It almost looked like hope or desire, but forwhat? Not her, he made that pretty clear last night, but he lookedlike he was yearning for something. Maybe he needed another bloodbag and she was in his way. She could remedy that.
She lifted her travel mug in a salute to themand strolled out of the kitchen. “I’m off to work. Have a goodday.”
“You too,” Cassidy said.
Kyle waved at her. “Later.”
“Bye,” Julian said as she removed her jacketfrom the coat rack, opened the door, and left.
Cassidy rounded on Kyle and planted her handson her hips as she glared at him. “You are an idiot.”
He was in the middle of yawning when hestopped to blink at her. “What did I do?”
“Not every guy is constantly on the hunt forwomen. Some can travel to other countries and meet people and notjump into bed with them. Women aren’t playthings.”
“I don’t see women as playthings,” heprotested. “But if we’re both looking for a good time, then why nothave one?”
“Ugh!” Cassidy exclaimed as she threw up herhands. “I can’t deal with you today.”
Kyle frowned as she stalked out of the room.Then he turned back to Julian. “What’s the matter with her?”
Julian crossed his arms over his chest as heleaned against the counter. Only minutes ago, he’d imagined chokingKyle, but the baffled expression on his face made Julian a littlemore forgiving.
“She thinks I have feelings for Aida,” Julianexplained.
Kyle’s eyebrows shot into his hairline. “Doyou?”
Julian stared at the closed door beforepushing himself away from the counter and walking over to thewindow. He pulled down some of the slats on the blinds as Aidawalked out of the building. She sipped her coffee as she turned inthe direction of the gallery and walked down the quiet street. Heclosed the blinds and turned back to his brother.
He’d never told anyone he had feelings forAida, yet he found himself saying, “Yes.”
“Shit,” Kyle said as he tugged at his hair.Then he lowered his hand and pinned Julian with a stare. “Isthatwhy you left?”
“I left because she wanted to return to thehuman world and escape the vampire one.”
“She got really far,” Kyle mutteredsarcastically.
“She did what she had to do.”
“Did she know you had feelings for her?”
At the time, Julian thought he made it prettyclear with the kiss, but he’d come to realize a kiss could meanmany things, including goodbye.
“I’m not sure,” Julian said.
“Why didn’t you tell her?”
“At the time, she wanted to get away fromvampires and the reminder of what they did to her on the island. Iwasn’t going to interfere with her plans.”
“And now?”
“I don’t know.”
“Have you talked to her since you left?”
“No.”
“And Cassidy calledmean idiot. Evenif you let her go to live her life, you could have said hello oncein a while. It wouldn’t have killed you.”
