Aida managed a smile as she started down thestreet with him. This time, she would be the first to walk away.She felt Julian’s eyes boring into her back, but she refused toacknowledge him again.
“Who was that guy?” Owen asked as they nearedthe gallery.
“No one important.”
When they returned to the gallery, Aida tookher keys from Owen. He’d remembered to lock the door beforeleaving, but all the lights remained on. She unlocked the door andpushed the door open. He followed her inside and trailed her whileshe turned off the lights.
She was reaching for one of the switches butpulled her hand back when it trembled too much to work right.Clasping her hands together, she took a deep breath as she steadiedthe riot of emotions tearing through her.
For years, she wondered what became ofJulian, if he was safe or thinking about her too. She repeatedlyquestioned why he left in such an abrupt, dismissive way and alwaysassumed she’d run into him again one day and get her answer. Itseemed the answer was that he couldn’t stand to be anywhere nearher.
Now that she was away from him again, shedidn’t know if she wanted to scream or cry more. She’d never caredfor anyone as much as she did Julian, and she meant nothing to him.Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to shed them as she threwback her shoulders and turned the light off.
It was one freaking kiss! Get over it, youmoron!
Still, she found herself pondering how manyother women he’d kissed since leaving her.
“I’m going home,” she told Owen as shefinished turning everything off and met him in the middle of theroom. One of the motion sensors remained on, and its dim glowspilled across the floor. “I’m exhausted.”
“Come on, getting out and having a few drinkswill do you good,” Owen coaxed.
Alcohol was the worst thing to mix with hertemper right now, especially if Julian was in the bar with Cassidyand Kyle.
“No, I’ve had enough of this day. Besides, Ineed some sleep before Nicolette calls,” she said.
His face fell, but for once, he didn’t try topush her. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“Yeah,” she muttered and ignored the protestof her stomach. Not even a cheeseburger could entice her intoseeing Julian again. She’d make do with her leftover chickenparm.
She led Owen to the door, saw him out, andlocked it behind him. Turning, she slid her keys into her purse andsurveyed the paintings on the wall. Most of the time, they gave hera sense of calm, but that wasn’t working tonight.
Reaching into her purse, she felt the innerpockets to make sure she still had her pepper spray and knife. Theyremained safely stored in their proper place. Feeling stable enoughto face the world again, she set the alarm and locked the gallerybefore moving to join the people on the streets.
CHAPTER 7
Aida rose from the couch when she heard the key turnin the door. Cassidy barely had the light on before Aida stood infront of her.
“Whoa,” Cassidy said and took a startled stepback.
Aida glanced over her shoulder to make sureKyle wasn’t with her, but he usually found somewhere else to stayat night. Satisfied Cassidy was alone, Aida blocked her from goingany further into the apartment.
“Did you know your brother was coming?” Aidademanded.
Cassidy frowned at her before turning,closing the door, and locking it. “Do you mean Julian?”
“Yes, Julian,” Aida said impatiently. “Didyou know he was coming?”
“No.” Cassidy shrugged out of her coat andhung it on the tall, wooden rack beside the door. “He decided tosurprise us. You saw him?”
“I saw him.”
Cassidy’s eyebrows drew together. “Whatisit between you two?”
Aida realized confronting Cassidy like thishad probably been the wrong move, but she’d felt ambushed tonight,and she’d hoped her friend hadn’t been keeping this informationfrom her. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, he was a little, ah… surprised tolearn you might be at the bar tonight.”
“You mean annoyed to learn that, notsurprised, right?”
