partly why I had mad the decision to do so. But this was something else-and he hadn¡¯t even entered me yet. Julian returned with a shiny piece of foil, and in a practiced move, he tore the packet open and rolled on the condom. From there, he didn¡¯t do what I had been expecting, though. Sure hands wrapped around my waist and pulled me up, pressing me flush against his body-much bigger than mine. Facing away from him, I could feel the hot length of his cock against my ass. ¡°Look,¡± he said in my ear, voice husky. ¡°Look at yourself.¡± I did-I saw us in the mirror. Me, entirely nude, and him, so big behind me. His eyes were filled with admiration and desire as we looked at one another. A strong hand wound itself into my hair and forced it back ever so slightly against his shoulder. We both watched as his hand slowly trailed down my neck. ¡°Do you see? Do you see how beautiful you are?¡± I gave a breathless nod. ¡°See how your breasts curve perfectly here.¡± His hand cupped my right breast, let me feel the weight of them. How your waist dips in here, and how your hips re out like this¡­ and here¡­ this is what I like the most.¡± Chapter 46 Julian¡¯s hand covered the triangle between my legs perfectly. His fingers found my wetness again, and I would have been embarrassed by it if he hadn¡¯t groaned at the sensation and whispered in my ear how much he loved it. You¡¯re ready for me. Sure fingers circled my swollen clit. Watching everything in the full-length mirror was beyond erotic, a situation more intense than any I¡¯d ever experienced before. Julian¡¯s mouth was relentless against my neck, his fingers circling. ¡°I want to hear you moan,¡± he said, slipping a finger inside me and pressing the heel of his hand down on my clit. I couldn¡¯t help it-I did moan. His teasing had put me on the brink, and I knew I was close¡­so close toing. I grabbed his wrist. ¡°I want toe with you inside.¡± His cock, trapped between our bodies, twitched in agreement. I wanted it, I wanted him-I needed to make him feel as crazed with desire as me. Julian groaned, his hand abandoning my pussy to tease a nipple. ¡°You¡¯re killing me,¡± he murmured. ¡°Do you know that? The power you have over me?¡± Didn¡¯t he know it was the other way around? Since the day he walked into my life, he had owned mepletely. There was no one else. A strong knee nudged my legs apart. ¡°Spread for me, Ace. Up onto your tip-toes.¡± He bent his knees slightly to make us more aligned and then I felt the head of his cock, strong and sure, nearing my wetness. Julian slid it along my slit once, twice, coating himself and driving me mad. His voice was a growl. ¡°Look.¡± I watched in the mirror as he pushed in and sheathed himself to the hilt. He was everywhere-behind me, around me, inside me. It was too much and still not enough. ¡°You okay, Ace?¡± I gave a nod, words lost to me, and watched as he began to move behind me. Slow thrusts gave way to deep, quick strokes, and soon he was setting a pace that had me gasping. Strong fingers dug into my hips and I keeled over, hands grasping the marble and holding on for dear life. This was raw and real, and I¡¯d never been so aroused in my life. I knew I was going toe hard like this, from him and his movements. So this is how it¡¯s like to be fucked by a god, I thought, the ridiculous statement making me smile. It wasn¡¯t not fair. Sex shouldn¡¯t be allowed to be this good. Julian pulled me back up against his body. Strong arms wrapped around my waist entirely as he continued to move inside me. He imed me. ¡°I want to see you. I want you to see you.¡± His hand was relentless, finding my clit again and rubbing circles as he continued pounding into me. Pleasure swept through my body in waves, rising and cresting and wavering dangerously high. It was too much. I was so entirely, entirely lost. ¡°Come for me, Ace,¡± I heard him growl. ¡°Come for me.¡± And I did. My moans echoed off the bathroom walls as I shattered around him. Pleasure raced through my pelvis, my limbs, turning my legs to jello. If he hadn¡¯t been holding me up, I would have fallen over, helpless against the current. I couldn¡¯t stop it even if I had tried. My pleasure ignited his and I watched in the mirror as Julian¡¯s eyes narrowed, his face taut. I¡¯d never seen him so unleashed before-so entirely in his element. I had wondered a lot about who the real Julian was. I had admired the businessman who spoke in front of crowds of thousands, the yful boss who nevertheless enjoyedplete respect from his employees. The older brother, the stern financial head of his family. The charming and good-looking millionaire phnthropist. But seeing hime undone in the mirror and his handsome face twisted in pleasure, I believe that I¡¯ve found my favorite version yet. It was a version I didn¡¯t want to share with anyone. He groaned deep and husky as he came, hands sping me tightly against him and the frantic beat of his heart against my back. Inside me, I could feel the rhythmic pulses of his cock as he emptied himself. We were one, consumed by emotion and desire I¡¯d never felt anything like this before. For a long while-minutes, hours, years-neither of us could speak. The intensity hung in the air and still raced through my veins. My mind was trying and failing to y catchup. His husky chuckle in my ear made me smile. ¡°That was intense.¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Very.¡± With a ginger movement, he slipped out of me and stepped back. I frowned at the suddenck of his warmth, but he was gone only long enough to deposit the condom. Julian grabbed me and lifted me up so that we were once again body to body and skin to skin. His voice was thick with satisfaction. ¡°Am I allowed to take you to the bed now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I rested my head against his shoulder, reveling in his strength and the pleasure that still radiated through my body. We¡¯d just had what could only be described as the best sex of my life, and I knew I wanted him again. And again. And again. Julian set me down next to his bed and pulled back the covers. We slid in, the sheets soft against my skin. Julian dimmed the lights. He reached for me immediately and cradled my body with the curve of hisrger one. A hand traced circles along my hip, the other smoothing my hair back. ¡°Just give me fifteen minutes,¡± he murmured. ¡°And then I can go again.¡± I gave a sleepyugh. ¡°Wow, Julian. I think I¡¯ll need a week to recover. That was¡­ wow.¡± Hisughter was a soft breath against my temple. ¡°Take as much time as you need, Ace,¡± he murmured. ¡°I¡¯ll be here.¡± Wrapped in Julian¡¯s arms, it didn¡¯t take long before sleep imed me just as thoroughly as he had. My dreams bled into reality that night. Emily had fallen asleep in my arms, in my hotel bed, her warm skin resting against mine. It would take a stronger man than me to resist following her into oblivion. At some point during the night, I felt her trying to slide out of bed, sitting on the edge. I¡¯d acted on instinct-wrapped an arm around her smooth waist and pulled her right back into bed with me. She¡¯dughed and squirmed, which only meant I held her tighter. ¡°And where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± ¡°My room?¡± Emily had said it like a question, and I answered firmly by sliding my leg between hers. She smelled warm and feminine, and I took a deep, sleepy breath. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare. You¡¯re sleeping right here.¡± She¡¯d twisted in my arms, turned so she could press those soft lips against my neck. ¡°So bossy.¡± I had only been half-awake, but I managed a faintugh. ¡°That¡¯s my job, Ace.¡± We woke up to the garish sound of the hotel wakeup call. A disgustingly chipper receptionist let me know the car for the airport would be downstairs in thirty minutes. ¡°Mhm,¡± I said. ¡°Thanks. Bye now.¡± Chapter 47 ¡°Remind me again who booked these flights, and why on earth it had to be so early?¡± Emily slid out from under my arm and sat up at the side of the bed, gingerly stretching from side to side. The sheet pooled around her hips, and I saw the smooth expanse of her back, the faint curve of a breast. Her dark hair was a beautiful mess. When she didn¡¯t get a response-I¡¯d temporarily lost the ability to speak-she peeked over her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re not falling asleep on me again, are you? ¡°No.¡± I bent a knee to hide my erection. Morning or not, the sight of her nude body illuminated by the faint light of dawn would stir even the most tired of men. ¡°We have to get going.¡± ¡°Not yet, we don¡¯t.¡± I reached for her, but Emily rose and danced away with a grin.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°We¡¯ll bete.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± She might be out of reach, but I now had a full view of her beautiful, naked body. Curved in all the right ces, soft to the touch, surprisingly responsive. I knew what she tasted like-and I wanted a second round. Emily saw the desire on my face and her cheeks grew red. I grinned. ¡°You¡¯re not getting shy on me now, Ace?¡± She rolled her eyes and started rummaging around for her clothes. A sweater was put back on, jeans quickly tugged up along shapely legs. ¡°Only because I know exactly what you want to do now.¡± ¡°Am I that obvious?¡± Emily gave a snortingugh. ¡°Yes. But we don¡¯t have time.¡± She paused by the hotel door. ¡°Take a shower. I¡¯ll meet you in the lobby.¡± She looked so cute with messy hair and well-kissed lips, and my chest tightened at the sight. But before I could say anything else she slipped out of my hotel room and it shut smoothly behind her. Iid back down and watched the crown molding in the ceiling, the intricate and detailed twists. The scent of her still clung to the pillow beside me and the sheets smelled of us. It had been so long since I¡¯d taken a woman in my arms and felt what Emily made me feel. Alive. Wanted. Seen. The woman was nothing if not unexpected. I¡¯d been prepared to go slow, to take things day by day, to convince her that being with me was a good idea. That we were a good idea. But she¡¯d taken things into her own hands, literally, and given me the best sex of my life. Hell, I¡¯d never found a woman so wet and ready for me before I¡¯d even touched her. None had felt as right in my arms, as if they belonged there. Images of her refused to leave me as I packed my few toiletries and hung my suit back into the garment bag. Emily was in my head through every step, even as I took a scalding shower. Somehow, even though she¡¯d just left me, I missed her. I could barely look in the bathroom mirror without getting hard, thinking about what we¡¯d done the night before. Taking her from behind like that, having her twist and grind and moan¡­ blood rushed south at the thought. Never before had a woman wanted me so. And her hungry kisses, the fit of her tight, warm depths¡­ It was enough to make a man half-crazed with worship. We¡¯d fit like we were made for it. She¡¯d taken all of my length and more, pushed back against me like mine was the best cock she¡¯d ever had. My vain heart hoped it was. Lord knew she was the sexiest woman I¡¯d ever seen. I turned the water in the shower to cold. Thirty minutester I stood in the empty lobby with Josef, ncing at my watch. Emily should be down by now, and she usually loathed beingte. My mind conjured up images of her in her hotel room, overthinking what we¡¯d just done-or worse-regretting it. Josef yawned next to me. ¡°Outte?¡± He nodded. ¡°Those programmers, man. They really know how to cut loose.¡± ¡°When you¡¯d get back in?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I should be telling you that, boss.¡± I forced myself to look rx. ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Yeah, although I-¡± I didn¡¯t hear him. Emily came hurrying through the lobby. Her hair was in a high ponytail that swished along her back and she was wearing a massive smile. ¡°Sorry, sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to keep you waiting.¡± The smile that spread across my face was one part joy, two parts relief. Josef huffed. ¡°You¡¯re two minuteste, Em. We¡¯re not about to stone you for it.¡± She bumped his shoulder. ¡°How did your fraternization campaign go yesterday?¡± Heughed and gave her shoulders a light squeeze. I knew they were friends, knew Josef was like that with everyone, but my insides still squeezed with jealousy. I knew I couldn¡¯t touch her like that in public. She¡¯d never let me, not yet. ¡°The car should be here. Let¡¯s go.¡± They both fell into step behind me as we headed out. The same soapy, floral scent followed her asst night, and my stomach clenched. Emily teased Josef mercilessly in the car on the way to LAX about his wild night out, while I spent most of the ride cursing his existence. It wasn¡¯t the poor man¡¯s fault, of course, but the rules Emily had set dictated that no one knew about us. An hour earlier she had been sleeping in my arms, and now she was in the backseat, a wall of professionalism and secrecy raised between us. I spent the ride reading emails, and when we met up with Rachel at the airport, I knew that my tone was curt. My n had been to seduce her slowly¡­ cook her breakfast. Treat her the way she deserved, but curiously enough, it seemed like she didn¡¯t expect anything from me. All four of us spent the time before the ne took off working and I had no shot at getting a few words in with her. The need to know what she felt aboutst night, about me, felt like a weight on my shoulders. Boarding opened and we headed on first with the rest of the first-ss passengers. ¡°I¡¯m in aisle six,¡± Emily said. ¡°Rachel, where are you?¡± ¡°Six too. We all are. I¡¯m in seat A.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m C.¡± ¡°Could we switch seats?¡± Rachel asked her. ¡°Julian and I could spend the flight going over theing week¡¯s media announcements.¡± We most certainly did not need to do that. ¡°No, we¡¯ll push that toter,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯ll debrief Emily about her views on the conference.¡± Rachel raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Emily and I took our seats across the aisle from the others and I watched as her hands fastened the seatbelt. Now I knew what those hands felt like, wrapped around me or pressed against my chest. She was so close, but so far away. I couldn¡¯t make a joke about yesterday. I couldn¡¯t ask how she felt or make sure we were on the same page. Chapter 48 The ne took off, the familiar feeling of weightlessness oveing me. Our eyes met. ¡°You okay?¡±Her gaze softened. ¡°Yes,¡± she murmured. ¡°I¡¯m great.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d to hear it.¡± I leaned closer, just enough so that I could speak without the risk of anyone hearing us. ¡°Cross your legs.¡± Her eyes glittered with amusement, but she did as I said. I angled her openptop slightly so that her crossed legs and screen shielded us from view. I took her hand, held it out of sight from the others. Her skin was warm and smooth against mine. ¡°Let¡¯s debrief in a bit,¡± I said, leaning back and closing my eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t get a wink of sleepst night.¡± I heard Emily¡¯s softughter, felt the squeeze of her fingers. ¡°Funny. Neither did I.¡± I waited for the best possible moment before I shared the news with Denise. All other subjects were covered first-my business trip, her recent dinner with Michael¡¯s mother and sister, thetest episode of the reality show we both watched. I was lulling her into a false sense of security. ¡°The conference sounds terrible,¡± shemented and popped another macaron into her mouth. ¡°But I¡¯m d you had fun.¡± I reached for a pink, strawberry vored one. ¡°Sure, the industry isn¡¯t exactly my scene but I love the press work. Where did Michael get these?¡± ¡°He has a baker friend downtown who he hires asionally for events and stuff. These are great, right?¡± ¡°The best. I wonder why I¡¯ve never seen that ce.¡± ¡°It¡¯s kinda hidden behind aundromat. A shame, really.¡± I watched her take a bite of a lemon macaron, her face shifting into pleasure, and decided to drop the bomb. ¡°There¡¯s actually something I need to tell you about the conference.¡± ¡°Mhgmn?¡± ¡°I slept with Julian.¡± I closed the box of macarons. ¡°And I think we¡¯ve both had enough of these for today.¡± Denise¡¯s eyes turned into saucers. ¡°Em! You¡¯ve been here for nearly an hour and you tell me now?¡± ¡°Whoops?¡± ¡°No. No, no, no. This is exactly like that time you waited two full days to tell me you¡¯d kissed Sam Feller in middle school, and how did I react then?¡± ¡°Not well.¡± ¡°Tell me everything.¡± She grabbed the box of macarons and clutched it tight to her chest. ¡°And I¡¯m going to have the rest of these and share none with you as punishment.¡± I leaned back against her fluffy couch and grinned. ¡°Well, what do you want to know?¡± ¡°You¡¯re wearing that huge grin, so I already know it was good. Who initiated it?¡± ¡°It was mutual. It happened in his hotel room, though.¡± ¡°ssic business trip hook-up. That¡¯s so hot,¡± Denise whispered with a dreamy look-I knew she was picturing an array of steamy TV scenes. . Iughed. ¡°There were no long angsty stares or desks dramatically swept clean.¡± And there hadn¡¯t been¡­ just heated dinner conversation and marble sinks. ¡°How was it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how to describe it. It was great.¡± The fire between us had burned so hotly, and there had been none of that first time fumbling or nerves. How did you exin something like that? Denise sighed. ¡°Come on, Em. I¡¯ve told you nearly everything about Michael. And how many of my sexual exploits have I shared over the years? You owe me one good story.¡± ¡°Hey now, you¡¯ve shared far more details than I have ever asked for.¡± ¡°I considered it my civic duty to educate you.¡± She waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Now tell me.¡± Heat crept up my cheeks at the memory of the feelings he had elicited. ¡°It was the best sex of my life.¡± Denise pped her hands in excitement. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, really.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so happy for you! That¡¯s exactly what you deserve. Thank God you decided to actually go for it!¡± ¡°And the best part is that I think he wants to do it again. That we¡¯ll have an actual affair.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure it¡¯s called an affair when both people are single?¡± I rolled my eyes. ¡°Fine. A sexual rtionship? Hooking up?¡± ¡°Nothing more? You don¡¯t want to get serious with him?¡± The thought had crossed my mind.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. But the idea of Julian Hunt as a boyfriend¡­ it was daunting. I couldn¡¯t see us going to the movies, settling down with him on the couch, bringing him into the house I share with my brother¡­ it felt odd. There was no way he¡¯d fit into my life-he was too big and I was too anonymous. And he would undoubtedly want someone who could share his spotlight. ¡°No. Julian Hunt isn¡¯t the kind of man you have a serious rtionship with. Besides, he propositioned me in the office canteen that first time, Denise. What kind of man does that if he wants a truly serious rtionship?¡± ¡°An infatuated one.¡± Iughed. ¡°No, this is just casual, trust me. But I don¡¯t mind. I¡¯m going to ride this wave as far as it¡¯ll take me.¡± Denise moved over and settled next to me on the couch. ¡°Okay, but I want more details.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already told you loads!¡± ¡°No, you said it was the best sex of your life. That is entirely devoid of detail.¡± I sighed. ¡°What do you want to know?¡± Chapter 49 ¡°How long did itst? What was his body like? Did he go down on you? How big was he? Did youe? How did he-¡± ¡°Ugh! Stop!¡± I grabbed a pillow and covered my face with it. ¡°I¡¯m not going to talk about it.¡± Deniseughed. ¡°Well, what was so good about it then? Why did it qualify as-¡± ¡°Oh! I think that¡¯s my phone!¡± ¡°You¡¯re so full of shit!¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not! Can¡¯t you hear it?¡± I grabbed my purse, the familiar ringtone bing more pronounced as I searched for it. ¡°See?¡± Denise narrowed her eyes at me. ¡°Saved by the bell, Em. But I won¡¯t let you off the hook that easy.¡± I finally found my phone, the screen lit up by a familiar name. Julian Hunt.¡±Oh no. It¡¯s him.¡± Denise gave me a huge thumbs up, her eyes wild, and I hurried to answer. ¡°Hello?¡± A familiar voice greeted me. ¡°Ace.¡± ¡°Hi, Julian.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Did you get home safe from the airport?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I yed with the strap to my bag and tried to keep the smile off my face. ¡°I did. Did you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡±¡±Good.¡± He cleared his throat, voice deeper when he spoke again. ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to stop thinking about you.¡± My grin widened. ¡°I might have thought about you asionally as well.¡± Julian¡¯s huskyughter sent butterflies through me, reminded me of his touch in that hotel room. ¡°Let me take you out this weekend.¡± ¡°Take me out?¡± ¡°Yes. Food, some talk. I need to make sure you don¡¯t have any regrets.¡± I bit my lip. ¡°I think I can show you that I don¡¯t have any regrets.¡± My statement was met with surprised silence on the other end. Unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t the case behind me-Denise gave a loud guffaw at my words. I turned and waved for her to pipe down. ¡°What was that?¡±¡±I¡¯m at a friend¡¯s ce. Denise, you remember?¡± ¡°Of course. How could I forget?¡± ¡°When do you want to meet?¡± ¡°Tomorrow,¡± he said. ¡°Let me pick you up again.¡± ¡°Alright. And¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait a block away.¡± ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow, then?¡± ¡°You will.¡± His voice sounded like he was smiling. ¡°Goodnight, Ace.¡± ¡°Goodnight.¡± We hung up and for a second, I just clutched my phone to my chest. Tomorrow. He really did want to continue whatever-this-was for a while longer. The excitement of it all made me grin. ¡°That sounded really good. Like, amazing.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t even hear his responses!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t need to in order to know he¡¯s into you.¡± ¡°Denise!¡±¡±He is.¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°And so are you.¡± I sighed. ¡°I am. I¡¯m such a goner, aren¡¯t I?¡± Denise grinned and offered me another macaron. ¡°Yes. Wee to the club, Em.¡± The following two weeks were filled with more sex than I had had in a lifetime. Was it possible to overdose on orgasms and smiles? If it was, I would never consider rehab. Put it on my tombstone-¡°death by Julian Hunt.¡± Let it be known that I¡¯d died happily. We texted like we were teenagers, often and nearly always about something silly. The man clearly had more time on his hands than I thought megalomaniac CEO¡¯s had. When I pointed it out, he texted back that he was canceling meetings and regrly brushing off clients to give me the shortest response time possible. Okay, so he was clearly exaggerating, but his answer still did weird things to my stomach. Despite my objections, our standing weekly appointment held. ¡°We already meet up for this,¡± I¡¯d murmured into his ear, my hand already trailing down the hard nes of his chest, finding the buckle of his belt. ¡°Why do we need designated time in public as well? That¡¯s time we could spend¡­ doing this.¡± ¡°Because I want to spend time with you fully clothed, too, Ace.¡± Julian¡¯s words had been decisive, but his hands, roaming inside my wrap dress, told a different story. I had slipped off the dress, stood in only my underwear, and given him my beste hither look. ¡°But I look so good unclothed.¡± Julian¡¯s groan of desire was the only response I got. He had made quick work of my bra and panties before spreading me wide and bringing me to the brink with his tongue and fingers. Never before had I been so confident in bed, so bold with my statements. Julian always made me feel like the sexiest woman alive. Somehow, he wanted me just as much as I wanted him, and I reveled in it. For our non-date-dates, I was always careful that we chose ces away from work with low odds of bumping into anyone we knew. Julian rolled his eyes when I led him to lunch one day, blocks and blocks away from the office. ¡°Is this when you reveal that you¡¯re a serial killer?¡± He teased, turning my own words back at me. ¡°Luring me back to a shady studio and I¡¯m never to be heard from again?¡± Chapter 50 ¡°Maybe. I¡¯d say myst goodbyes if I were you, Hunt.¡± We made it to the Italian restaurant I¡¯d been looking for, a slightly garish ce with stic vinyl booths and enormous portion sizes. Julianughed at my choice of venue but dly folded himself into the small space and orderedsagna. He didn¡¯t fit in; he never did, really, anywhere. There was just too much life contained in him. People watched him wherever we went-their eyes trailing his movements and gestures. I watched him as we ate, the steadiness of his hands, the breadth of his shoulders, and the unlikely softness behind his eyes when he smiled at me sometimes. How could this man be mine to enjoy? How could he be real? He still felt like a figment of my imagination sometimes, just like the things we did together. Too good to be true. ¡°Ace,¡± Julian said, putting more parmesan on his te. ¡°You¡¯re watching me.¡± ¡°No.¡±He bit his lip to hide a smile. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. I know I¡¯m very handsome.¡± ¡°And very modest.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you like me.¡± I couldn¡¯t help the smile that spread across my face. I really did like him. More than I should-more than a fling with your boss warranted. ¡°Tell me more about your childhood,¡± I said before heaping another spoonful of spaghetti into my mouth. Julian leaned back in the booth. He looked entirely rxed, his smile affectionate. ¡°Are you sure you got enough pasta for lunch, beautiful? I¡¯m not sure it will-¡± I grabbed a napkin from the dispenser and tossed it in his direction. It fluttered uselessly down onto the table between us and he broke out into genuineughter. ¡°Ooh. Scary, Ace.¡± ¡°I asked you a question, you know.¡± ¡°know.¡± His hand settled next to mine on the table and he gently traced the line of my finger. It wasn¡¯t technically against the rules of things we shouldn¡¯t do in public, but judging by the way the butterflies in my stomach sprung to life I knew it wasn¡¯t exactly innocent. ¡°I had a great childhood. My mom was doting, the type who packed me lunch bags every day. She divorced my dad when I was about thirteen, but they continued to have dinner once a week. I think they fell out of love more than anything.¡± ¡°No crazy fights?¡± ¡°None.¡± ¡°How about your dad?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you the curious one today?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t talk a lot about you.¡± ¡°Only because you¡¯re infinitely more interesting.¡± I frowned at him. ¡°That¡¯s decidedly not true, Mr. Fortune 500. There are tons of things I want to know.¡± ¡°Like what? What time I get up in the morning? If I stretch before or after a workout? What the secret to sess is? The pin code to my credit card?¡± Julian¡¯s tone was teasing, but the questions were eerily familiar to many of the ones I¡¯ve read in interviews with him. No doubt the world was determined to figure out what his secret was. Hard work, I could have told them all, having seen how hard he pushed himself. How his eyes lit up when he spoke about technology¡¯s ability to push boundaries and create a better world. ¡°No,¡± I said softly. ¡°Did you practice an instrument when you were a kid? Did you grow up with pets? What movies make you cry? What¡¯s your favorite holiday?¡± Julian looked at me for a long while, a crooked smile on his face. It looked more real than any he¡¯d ever given me before. Mentally, I added this version of him to my roster, to the version of him I get when we¡¯re alone. It¡¯s the version I like the very best.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°You¡¯re a rare jewel, you know that?¡± I felt a blush creep up and looked back down at my pasta. ¡°And you¡¯re avoiding the question. Again.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Alright then, whip-cracker. My dad wasn¡¯t at home a lot, but we had a great rtionship and he was very supportive of my interest in programming. He passed a couple of years back. Ryan took it harder than I did, I think, mainly because he was still so young.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± His finger traced mine again. ¡°I yed the flute as a child.¡± ¡°The flute?¡± ¡°Yes. Horrible instrument. I was never any good, just red in the face from all the blowing.¡± He held up a finger at me, staving off my smile. ¡°Don¡¯t say it. I heard how that sounded as I was saying it.¡± I bit my tongue. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°We had a dog named Nancy, a German Shepherd. I don¡¯t generally cry at movies, but-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re afraid of showing vulnerability.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± I shook my head sadly. ¡°I thought you were more secure in your masculinity than that, Julian.¡± ¡°Ace, I¡¯ve-¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m disappointed.¡± Heughed. ¡°You¡¯re impossible. Yes. I have gotten teary-eyed at movies, but I can¡¯t remember when Ist did. But I¡¯ll have you know that I did, in fact, get a bit misty-eyed when I saw The Notebook.¡± The pride he took in this little revtion made meugh. ¡°Okay, you¡¯re just making this up!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not! Why is that so hard to believe?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a bit clich¨¦.¡± ¡°Are you seriously telling me you can watch that movie with a dry eye?¡± I gave a sheepish shrug. ¡°I might.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re the one giving me a hard time? I¡¯m thinking you might be a psychopath now. I should call for help. Where¡¯s the waiter?¡± Chapter 51 I kicked at his leg under the table. ¡°I¡¯m not sure why that movie didn¡¯t get me. But I definitely cry to others.¡± ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°The Lion King. ck Beauty.¡± ¡°So basically anything that¡¯s animated and acted out with animals. I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s much better.¡± ¡°I guess,¡± I grinned. ¡°But I did cry at Titanic and there¡¯s not an animal in sight!¡± He snorted. ¡°That movie just made me mad. So much mismanagement, from start to finish. The captain was an idiot. Also, that door was absolutely big enough to fit both of them.¡± ¡°I know! Why do you think I was crying?¡± Julian grinned at me, his eyes soft again in the way that made my stomach tighten. Dangerous, dangerous ground. I knew I should be guarding my heart but he made it more difficult with each passing day. ¡°My favorite holiday was when my dad and I went camping.¡± ¡°Camping?¡± ¡°Yes. Why do you look so surprised?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure¡­ you just don¡¯t strike me as the camping type.¡± Heughed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I should be offended or ttered by that.¡± ¡°Um¡­ ttered? I¡¯ve never gone camping.¡± He put his fork down. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡± ¡°My family never did the whole outdoorsy thing. My parents were dentists!¡± ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m going to take you camping one day.¡± The idea felt absurd. ¡°Really? You¡¯re going to take me camping?¡± ¡°I have to introduce you to nature, clearly.¡± He nced down at his smartwatch. ¡°We¡¯re meeting with the outside consultant in twenty minutes. Let¡¯s pay and head back.¡± We settled the bill and headed back out into the dry summer air. My dress was work-appropriate, with a three-quarter-sleeve and ending just above my knees, but it was considerably cooler than Julian¡¯s grey suit. But if he was too hot, he sure didn¡¯tin. As we turned the corner to the office, he leaned down to whisper in my ear. I¡¯d grown very familiar with the scent of his aftershave by now, but it still managed to leave me a bit breathless. ¡°What would you do if I put my arm around you right now?¡± I nced around, made sure no one saw, and then gave him a sugary sweet smile. ¡°I¡¯d key your Porsche the next time we go somewhere.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Julian¡¯sughter made my stomach tighten even more. The meeting we were heading to was with an outside hire, a consultant hired to bring new ideas to the table-the decision that had been so controversial in the press team. Rachel had found the graphic designer, and in her ssic Rachel way, she hadn¡¯t informed me or the others about who he was. But he¡¯s great, she¡¯d hurried to add. Ster track record. Julian would supervise the meeting-partly because he was interested in the creation of the new logo-and partly, he¡¯d told me, because he wanted to be in as many work meetings with me as possible. I love watching you when you have to act all professional with me, he¡¯d told me a few days earlier¡­ right before he had tugged my panties down with his teeth. Julian pressed the button for the eleventh floor and took my hand in his as the doors to the elevator closed. ¡°This ought to be interesting.¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be absolute chaos.¡± I reached up and pressed a kiss to the sharp line of his jaw. ¡°I have no doubt you¡¯ll enjoy every moment.¡± Julian¡¯s smile was sly as he tugged me closer. ¡°You know me so well already.¡± The elevator gave a loud, cheery sound and slid to a stop. I took a step away from him. ¡°Oh, so cuddling with your boss in the elevator is considered too intimate?¡± He frowned. ¡°I¡¯ll have to make some changes.¡± I couldn¡¯t help grinning. ¡°Just behave, Hunt.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Julian followed me through the wide corridor towards the meeting room. Animated discussion drifted towards us, with raised voices and awkwardughs. Five heads turned and I instantly regretted that we hadn¡¯t staggered our arrivals. This might seem suspicious. But they all just smiled. Rachel put a hand on the shoulder of a fair-haired man. A very, very familiar man. Recognition flooded through me, along with acute shame. ¡°Mr. Davis, it¡¯s my pleasure to introduce you to Julian Hunt.¡± But Mr. Davis only looked at me, a smile growing on his face. No, no, no. This couldn¡¯t be happening, and not here of all ces.¡±Emily?¡± ¡°Ben,¡± I said weakly. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time.¡± He rose gracefully and rounded the table. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you now worked at Hunt Industries.¡± ¡°I do, yes.¡± I extended a hand-act professional, Ben-but he gave me a hug. I patted him awkwardly on the back once and shot a sideways nce at Julian. He was staring at the back of Ben¡¯s head, disapproval written on every line of his body. I extricated myself. ¡°Ben, this is Julian Hunt. He is the founder and CEO of Hunt Industries and will join us today.¡± Ben extended a hand. ¡°Mr. Hunt, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡± Julian raised an eyebrow and shook Ben¡¯s hand with slow, heavy strokes. ¡°Likewise, I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°Have you had Em working for you long?¡± I couldn¡¯t help it-I physically cringed. Ben was digging his own grave deeper with every passing moment and doing his very best to pull me down with him. Not to mention the fact that six people in this room were listening to every word spoken, and with every word, the situation became more and more unprofessional. ¡°Ms. Giordano has been working as a press secretary at thispany for nearly two months now.¡± Julian¡¯s voice was ice. ¡°She is excellent at her job.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure she is. ¡± I cleared my throat. ¡°Shall we have a seat, gentlemen?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s.¡± Julian pulled out a chair for me-something he had never done before-and while he didn¡¯t touch me, I imagined I could feel the proprietary hand he wanted to put around my waist all the same. I took a seat next to Rachel and opened my work tablet. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Chapter 52 Everyone ignored me. Trent leaned forward. ¡°Have you two worked together before?¡± Ben nodded. ¡°Yes. I asionally did work for Pet and Co, where Emily was the main point of liaison. So we¡¯ve coborated on graphic design work in the past and have established good lines ofmunication.¡± ¡°That¡¯s terrific to hear,¡± Rachel said. ¡°That means we have some familiarity going forward. I¡¯m sure Emily can vouch for your work?¡± I gave a nod. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s an excellent graphic designer.¡± Ben pulled out a folder. ¡°I¡¯ve started brainstorming a few ideas since west spok, but how about you first walk me through your product n again?¡± Julian was mostly quiet throughout the meeting. It was a silence I was used to-I¡¯d seen him adopt the same stance in panels and interviews. Not a ripple of emotion showed on his face, and for all intents and purposes, he looked like the consummate professional. The broad-shouldered tech mogul, the legend. I knew he would ask me about Ben¡¯s familiarityter. And the worst part was¡­ I¡¯d have to answer. It was Mr. Davis-Ben-who suggested that the team should go out for dinner that evening to continue discussing theunch. It was a bit forward, yes, but not unheard of. With anyone else, I wouldn¡¯t have batted an eye. But he¡¯d asked it with a slick smile aimed towards Emily, and with far too much meaning in his eyes. Josef epted immediately, but to my surprise, so had Rachel. When Emily gave a shallow nod as well¡­ my decision was made. ¡°I¡¯ll have my assistant give Rent a call and set up a table for us,¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯ll be on Hunt.¡± Ben¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°That would be an honor, Mr. Hunt. I appreciate you taking the time.¡± ¡°Thisunch is important to me. Someone will text you the details.¡± ¡°Alright. That sounds good.¡± Trent cleared his throat, throwing me a look. ¡°I think we¡¯re done here for now, then.¡± I could feel the eyes of my employees-they were as surprised by this as Ben. Few were the times I met outside hires, not to mention apany them out like this. I didn¡¯t technically have the time, but I would postpone my evening meeting. Emily¡¯s gaze was the heaviest. Ben caught her after the meeting, and thest thing I heard was his eager voice before the door shut. I wanted to save her from that. Barge in and dere that I had need of her for some meeting o r another. But I knew she didn¡¯t want my protectiveness, didn¡¯t want me to im her in public. Wouldn¡¯t let me call her mine. An unwee but loud part of me feared it was because of who I was. That she didn¡¯t see a future with someone like me, with someone who had to fly on business trips nearly every week and whose name was mentioned in newspapers. Being with me-actually being mine-woulde with strings. It wasn¡¯t something I had dwelled on for a long time. Most women I had dated in the past had been thrilled with the prospect and had practiced poses in the mirror for their close-ups. It wasn¡¯t very attractive behavior. On one asion, a woman had mentioned, just out of the blue, that she admired how a famous billionaire¡¯s wife was handling her husband¡¯s fortune and phnthropy foundation. She¡¯s a role model of mine, the woman had said and looked down at her sd with calcted demureness. I¡¯d asked for the check then and there. These women had been so pervasive, that it hadn¡¯t been until Emily that I¡¯d really reflected on the fact that some women might not want that life. Instead that they might actually distance themselves from me because of it. And Emily hadn¡¯t given me much indication that she found me interesting beyond the merely physical. Hell, I had to fight to keep the weekly dinners on the books because they were the few times we met fully clothed-when I could talk to her and take care of her and try to make her fall for me. But there were things men like Ben could give her that I couldn¡¯t, in terms of normalcy. And God knew Emily could get someone else in a heartbeat if she chose to-the woman was aplete stunner. A swish of that dark curtain of hair, a slow wink of her green eyes¡­ She could have her pick of the litter. I just had to continue making her want to pick me. Rent was one of the trendiest restaurants in the city. It served over-priced food on over-sized tes, with far too little in each dish. But judging by Ben¡¯s appreciative smile when we entered, he enjoyed being courted to fancy ces. ¡°I¡¯ll be with you in a moment, Mr. Hunt,¡± a smartly dressed young man said as he darted out from the hostess stand. I undid the top button of my shirt and wished I was anywhere else than here. My house, for example, with takeaway pizza and Emily¡¯s legs in myp, herughter in my ears. At the moment, she stood next to Ben as they chatted. She¡¯d slipped into a ck sheath dress that hugged every aspect of her figure. Her hair hung shiny down her back, reminding me of how it looked across my pillows and how it felt wound through my fingers or looked spread as a curtain around her when she rode me. Focus, Julian. Ben gave her a wide, toothy grin and reached over to put his hand on her bare shoulder. Basically sexual harassment, if I had anything to say about it. But judging from Emily¡¯s animated gestures and responses, she didn¡¯t feel harassed at all. Rachel bumped her elbow into mine. ¡°You¡¯re acting weird.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s say for argument¡¯s sake that you¡¯re not. Since when do you join us for dinners with random contractors? Your time is valuable.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like I said: this productunch is important to me. I want to ensure it goes well.¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Rachel and I went way back, but she was starting to get on my nerves. ¡°Honestly, Rachel, you¡¯re reading too much into this.¡± ¡°Am I? Or maybe I¡¯ve just been working for you for the past six years.¡± She shrugged. ¡°I just want to see you-¡± She was interrupted by the waiter. ¡°This way! Your table is in the back.¡± We followed him through the dimly lit restaurant. Emily sidled up to me and the familiar scent of her perfume hit me. God, I wanted her. ¡°Julian?¡± ¡°Ace.¡± ¡°I feel like I should tell you something.¡± ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡±Her eyes flicked to where our party was weaving through the tables before she found my eyes again. There was concern there, and that more than anything made my stomach tighten with anticipation. ¡°Ben and I had a one-night-stand once. It never meant anything, not for me.¡± My jaw clenched, it was automatic. Fuck. The smarmy bastard. ¡°I see.¡± Her hand curled around my arm, but her voice was decisive. ¡°Julian, it was a long time ago. I just wanted you to know.¡± ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Chapter 53 ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± ¡°Yes. Thanks for telling me, Ace.¡± She gave me a small smile, one of intimacy and hope, and it made my jealousy melt a bit. God, but she was beautiful. So entirely good. It took all the effort I had to not grasp her hand in that moment-I had never wanted anything more. To make sure that everyone knew we were together. Instead, I nodded towards the table. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go get this dinner over with.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s.¡± My jaw clenched when I saw that Ben had saved a space for her. His smile was still too slick, too sure of himself. Not for a moment could I see what Emily had once seen in him, but then again, I was decidedly biased against him. ¡°Did we lose you guys?¡± ¡°We had something to discuss.¡± I took a seat on Emily¡¯s left. ¡°Have you had a chance to look at the menu?¡± Rachel and Josef had, and made their choices very clear. Ben was a vocal participant, but neither Emily nor I spoke. She was engrossed by the menu like the foodie she was, her teeth worrying her lower lip. I had to stop myself from smiling at her obvious internal debate. ¡°What would you rmend?¡± She shot me a warm, sideways nce. ¡°Get the ceviche. You¡¯ll enjoy it.¡± I closed my menu. ¡°Done.¡± But that was the full extent of our one-on-one conversation at the table that night. It turned out-unsurprisingly, to me-that Ben was quite the talker. He managed to charm both Rachel and Josef with his stories from university and press anecdotes. I was silent, watching him as he entertained. ¡°Have you heard of Jax?¡± ¡°No,¡± Rachel said. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a revolutionary new hair product. A mixture of hair-gel and hair-wax. The idea is that it willpletely eliminate the need for either by being one,bined product. I¡¯m working on that too, at the moment. It has huge investor capital behind it.¡± I had to drink some of my wine to keep fromughing out loud. Emily cleared her throat, her voice measured. ¡°I didn¡¯t know there was a difference between gel and wax?¡± ¡°Oh, but there is!¡± Benunched into a nearly ten-minute discussion, during which I saw Emily¡¯s mouth twitch several times. She was struggling not tough and it instantly made me feel a hundred times better. I had already decided that he was a fool, but I liked that she thought so too. The only part I hated was when he slung an arm carelessly around the back of her chair. ¡°You should have seen this girl back at Pet and Co,¡± he told all of us, voice conspiratorial. ¡°She was a star.¡± Rachel nodded over her wine. ¡°I can imagine. She¡¯s been an asset to us at Hunt.¡± ¡°She single-handedly ran thatpany¡¯s entire promotional team. Did she tell you about their terrible management? Have you, Emily?¡± She shot him an irritated nce. ¡°I don¡¯t really like talking about my previous employers like that. I learned a lot at Pet and Co.¡± ¡°Of course, of course you did,¡± Ben backtracked. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to-¡± I cut him off. ¡°Emily is a highly valued employee here at Hunt. Her ideas for several of our uing productunches have been nothing short of impressive. I think I speak for all of us when I say we don¡¯t doubt she was just as effective in her previous jobs.¡± Ben nodded at me. ¡°Right you are, Julian. Well-said.¡± I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes. The only thing that made it better was a familiar hand, hidden under the table, squeezing my knee in thanks. I knew Emily shared my irritation. Dinner didn¡¯tst much longer after that. We all turned down dessert, and while Josef and Ben wanted to grab another drink, the rest of us made it clear that it was time to call it. ¡°A smoke to cap off the night?¡± ¡°I¡¯lle with you,¡± Josef said, and the two of them went out for a cigarette. Rachel excused herself, too. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back. Ladies room.¡± Emily and I watched her retreat. ¡°And then there were two¡­¡± she murmured. I sighed and reached for the bill, pulling out the corporate card. ¡°So this was an interesting evening.¡± ¡°You¡¯re jealous.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±Emily¡¯s lips quirked into a smile. ¡°Yes, you are.¡± I frowned and looked out across the restaurant, but she refused to give up. ¡°Admit it, Julian!¡± ¡°Fine,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m jealous. It¡¯s not a good look, I know.¡± Emily bit her lip and lowered her dark, thickshes. ¡°Actually, I kind of like you like this.¡± I let my hand inch closer to hers on the table. ¡°Do I have anything to be jealous of?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. He is kind of considered a catch in the media world. Plus, he has a great new idea for hair wax. Sorry, Jax.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ever repeat that idea to me, thank you.¡± Her smile was wide. ¡°But Julian, it¡¯s two products in one! Clearly you recognize a great business opportunity when you see one.¡± ¡°Let me get my checkbook,¡± I said dryly.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Emily nced around, and then her fingers touched mine. ¡°He¡¯s a fool, and I only want you. I¡¯m sorry you had to go through this.¡± Her green eyes were flicked with concern, and I wanted so much to kiss her. Instead, I covered her hand with mine entirely. ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful, Ace. Inside and out.¡± She nced down at our hands. ¡°You can¡¯t say things like that.¡± ¡°Why not? It¡¯s the truth. And I¡¯m sorry for being jealous.¡± Chapter 54 ¡°Don¡¯t be. I think-. Oh.¡± Emily pulled her hand out of mine as Rachel returned. ¡°Is everything settled here?¡± ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s head out.¡± Rachel raised an eyebrow. ¡°So, he¡¯s a bit of a handful, isn¡¯t he? But I think he¡¯s fun.¡± ¡°Just make sure he does what we¡¯re paying him to do.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will. I¡¯ll go grab our coats and tell the guys it¡¯s time to go.¡± As soon as the door closed behind her, I caught Emily around the waist. She twisted in my grasp. ¡°Julian!¡± ¡°They¡¯re gone,¡± I murmured against her cheek. ¡°I couldn¡¯t resist.¡± Emily nced at the door, but it stayed resolutely shut. ¡°Someone mighte back.¡± ¡°Let them.¡± She let out a breathless chuckle and twisted again, but this time to bring us closer together. Heat swept across my body as her perfect breasts were suddenly pressed against my chest. She smelled like floral perfume and sweetness and I wanted her. ¡°Come over to mine tonight. Spend the night.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a weeknight,¡± she said weakly. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Tomorrow night then. It¡¯s a Friday. I¡¯ll cook, we¡¯ll watch a movie¡­ and I¡¯ll eat you for dessert.¡± Her mouth went round with surprise and I grinned at her expression. I bent and pressed my lips to the soft skin below her ear, where her pulse fluttered erratically. I had quickly realized that it made her knees weak-and I exploited it anyway I could. ¡°Give me more of your time. Trust me, Ace.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± she breathed. ¡°I¡¯d love to.¡± I pressed a kiss to her lips before releasing her. ¡°I look forward to it.¡± She looked both flushed and disoriented, and I loved that I had that effect on her. That I could make her feel even a fraction of the dizzying effect she had on me. ¡°Um. Yeah,¡± she murmured. ¡°Very eloquent, Ace.¡± She stuck out her tongue at me and Iughed. ¡°Very scary,¡± I taunted and opened the door for her. She shot me a final, heated look before stepping out into the cool night and reuniting us with the others. Julian¡¯s house was very, very impressive. It wasrge but tasteful-an old structure that had been transformed with modern architecture in mind. Large windows, sleek furniture, and books everywhere. Nestled in the green hills above Palo Alto, it was a secluded oasis of amazing views and wide spaces. The type of house I had never once visited before. I teased him and asked if he had decorated it himself. Julian had rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°Well, no,¡± he said finally. ¡°I hired an interior designer when I bought it. It was faster.¡± ¡°But this¡­¡± I stopped at a glossy book detailing the history ofputers, decoratively ced on a coffee table. ¡°Surely you bought this.¡± He hadughed ande up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. ¡°Will you deduct points if I say no?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll say that whatever you paid that designer probably wasn¡¯t enough.¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. He pressed a kiss to my neck and tugged me along towards the kitchen. He patted a kitchen stool for me to jump up on before heading to the kitchen counter. He¡¯d alreadyid out vegetables on a tter, a cutting board and knife ready. There was something so intimate about cooking together, being together like this. Without work clothes on, without people around. Just two people enjoying each other¡¯spany. I grinned at him as I washed the tomatoes-I couldn¡¯t help it, seeing Julian Hunt measuring up pasta¡­ ¡°What?¡±¡±Nothing. Just that you look hot, doing that.¡± He shook his head with a groan. ¡°I can¡¯t tell if you¡¯re mocking me or not, but it¡¯s working.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not, I swear.¡± ¡°Tell me you can stay the night.¡± He put the pot down on the stove, heading towards me. I knew exactly how he¡¯d try to convince me. ¡°I want you in my bed.¡± I looked down at my tomatoes and pretended to hesitate. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not sure if I can¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re allowed to have your own life.¡± He wrapped his strong arms around me, and pressed hot lips against my neck. ¡°Your brother is grown.¡± I put my own hand over his. ¡°Oh, okay then.¡± ¡°Really?¡±¡±I might have already told him I¡¯d be at Denise¡¯s tonight.¡± Julian¡¯s kiss nearly knocked me off my feet. We¡¯d spent time in hotels rooms, in restaurants around the city, half-hidden in his car. But spending time in his house-in his bed-that evening felt more intimate than anything we¡¯d done before. ¡°Ace, it¡¯s Saturday,¡± Julian argued, flipping off the covers. ¡°We can stay in bed for as long as we want.¡± Iughed and tugged at his arm, still wrapped around me. ¡°But we already have. Julian, you can¡¯t possibly go again without food. I know I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve already eaten.¡± He grinned and rolled over, pressing kisses to my naked shoulder. My body was still in bliss from the two orgasms he¡¯d already given me. I¡¯d been afraid of not living up to his expectations, but Julian seemed insatiable. And so was I. One look at those eyes, at the deep V on his stomach¡­ yeah, he made me into a sex-crazed teenager again. Actually, scratch again. This was the first time I¡¯d ever been this head-over-heels infatuated. His kisses traveled up my corbone. ¡°I can¡¯t help it. I¡¯ve never been with anyone like you.¡± Iughed and tugged at his hair, the rough strands sliding through my fingers. ¡°What does that mean?¡± He lifted himself up on an elbow. ¡°That it¡¯s never been this good with anyone else. That even when I¡¯ve just had you, I want you again.¡± My face must have registered the surprise I felt because Julian grinned and ducked his head. ¡°Tell me how it is for you,¡± he murmured against my skin. I continued to run my fingers through his hair. ¡°I¡¯ve never been with anyone like you either. And sex with you is definitely the best I¡¯ve ever had.¡± Chapter 55 His answering grin was filled with pure, masculine pride, all vulnerability suddenly wiped away. ¡°I knew it!¡± ¡°But that¡¯s hardly surprising. I have more limited experience than you do.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that much older. I¡¯m not exactly looking to retire anytime soon, Ace.¡± ¡°Yeah, but-¡± I stopped. I didn¡¯t know exactly how much I wanted to reveal, but Julian picked up on my hesitation withser-focus. He lifted himself off mepletely. ¡°But¡­?¡± I threw an arm over my face, shielding my eyes from the morning light, and confessed. ¡°Itmighthavebeenawhilebeforeyou.¡± ¡°What? Ace, talk to me.¡± I sighed. ¡°It might have been a while before you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± He tugged at my arm, prying it away from my face. ¡°How long?¡± ¡°Two years.¡± He looked floored. ¡°I thought you said you had one-night-stands, back when we yed that drinking game. I thought Ben was one?¡± ¡°I took one sip of the drink, because I¡¯ve had a one-night-stand-once. Ben is the only one. And before that I was in a rtionship, remember? I told you about that.¡± Julian pulled me closer. ¡°So I¡¯m the third man you¡¯ve ever slept with?¡± ¡°Yeah, I guess.¡± He made an amused sound. ¡°You guess?¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I know,¡± I corrected and pulled theforter over me. ¡°Gosh, how embarrassing.¡± ¡°Why would it be?¡± He dug me out, tucked me against his body again. ¡°I love that you enjoy sleeping with me-you have no idea how much. And while it wouldn¡¯t matter if there were more men before me, I¡¯m selfishly d you¡¯ve not had more experience.¡± I snorted. ¡°Because I have less topare you with?¡± Julian¡¯s hand smoothed across my stomach, traced the curve of my hip. ¡°Because I don¡¯t like the idea of sharing you, even with your memories. I know. It makes me sound terrible.¡± I thought of the photos I¡¯d seen of him and all the tanned, perfectly plucked women he kept on his arm. Jealousy was a trait I recognized well. He swept my hair away and kissed the nape of my neck. It was a sweet, gentle touch. ¡°The hotel bathroom was a mistake,¡± he said softly. ¡°What?!¡± ¡°You deserved music, roses-the works. Hell, a bed, even. That¡¯s what I had nned, you know, and then you¡­ Well, I should have waited.¡± I flipped him over and pinned him to the bed, straddling him. ¡°No. No. That was exactly what I wanted, remember? Are you telling me that you didn¡¯t enjoy it?¡± Julian sighed, his hands on my hips. ¡°You know I did.¡± ¡°Right. And so did I.¡± I bent and kissed him, pouring all my determination and want into the touch. ¡°I¡¯m not a delicate little thing, and I¡¯m not in over my head. I love being with you. I want to keep being with you. Now, I¡¯m going to go downstairs and make us some coffee, and start preparing breakfast. I¡¯ll make you some too if you promise you won¡¯t mope about?¡± He sighed and smoothed his hands down my naked thighs. ¡°Alright, alright. Let me just take a shower first.¡± ¡°Good.¡± I kissed him onest time and then bounced off the fluffy bed. ¡°And I¡¯m stealing one of your shirts!¡± ¡°Take them all!¡± He called as he headed into the bathroom. I chose one of hisrge button-downs and folded the shirtsleeves the way I¡¯d seen him do so many times. In his wardrobe mirror, I looked flushed and happy, my cheeks glowing with life. My hair was a tousled mess, but I recognized a hopeless cause when I saw one. The shirt covered my butt and a bit of thigh, but other than that my legs were on full disy. Perfect for a bit of teasingter. I whistled as I turned on his espresso machine and dug out eggs from the fridge. Omelets. I had just begun chopping up chives and tomatoes when I heard a key turn in the front door. I froze. What the hell? Julian was still upstairs and I could hear the water running. Calling out would alert whoever was entering. Still carrying the knife, I inched towards the hallway. I should have brought my phone down with me. My heart was a hammer in my chest. I paused when I heard the distinctly masculine sound of someone clearing their throat. ¡°Bro, are you home? Why aren¡¯t you answering your phone?¡± Suddenly I was face to face with the infamous Ryan Hunt. A smaller, far less adult version of Julian-his hair longer and clothes baggier. His eyes widened when he saw what I was wearing and the knife in my hand. ¡°Ah,¡± he said-a whole world epassed in that small word. ¡°So that¡¯s why he¡¯s not answering.¡± For a wild second I thought he was referring to the knife, that I¡¯d done away with Julian, before rational though filtered back in. My heart still pounded. ¡°Um, yeah,¡± I said. ¡°Yes. Sorry. He¡¯s upstairs. Why don¡¯t youe in and wait for him?¡± ¡°Nah, I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll wantpany,¡± Ryan ran a hand through his hair and started heading for the front door again. I remembered Julian¡¯s remarks about his brother and frowned. ¡°No, please stay. I know he¡¯ll be happy to see you. Do you want an omelet?¡± He looked torn, so I decided to really press. ¡°I can make it with whatever you want. Ham, cheese, onions, tomatoes¡­ Just let me know.¡± His resolve broke, and he tugged off his jacket. ¡°Ham and cheese then, thanks.¡± We spoke a little as I finished up a couple of omelets. When asked what he does for a living, I learned that Ryan was doing ¡®a bit of this and that,¡¯ and I didn¡¯t pry. He lived fifteen minutes away and asionally he would go running with Julian in the mornings. ¡°Though we haven¡¯t for a while,¡± he said, and his voice didn¡¯t have that guarded tone I¡¯d heard when he whipped open the door earlier. It had been a tone I recognized from my own younger years-back when you treated the world as if it might bite you every step of the way. Julian appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. His hair wet and dark, but his expression was darker still. Please don¡¯t snap at him, I thought. Ryan straightened. ¡°Hi, Jules.¡± ¡°Hi.¡± Julian stepped over to me and leaned against the fridge. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting you today.¡± ¡°I came over on a whim,¡± Ryan said. I could see his knee bouncing under the center ind. Chapter 56 I decided to save him. ¡°And I insisted that hed stay for some breakfast. You like ham, don¡¯t you, Julian?¡± He turned his gaze to me, eyes on mine before they traveled down my bare legs. ¡°Yes, I do.¡± With a Mary Poppins¡¯ worthy disy of calm domesticity, I ted two omelets and put them on the counter. ¡°Why don¡¯t you guys start? I¡¯ve made coffee as well and there¡¯s orange juice in the fridge. I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡± Ryan mumbled a thank you and grabbed one of the tes. Julian¡¯s hand trailed along my waist as I passed, uncertainty and gratefulness in his gaze. ¡°Thanks,¡± he murmured. I nodded and headed up the staircase. Whatever they needed to talk about, I figured it might be good if they talked alone. So I made sure my showersted forever, scrubbing my scalp andthering myself with his 99 cent body wash. It seemed that men, regardless of how much money they made, never really learned to appreciate the difference. I¡¯d have to get him some fancy stuff one day. Muchter, properly dressed and hair ited, I waited by the staircase, trying to hear what was going on. Was the coast clear? Could I go downstairs? I didn¡¯t know how much time they needed together, but I also didn¡¯t want them to have toe looking for me. Did we lose you up here?N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Voices drifted upwards and I paused on the staircase, feeling like a snoop and also unable to stop myself. ¡°Nah, I dropped him. He wasn¡¯t a good friend, in the end.¡± I heard Julian¡¯s snort. ¡°That¡¯s good. It takes time to figure out who¡¯s in your life for short-term interests and who¡¯s there to stay.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡±¡±I meant to tell you-I got front-seat tickets to the yoffs next week.¡± ¡°You did?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, like old times sake.¡± ¡°I¡¯m down. Just text me the details.¡± ¡°I will. Pass me the juice?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± There was a delicate silence, and I figured it was probably safe toe down, but just as I began to move I froze again. ¡°So. The chick you have upstairs.¡± ¡°Emily.¡±¡±Yeah, Emily. Am I crazy, or do you seem a bit taken with her?¡± Julian was quiet for a moment as I waited with bated breath. ¡°Yes,¡± he said finally. ¡°She actually works at Hunt Industries.¡± Ryanughed. ¡°Dude, I can¡¯t believe you. You¡¯ve got more game than I give you credit for. Your own employees?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that. Don¡¯t be crude.¡± ¡°Hold up, are you two serious? She makes a mean omelet, and she¡¯s gorgeous, so you could do a lot worse. Hey, don¡¯t look at me like that. You know it¡¯s the truth.¡± ¡°It¡¯s early days yet.¡± His voice was clipped. ¡°We¡¯re changing the subject now. You know she mighte down any second, Ryan.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. But it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen you look like that at anyone.¡± I heard Julian¡¯s annoyed exhale. The conversation drifted to sports, and after waiting a little bit longer I wandered downstairs. It turned out that Julian had made an omelet for me with mushrooms. It was piping hot when he put it in front of me. I joined their bantering, talking about nothing in particr. I¡¯d been worried about intruding but it seemed like both of them were happy for my presence, as it made sure no personal issues were mentioned. I was like the adult referee at a primary school ser game. One point to the orange team! It was a shame I hadn¡¯t brought a Tupperware container filled with perfectly sliced orange wedges, too. Ryan stood and shoved his hands in his pockets. ¡°Thanks for breakfast,¡± he told me. ¡°I¡¯ll head out.¡± Julian walked his brother out to the entrance hall. ¡°Alright, man. I¡¯ll text you about the game.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡±¡±Do you need money for gas?¡± Ryan rolled his eyes, but it was good-naturedly. ¡°No, I have enough, thanks though. Emily, it was nice meeting you.¡± ¡°You too.¡±The door closed behind him and the house was silent once more. I jumped up onto the kitchen counter and watched Julian as he quietly walked back into the kitchen. He didn¡¯t say anything, just looked at me for a long time. ¡°It¡¯s okay that I invited him to stay for breakfast, right? You¡¯re not mad?¡± Julian closed the space between us, nudging my knees apart so he could stand between them. Warm arms wrapped around my waist. ¡°No. Why would I be mad?¡± I ran a hand through his still damp hair. ¡°You looked¡­ surprised. Cautious.¡± He sighed and I felt the warm exhale against my neck. ¡°We don¡¯t have the best rtionship, and it¡¯s been strainedtely.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Julian closed his eyes in pleasure as I tugged at the hair at the nape of his neck, my fingers gently digging into tensed muscles. ¡°Never stop doing that.¡± I grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll have to use my hand sometime, you know.¡± His lips curled into that small, crooked smile. ¡°No. I forbid it. Stay here forever.¡± I shifted closer, wrapped my legs around him. ¡°Maybe this should be your next invention. A robotic head-scratcher.¡± Julian snorted. ¡°No. I know the limits of technology, and no one could rece you.¡± I tugged him closer and rested my head against his shoulder, closing my eyes against the sudden swell of emotion inside. He¡¯d told his brother that it was early days yet, and that was technically true, but still¡­ I¡¯d told myself to be wary from the start, to ept this for what it was: a fling. Okay, so it was guaranteed to be the most memorable fling of my life-and definitely the best sex-but something with a clear end in sight. Men like him, who lived in ces like this, and who spoke in front of crowds like that, didn¡¯t end up with me. He smelled like soap and man and clean clothes, and when his hands tightened around my waist I nearly had to swallow my sudden tears of despair. I had grown too attached. I wanted more. I googled pictures of himst week for fun, but all I¡¯d seen where the various models he¡¯d been pictured with in the past, one high-definition photo after another barreling me deeper into despair. Despite my precautions, Julian Hunt had captured my heart. It would inevitably break. ¡°Hey,¡± he murmured. ¡°What happened?¡± Chapter 57 I burrowed my face closer to his neck and reveled in the strength of his body pressed against mine. It had be familiar to me so fast-the hard shapes of his chest, the curve of his biceps, the happiest of happy trails. ¡°Nothing. Just thinking of how I don¡¯t want you to invent a robot to rece me either.¡± Julianughed softly. ¡°Good. I promise I won¡¯t. And hey, you were great with Ryan. Maybe it¡¯s because you have a younger brother too.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± I said. ¡°Or I¡¯m just the troubled-youth-whisperer.¡± ¡°Either way, would you want to meet him again? I have a feeling¡­ maybe you¡¯ll be able to reach him where I can¡¯t. I think you¡¯d be good for him. ¡± Julian shook his head, the movement jostling me. ¡°But maybe it¡¯s a silly idea. You don¡¯t have to-¡± ¡°Of course I want to.¡±¡±You do?¡± ¡°Yes. He¡¯s important to you.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes darkened as they gazed into mine, and then I was lifted up and off the kitchen counter. I wrapped my arms around his neck, clutching at him as he moved. ¡°Where are we going?¡±¡±I had ns to suggest a quiet walk around the area, something cute and date appropriate. But no.¡± Julian carried me into the living room and unceremoniously dropped us down onto his wide couch, not loosening his grip on me. ¡°I think I¡¯ll just keep you captive here instead.¡± I settled against the pillows, looking down at where he rested against my chest. Julian narrowed his eyes at me and demonstratively lifted my hand back up to the nape of his neck. I grinned and continued stroking through his hair. ¡°There are dirty dishes in the sink,¡± I murmured, teasing. ¡°Great big coffee books about tech history to read.¡± He didn¡¯t even bother opening his eyes. ¡°Fuck the dishes. Fuck the books.¡± ¡°You¡¯re insatiable.¡± Julian sighed in pleasure as I continued to stroke his hair. Dark, longshes against high cheekbones. The straight, strong nose, lightly dusted with a tan. His hair was thick and dark, and somehow naturally fell in an elegant wave. His strong body was a warm and pleasant weight on top of me. I never wanted to move from this spot. I continued to watch him and run my fingers through his hair, thinking that these were the moments I¡¯d treasure when everything inevitably went south. The invitation was glossy to the touch, the name printed in bold capital letters. Innovation Awards. The event was massive. I¡¯d attended it for thest four years, but this time was different. I was one of the nominees in the category: Greatest Outreach and Social Awareness Program. It was all because of the health app, as well as the new solutions to the hospital interface systems we¡¯d developed. The dating apps, the games-all of that was minor league shit. What I wanted to do was to find creative, tech-based solutions to real-life problems. And the industry had decided to honor that. From the moment I¡¯d received the email about the nomination, I¡¯d entertained the idea that I might win. How could I not? I¡¯d beenpetitive since birth, and it wasn¡¯t impossible. Hunt Industries was one of the fastest growing yers in the business. And if I was lucky enough to win, there was only one person I wanted with me there. Emily. But that would meaning out as a couple. It meant that everyone in thepany would know. It meant change. While I was more than willing to say fuck you to anyone who had anything negative to say, I¡¯d learned the hard way that she would have toe to me. But things seemed to be going my way. She¡¯d won Ryan over the past weekend, big time. He¡¯d actually asked meter if he could ask her some questions about press and social media marketing, and I¡¯d struggled to hide my surprise. Emily had very quickly be the most important thing in my life. I wasn¡¯t quite sure how to show her that yet, or how to hint at it without having her freak out. When Ryan had started talking about my feelings towards her, with her just upstairs, my heart had been beating fast with nerves. If she hade down and heard that-heard him saying just how in love I looked? I feared that she might have bolted. Slow and steady, Julian¡­ As if I¡¯d summoned her with my thoughts, Emily appeared at the threshold of my home office. Her hair fell in thick waves around her smiling face, her sundress clinging to her body. She was just as beautiful as she had been when I first saw her, in that dark club-but when she smiled at me? It took my breath away. ¡°I¡¯ll order some food before I have to head out. What do you want?¡± ¡°Pizza.¡± ¡°Again? Can¡¯t we do sushi?¡± I grinned. It had be a habit of ours-she¡¯de over, we¡¯d sleep together, and eat takeout before she left-despite my attempts to get her to stay over again. ¡°Get whatever you want, Ace. We can order from two ces.¡± ¡°That¡¯s such a waste.¡± She frowned down at her phone. ¡°We¡¯d have to pay two delivery fees.¡± Iughed and rose, crossing the room to grab her around the waist. I hoisted her up easily. ¡°Julian!¡± ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous.¡± I carried her down the hallway. ¡°Get whatever you want. It¡¯s my app and ount, anyway.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Emily¡¯sughter was soft and sweet in my ear. ¡°You really know how to be romantic.¡± I gathered her closer and sank down onto therge couch in my living room. ¡°I can be romantic.¡± ¡°Mhm, sure.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who won¡¯t let me, you know.¡± Emily bit her lip and watched me with amusement. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yeah. Not being seen in public, no dinners with candlelight, no flowers¡­¡± I trailed off and pressed kisses to her soft skin. ¡°What¡¯s a man to do with those restrictions? The only thing I have to offer is a wide selection of takeout options.¡± Emily chuckled and rolled her hips against me. I couldn¡¯t help groaning at the sensation as she ground right across the growing hardness in my pants. ¡°How about we skip takeout,¡± she murmured, ¡°and go straight to dessert?¡± ¡°You¡¯re very persuasive.¡± I felt her smile against my lips before she kissed me. There was something about her touches that always managed topletely undo me. She was sexy as hell, don¡¯t get me wrong, and she knew how to please a man. But she also touched me with tenderness and just a hint of nervousness. As if this meant more to her than her words let on. As if I meant more to her than her words let on. So I tugged her closer and kissed her back, willing my own kisses to tell her all the things I longed to do. To coax her into epting this thing between us-into epting to be more. I was deep into my work, phone momentarily forgotten, and obsessing over a new printyout. We¡¯d settled on a logo but there were still things to be decided with the slogans, the color schemes, and more importantly-the new website overhaul. The door to my office was slightly open, a habit I had yet to shake. I nced up only to see Julian slip inside with a devilish grin. He gently shut the door behind him, a cup of coffee in his hand. Chapter 58 ¡°No knocking, Hunt?¡± He was dressed in a navy suit that off-set his green eyes and his hair was in perfect order-making me long to muss it up. ¡°I think we¡¯re beyond knocking.¡± ¡°Did anyone see you?¡± ¡°No. I snuck through my own building, hiding behind filing cabs and servers, all to make it here unseen.¡± ¡°My very own spy.¡± He turned sideways, a serious expression on his face as he cocked an imaginary gun. ¡°Hunt. Julian Hunt.¡± I rose from my seat. ¡°Dork.¡± ¡°What can I say? Once a nerd, always a nerd.¡± I gave him a very clear once-over. There was absolutely nothing about his tall, strong frame and masculine jaw that said nerd. He looked like he regrly ran on the beach and spent the mornings before work hiking. It didn¡¯t hurt that I knew he had the abs of an underwear model, toned to perfection. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that,¡± he said darkly. ¡°I only have a certain amount of self-restraint, and you¡¯re testing it right now.¡± ¡°Stop looking that handsome and maybe I¡¯ll stop.¡± ¡°Ah, but then you¡¯d leave me,¡± he dered and put a hand over his heart. ¡°And I wouldn¡¯t be able to take that.¡± Iughed and hoped he didn¡¯t notice the blush that spread on my cheeks. As if I would ever leave him. ¡°Are you free tomorrow afternoon? I have two hours before yoga with Denise. I could swing by yours¡­¡± Julian gave a huskyugh and put both hands on my waist, pulled me closer. ¡°A two-hour flyby? Why, Ace, it¡¯ll be difficult, but I think I¡¯ll be able to finish in that time.¡± I ran my hands up his powerful chest. ¡°More like twenty minutes,¡± I teased. ¡°Thirty,¡± he breathed. ¡°Times two.¡± He leaned in closer and gently nipped at my lower lip, his fingers digging into my skin. I groaned against his mouth. It had been three days since we¡¯dst touched like this. ¡°We can¡¯t. Not in the office.¡± Julian didn¡¯t loosen his grip, just moved to kiss along my jaw. When his mouth touched the sensitive spot on my neck, my knees actually went a bit weak. I swallowed. ¡°Julian.¡± ¡°Mmm?¡± I pulled at his shoulders. ¡°No one in the office can know.¡± He kissed the top of my corbone before leaning back with a resigned expression. ¡°As much as I enjoy sneaking about, how much longer until we can tell the others?¡± I blinked at him in disbelief before I burst outughing. ¡°Julian, never. Just imagine how awkward it¡¯ll be!¡± ¡°Why? The others will get over it. If you¡¯re concerned about HR, I¡¯ll make sure to talk to them first. Your job will never be in jeopardy because of this.¡± ¡°Thanks, but Julian¡­e on. Imagine how it¡¯ll be when we¡¯re no longer doing this.¡± I gave his wide shoulders a little squeeze for emphasis. ¡°It¡¯ll likely be weird enough between the two of us, not to mention if the others knew!¡± Julian¡¯s eyes went wide wide, frozen-I couldn¡¯t read the emotion in them. It was as if a wall had suddenly mmed up between us. I rose on my tip-toes and rubbed my nose yfully against his. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be adults about the whole situation. I¡¯m not concerned.¡± His hands tightened slightly around my waist before he let me go entirely. ¡°Good. I guess I¡¯m not concerned either, then.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°Great,¡± I said, a bit confused. ¡°So¡­ we won¡¯t tell them. Agreed?¡± ¡°Yes, agreed.¡± He kissed me on the forehead once before he headed towards my office door, shoulders squared. ¡°I¡¯ll see youter, Emily.¡± ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll be at the four o¡¯clock staff meeting.¡± He nodded once and slipped out my office, the same way he¡¯de in, not bothering to nce back. I sank into my office chair with a sigh. The conversation refused to leave me, try as I might to push it away. Was this when he began tiring of me? When I refused to unt our whatever-we-are in front of our coworkers? I should be allowed to do that. Hell, I had a lot more to lose than him. The CEO and founder of Hunt Industries wouldn¡¯t be called into the HR office, wouldn¡¯t be given sly looks in the hallways by people wondering if every sess I had came from my prowess in the bedroom. He wouldn¡¯t have to endure the snickers of coworkers or see the potential loss of respect in their eyes. I¡¯d heard Rachel and Josef that night when they joked about Julian¡¯s dates-I¡¯d heard them loud and clear. I wanted to earn my promotions and earn the respect of my peers. This job meant the world to me. I hoped I could make him see that. The next day, Rachel burst into my office, Sasha and Josef in tow. ¡°Guess what? ¡°What?¡±¡±We just closed some of the final details on the uing pitches on the package softwareunch. That deserves some celebration.¡± I couldn¡¯t help grinning. ¡°You¡¯re always in the mood for celebration.¡± ¡°Factual,¡± Josef nodded. ¡°We¡¯re heading to the pool pub after work to grab a celebratory beer before we all head home,¡± Rachel said. ¡°Come with us?¡± I nced down at the mountain of paperwork before me. ¡°Well, I¡¯d love-¡± ¡°Pleaaaaaase,¡± Sasha pouted. ¡°Work hard, y hard, you know. That¡¯s practically the unofficial motto of Hunt.¡± Iughed and looked back up at them. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there!¡± For the remainder of the day, my phone refused to stop staring at me. It might have been lying inconspicuously me on the desk, the screen ck, but I knew it was basically daring me. Use me, it beckoned. You know you want to. What could I say in my defense? I was weak. Despite not having heard from Julian since we spoke yesterday, I texted him about the drinks. We¡¯d have to act professional around our colleagues, but I wanted to see him, especially after the odd conversation. I had now seen up close just how much he worked. Days, evenings, weekends¡­ an hour or two of fun with his employees might be good for him. And I wanted to be around him, even if it was only as friends and co-workers. Chapter 59 Julian didn¡¯t respond. Not as the hours passed, not as I met up with the others and we headed to the bar. Trent nabbed us the same high table asst time. The others ordered a round of beer and began dissecting the sessful productunch as I tried to surreptitiously check my phone every five minutes. Nothing. Complete and utter radio silence. Sasha slid into the seat next to me. ¡°Okay, you need to put that away. No more working. Do you think I haven¡¯t seen you across the table?¡± I dropped my phone back into my bag, probably looking as guilty as I felt. ¡°You¡¯re right. Live in the moment, and all that.¡± ¡°Exactly. People go on these digital cleanses and stuff, which I¡¯m sure we all need. Not that anyone in this town would be able to listen, though.¡± Rachel leaned in. ¡°Sasha, are you telling Emily of our n?¡± ¡°No, I hadn¡¯t gotten to that part yet. Let a woman work, jeez.¡± Rachelughed, but I made a show of looking between them with mock terror. ¡°Oh no. Is this the part where you tell me I¡¯ve worked at Hunt long enough to be initiated? Is it all actually a facade for some weird doomsday cult?¡± Sasha nodded. ¡°Yes, tonight we¡¯re sacrificingmbs under the full moon.¡± I shivered. ¡°I knew this job paid too much. There really is no such thing as a free lunch.¡± Rachelughed. ¡°Weirdos. No, we have a different n-a good n. You¡¯re single, right?¡± Oh. Damn. If I said no, they¡¯d ask who I was dating. Lying wasn¡¯t my strong suit. Hoping they would drop it if I said yes, I gave an Oscar-worthy shrug. ¡°I¡¯m not really dating anyone at the moment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s terrific!¡± Sasha grinned. ¡°Here, give me your phone.¡± ¡°Not until you tell me why.¡± Rachel leaned back with a winning smile. ¡°Oh, only because Hunt has invested in a dating app that recently hit the market, and we¡¯re about to create a profile for you.¡± I groaned. ¡°This is a terrible idea. I¡¯m not going to meet anyone through this.¡± Sasha stopped me with an earnest gaze. ¡°If you honestly don¡¯t want us to, we won¡¯t. But you can¡¯t tell me it won¡¯t be just a little bit of fun. Let¡¯s swipe a little, make a game out of it.¡± I bit my lip, but my inner people-pleaser won. ¡°Okay, fine.¡± There was no chance in hell that I was going on a date, but I¡¯d had enough fun ying around on Denise¡¯s ounts not to know the potential for amusement. And technically, it was research-it was a Hunt app. One beer and manyughster, the guys had sidled off to y dart. I was deep into my second one and ncing at my watch when I heard Rachel¡¯s loud exmation. ¡°Bossman! Didn¡¯t know you wereing.¡± Julian approached us. My stomach clenched, like it always did when I saw him. He had a beer in hand, still in a suit but without a tie. He didn¡¯t look at me. Why hadn¡¯t he texted me back to tell me he wasing? ¡°Come join us,¡± Sasha said. ¡°We¡¯re ying a game.¡± I slid deeper into the booth to give him space. He took a seat without so much as looking my way, but the scent of his aftershave hit me like a physical weight. I nced at our co-workers, who didn¡¯t seem to be paying us much attention. I moved a tiny bit closer to Julian and was rewarded with a flick of his dark green gaze. It was like opaque ss, beautiful and impossible to see through. ¡°The silent treatment, huh?¡± He took a sip of his beer before he answered. ¡°I just had to gather my thoughts, Em.¡± Em. Not Ace, not the nickname he had called me since the beginning. My stomach was tight, but not with excitement this time-with nerves. ¡°Okay,¡± I said. ¡°Let me know when you¡¯re done.¡± He took another sip but didn¡¯t respond. From my peripheral view, I saw what Sasha was doing-looking at upgrading my dating ount to some form of superior n, which would involve money-and rolled my eyes. ¡°Sasha, no way.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. But both she and Rachel justughed, bent over my phone, dark and blonde hair blending together. They had amused themselves for at least half an hour over that thing. Julian frowned. ¡°What are you two doing?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve created a profile for Emily on Burn,¡± Sasha said. ¡°Rachel and I are being the ultimate wing-women.¡± ¡°And by that, she means that they¡¯re using my likeness and description as a game,¡± I quipped. ¡°How many guys have you passed through by now? A hundred?¡± Rachel elbowed me. ¡°More like a thousand. But you¡¯ve already had, like, twenty matches.¡± I felt Julian stiffen beside me. ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t know you were single, Emily.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a game,¡± I said. ¡°They wanted to test out the new Hunt Industries app, and they were in need of a guinea pig.¡± Rachel nodded. ¡°Emily was most generous. We¡¯re nning on rewarding her by setting up multiple dates with gorgeous, eligible men.¡± I tried to y her words off with augh, but my cheeks burned. I didn¡¯t want any dates. The only man I wanted was sitting right next to me, growing stiffer and colder by the second, and somehow I had managed to screw this whole thing up. A smarter woman than me would have seen this situation a mile away. ¡°I¡¯m not going on any Burn dates.¡± My tone was decisive. ¡°They could be serial killers, or worse, still live with their mom. No thank you. I¡¯ll stick to dating the old-fashioned way.¡± Sasha stuck my phone out to me, where Burn¡¯s sleek interface framed the admittedly well-taken photo of a man my age. Before I could look at it, Julian snatched my phone. He looked through the man¡¯s photos. ¡°Quentin. Likes to garden, works in telmunications. Oh. He¡¯s even written his height and favorite color here. Solid guy, clearly knows what women are looking for. A shame he hasn¡¯t given us his horoscope as well.¡± Sashaughed and took the phone back. ¡°Isn¡¯t he a darling? You have to talk to him, Emily.¡± I sighed and looked up at the ceiling, trying to think of a way out of this. Could I faint? Fake an emergency phone call? Chapter 60 ¡°Show me another one,¡± Julian demanded. ¡°Someone she¡¯s matched with.¡± Both Rachel and Sasha seemed delighted at his interest, but I heard the menace he was masking underyers of charm. Julian was pissed. ¡°Here.¡± He was silent as he looked through the profile of a sweet-looking guy with sses. ¡°Here¡¯s your nerd, Emily. I know how much you like them. Says here that he¡¯ll cook you homemade pasta bolognese. Looking for the woman of my dreams. Oh, and he¡¯s added a photo of himself with a dog. Clearly boyfriend material, although you¡¯ll probably be so bored by your first year anniversary that you¡¯ll beg him to try any position other than missionary.¡± Sasha and Rachel copsed into a howl ofughter, and I blushed furiously red. Julian met my gaze with a hard one of his own. Anger zed behind the cool exterior. Whatever game this had started out as, I hated it now. These men didn¡¯t deserve to be matched with someone who had no intention of dating them. And they definitely didn¡¯t deserve being ridiculed like this. I grabbed my phone back. ¡°I¡¯m not doing this anymore.¡± ¡°Oh, Emily,¡± Sasha said. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to the boss. I¡¯m sure some of those men are great guys.¡± ¡°I¡¯m absolutely sure they are.¡± I rose from my seat. ¡°Please let me out, Julian.¡± He rose stiffly. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To get some air,¡± I tugged out my jacket from below our mountain of coats, ¡°and check up on my brother. See you in a bit.¡± I made a beeline for the exit, fully aware of the fact that Julian would likely follow me. I knew our co-workers would see it. And for the first time, I didn¡¯t care. No sooner had the door closed behind me than I heard it open again. I didn¡¯t even need to nce back to know who it was, but I did it anyway. Julian¡¯s eyes smoldered. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you?¡± I asked. ¡°That little game in there was harmless. I had no intention of ever meeting with anyone.¡± ¡°You told them you were single,¡± Julian said, biting off thebel as if it was ugly, as if he hated saying it. ¡°Yes, because I don¡¯t want anyone at work to know about us. We spoke about this yesterday and you said you understood.¡± He crossed his arms and I saw how his jaw worked. ¡°Do you know what you also said yesterday?¡± ¡°What?¡±¡±When this thing is over between us. That¡¯s what you said. I¡¯ve thought about it since, but I don¡¯t think it was a slip of the tongue.¡± I swallowed, suddenly overwhelmed with this whole conversation. ¡°That was poor phrasing. I¡¯m sorry for saying it like that¡­ Julian, I guess I just thought it was obvious.¡± ¡°What was obvious? Spell it out for me.¡± ¡°That we¡¯re having fun and getting to know one another. We¡¯re great in bed together. But, you know, one day you¡¯ll want something different.¡± I shrugged. ¡°We don¡¯t exactly win prizes inpatibility.¡± ¡°And clearly you have no intention of us ever getting serious if you¡¯re out here looking on online dating sites.¡± ¡°Julian, you¡¯re acting jealous. Over an app. Your app, I might add.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°No shit I am! Yesterday you admit that you¡¯ve already put an expiration date on us, and tonight you¡¯re out looking for my recement. I¡¯m sorry if I¡¯m not super thrilled about being told I¡¯m a ceholder.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what you are,¡± I said, feeling it all slip out of my hands. ¡°You¡¯re the best man I¡¯ve ever¡­ I¡¯ve ever been with. You know we have great chemistry.¡± In a desperate attempt to make sense, I reached out, ran my hands down his chest. He pulled away from me. ¡°So what am I, then? A sexual adventure? A pte cleanser before you settle down with Quentin, or Jim, or Miguel? Someone you could actually tell your co-workers and family about?¡± I was silent, mainly because he¡¯d hit the nail on the head so perfectly. I had been treating this as a temporary thing, an affair, something too good to be true. I¡¯d not given our future a single thought. ¡°Your brother still doesn¡¯t know,¡± he said. ¡°Does he?¡± I shook my head mutely. ¡°No. I didn¡¯t want to¡­¡± ¡°Introduce me to him as your temporary lover. I can get that.¡± Julian shook his head and stepped away from me. There was so much emotion on his face that I felt my own heart ache. This was going wrong, all wrong, and I couldn¡¯t find the words to stop it. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant-this isn¡¯t what I want. Julian, I¡­¡± But nothing came. He shook his head again, and this time his voice was resigned. ¡°I know what I want, Emily. Let me know when you¡¯ve decided. But I¡¯m done being your dirty little secret.¡± He walked across the parking lot towards his car, shoulders hunched slightly as if he was protecting himself from a blow or walking against heavy wind. I pressed a hand to my aching chest. I¡¯d always anticipated that he would walk away from me one day. And somehow, I had never considered that my own words and actions would be the reason. My phoney silent and judging beside me. ¡°Stop looking at me,¡± I told it and turned it face down, but it kept spreading its negativity. Or maybe that was me. I¡¯d brainstormed a hundred different texts I could write to Julian, ranging from the cheeky to the inly desperate. Myst attempt had read ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Please forgive me and take me back. I¡¯ll do pretty much anything.¡± But I hadn¡¯t sent anything, and I hadn¡¯t called,plete silence between us for the past two days. He¡¯d conveniently been out of the office on Friday, and I¡¯d spent my Saturday with Denise-although she was very nearly unbearable. She was so loved up with Michael that I was surprised she wasn¡¯t bursting at the seams with happiness. It wasn¡¯t fair either that she ended up more or less agreeing with Julian. By the end of our yoga ss, she had me a guilty, sweaty mess. ¡°You downloaded a dating app?¡± She hissed at me during downward dog. ¡°And you told him you had already nned your breakup?¡± ¡°Whoops,¡± I mouthed, staring at her upside down. ¡°I tried ying it casual.¡± ¡°Ande down into cobra¡­ like so. When you¡¯re ready, rise into the warrior position.¡± The yoga teacher did a sinewy move that only circus performers could follow. I struggled into the ufortable split-like pose and nced over at Denise. She shook her head at me. ¡°The man has feelings, Em. And you hurt him.¡± ¡°I know. I screwed up.¡± ¡°You did. I¡¯ve never seen you this happy with anyone before. Get your head out of your ass or I¡¯ll do it for you, and go make it up to him.¡± ¡°Silence is paramount,¡± the yoga teacher hissed from the front, shooting Denise a look that didn¡¯t say namaste as much as shut the hell up. ¡°It allows us to connect with our inner intuition.¡± We shifted into a lotus position, stretching out in front of us in a way that sent pain up my back. Was it normal to be this stiff at the tender age of twenty-five? I felt Denise poke me with her toe but I kept my eyes firmly shut. ¡°I¡¯m listening to my inner voice,¡± I murmured to her. Chapter 61 ¡°Good,¡± she grumbled back. ¡°d to hear my words have reached you.¡± They had. That was the problem-now I had to decide whether I was brave enough to swallow my pride and admit I was wrong. Admit that I wanted something unknown, to throw myself out there. Being with Julian was like nothing I had ever experienced before. It would be the greatest adventure of my life. When I arrived home that evening, Turner was rummaging through our pantry. Bottle after bottle ofundry detergent and old cleaning solutions were unceremoniously deposited in a ck trash bag. I leaned against the doorway, still sweaty and sad, and watched him work. He finally turned. ¡°Oh. Hey. Didn¡¯t hear youe in.¡± ¡°I should have made more noise.¡± ¡°No.¡± He shook his head. ¡°You didn¡¯t scare me. Did you know that we have a detergent that expired in 2007?¡± ¡°Nope. I don¡¯t think Nan or I ever really ever went through that cupboard. I¡¯ve just sort of been filling the front shelves with what we need and using that.¡± ¡°Well, all of it should go.¡± I smiled and nced down at the package of dried sponges he was holding. ¡°Does it spark joy?¡± He snorted and tossed the expired rags into the bag. ¡°I¡¯ll never understand that. Either something is useful, or it¡¯s not. There is no in between.¡± I took a seat on the sofa and watched him work. ¡°Well, sometimes things are sentimental in value.¡± ¡°I suppose,¡± he said and tied the ck trash bag shut. This was such a massive thing for us, cleaning out the old house. For so many years I had tried to keep everything as it had been right when Mom and Dad passed. To keep the routines, to ensure that as little as possible changed for Turner. We¡¯d stuck to the schedule religiously, never straying, and it had be as much a source offort for him as for me. But looking at him now, I realized that my little brother had be a young man. With his shoulders back, he looked handsome, quiet and strong. When had that happened? ¡°Hey,¡± I said. ¡°When did you grow taller than me?¡± ¡°When I was sixteen and you were twenty-one. Why?¡± I didn¡¯t answer, just watched him work quietly, unable to contain the emotions raging inside of me. It all felt like too much. Turner nced over at me when I didn¡¯t respond. His eyes widened. ¡°Em? You¡¯re crying?¡± I nodded, feeling like I¡¯d dropped the ball entirely. I was supposed to be strong and happy, to keep working towards goals and to be the supportive big sister. Yet I was failingpletely. Turner sank down next to me on the couch. ¡°Why? Are you hurt?¡± I watched him scan me, looking for signs of pain, and shook my head. ¡°No. This is emotional.¡± He nodded once and leaned back, visibly relieved by my statement. ¡°Okay. Good. Do you¡­ do you want to talk about it?¡± I took a deep breath and pulled my legs up beneath me. I tugged at a loose thread on our beige couch and wondered where on earth I should start. ¡°Are you happy at work? At Hunt?¡± He nodded. ¡°Yes. I enjoy it. Why? Did something happen at work?¡± ¡°No,¡± I said shakily. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed that you¡¯ve been circling apartments in the newspaper. Do you want to move out?¡± Turner face split into a sudden, unexpected smile as his gaze flicked between me and the bookshelves behind me. ¡°No. I don¡¯t need my own ce. I¡¯ve been trying to hint to you that you could move out if you wanted to.¡± ¡°Turner!¡± I hit his leg yfully, and his grin grew wider. ¡°It¡¯s not like you to be so sneaky!¡± ¡°I know. But I thought you might be sad if I brought it up directly, so I tried to nt the idea in your mind.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve watched Inception too many times.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not possible,¡± he replied immediately. ¡°It is a masterpiece.¡± I smiled and watched him, wiping away the remnants of my tears. ¡°Why do you think I should move out?¡± His gaze flicked away from me entirely and settled on the view to the patio, his hand ying with his watch like he always did when he was nervous.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°You had to give up a lot of things when Mom and Dad died, for me. But you need to live your own life now too. You¡¯ve taken care of me for long enough. Not that I want you to stop, but¡­ we can¡¯t live in the past. I¡¯m good.¡± New tears threatened to choke me up. Turner was so rarely willing to share his internal, emotional life with me, that any bits and pieces he revealed I held close to my heart. ¡°Turner,¡± I said, unable to continue. ¡°I have a job. You have a job. I think it would be good for you to have your own ce. The settlement left us both with enough money to branch out, plus I want more space for a server I n on building.¡± I swallowed, hard. It was so typical of him to suggest this so matter-of-fact, like it wasn¡¯t a big deal. Like we wouldn¡¯t be splitting apart for the first time since he¡¯d been born. ¡°I¡¯d still want to eat dinner together a few times weekly,¡± I said immediately. ¡°And you have to continue replying to all my texts.¡± ¡°Even the ones that don¡¯t make any sense?¡± ¡°Especially those,¡± I nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± The small smile was back on his face. ¡°Alright. Deal. And you¡¯re not mad at me?¡± ¡°Mad? Turner, you¡¯re the best little brother a girl can have. No, of course I¡¯m not mad.¡± ¡°Good.¡± A faint blush crept up on his cheeks and he rocked forward a bit. I knew he disliked emotional conversations, found them trying, but I knew I had to keep going while I had the courage. ¡°But you might be mad with me. I have to tell you something. It¡¯s not something I should have kept from you.¡± His eyes flicked to mine for a brief moment. ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been seeing Julian for thest couple of weeks.¡± Turner gave a slow nod. ¡°At work, yes.¡± Chapter 62 ¡°Romantically. And I didn¡¯t tell you at first because I wasn¡¯t sure what it was between us. If it was serious or not.¡± ¡°Alright¡­ okay. Did you read the HR policy handbook we were given when we started? Because while there is no mention of non-fraternization, there is talk of inappropriate rtionships on page eighteen. But the phrasing isn¡¯t exactly clear.¡± In spite of myself, I almost smiled. ¡°I have. There is nothing explicitly forbidding it.¡± ¡°Good.¡± He frowned. ¡°Is this your first rtionship since James?¡± I nodded.¡±I¡¯m d.¡± ¡°You are?¡± It felt as if a weight had lifted from my shoulders. I¡¯d had no idea how he would respond when I eventually told him, and my scenarios had ranged from the outraged to the disappointed. He¡¯s your boss, Emily. Turner shrugged. ¡°Yes. Julian Hunt is clever. You could do worse. I¡¯ve seen some of his coding work, and the other engineers seem to worship at his feet.¡± He frowned suddenly, a thought striking him. ¡°You don¡¯t, do you? He¡¯s not infallible, Emily. Nobody is.¡± ¡°No. No, I don¡¯t. Although in all honesty, I might have ruined it all. We had a big fight a few nights ago.¡± Turner rose from the couch and gave me a gentle squeeze on the shoulder. Without another word, he began sorting through the shelves again. ¡°Was he in the wrong?¡± I sighed and admitted the truth. ¡°No, I think I was.¡±Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Turner frowned at a bottle of window cleaner. ¡°Do you want him in your life? Does he spark joy?¡± I thought of Julian¡¯s crooked smile and amused gaze, the way his body curved around mine. The soft sigh he made in his sleep when I nestled closer against him. The pain in his eyes when I admitted that I hadn¡¯t expected us tost. ¡°Yes,¡± I said. ¡°He really, really does.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s easy. Say you¡¯re sorry.¡± I looked over at him, his easy confidence and airy manner. My brother, who had always had a foot in a higher ne with his mind racing a mile a minute. I¡¯d been so proud of him as a child. My little brother can solve one of those colored cubes, I remembered bragging in ss. He¡¯s six. Todd in my third-grade ss had once called Turner weird and I had shoved him during recess. Best detention I ever had. ¡°What if he doesn¡¯t ept my apology?¡± Turner looked over at me as if the idea hadn¡¯t even struck him. ¡°Well,¡± he said slowly, ¡°then he doesn¡¯t really care about you. You always forgive the people you care about.¡± I snuck up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist, breathing in the familiar peppermint smell of the mints he always chewed. A little awkwardly, Turner¡¯s hand came up to pat my arm. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Anytime,¡± he said. ¡°Anytime.¡± My hand danced with nervous energy across the steering wheel as I stared at Julian¡¯s front gate. A stalker. That¡¯s what I had be, a creepy lurker with a box of cookies on the passenger seat and a wildly beating heart. We hadn¡¯t spoken for three days. No texts, no calls. Judging by the expression in his eyes on Friday, I hadn¡¯t really expected him to reach out, but every day we didn¡¯t talk still hurt. So quickly, he¡¯d be a fixture in my life. Someone who saw me for me, someone who made meugh and who I could share my innermost thoughts with. Only when I saw the disappointment in his eyes did I realize how much I hade to value his opinion of me-how much his high regard meant. So I¡¯d showed up, heart in my hand, to apologize. I¡¯d circled the block twice before I parked the car. Inside, my nerves were ying bongo drums, making me queasy. What if he¡¯d already moved on? I would knock on the door and he¡¯d ask who are you, like a scene from one of those bad soap operas where main characters kept getting amnesia. An even worst thought struck me. What if he was in there right this second, making jokes with some other woman as she flipped omelets for their morning-after breakfast? I hoped she burned them. I hoped she stuffed them full oftro. He hatedtro. Denise had texted me a perky good luck! and asked me to call her after to let her know how it went. That had been thirty minutes ago, and I refused to text and tell her I was too chicken. And if I sat here any longer, I¡¯d likely have the neighborhood watch arrest me for loitering. Grabbing the package of cookies, I repeated my brother¡¯s calm instructions to myself. It¡¯s easy. Just say you¡¯re sorry. I got out of the car with more resolve than I felt and smoothed a hand over the navy blue sundress I¡¯d put on. It ended in a row of ruffles and the bodice was covered in little white polka dots. With my matching suede boots, I felt cute and summery. Dressed to impress. The walk up to his giant oak door felt unreasonably far. I¡¯d always appreciated the fact that he lived in a normal residential area, albeit Palo Alto¡¯s absolute finest, despite his wealth. There were no fingerprinted gates or retina scanners to prevent drop-ins. I took another deep breath and I rang his doorbell, clutching the box of cookies tightly. Bringing them felt silly all of a sudden, a childish gesture, and I nced around wildly for somewhere to discard them. My heart was beating like a jackhammer. But then the door opened, and there he stood. Julian regarded me coolly with a phone pressed to his ear. ¡°No, I¡¯d like you to email the documents,¡± he said to someone on the other line. ¡°If we can move fast on this deal, we should.¡± ¡°Hi,¡± I mouthed and gave a little wave. Julian narrowed his eyes and stepped aside, allowing me to enter. Alright then. Not exactly a warm wee, but perhaps I didn¡¯t deserve one. He was wearing his normal cks and worn loafers, but the casual shirt he¡¯d thrown on stretched taut across wide shoulders and thick biceps. The urge to touch him was instant. Three days without feeling his arms around me or his lips at my temple-I was burning. He walked through therge foyer, on through the living room and out onto the patio. I followed awkwardly. The familiar iron-wrought chairs and table greeted me. There was a giant bottle of ice water next to his openptop. Not an omelet-making bimbo in sight. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll sign, but only if that concludes the matter. This can¡¯te back to haunt us at ater date.¡± I sank down into the chair opposite Julian and studied him as he listened to the person on the other end. His face was as strong and handsome as ever, but there were faint circles under his eyes and his jaw was clenched tight. He looked every inch the CEO and a very pissed one at that. I put the box of cookies on the table and crossed my legs, making sure my hem rode up a bit. It was a dirty trick, but I had to ensure he listened to me. Reminding him of how good we¡¯d been together in every way possible wouldn¡¯t hurt. Julian nodded at whatever his conversation partner said. ¡°That¡¯s reasonable. Make sure it¡¯s iron-d, but handle everyone involved well. This will bear Hunt¡¯s name.¡± There was a brief pause and I nced down at where his fingers danced across his knee. Perhaps he was nervous, too, or at least anxious to get this over with. It made me feel a tiny bit more confident, but then he barked a harsh talk to youter and put his phone down on the table with more force than I think a thousand-dor smartphone would have preferred. I shot him a smile. Julian didn¡¯t return it. He only leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, making it crystal clear that I was going to be doing the talking. ¡°Hi,¡± I said softly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t call ahead.¡± ¡°I was home.¡± ¡°I brought you some cookies. I know they¡¯re not homemade, but I really can¡¯t bake. Like, at all. Honestly, I¡¯m doing you a favor here by not exposing you to my non-existent skills.¡± Julian barely afforded the pretty white packet a nce, his eyes entirely focused on me. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you try to contact me?¡± ¡°Right after we¡­ argued?¡± Chapter 63 He nodded. ¡°I figured you needed space, that you wouldn¡¯t want to hear from me right away.¡± I nced down at the crease of his t-shirt, the neatly sown hem. ¡°I was scared of what you¡¯d say when I did.¡± ¡°Of what I¡¯d say?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡±¡±I¡¯m more interested in hearing what you think.¡± I took a deep breath and met his gaze, willing it to grow soft and familiar again. ¡°I¡¯ve thought a lot about what I said to youst week, both at the bar and the day before. That I expected us to end.¡± Julian nced away, a muscle in his jaw flexing. ¡°You had already nned for it.¡± ¡°I¡¯d resigned myself to it being a just fling. You were right about what you said: I¡¯d never really given the idea of us a real chance.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Understanding my own emotions and actions was difficult enough sometimes, not to mention exining them to him. But I had had three days to think this through. ¡°Because you¡¯re too good to be true. Because I can¡¯t fathom why you¡¯d see a future with me. Because¡­ I didn¡¯t think you were a rtionship kind of guy. Because we work together. Because for the past five years, Turner has been my main worry and whoever dates me, gets Turner too.¡± I nced back at him. ¡°I was so focused on what I potentially had to lose that I didn¡¯t think about what I stood to gain.¡± He nodded and looked at the box of cookies on the table absent-mindedly, deep in thought. ¡°White chocte chip macadamia,¡± I murmured. ¡°I brought out the big guns.¡± He didn¡¯t smile, but his eyes softened when he looked back at me. ¡°You didn¡¯t think I was a rtionship kind of guy,¡± he quoted. ¡°Was it something I did? I tried to show you that I wanted more than just sex.¡± ¡°No! No, absolutely not. I really need you to know that.¡± I reached out and grabbed his hand. ¡°The reason I didn¡¯tmit to the idea was never because I didn¡¯t want more with you. I guess I was just¡­ protecting my heart?¡± My throat grew dry as I met his deep, steady gaze. This was an adult conversation about an adult rtionship with a man who knew what he wanted and the way he wanted it. It scared the hell out of me just as much as it excited me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for hurting you. I never meant to.¡± Julian exhaled and looked down at our sped hands. ¡°I can understand that, I think. Besides, it¡¯s not like I¡¯ve been meless. I have something to apologize for too.¡± ¡°You do?¡± Unease churned in my stomach, and the image of the bimbo reappeared immediately. I shoved her unwee image away. Julian would never. He sighed. ¡°I knew you wanted to keep what we had private from our coworkers. I said I respected that, and I believed I did, but my actions sometimes said otherwise. I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t do a better job of listening to your signals.¡± His hand squeezed my fingers. My chest ached suddenly with tenderness. I wanted to reach out and smooth away the crease of worry between his thick brows, trace the line of his jaw until he rxed. ¡°No, Julian, you were great. You are great. I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t properly exin why it mattered so much to me. I never wanted you to feel like I didn¡¯t value what we had.¡± ¡°Had?¡± ¡°Have,¡± I corrected. ¡°If you¡¯ll still have me.¡± ¡°If,¡± he murmured darkly. ¡°As if I¡¯d ever turn you away, Ace.¡± Julian opened his arms for me, and I shifted forward, smiling as I settled onto hisp. Our bodies fit togetherfortably, finding their way through the awkwardness. He smelled of aftershave and Julian, the way that only he smelled. I pressed my hand against his chest, right where his heart beat steadily against my palm.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I missed you,¡± I murmured into the warmth of his neck. Julian¡¯s arms pulled me tighter against him. ¡°I missed you too. I feared you wouldn¡¯t talk to me again.¡± I pulled back. ¡°You thought I¡¯d ghost you?¡± His hand tugged on a silky strand of my hair, not meeting my eyes. ¡°I had faith that you wouldn¡¯t. But I¡¯d seen your anger that night, and I know you value your independence. I couldn¡¯t be sure you would choose toe back to me.¡± Softly, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. I poured everything we weren¡¯t ready to say yet into that kiss-my respect, my desire, my love-all for him. Julian kissed me gently, reverently, his hands stroking my sides until I had to pull away. His mouth quirked up into his familiar crooked smile, the one he used when he was fully himself and in a yful mood. ¡°I have two conditions.¡± ¡°Okay. Name them.¡± ¡°I want you to delete Burn from your phone.¡± Shame colored my cheeks, but for this I had already made amends. ¡°Already done. I deleted it immediately, the very same night. I¡¯ve already matched with you and I don¡¯t need anyone else.¡± His thumb traced my side, smoothing little circles on my ribs and sending goosebumps along my skin. ¡°The second condition?¡± ¡°That you spend at least an hour every day doing this.¡± Julian lifted my hand up to the nape of his neck, his eyes shuttering when my fingers curled into his thick hair. Iughed. ¡°You¡¯re like a veryrge, very masculine cat.¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s just called a lion,¡± he replied. ¡°Thanks. ¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I can manage an hour of this every day. I have to go to work, you see. My boss is very demanding.¡± Julian shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve already cleared it with HR. It¡¯s a newpany-wide policy.¡± I smiled and watched the dark of hisshes against his tanned skin and reveled in the strength of his arms around me, the thickness of muscles in the thighs beneath me and the hair that curled at his temples. Julian Hunt was a legend, but he was also a man, and he was mine. ¡°I have a condition, too,¡± I said, my fingers still stroking his neck. It was corded with muscle under my touch. ¡°Tell me.¡±¡±I told Turner about us yesterday.¡± Julian stilled. ¡°Did you really?¡± ¡°Yes. He was happy about it.¡± ¡°He was?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± I smiled at his dazed expression and leaned in closer, pressing my lips to his. ¡°Will youe to dinner at our house tonight?¡± Chapter 64 Forgive me. Love me. Never leave me. Julian smiled against my lips, a sweet, intimate smile that spread warmth through my body. We were starting something much deeper, something real-something I knew would change me forever. I wanted it all. ¡°I¡¯d love to,¡± he murmured. ¡°Does this mean I don¡¯t have to park a block away?¡± Iughed, loving the way his eyes danced with happiness. ¡°You¡¯re cordially invited to use the driveway.¡± The feel of Emily in my arms and her relieved smile stayed with me long after she had left. She was all I thought of as I showered and dressed, and as I made the short drive over to her ce for dinner. I had said that she would have toe to me when I walked away on Friday, but I knew it had been a lie. I would do anything to get her back. How could I not? Emily was everything I wanted, everything I hadn¡¯t known I needed. But I¡¯d made a deal with myself-I had to let it go three full days. I had to give her the chance toe to me first. If we were going tost, and if I would get the chance to call her mine, she had toe willingly. And she had. My body still felt the weight of her in myp and against my chest. Touching her again after these days apart felt like heaven. Her scent, her hands on my skin, those perfectly plump little lips¡­ If I kept up reminiscing, I would have to readjust myself in my seat. I nced at the digital clock on my dashboard. 06:58 PM. Perfect. Punctuality was important in their household and I wanted to knock on the door at exactly seven. Was I overdoing it? Maybe. But I knew what a massive step this was for Emily, so if I could ease it for her, I would. I pulled up at her house. There were candles lit in one of the windows, but otherwise it was entirely calm, frontwn mowed and their car neatly parked beside mine on the driveway. The house was cute and ordinary and didn¡¯t match its extraordinary inhabitants at all. Emily was strong, funny, determined. She said things that surprised me on the regr. Turner¡­ well, he was a prodigy. There was no other word to describe what he could do with the zeroes and ones, and I could say that without a shred of jealousy. I put the car in park and grabbed therge bouquet of flowers I¡¯d picked up on the way. The Porsche suddenly felt garish, ostentatious, parked outside on this residential street. I should have taken the Jeep. Focus, Julian. I was thirty-three years old, experienced and sessful, and I was nervous for this. While I¡¯d been joking with all theparisons to high school, that was exactly what I felt like-a teenage boy going to meet his girl¡¯s parents for the first time. I rang the doorbell. There were a few sounds of a scuffle, and then the door opened. Emily¡¯s cheeks were rosy and flushed, and she had an apron tied around her waist. ¡°Hi,¡± she breathed.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. A slow grin spread across my face. ¡°Hey, Ace.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re actually here.¡± ¡°Neither can I.¡± She pushed the door wide. ¡°Come on in.¡± I followed her into a small hallway, filled with shoes. The house smelled like fresh bread. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t know how to bake?¡± Emily shot me a smile. ¡°Turner¡¯s the one doing the baking tonight¡± ¡°A man of many talents.¡± She bit her lip as she looked over at me, still paused in the hallway, her dark hair swirling around her face. ¡°Stop that,¡± I said darkly. ¡°Stop what?¡± ¡°Looking at me like that.¡± Emily gave a lowugh and the sound shot through my body like adrenaline. Taunting me, reminding me¡­ I caught her around the waist and pulled her up flush against me. ¡°Julian!¡±I pressed a kiss to her cheek. ¡°It¡¯s been four days since Ist had you in my arms, properly. That¡¯s four days too many.¡± Emily melted in my arms, her eyes filling with desire. I could feel the soft swell of her breasts against me and need pulsed through my lower body. If she continued looking at me like that¡­ I caught her lips with mine, and as we kissed, the world felt right again. She finally pulled away with a chuckle. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go to the kitchen.¡± ¡°Must we?¡± ¡°My brother,¡± she said with a raised brow. Her hands slid down my chest before she caught my hand in hers. I was tugged through a maze of hallways and little rooms, woven rugs and bookcases. On the walls hung painted pictures ofndscapes and old photographs. It was a family home and seeing it made my heart twinge, both for her and for her brother. She¡¯d told me about her parents and the terrible ident. Turner was taking bread rolls out of the oven when we emerged into a small, cozy kitchen. ¡°Hello, Julian.¡± He said but didn¡¯t look at me, brushing the rolls with melted butter. ¡°Hi, Turner.¡± I took a seat on one of the high stools. ¡°The bread smells delicious.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± They moved in silent harmony around the kitchen, the ease between them obvious. Neither Turner nor Emily needed a lot of words tomunicate with one another. Next to the fridge hung a small whiteboard with meals nned out for ever day of the week. For a long while, I just sat and watched them interact. Emily was a firecracker at work, and always around me, but with her brother¡­ she was calm. The ultimate big sister. ¡°I think themb is done. Julian, can you put this on the table?¡± I was handed a big bowl of sd and a little jar of sea salt. Despite myself, I smiled as I did as instructed and set the table. There was a homeliness here that I had missed being a part of for a long time. And interacting with Emily in this way¡­ it was enough to make a man dream. One day I¡¯d make sure we shared our lives like this, too. That we had family dinners together on the regr. Turner wasted no time-questions began the second we were all seated. ¡°So, you¡¯re dating my sister.¡± ¡°I am, yes.¡±¡±Why?¡±I resisted the urge to shoot Emily an amused nce. ¡°Because she¡¯s a great person. Being around her makes me happy, and I hope I make her happy in return.¡± He gave a slow nod and reached for the potatoes. ¡°Does he make you happy, Em?¡± Chapter 65 I watched with great interest as her cheeks flushed. She didn¡¯t look at me as she replied. ¡°Yes, he does.¡± Warmth flooded through me at the response. As if sensing my gaze, Emily¡¯s green eyes flicked to mine. A soft smile spread across her face. ¡°I¡¯m d to hear it,¡± I said. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll never stop.¡± Turner¡¯s cough brought us both back to reality. ¡°I¡¯m also d you¡¯re with my sister, then,¡± he dered. ¡°She¡¯s been alone longer than I believe average for a woman her age.¡± ¡°Turner!¡± Emily hissed, but I nodded seriously at her brother. His blessing meant a lot to her, and by extension, it did to me too. He was the only proper family she had left. ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that. I think the world of her, but I¡¯m sure you do too.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Turner gave a nomittal shrug as he doused hismb in pepper. ¡°I think you¡¯re also a much better match for her than herst boyfriend.¡± I couldn¡¯t help it-this time I grinned wide. ¡°Is that so?¡± Emily put her head in her hands, but Turner only nodded. ¡°He wasn¡¯t smart enough for her.¡± ¡°Really?¡±¡±He didn¡¯t have his life in order. Em, will you pass me the bread?¡± Emily handed her brother a roll and shot me an amused nce. ¡°Actually, I agree with that. Julian is without a doubt the best man I¡¯ve ever dated.¡± I took a sip of my wine and tried to stop a faint blush from creeping up on my own cheeks. This woman had turned me inside out, upside down, and somehow she continued to wield that power. I couldn¡¯t remember thest time apliment like that made me almost bashful. I cleared my throat. ¡°I heard you¡¯re building your ownputer here at home?¡± Conversation flowed easily after that. I saw Emily nce between me and her brother a couple of times, a private smile on her face, and my chest tightened again. Whatever test this dinner might have been, I was pretty sure I was acing it. Much, muchter, after dessert and jokes and the most intense round of monopoly I had ever yed-the Giordano siblings took the game very seriously-Turner called it a night. ¡°You¡¯re good at that game,¡± he told me. ¡°Thanks.¡±¡±Well, I¡¯ll go to my room now. Em, will Julian be staying the night?¡± I watched, amused, as she fiddled with the tablecloth. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. We haven¡¯t discussed it yet.¡± Turner considered her response for a moment. ¡°When you have, please let me know. You can text me.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll do that.¡± ¡°Good night.¡± ¡°Night, Turner.¡± He disappeared around the corner and up the stairs, and a minuteter we both heard the soft sound of his bedroom door close. I grinned at her. ¡°So, am I staying the night?¡± She rolled her eyes at me and started clearing the table. ¡°I swear, sometimes¡­ I love him, and I have nothing to hide from you, but¡­¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be embarrassed.¡± ¡°¡®She¡¯s been single longer than normal for a woman her age,''¡± Emily quoted. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know he¡¯d noticed that.¡± I pushed my chair back and crossed the room, caught her around the waist. Her thick hair tickled my skin as I pulled her close. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± She sighed. ¡°No, I suppose it doesn¡¯t.¡± ¡°The food was great.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡±¡±And he¡¯s great. I recognize a lot of myself in him.¡± She twisted in my arms. ¡°You do?¡± I nodded. ¡°Sure. He¡¯s undoubtedly working away at the circuit board up there right now as we speak. I was the same. I spent most of my high school and college years behind a screen.¡± Emily¡¯s grin turned teasing. ¡°A proper nerd?¡± ¡°Now you¡¯ve found out.¡± I raised my hands in surrender. ¡°Is this the moment you tell me I¡¯m not cool enough to be with you?¡± Sheughed and tugged at the cor of my button-down. ¡°No, silly. Come here.¡± I let her tug me down and bent so that our foreheads touched. Her lips were soft and sweet on mine. She tasted of chocte from the dessert and white wine and heaven. My hands found the small area of exposed skin between her top and her jeans, smooth to the touch. ¡°Mmmm,¡± I murmured against her lips. ¡°Can I stay the night?¡± Her arms wrapped around my neck. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t let you leave even if you begged me.¡± ¡°Come on, let¡¯s finish up here so we can go to bed. Because if you continue kissing me like that, you¡¯ll leave me no choice¡­¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really? What would you do, Julian?¡± ¡°You have a perfectly serviceable kitchen counter,¡± I said darkly. ¡°Use your imagination.¡± Emily shot me a heated nce but thankfully didn¡¯t respond. We washed the dishes in silence, the tension rising by the minute. Suddenly I felt vulnerable again. It was like all the distance between us these past days came rushing in, every minute of absence and fear that she wouldn¡¯te back to me. I wanted nothing more than to twist my hands through her hair and make her moan my name. Bury myself inside of her and make sure she never forgot who I was, who we were together. How good we were together. ¡°I¡¯m done,¡± she said quietly, closing the dishwasher. ¡°Your bedroom is down the hall?¡± ¡°Yes. The second door on the right.¡± ¡°Text your brother that I¡¯m staying over,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡± Emily¡¯s hand caught mine, warm and dry. ¡°We¡¯ll have to be quiet.¡± ¡°We will be.¡± I bent, pulling her close, my voice against her ear. ¡°We¡¯ll have many, many nights in the future to be loud.¡± Somehow, someway, Julian convinced me to go camping with him. Chapter 66 My protests had all been shot down. It wouldn¡¯t be ufortable, he promised. He would make sure to take all the necessary precautions against bears. And, as he pointed out, I was a disgrace if I had lived all my life in Northern California and never had visited Yosemite. I had to give it to the man-he was persuasive. But I also had to admit to not being particrly difficult to persuade. Since our reconciliation, all I wanted to do was spend time with him. Turner was more than OK with me being gone for a weekend, and to my surprise, he announced he was going bowling with some of the coders from Hunt. Life was good. During my lunch break, I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the idea Michael had told me recently about franchising his restaurant. It wasn¡¯t a bad idea, and his food could most definitely be sold in more ces around Northern California. Fresh, Italian food¡­ possibly packaged for lunches. He had the ambition and drive to see it through. Sasha slipped into the seat next to me in the break room and saw my sketches. ¡°Is that a grapevine? And¡­ pasta?¡± I closed my sketchpad. ¡°Yeah, just something I¡¯ve been working on.¡± ¡°Is Hunt branching out into the food business?¡± I smiled. ¡°Not unless I¡¯ve missed something entirely. Are those machines invented now? The ones where you press a few buttons and get whatever meal you want?¡± ¡°I wish,¡± she said, waving her PB&J sandwich in front of me. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to run out and buy food and this was all I had at home. Josef needs me for a client meeting in ten.¡± I pushed over the other half of my baguette. ¡°Have some of mine. I¡¯m full.¡± She smiled gratefully at me and nodded back down at my sketchpad. ¡°So, what¡¯s that for? Or is it a secret?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s something I¡¯m working on for a friend. Early stages so far.¡± ¡°Cool, cool,¡± Sasha nodded and tapped her fingers against the table. ¡°Look, I feel like I should apologize for the whole Burn situation at drinksst week. I didn¡¯t mean to pressure you into doing something you didn¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I know neither you or Rachel meant any harm. I should just have said right away that I¡¯m dating someone, but it was early days and I didn¡¯t want to talk about it yet.¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°Wow, really? That¡¯s great! We would totally have understood.¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m sure you would have.¡± I shook my head. ¡°It was more my own hang-up.¡± ¡°Who is he?¡± I took a sip from my bottle of ice tea. ¡°I think I¡¯ll keep him to myself for a little while longer.¡± Sasha smiled. ¡°So secretive.¡± ¡°That¡¯s me,¡± I said, winking as I stood. ¡°But I¡¯ll tell you as soon as it¡¯s official.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯m intrigued. See youter?¡± ¡°On Monday, actually. I¡¯m heading out of the office a bit earlier today.¡± ¡°Oh?¡±¡±Family thing.¡± I shrugged. ¡°Have a nice weekend!¡± ¡°Yeah, you too!¡± I grabbed my notepad and headed back into my office, where my overnight bag was standing prepped and ready against my desk. Its bright colors and striped strings beckoned. Why was athletic gear always so garish? Did neon scare off bears? Was nylon mesh more ergonomic? Some questions just had no answers. Several hourster, I opened the passenger door to Julian¡¯s Jeep and jumped inside. He grinned as he nced down at my outfit-dark blue jeans,bat boots, and a fleece jacket. ¡°Very rural,¡± hemented. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± I said primly. ¡°I packed a down jacket as well. And yes, I know I¡¯m the poster child of sexiness right now. Victoria Secret could basically use me as an ad.¡± Julianughed and reached over to rest his hand on my thigh as he backed out of the parking lot. He did the whole thing single-handedly, long fingers gripping around the steering wheel. Even such a small thing made my skin tingle. ¡°You are incredibly sexy in this getup. Did you bring a nnel and an ax as well?¡± ¡°Have a thing for lumberjacks, do you?¡± ¡°I think I might.¡± He squeezed my leg. ¡°Or perhaps it¡¯s just lumber-Emilys.¡± I groaned. ¡°You¡¯re not a dad, but you¡¯ve already nailed theme jokes.¡± He was quiet for a moment, focusing on the intersection ahead, and a terrible notion crossed my mind. ¡°You¡¯re not, are you? Is this the part where you confess that you¡¯ve fathered five sweet but illegitimate children?¡± Julianughed. In his button-down and rugged blue jeans, he looked every bit the rxed mountain man from my innermost fantasies. Damn. ¡°No, I don¡¯t have any kids. Promise.¡± ¡°Phew,¡± I said, and pretended to rx against the seat. Heughed again at my dramatics and I smiled at the sound. I had no idea why this beautiful man was with me, but I¡¯d do anything to keep him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask me?¡± He nced over. ¡°If you have any secret kids? I¡¯m fairly certain on that front.¡± ¡°Maybe, or maybe I¡¯m leading a secret double life. You can never be too sure.¡± Julian¡¯s hand tightened again on my leg, and while his eyes stayed on the road, I heard the warmth in his voice when he replied. ¡°That¡¯s a risk I¡¯m willing to take.¡± As the city around us gave way to openndscapes, our conversation grew into apanionable silence. Julian kept his hand somewhere near or on me for nearly the entire three-and-a-half-hour trip to Yosemite. Being with him was a new experience entirely for me. There was nothing in him that I could rte to my ex-boyfriend, or to any of the asional dates I¡¯d been on. There hadn¡¯t been anyone who made meugh or cry like him, or made my heart swell the way it did. And there had definitely never been anyone who touched me like him. I peeked over at him several times, wondering if dating someone seriously was amon urrence for him. ¡°You¡¯re thinking,¡± he said. ¡°I can hear the neurons firing from over here.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re not very far away.¡± He smiled. ¡°That¡¯s true. Why don¡¯t you share?¡± I¡¯d slipped off my shoes and crossed my legs, looking at the red, dustyndscape around us. We might as well be on Mars-left to fend to ourselves like the astronaut in that space movie. California was dry this time of year. There was absolutely no way to ask what I wanted to ask tactfully, so I tried to turn it into a joke. ¡°Have you really been with, like, a thousand models?¡± Chapter 67 ¡°What?¡± Julian twisted towards me. ¡°Where did you get that from?¡± ¡°The inte,¡± I said. ¡°Sasha. asionally Rachel or Josef. My own worse nightmares.¡± ¡°They love to gossip more than they love their jobs,¡± he growled. ¡°And you shouldn¡¯t trust everything you read online.¡± ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking you.¡± He ran a hand through his hair and looked flustered, and my nerves immediately spiraled out of control. My worst fears had to be confirmed by his silence. Was there a parade of women he¡¯d gone through before me? ¡°Hey, it doesn¡¯t matter if you have,¡± I rushed. ¡°Truly. I just figured, you know my rtionship history, and I was curious¡­¡± Julian put his hand on my knee, effectively silencing me. ¡°Look, it¡¯s¡­ there are a lot of photos of me with various women because that¡¯s what those events are for. People ask me to take photos with them all the time. Sometimes it¡¯s just a random person who wants a picture, sometimes it¡¯s a date I¡¯ve brought, and sometimes-rarely-it¡¯s genuinely been someone I was dating. But regardless, the press loves to write about it. It sells copies.¡± ¡°I get that.¡± I put my hand over his, traced a wide knuckle. ¡°That must make dating really difficult.¡± ¡°It has. It does. And I¡¯m not going to pretend like I¡¯ve always been a saint.¡± He nced over at me quickly, hand tightening on my knee. ¡°There have been more than three for me. But I meant what I said, about not having been with anyone like you before. This¡­ it feels very different to me. So much more.¡± I leaned back against my seat and nced at him, his profile and the set of his jaw. This conversation was making him nervous. I was making him nervous. ¡°That makes me d,¡± I whispered. Julian nodded. ¡°And it¡¯s not always¡­ it hasn¡¯t always been clear when women have wanted me, and when they¡¯ve wanted my money or the prestige thates with it, you know?¡± My heart tore a little at the confession. He so rarely showed vulnerability, and even now, he wasn¡¯t looking at me at all. Eyes glued to the road ahead and no charming smile in sight. All the armor was down. My hand tightened around his. ¡°I can imagine. That must be hard.¡± ¡°It is.¡±A terrible thought struck me. ¡°Julian, you know that when I joked about you not being a billionaire, I was a hundred percent just trying to be funny, right? Arguably not very sessfully, but still.¡± He smiled at me. ¡°Yes, I know that. I knew that from the beginning.¡± ¡°Good.¡± I closed my eyes and stretched my legs out in front, threading my fingers through his. ¡°Because I don¡¯t want you for your money. I¡¯m only in it for your unbelievable abs.¡± I smiled at the sound of his deepughter filling the car. We arrived at Yosemite two hours before sunset at a beautiful campsite. Tall trees circled it, and I could hear the sound of a babbling brook close by. We had seen the High Sierra on the way in and I was already riled up with anticipation for the next day. The whole nature thing was growing on me-and we hadn¡¯t even finished making camp yet.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°When should we hit the hiking trail tomorrow?¡± ¡°The earlier the better.¡± Julian pulled out a massive green bag from his trunk. ¡°If we get up by five we should be able to hit the trail by five thirty. Catch the sunrise.¡± I struggled to keep myposure and caught the sleeping bag he tossed my way. ¡°Um. Okay, that sounds great.¡± Julianughed at my expression. ¡°I¡¯m just joking, you dork.¡± ¡°Phew.¡± He pressed a kiss to my forehead, turning us around so we surveyed our lot. He¡¯d managed to get a secluded camping site, no one close by, and the car parked up close. ¡°This is going to be fun,¡± he said. ¡°A fun trip. No have-tos, no must¡¯s. We get up when we want to and we do whatever we feel like tomorrow. Alright?¡± I leaned against him. ¡°Alright. He was right. It was fun. Being with him from sunrise to sunset-just enjoying hispany-and not worrying about anyone seeing or finding out about us? It was a feeling I could get used to. And though my legs and lungs would ache with the hiking, the views would be worth it. He was worth it. After a long day of hiking, Julian set up a campfire and pulled out marshmallows. You need to get the full experience, he said, making me a s¡¯more. I want to get you hooked. But when we let the fire burn down and we snuggled in our tent? He wasn¡¯t so sweet then. ¡°Julian,¡± I whispered, half between giggles and moans. ¡°Julian! We can¡¯t. There are people in the tents around us.¡± ¡°No one¡¯s that close,¡± he murmured and turned me over, his hands gliding across the fabric of my camisole. ¡°Plus, this is the best way to ensure we stay warm.¡± ¡°It¡¯s June. I am pretty warm.¡± Julian made a show of reaching down to grab my foot, which elicited a fairly loud shriek from me. ¡°Julian! I¡¯m ticklish.¡± ¡°I¡¯d say your toes are pretty cold,¡± he dered. ¡°I can¡¯t have you getting frostbite on my watch. I¡¯m sorry, Ace, but I just can¡¯t. I promised to bring you back to Turner with all ten fingers and toes intact.¡± Myughter died against his lips, slow and insistent on mine. He was right, I thought, luxuriating in the feel and taste of him. The other tents were pretty far away. I grabbed his arms and turned us over, slipping underneath him so I could feel his body against the entirety of mine. ¡°Mmm,¡± I crooned. ¡°You¡¯re the best nket.¡± Julian gave an amused huff and bent down to kiss my corbone, hands pushing my shirt up. I shimmied out of it and his lips soon followed the trail his hands had left. When he took my nipple in his mouth, sucking gently, I had to bite my tongue to keep from moaning. ¡°Okay,¡± I murmured. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do this. But we have to be quiet.¡± ¡°I can be quiet,¡± Julian murmured, busy with undoing theces of my sweatpants. ¡°The question is, Giordano, can you?¡± I gave a half-muffled giggle and kicked off my pants. ¡°Only if you promise not to pull some crazy ninja move and sex me out of my senses. Don¡¯t go discovering my g-spot or anything, or I¡¯m not responsible for the noises I make.¡± I could see his wide grin in the moonlight as he tugged off his own t-shirt. ¡°We¡¯ll keep it vani tonight.¡± ¡°Good.¡±But then he bent and tugged off my underwear with his teeth, hands skimming my bare skin, and I had to dig my hands into the sleeping bag to keep from gasping. Julian kissed me as deft fingers moved over me, inside me. ¡°Vani just so happens to be my favorite vor.¡± I moaned into his mouth and spread my legs wider, wrapping them around his hips. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re still wearing your sweatpants,¡± I protested. ¡°How is it fair that I¡¯mpletely naked?¡± Julian chuckled silently and knelt between my legs. I could feel his eyes sweeping across me from top to toe, my heaving chest and exposed skin, just barely illuminated in the darkness. ¡°Only because you look infinitely better d in moonlight than me,¡± he murmured, ¡°and I am a greedy, greedy man.¡± I rose up on my elbows and nodded to where the deep V of his stomach traveled into the waistband of his pants. ¡°Let¡¯spare,¡± I said breathlessly. ¡°I¡¯m sure I can make some arguments in your favor.¡± Chapter 68 Julian grinned again and pulled off his pants, leaving me a wide-eyed, lust-crazed mess. It didn¡¯t matter how many times I felt him, or saw him, or held him in my arms. I knew I¡¯d always want more- I wanted us close enough to melt into the same person. He pushed inside me with a slow thrust, setting a deep pace that reached ces I¡¯d never shared before with any man. I cradled his hips and let my fingers twine through the silky curls of his hair. The pace he set, the way we held each other-it was more intimate than anything I¡¯d ever experienced before. He was everywhere and everything, my world beginning and ending with him. Above us, through the mesh in the tent p, I could see the sprawling Milky Way in a mixture of stars and gxies and eternity. A light twinkled as it sped across the dark sky. ¡°Julian,¡± I whispered. ¡°Julian, there¡¯s a star falling above us.¡± He dropped down onto his elbows andughed silently into my hair, still inside me. I felt his shoulders shake with mirth. ¡°Ace, I¡¯m giving a great performance here.¡± I wrapped my arms tighter around him and joined in theughter. ¡°Sorry. Sorry. I¡¯ve just never seen it before.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just have topete with the night sky,¡± he murmured huskily and did something with his hips that left me speechless. He covered my mouth with his, brandished me with feverish, quiet kisses and continued to move with excruciating slowness. The intimacy, the deep pace, it was all too much. I clutched him tight in the darkness as my orgasm racked through my body, the stars silently watching us from far, far above. I held Julian close as he began to shake, as he groaned his release into my ear and his hips jerked erratically into me. I felt every pulse deep inside and dug my fingers into the taut skin across his back. I felt as if we¡¯d just shared our souls, bared our innermost selves. What we¡¯d had before was sex, what we did in that tent¡­ that was making love. Julian tucked me close against him and we both basked in the afterglow, our breath heavy. I snuggled closer and rxed in his warmth. There might have been other tents in the distance, but at that moment I felt like we were the only people in the whole entire universe. ¡°I love camping,¡± I murmured. Julianughed silently. ¡°You know, I have a new appreciation for it too.¡±All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. I turned over and rested my head on his shoulder, my hand tracing patterns over his chiseled chest and abs. I¡¯d take every part of this man I could, and I¡¯d never give it back. He was mine. ¡°Do you take all girls out here?¡± I teased. ¡°Make them giddy with your skills and the stars?¡± Julian turned to me, the starlight illuminating him enough that I could make out his gentle smile. ¡°No, I¡¯ve never taken a girlfriend camping before.¡± My hand stopped tracing his chest. ¡°Before? I¡¯m your girlfriend?¡± Julian leaned closer and rested his forehead against mine. I could feel the warmth of his breath as he spoke. ¡°Aren¡¯t you, Emily?¡± I shifted closer so that our bodies were pressed together, not an ounce of space between us, my leg sliding between his. ¡°Yes,¡± I said softly. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± ¡°Rafe, man, just get yourself a girl.¡± I heard Rafe¡¯s annoyed sigh on the other end of the line. ¡°No, dude. This is the one thing you can¡¯t do. You can¡¯t tell me that just because you¡¯re all loved up. You¡¯re not even thinking rationally-you¡¯re thinking with your dick.¡± I couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°You know, if there is one person I know who could use a feminine touch, it¡¯s you.¡± ¡°I get enough feminine touches on my own, thank you very much.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. But I¡¯m telling you: one day it¡¯ll be your turn.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t count on it.¡± ¡°We all must fall,¡± I dered. ¡°s, today it was me. Tomorrow-¡± Rafe hung up. It had been a long time since I¡¯d messed with him so thoroughly, but he¡¯d pushed me hard enough in the gym that morning that he deserved it. Besides, I felt like spreading some happiness. I had enough inside me to power a small sun. If only that was how energy worked, we could have solved climate change overnight. An endless source of renewable energy, courtesy of Emily. Looking down at my phone, I saw the photo of Emily struggling to fold the tent poles. I had set the photo as my home screen. I knew it would annoy her when she saw it, and it made me grin every time I looked at my screen. Tim¡¯s voice cut through my office. ¡°Mr. Hunt, Ms. Giordano from marketing is here to see you.¡± His tone was neutral, which was Tim-speak for disapproval. She didn¡¯t have a pre-scheduled appointment and I knew that messed with his organizational nature. But a Ms. Giordano from marketing? I had time. ¡°Send her in.¡± Emily slipped into my office with a thick stack of papers pressed to her chest. She smiled at me and I grinned back-I couldn¡¯t help it. The reaction was immediate. ¡°Hey,¡± she said. ¡°Hi.¡±With her dark hair in a ponytail and a smattering of freckles across her nose. She was breathtakingly beautiful. I wondered if I¡¯d ever get used to the physical punch in the chest when I saw her. I highly doubted it. She put the stack of papers down on the desk but remained standing. I didn¡¯t mind, as it gave me an excellent view of her ample curves. A shift dress skimmed over her hips and cut high enough to give me a view of her shapely legs. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely stunning.¡± She smiled and walked around my desk slowly. ¡°I¡¯m ambushing you.¡± ¡°Oh? What does that mean?¡± I nced down at the stack of papers. ¡°Is this business, or pleasure?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a decoy. They¡¯re marketing evaluations from 2009. I think. I found them in the recycling bin.¡± I grinned. ¡°So you¡¯re here on pleasure?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not too busy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m never too busy for you.¡± I pushed my chair back and opened my arms wide for her, wanting to feel her against me. But she just shook her head and gave a gentle tsk. No, she did something that nearly gave me a heart attack instead. Gracefully, she sank to her knees in front of me. ¡°Ace?¡± Her hands stroked my thighs and she smiled up at me, with smoldering eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about you all day.¡± I gave a half-assed nod, my blood rushing south at the mere hint of what she was considering. What she was so close to doing. ¡°I¡¯ve thought of you too. What are you doing?¡± Chapter 69 Emily ran her nails up my thigh and shot me an innocent look. ¡°What does it look like I¡¯m doing?¡± ¡°Here?¡± My voice was pitched at a level it hadn¡¯t been since puberty. But Emily just nodded with a sly look in her eye. Her finger traced my zipper and I had to grip the armrests. Just having her that close to my crotch had me painfully hard. It was impossible to see her and not want her. To have her around me and not want to hold her. ¡°Fuck, Ace. Do you have any idea how much you turn me on? How much I want you?¡± She rose up on her knees and unbuckled my belt with slow, torturous movements. ¡°I think so. I can certainly feel it. But to be sure¡­ I better take a look.¡± My breath came in embarrassing huffs as she undid my zipper. Soft hands found my painfully hard cock and I couldn¡¯t help the low groan that escaped me. Her gentle stroking was the best form of heavenly teasing, just a beat too slow to give my cock the friction it craved. She tsked again. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to be quiet, Mr. Hunt.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Then she bent her head and touched her lips to me. I had to bite my tongue to keep quiet. ¡°Emily, fucking hell¡­ I can¡¯t¡­¡± I pushed back her hair, making it easier for her to move and for me to see her movements. Emily sucked my cock like she¡¯d missed it, as if she genuinely couldn¡¯t get enough. As if giving me pleasure was giving her plenty as well. My hands tightened as she swept her tongue up along the sensitive nerve on the underside of my shaft. Fuck. And the whole time, she stared up at me with green, earnest eyes. She watched my reactions as if she thrived on them-as if pleasing me made her as mad with want as she made me. No woman had ever given me a blowjob like this. Not reciprocal, not out of obligation, but because she cared about me. She pushed the limits of pleasure to unexplorednds. My heart was a pounding war-drum in my chest and my blood sped through my system fast enough to break world records. Heaven. She put me in heaven. ¡°Ace,¡± I warned, trying and failing to articte full sentences. The part of my brain that housed logic and function had checked out. There was only Emily and her eyes and her warm, warm lips. I was putty in Emily¡¯s capable hands and her skilled tongue. But it was the love her eyes that undid me. Need and hot tingles started at the base of my spine and spread through my body. She smiled and kept going, ignoring my vain attempts at signaling. Her strokes grew faster and her tongue more insistent. I wouldn¡¯tst for shit. And I didn¡¯t. I closed my eyes as pleasure swept through my body. My hips jerked up and into her mouth, and her fingers dug deeper into my thighs as she swallowed. My vision swam. There was reality and then there was this-hazy vision and tingles everywhere. I was faintly aware of her slow, steady tongue and hearing a satisfied chuckle. When she¡¯d finished with me, she sat back on her heels and grinned up at me like the cat that ate the canary. Only, this canary had been very happy to be eaten. ¡°Ace,¡± I whispered, because words hadn¡¯t fully returned to me yet. ¡°Holy shit.¡± She gave me a final, gentle stroke before doing my fly up. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± I watched in a daze as she sashayed to the ensuite bathroom and I heard the sound of running water. Had that just happened? Who was this woman? How had I made it this long without telling her I loved her? Because love was all I felt at that moment, my breath heavy and my arms weak. I loved her. The feelingpletely overwhelmed me. She returned with a small smile,pletely at odds with the way she¡¯d looked when she¡¯d waltzed into my office and kneeled beside me. I opened my arms for her again, and this time, she sank down on myp with a pleased little huff. For a long while, I just held her close and let her feel the wild beating of my heart. ¡°What was that for, Em?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Soft fingers yed with the hair at the nape of my neck. ¡°You didn¡¯t want us to be together in the office. You said that it didn¡¯t make you feel¡­ good.¡± She pulled back. ¡°You didn¡¯t object to this, did you, Julian?¡± I couldn¡¯t help it: Iughed. ¡°No. Fuck no. That was without a doubt the hottest thing I¡¯ve ever experienced. You are unbelievably sexy, Ace. I¡¯m just¡­ curious as to what made you change your mind?¡± A shy smile spread across her face. ¡°I was just in my office thinking about you¡­ and how I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve been very fair.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Her fingers twisted my hair and goosebumps raced down my neck. ¡°I¡¯m all in, Julian. I¡¯m so in. And I¡¯m sorry that I made you doubt that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be.¡± I pulled her closer, wrapped my arms around her waist. ¡°I know you had your reservations, and you were smart to.¡± She shook her head. ¡°No. Because we belong together. You saw that from the very beginning.¡± Her green eyes were shiny, and I pressed a soft kiss to her lips. ¡°Anyone can see what a catch you are.¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t immediately recognize the same thing. That you and I would be good together. And I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Hey, now.¡± I reached up and wiped away the tear that had escaped. ¡°Where is all thising from?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the single best thing that¡¯s ever happened to me, Julian. And I don¡¯t want to hide it any longer.¡± I couldn¡¯t help the wide smile that spread across my face at her deration. Her eyes were warm,ughing, as they took in the expression in mine. ¡°Really?¡±¡±Yes. One hundred percent yes. I want it all.¡± I pulled her close and kissed her. Her lips were soft and sweet and trusting. This woman was a godsend, and she was here in my arms, understanding mepletely. epting mepletely. Telling me that I could finally call her mine. Emily pulled away with augh. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing.¡± ¡°Oh?¡±¡±I can¡¯t work for you any longer.¡± She worried her lower lip with her teeth, eyes watching my reaction warily. ¡°Why? I promise to respect your boundaries. I¡¯ll never even set foot on the eleventh floor if you don¡¯t want me to.¡± I lifted my hands up and away, not touching her. ¡°Look, I¡¯ll even institute a hands-off policy while at work.¡± Emilyughed. ¡°No, dummy. It¡¯s not because of you. Well, not entirely because of you.¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°Why, then?¡± Chapter 70 Her hands traced my chest. ¡°Because I know how people will talk about me being your girlfriend. And I don¡¯t mind-I genuinely don¡¯t, Julian. But I don¡¯t want to be in that environment. And I don¡¯t want to offend you, but¡­¡± ¡°But¡­?¡±¡±I¡¯m not much of a techie.¡± Her voice was apologetic. ¡°I love what you do and I have so much respect for it, same with Turner. And I promise I¡¯ll be the most attentive girlfriend ever. I¡¯ll listen to you talk about all of your projects happily, okay? And I¡¯ll get-¡± I broke her off byughing, shaking her gently by the shoulders. ¡°Emily, don¡¯t worry. I always knew this wasn¡¯t your field.¡± ¡°You did?¡±I raised an eyebrow. ¡°Honestly, Ace, it¡¯s pretty obvious. And it¡¯s not only you. Hell, Josef can¡¯t even send a document to the printers. And you know those regr lunches Rachel has with the software developers?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just so she can pump them for information. She buys them lunch and they exin all the steps for her.¡± I grinned. ¡°I¡¯m not offended in the slightest.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t?¡± I kissed her again, a slow caress, loving the way she felt in my arms. ¡°As long as you¡¯re with me, I don¡¯t care if you never want to use aputer again in your life.¡± Her answering smile was sweet. ¡°I do, you know. Love you.¡± I pulled her back for another kiss. ¡°I love you too. And while I¡¯m very happy about this new development between us, do you want to tell me what you want to work with instead? Is there anything I can do to help?¡± ¡°I have an idea I¡¯ve been thinking about for the past couple of weeks¡­ it¡¯s a bit of a risk, but I think perhaps I¡¯ve be a risk-taker.¡± ¡°Oh?¡±¡±Yes. I recently met someone who takes wild business risks and has created some surprisingly sessful ventures.¡± I raised an eyebrow. ¡°You did?¡± ¡°Mhm. And without naming any names, he¡¯s inspired me to be braver. To go after what I want.¡± ¡°And what do you want?¡± She brushed my nose with hers. ¡°I¡¯m going to start my own press and media consultingpany. Small-scale, initially, but primarily with a focus on how restaurants can use social media to grow their audience.¡± I watched the y of emotions on her face, the hope, the excitement, and the fear. ¡°Ace, that¡¯s a great idea.¡± ¡°You think?¡±¡±Yes. And you already know Michael.¡± She grinned. ¡°Exactly! There are tons of things I could try.¡± ¡°You¡¯d be self-employed,¡± I pointed out. ¡°You could work from anywhere. Even a home office.¡± ¡°Yeah, exactly. Initially, I¡¯ll probably have to. I have enough savings to tide me over before I start getting propermissions.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to be absolutely great at this.¡± Sparkling green eyes met mine. ¡°Thanks for believing in me.¡± I kissed her again. ¡°Always. Thanks for believing in us.¡± ¡°Always.¡±This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. It was a Monday morning and I was feeling fabulous. When was thest time anyone could say that? I was officially in a rtionship and I¡¯d spent the weekend with my three favorite people-Turner, Julian, and Denise. Denise had been adamant that people didn¡¯t change their status on social media these days, but I still felt the urge to do it. Once Julian and I had made the decision to go official, I wanted everyone to know. My new business idea and the decision to leave a high paying job were absolutely crazy, and the Emily I had been months ago would never have dared. But the Emily I was now? Well, I had a n for my future, and I was going to do my best to make ite true. It involved a job I enjoyed, a man I loved, and a brother I would cherish through thick and thin. Julian and I spoke with David at HR together on Friday before leaving the office, just to ensure HR were aware of both my decision to leave thepany and of our rtionship. David had taken the news better than I had expected, but I noticed the amused nce he shot Julian. ¡°Now we¡¯ll have to find another press secretary, again.¡± Julian had been unfazed. ¡°Worth it,¡± he¡¯d said. But telling my co-workers had been the most difficult part. Couldn¡¯t I just send a memo? Sleeping with the bossman and will work myst day in two weeks. Thought you all should know. Coffee at five in the break room? But no, I had taken the face-to-face route like the responsible adult I was slowly bing, informing them all at the same time after a meeting. They had all responded in varying ways. Trent had just given me a little smile and a knowing nod, as if he¡¯d expected nothing else from us. Sasha had squealed, Josef hadughed, and Rachel had been sad that I was quitting. ¡°You are a great co-worker,¡± she¡¯d said. ¡°Can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised, though.¡± I guess Julian and I must have been less discreet than we thought. Turner had been first to know, of course. ¡°So you¡¯re quitting your job.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I had worried the hem of my blouse between my fingers, unsure of how he¡¯d react. ¡°I want to start working with press more in rtion to the food business, but potentially with other businesses as well.¡± ¡°Being self-employed?¡± ¡°Yes.¡±Turner had cocked his head. ¡°I think that will suit you.¡± ¡°You do?¡±¡±You¡¯ve always been very self-sufficient. And I know you know all of this tech stuff because of me, mostly.¡± ¡°You¡¯d be working at thepany without me,¡± I had said carefully. ¡°I only got the job thanks to you, Turner. And I¡¯m super grateful.¡± He had looked intently at a spot just slight above my shoulder and shoved his hands in his pockets. ¡°Emily, I¡¯m an adult. I don¡¯t need you to work in the same building as me.¡± ¡°No, I know.¡± I¡¯d nodded and tried to swallow the flood of emotions rising up in me. My baby brother, all grown. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m working on a side-project. It¡¯s not like I¡¯ll be at Hunt Industries all my life.¡± ¡°Really?¡±¡±No.¡± I¡¯d smiled. ¡°I¡¯m really happy you¡¯re okay with these changes. The most important thing for me is that you¡¯re happy and fulfilled, Turner. That we both are.¡± ¡°I know.¡± He had looked away from me quickly before his gaze returned, shifting his weight from his left to right foot. ¡°I¡¯ve always known that.¡± ¡°Good. Because we¡¯re family. And family is all that matters.¡± ¡°Yes. Does Julian qualify as family yet?¡± Chapter 71 I hadughed. ¡°Let¡¯s give it a bit more time, but I think the answer will probably be yes.¡± The two weeks until myst day at Hunt moved faster than I had anticipated. They were busy, too-I sat in on interviews with my recement and finished the projects I had been responsible for. My spare time was spent building my own fledglingpany and contacting potential clients. Michael was already on board, but I couldn¡¯t put all my eggs in one basket, even if the person holding it was Michelin-redited. My phone buzzed. Julian: I sent over a spreadsheet for cost calctions. It should help you set up a budget for the first couple of months. I grinned down at my screen. He¡¯d been more supportive than I ever could have imagined, helping me build this new one-woman business. The opportunity to have Julian Hunt as a business mentor was undeniably one ambitious people all around the world would kill for, and here I was, getting his time for free. God, but I loved him. Emily: Thanks! But no more helping me until you¡¯ve written at least 500 words of your speech. Julian: Bossy. Emily: I¡¯ve learned from the best. We have to get to the restaurant on time. Michael and Denise pulled a favor to get us a great table at a ce that technically hadn¡¯t opened yet for the public. Not only did they serve amazing South American food, but they could also potentially need promotional help¡­ Julian: We will, Ace. Emily: But before you go back to work¡­ I sent him a photo of the long, sleek dress I¡¯d picked out from a high-end store in town. It had fit me like a glove. Denise had given me two thumbs up and scrambled to find her phone to take a photo when I¡¯de out of the trying room. Emily: How¡¯s this for the awards g? Julian: You look stunning. How am I supposed to concentrate on writing this speech now? I grinned at his exaggeration and the way his praise made me feel. The g he had invited me to was in two weeks¡¯ time, an annual awards ceremony for innovation and app design. Everyone who¡¯s anyone in the tech world would be there¡­ and me, with Julian-official and public. The idea had made me wildly nervous when he asked me, but he¡¯d just pressed a kiss to my neck and told me that we didn¡¯t have to go. That he¡¯d do whatever I wanted. But the idea of being on his arm, of supporting him when he won that award (I didn¡¯t have any doubts about that-he¡¯d win)¡­ I couldn¡¯t not go. Not to mention that Julian in a tux was a very effective incentive. Emily: I¡¯ll leave you alone now. Not another word from you until you have a first draft! His response was immediate. Julian: ?? Iughed out loud at my phone. Technically not another word, so he wasn¡¯t breaking the rules. He could be so silly. I slid my phone back into my pocket and continued packing the stuff from my office. Myst day at Hunt Industries. Who would have known this was where I¡¯d end up? That I¡¯d only work here for three months? Or that I would leave, having somehow gained everything I could ever dream of? I cleared my throat and took another sip of wine. Emily¡¯s warm hand squeezed mine underneath the table. ¡°You¡¯ll be great up there,¡± she murmured next to me. I shot her a grateful smile. Somehow she knew exactly when I was nervous, when my ego needed a boost or when I needed to be knocked down a peg. I squeezed her hand back. Ryan sat in the seat to my left, the ends of his bowtie alreadyzily undone. That rascal. He reached for his ss and I shot him a warning nce. ¡°Take it slow.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m twenty-one,¡± he said. ¡°Exactly.¡± He rolled his eyes and took a sip, but I saw the smile hovering on the edge of his lips. It hadn¡¯t been particrly difficult to convince the event organizers to give me two extra tickets, one for Ryan and one for Turner. For Turner, because it was a great chance towork and meet other people in this business. For Ryan, because Emily had reminded me that if I won it would be great to have family there. It had shamed me slightly that I had to be reminded of that. For so long, I¡¯d thought of Ryan as my little brother, not someone I could lean on for support or I could hang out with as a friend. But here he was, looking dapper and grown up next to me. Emily had said that we looked alike when we picked him up earlier in the limo. He¡¯d rolled his eyes but given her a pleased grin, and my chest had tightened. If only my father could have been alive to see how great both his sons had turned out. Emily¡¯s hand squeezed mine again under the table and I turned to her. She was a vision tonight, dark hair swept up high and green eyes lined and enhanced. And the red dress¡­ it clung to her skin, even as it rose high to cover her cleavage and ended at the floor. I¡¯d have to ask her to wear it again for me. At home. She smiled at me. ¡°Next category, Julian.¡± ¡°I know.¡± I leaned in closer, spoke in her ear. ¡°Do you know that every man in here has been aware of you since we came tonight? You¡¯re the most beautiful woman here.¡± I could feel the warmth of blush in her cheeks. ¡°Julian,¡± she chided. ¡°I mean it, Ace.¡± I smoothed my thumb over her palm. ¡°And I¡¯m so d you came tonight. That you¡¯re here with me.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nowhere I¡¯d rather be.¡± Ryan hit my shoulder. ¡°Look alive, man.¡± I broke away from Emily¡¯s gaze to see the grey-haired presenter resume his ce at the podium. A respectful hush fell over the room. ¡°We¡¯ve reached the end of the night, and with it, our most prestigious award. You¡¯ve been patient so far, but let me put you out of your misery. This year has seen some truly astonishing new inventions and discoveries. With every passing month, mankindes closer and closer to solving some of the most pressing issues of our time with the help of technology. I¡¯m honored to be in a room with so many of these thinkers tonight.¡± We all broke out into apuse as the presenter paused, ncing out over the audience. My throat felt dry, despite the fact that I¡¯d told myself this didn¡¯t matter. My work did. Recognition came second, or even third. ¡°With that said, we¡¯re here tonight to pay tribute to someone who has shown a tirelessmitment to showing how technology can solve real-life problems. This year, heunched never before seen software specifically designed to ensure that health care is more essible. In a bold move, he designed an apanying app and delivered the whole thing pro-bono to any hospital, private and public, that want to try it.¡± Emily¡¯s hand tightened around mine and I heard Ryan¡¯s excited intake of breath. Chapter 72 ¡°I talk of no one else, of course, than Julian Hunt!¡± The crowd broke into apuse. I stood, and Emily pressed a quick kiss to my cheek before I made my way up to the stage. Someone shoved arge bouquet of flowers into my hands and then I was in front of a huge crowd of my peers. Lights blinked down at me. ¡°Hi, everyone. Standing here before so many of the greatest minds in our field is truly humbling. I won¡¯t lie-this award is both unexpected and wildly exciting.¡± The crowdughed, and I wet my lips. ¡°I¡¯ve always been ambitious. I think the drive to create more and to create better is one of the best things we have as humans. But as I¡¯ve gotten older, it¡¯s shifted. My desire to make great things has eclipsed my desire to simply be great. If we¡¯re not making asting impact, what are we doing?¡± I paused. At my table, I could see my brother, eyes wide as he watched me speak. For the first time in a long while I saw the young kid he used to be and felt like the big brother I wanted to be. Someone worthy to look up to. Emily¡¯s eyes were shiny-I could see it despite the distance. ¡°I have a lot of people to thank. Not the least everyone in my team, at mypany, who¡¯ve kept me sane for all these years. But more than anything, I need to thank my family. Because none of this means anything without people to share it with. Thank you all.¡± Apuse rained down around me as I walked off the stage. Ryan was already up and ready to great me. We hugged, the typical p-on-the-back kind of thing we¡¯d always done. ¡°Wow, bro. That was¡­ Congrats.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Emily melted into my arms. I grinned and pulled her back down into our seats. ¡°Are you crying?¡± ¡°No,¡± she sniffled. ¡°You just take my breath away sometimes.¡± ¡°You might have to get used to it,¡± I said and pressed a kiss to her temple. ¡°I¡¯m going to make you breathless many, many more times.¡± Epilogue Two yearster Opening the door to my home office never failed to give me delicious, happy little goosebumps. It was everything I had ever dreamed of. A huge white desk, argeputer. Fresh flowers and wide windows. The perfect space for brainstorming, hustling, and making my dream businesse to life. After we married, Julian and I moved into a new house together. I¡¯d thought it was silly at the time, since his house was big enough for us both, but he¡¯d been determined-apparently, we needed more space and more security, and a properwn. I had thought he¡¯d been a bit nuts at first¡­ but then we found this ce. Just outside of Palo Alto, we had stumbled across an old, sprawling house with both character and charm. Close enough to Hunt Industries, but with a big enough backyard for a family¡­ it had be ours. My home office was just another example of how thoughtful he was. It too, had been a surprise, one he¡¯d set up together with that old interior designer of his. I¡¯d been so busy trying to n our wedding that he outsourced most of the things I was too busy to focus on. Always efficient, that man. I fired up myputer and logged in to check my emails. Sinceunching my business, it had grown steadily, much thanks to the sess Michael had enjoyed. He¡¯d recently proposed to Denise, and they were both over the moon with joy. So was I, albeit partly for selfish reasons-I was the maid of honor and looked forward to nning her bachelorette party. I smiled at the email waiting for me from Ryan. He wanted me to look over the marketing strategy he¡¯d devised, and Turner was CCed in the email. The change that had urred in both of our brothers was nothing short of astonishing. Unsurprisingly to me, Turner hade up with a revolutionary new line of code and decided he wanted to try his hand at setting up his ownpany. I had been worried, but both Turner and Julian were so confident about the whole thing. Julian invested massively but made it very clear that it was because he honestly believed in Turner¡¯s idea, and that was that. Theunch was only six months away now. What was more surprising was that Ryan went with him. He¡¯d interned for me and learned about social media marketing for a few months before going back to college and getting credits in marketing. There was something about the social media aspect and the fast-changing nature of the press that really appealed to him. What¡¯s more, Turner and Ryan had quickly developed this odd kind of friendship. Both were blunt and straight. Turner had trusted Ryan from the beginning in his characteristic way, taking his words at face value, and Ryan had risen to the challenge. I think having a new friend who knew nothing of his party background had been great for him. Julian and his brother now had a standing dinner date every week, and I was happy that my husband could enjoy being with his brother in that role. Both of us had been able to abandon the semi-parental authority we¡¯d worn uneasily for several years, and it did us both good. I smoothed a hand over my tummy and smiled. Especially considering the fact that we were about to be parents for real. I had found out only the day before, taking a drugstore test in our ensuite bathroom. Julian wasn¡¯t home-he was away with Ryan, their first camping trip together since their father passed. I had been far too impatient to wait until he returned. We¡¯d gone off birth control nearly three months ago with the attitude of if it happens, it happens. But judging by the email I¡¯d just gotten from Ryan, they were on their way back. I grabbed a book and headed downstairs, through ourrge kitchen and out onto the patio. Julian had been right, as always. Argewn would be perfect for kids and there was even space for a pool. Anticipation made my toes curl. This would be a new adventure for both of us. I spread out a nket underneath one of therge trees in our yard and settled down with my book. I¡¯d wait for him here. He¡¯d find me¡­ I¡¯d tell him. It was hard to focus on the words on the page. All I could think about was his reaction, a thousand different responses running through my head. But eventually, I must have rxed enough to doze off, because I was jerked awake by the sound of a very familiar, very masculineugh. ¡°So this is what you¡¯ve been doing while I¡¯ve been away?¡± Julian grinned down at me from the patio. I squealed and rose into sitting. He was wearing his old pair of chinos and a rumpled button-down in nnel. His thick hair was mussed and he had a faint five o¡¯clock shadow. He looked like sex on a stick. Of all the Julian Hunt¡¯s I¡¯d seen, I¡¯d finally realized that there was really only one. This one, the one standing in front of me with a wide smile and sparkling eyes, entirely uncaring about what the rest of the world thought about him. When he was here alone with me, with no expectations on either of us. When he could just be himself. ¡°Hi,¡± I said. Julian walked towards me. ¡°Hi, Ace. You look different.¡± ¡°I do?¡± The test showed I was only three weeks along. It was impossible for him to know. ¡°Yeah. Is that a new dress?¡± I grinned. ¡°No, I just haven¡¯t worn it in a while.¡± ¡°Are we celebrating something?¡± For a moment, he looked distant, undoubtedly running through all our collective anniversaries and birthdays in his mind. Iughed. ¡°No, don¡¯t worry. Nothing like that.¡± ¡°But there is something.¡± His gaze was warm and intense as he studied me. ¡°Isn¡¯t there? You look excited.¡± I grinned-the man knew me far too well. I stepped close and took his hands in mine, warm and rough and engulfing mine entirely. Nerves raced through my stomach, but I felt the cool weight of his wedding ring against my skin and it gave me strength. ¡°There is something, actually. I¡¯m pregnant.¡± Julian¡¯s face froze, and for a moment, his look was one of suchplete surprise that I wished I had a sneaky camera crew taping the whole thing. Then he sprung to life and I was lifted up, crushed against his hard chest and spun around and around. Iughed and wrapped my arms around his neck. ¡°Em, are you sure?¡± I nodded into his neck as tears pooled and overflowed, running down my cheeks. ¡°I took three consecutive tests, so pretty sure, yes.¡± Julian held me at arm¡¯s length, eyes glued to mine. A wide grin stretched across his face and my heart felt so full of love I couldn¡¯t speak. ¡°Wow,¡± he said faintly. ¡°Wow,¡± I echoed. ¡°You¡¯re going to be a dad, Julian.¡± He blinked. ¡°And you¡¯re going to be a mom. The best mom. You¡¯ll have to make sure I do okay.¡± Iughed. ¡°I won¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing either!¡± ¡°No, you will. You¡¯ll ace it like you do everything.¡± I pulled him closer and pressed my lips to his. ¡°And so will you. We¡¯ll figure it out.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. He kissed me back gently, hands tracing patterns along my sides. ¡°We will,¡± he said. ¡°Together.¡± Thank you so much for reading Arrogant Boss! I hope you fell in love with Julian and Emily¡¯s story as much as I did. Read on for a special sneak peek of Broken Hero, an small-town romance between a former Marine and the new girl in town¡­ If you enjoyed Arrogant Boss, I think you¡¯ll love Oliver and Lucy¡¯s journey! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!