Page 65 of Secret Heir For The Billionaire Twin

Julian Blackwell is not someone I met at a bar.

He is not someone I can fold neatly into a private decision and never think about again.

He is the subject of my story.

I have interviewed powerful men for years without ever blurring the line between access and intimacy. The rule has never required much thought because I have never wanted to cross it before. Now the boundary is somewhere behind me, and I have no idea what crossing it means for anything that comes next.

A knock sounds at the suite door.

“That’ll be breakfast,” Julian says.

He stands and finishes buttoning his shirt before walking into the living room. I hear the low exchange with the room service attendant, followed by the muted rattle of a cart moving across the floor. By the time Julian returns to the bedroom, his shirt is tucked in, and the version of him from last night has receded another step.

“There’s coffee, tea, fruit, and some pastries,” he says.

“I wasn’t sure what you’d want.”

“Coffee sounds good.”

“I’ll pour you one.”

“You don’t have to.” I slide toward the edge of the bed, gathering the sheet around myself.

“I’m going to shower first.”

Julian’s gaze drops briefly before returning to my face.

“All right.”

I stand with the sheet wrapped around me and reach for the robe hanging over the end of the bed. The movement should feel ordinary, but I am too aware of the fact that he has seen everything the robe now covers.

“When are you heading back?” Julian asks.

“Later today,” I say as I tie the belt around my waist.

“My flight leaves this evening.”

“No other assignment first?”

“Not this time. Grace wants me back with the first round of notes while everything’s fresh.”

Julian nods and reaches for his watch from the nightstand.

“That makes sense.”

I lean against the dresser.

“How long are you staying in Boston?”

“Another couple of days.”

“More lab work?”

“A little. Then I need to get back to New York before Italy.”

I remember the itinerary immediately.

“Right. That’s in a couple weeks?”