Finding Julia Read online

  “Fine.” Her voice was flat and they both knew she was lying.

  Julia worried all week, imagining any number of disasters. Every time the telephone rang, she expected it to be Charles ready to pounce on her for something. Or Luke changing his mind. Or Harry telling her Charles changed his mind. Not to mention the fact time dragged interminably as she counted off the days, one by one. She and Claire spent two days brainstorming the Hot Ticket campaign, an exercise which thankfully forced her to focus. The rest of the time, however, her mind was like a restless nomad, wandering into dangerous territory.

  She was a bundle of nerves counting off the days.

  Monday night, she packed and unpacked at least three times, then decided to take a bigger suitcase and throw everything on her bed into it. She simply couldn’t make a choice. She read the twins a story after dinner, tucked them into bed, and went to bed herself.

  The next day couldn’t come soon enough for her.

  Chapter 7

  Luke waited for her at the baggage carousel, ruggedly handsome in his charcoal suit with a dark overcoat folded over one arm. A warm smile creased his face and his eyes danced as he spotted her. She simply couldn’t help herself. She threw herself into his arms.

  “Hey,” he greeted in a soft voice. “I’m glad to see you, too.”

  He held her so tightly she thought her breath would leave her. He felt so good to her, and his scent wrapped itself around her in a delicious cloud. She’d remembered it every day since the last time she’d seen him.

  “I’ve probably embarrassed you in front of the entire city of Boston.” She laughed, pulling back.

  “Maybe only half of it,” he joked. “Don’t worry. They’ll tell the other half.”

  Driving away from the airport, she couldn’t get enough of looking at him, staring at his face, memorizing it. Although aviator sunglasses now hid the warm brown eyes and thick lashes she remembered, her gaze took in every line of his face, the strong jaw, and broad forehead. Sunlight glinted on the faint threads of silver in his thick brown hair. He was freshly shaven, and she inhaled the spicy scent of his aftershave.

  He reached a hand over to her and she took it, lacing her fingers through his. It felt so good being with him again. Just his nearness made her feel warm and giddy, almost like a teenager. She could hardly believe she was finally here, sitting next to him, touching him.

  He squeezed her hand. “I’ve missed you, Julia. Tell me you missed me a little bit.”

  “You know I have. More than a little. I feel like it’s been forever since we were…together.”

  “Well, I have a little surprise planned for later I hope will make up for it.”

  “Oh, good.” She sat up straighter. “I love surprises. What is it?”

  He laughed the full-throated laugh she loved so much. “If I told you now, it wouldn’t be a surprise, now would it?”

  And no matter how much she begged and teased, he just smiled and shook his head.

  They headed away from Boston, the crowded city soon falling away to a suburban landscape. The landscape was pure New England winter. Pristine white drifts mounded against mostly brick houses and decorated the bare branches of the trees. The brilliance of the sunlight glinted off the surface, making everything look fresh and new.

  The plant was just at the edge of a tiny hamlet called Livingston, a two-story brick building with wide windows on both floors.

  “We like to give our employees a lot of natural light.” Luke gestured at the cars in the parking lot. “Most of the town works here in one capacity or another, and we want to keep them happy.”

  The plant manager waited for them in the lobby. Behind him, a small reception committee barely concealed the nervousness prompted by a visit from the executive vice president. But Julia watched Luke put everyone at ease, and the tour progressed in a relaxed atmosphere. Lunch was served to them in a corner of the cafeteria.

  “I’m sorry,” the plant manager apologized to Julia, “but we don’t have a conference room or formal dining room of any kind.” He looked at Luke and grinned. “The boss says this is a no frills operation.”

  “As it should be,” Julia said. “I’m impressed with the efficient way everything runs. Besides, cafeteria food is my secret vice.”

  She was amazed she and Luke were able to maintain their professional poise with the sexual tension vibrating between them throughout the day. She worried people would sense it, people who worked for Luke. She couldn’t let them speculate on something potentially damaging to him. Once she caught him looking at her, a tiny grin teasing at his lips, and she ducked her head, turning to look away.

  At the end of the tour, the plant manager presented her with a Hot Ticket sports bag filled with items bearing the corporate logo. He included samples of the new lines they’d be producing.

  “Thank you.” She smiled. “Having these things in front of me will help us as we work through the project.”

  “It was a pleasure having you here today.” He held out his hand. “Everyone’s excited about the new campaign.”

  “As are we.” She shook hands with him. “My partner and I will be doing our absolute best for you. We’re excited about it, too.”

  She waited as Luke chatted with the man for a few minutes. Then he ushered her back to his car and they drove away. She leaned her head back against the seat and blew out a breath.

  “You did great.” Luke reached for her hand. “They love you, no big surprise there.” He gave her a gentle squeeze. “You’re a pro.”

  “I enjoyed meeting everyone, and the operation is quite impressive.” She stretched her legs out. “Are we heading to the hotel now? Are we having dinner there?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “What does not exactly mean?”

  “This is where my surprise comes in.”

  She could hear the smile in his voice along with... Was that a touch of nervousness, too? Luke, nervous? “Don’t worry. I told you I like surprises. But how soon will I get to see it?”

  “Just relax. I’ll give you a little commentary on the Massachusetts countryside and pretty soon we’ll be where we’re going.”

  He drove at a leisurely pace along the narrow country highway, pointing out towns they passed. Some were little more than four corners with a general store and gas station. They’d driven for about an hour when he turned off the highway onto a recently-plowed narrow lane and followed it to a clearing.

  “Okay.” He turned off the engine and put the car in park. “We’re here.”

  Julia stared out the window. A tiny, perfectly shaped log cabin, with a peaked roof and a tall chimney, stood like a jewel in the drifts of unspoiled snow. Evergreens draped in the same snow looked as if moments ago a painter daubed them with his brush. The scene held her enthralled, reminding her of something from Currier and Ives.

  “Where are we?” She couldn’t take her eyes away from the scene. “Who owns this place?”

  “I do.” Luke grinned. “Care to come inside?”

  Julia was dumbstruck when she walked into the cabin, which turned out to be one huge room. The walls and floor were polished to a high gloss and beams crisscrossed overhead below the peak of the ceiling. One corner of the area was set up as an efficient kitchen while bookshelves and a stereo filled part of one wall. Julia assumed the only inside door led to a bathroom.

  A tiny breakfast set, a long couch, two deep chairs, and a king-size bed covered in a traditional quilt took care of the furniture needs. The colors in a thick rug brought warmth into the room, and an inviting fire was laid in the fireplace.

  “This is fantastic!” she said. “I feel like I stepped into Little House on the Prairie. How did you happen to buy it and what do you use it for?”

  “Later.” He took her coat and hung it on a hook by the door. “First we relax.” He took out glasses, a bottle of amaretto, and a bottle of Canadian Club from a kitchen cupboard. “See.” He grinned. “I even re
membered what you like to drink.” He poured a generous portion into each glass, added Coke to his and ice to both, then handed Julia’s to her. “A toast. To us.”

  “To us,” she agreed in a soft voice. She hoped.

  They touched glasses and Julia sipped at the smooth liquid, feeling it warm her blood and ease her tension.

  “We have steaks for later but we don’t need to hurry.” He winked at her. “I thought we might find something to amuse ourselves before dinner.”

  So what now? Did she even know how to do this? Was she supposed to make polite chitchat first while they sipped their drinks, or did they just rip their clothes off and dive into bed? Last time it had happened so naturally she didn’t have to think. This was different. Planned. How was she supposed to behave?

  Luke picked up on her nervousness. “Did I presume? If this is not what you want, tell me now and I’ll take you to the hotel. No harm, no foul.”

  “No. I mean, yes.” She was stammering and she took a deep breath to pull herself together. “You didn’t presume at all. I want this too.”

  He handed her a box from the counter. “I thought you might like this to change into after a long day. It’s one of the outfits we shipped a lot of this winter. Usually, there’s a logo of your favorite football team on the sleeve, but I don’t even know if you like football, so I snagged a plain one.”

  She opened it and caught her breath. Nestled in tissue paper was an outfit of the softest navy blue fleece.

  “It’s beautiful.” She ran her fingers over the material. “And I love football.”

  “You look good in blue.” He smiled. “You wore blue the night we were…together, and looked terrific in it. Anyway, I figured you might like something comfortable to change into.”

  “Oh, Luke, thank you for being so thoughtful.” She blew him a kiss.

  He reached into his pocket and drew out a small box. “I got you something else which I hope you’ll wear.” He opened it to display a tiny fir tree dusted with snow. When he lifted it out Julia saw that it had a slender chain drawn through a tiny loop at the peak. “Can I put this on you?”

  Emotion clogged her throat, preventing speech, so she nodded her head. His fingers trembled against the nape of her neck when he fastened the clasp.

  She touched the place where the charm rested against the hollow of her throat and blinked back tears. “Thank you. I don’t think I’ll ever take it off.”

  “You could always tell people you bought it yourself.”

  “I don’t have to tell them a damn thing.” She drew in a calming breath. She could wear whatever she wanted. Now. “And it means I will have you close to my heart every day and night.”

  He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “That’s exactly why I got it. A taste of New England and memories of this night.”

  Julia wanted to take this moment and freeze it in time.

  “Now.” Luke took a step back and gestured at the box holding the sweats. “Well? Let’s see how the outfit looks on you.”

  “Of course.” She set her glass on the counter. “I…I’ll just be a minute.”

  She disappeared into the bathroom, grateful for the chance to freshen up. When she looked at herself in the mirror she saw a woman flushed with sexual arousal and something else. Happiness. She reached up and touched the tiny charm, knowing it would be her talisman until the business of the divorce was settled. God, why couldn’t it all be over now?

  She smiled as she noted the scented soap and fluffy towels he’d set out for her. As she folded her clothes and set them on the edge of the tub, she gave in to a naughty urge and stripped off her thong and bra, too, slipping them beneath the jacket of her pants suit.

  In for a penny, in for a pound.

  The two-piece outfit felt as soft as an angel’s kiss against her skin as she drew it on, and when she looked in the mirror over the sink, she realized Luke was right. The blue did bring out the brilliance of the color in her eyes. A quick brush through her hair and a swipe of lip gloss, one last look in the mirror, and she was ready.

  Deep breath, Julia.

  She returned to the room to find a fire crackling in the fireplace. Music played softly on the stereo and Luke, half sitting, half lying on the couch, watched her with hungry eyes. He’d removed his jacket and tie and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. She loved the play of muscle in his arms and the glint of the firelight on the dark hair of his arms.

  “Well?” She twirled in front of him. “What do you think?”

  A slow, languid smile spread over his face. “Gorgeous. Just as I expected. How do you like it?”

  “I love it.” She smoothed a hand over the fabric. “It’s like being wrapped in a feathery blanket. No wonder you sold so many of them.”

  Luke put his drink down, stood up, and took her hand. “Dance with me.” He pulled her easily into his arms, nestling her head against his shoulder, their linked hands folded between them. They moved slowly, almost in place, in the same rhythm they’d been caught up in the last time.

  Here in this cabin in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by snow and pine trees, warmed by the fire, and lulled by the music, she felt the world fall away. The rest of her life fell away and for the first time since her morning arrival at the airport she relaxed, tension sliding away from her body like a cloak someone thoughtfully removed.

  “You smell wonderful,” Luke murmured in her ear. “I wish I could have bottled your scent and kept it with me to open every now and then.” He pressed her to him tightly. “God, you don’t know how much I’ve missed you, Julia. One night together and I couldn’t get you out of my head.”

  “I missed you, too,” she said, feeling the steady thud of his heart against her.

  “Did you bewitch me, Julia?” His lips moved against her hair. “Did you cast a spell?”

  Her laugh was unsteady. “I’m not sure I’d know how.”

  “Oh, I think with you, no knowledge is even required.”

  His words made her feel giddy, excited. It was the kind of nervous energy one got from dancing on a thin wire.

  Luke kissed her forehead, then her cheek, sliding his mouth until he found her lips. Gently he pressed his tongue until she opened for him and met him with her tongue. The kiss went on and on as if they were fused together, sensations of heat cascading through her body. The music drifting into the room was a counterpoint to the pounding of her pulse.

  Luke slid his hands beneath the knitted band of the top, drawing a sharp breath when he realized she had not put her bra back on.

  “Tempting me already?” His voice was just a tiny bit unsteady.

  “Hoping to.” Hers was underscored with the same slightly shaking timbre.

  He cupped her bare breasts in his warm hands, caressing the soft flesh, lightly rubbing his thumbs across the nipples. They hardened almost painfully at the contact, and the same needy ache she’d felt the first time he’d touched her sizzled through her again. He gently squeezed the flesh of those mounds, his palms bearing their weight. His touch was so exquisite she could barely stifle the tiny moan vibrating in her throat.

  As they danced, he continued to stroke her breasts, rubbing them, and teasing her nipples. The fire he’d lit in the fireplace was nothing compared to the one he ignited deep inside her. He brushed tiny kisses over her forehead, down the side of her face, along the column of her neck. He moved his mouth everywhere, tasting the sensitive spot on her neck that made her nerves tingle, trailing kisses along the line of her jaw, dusting her eyelids. His swollen cock pressed against her like heated steel and desire surged through her, enveloping her in a scorching grip.

  The touch of his hand as he skimmed her ribs and the flat of her tummy and slipped into the waistband of her pants liquefied her bones. His caresses were like magic, turning every part of her body into an erogenous zone. And when he cupped her buttocks, sliding his fingers into the warm cleft between the cheeks she caught her breath on a rush of need. An
other moan escaped her. A sigh. The more he drew his fingers through that hot place, the more rapid her breathing grew. Every pulse point throbbed with hunger, every sensitive spot begged for his attention. She wanted his touch everywhere before she exploded with need.

  When at last he moved the hand around to touch her between her legs, she gasped at the electric shock coursing through her.

  “You’re wet.” His voice was almost guttural. “Slick. Very slick. And your sweet pussy lips are so swollen, Julia. I remember how they looked when we were together, the lamplight glowing on their deep pink color, your little clit so swollen and just peeping out.”

  His words stimulated the nerves in the walls of her cunt, making the flesh quiver with need and anticipation. She clung to his arms, steadying herself against the erotic onslaught. When he probed her folds with one finger, her pussy clenched around him and she made a strangled sound in her throat.

  “You’re killing me,” she moaned.

  “But it’s so sweet, isn’t it? So hot and wet inside. You grip my finger the way you grip my cock. You like my fingers inside you.”

  She could barely nod her head. Her bones were already turning liquid and her muscles threatened to give out on her.

  Luke withdrew his hand and licked his fingers, eyes darkening. “Sweet,” he repeated. “The best taste there is. Yours is the best.”

  Despite the trembling in her fingers, she managed to undo his buttons, her gaze locked with his as he continued to run the tip of his tongue over his fingers. His nostrils flared as he inhaled the scent of her sex. He laughed softly when she fumbled with the fabric of his shirt, yanked it out of his slacks, and tossed it aside. His breath hissed at the touch of her fingers on his chest. God, she loved the silky feel of the thick matte of hair and the hardness of the muscle beneath.

  When she skimmed her fingers over his nipples, he wrapped his own fingers around hers and pressed them hard against his chest. She was thrilled she could arouse him so quickly and easily. Experimentally, she dragged her fingernails over the flat buds, then put her lips around one of them.