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“Pick you up in an hour?” I asked.
“Perfect.”
We said goodbye, and I put my phone back on my nightstand. I felt like my smile would never fade. I didn’t know what was wrong with me.
What was it about this woman that made me act this way? If she were another girl, any other girl, I would have moved on already. I wouldn’t have thought twice about sleeping with her and then never calling her again. But I couldn’t imagine not seeing her. The thought of letting her disappear from my life was unbearable.
It wasn’t just the sex, although that had been life-changing. It was everything about her. From her pale blue eyes to her light brown hair to her undeniable intelligence and quick-witted personality. Julie Black was captivating.
I dressed in a hurry, and soon, I was on my way to her house. When I pulled up out front, she was already waiting for me.
“Hey there,” she said as she climbed into the passenger seat. “You’re right on time.”
“I told you,” I said. “I’m a gentleman.”
She laughed and fastened her seatbelt while I admired her. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, making her eyes even more striking than before. She wore a simple blouse and a pair of tightly-fitted jeans. My eyes raked themselves down her body, and I felt my breath catch in my chest.
“Where are we going?” Julie asked, snapping me back to reality.
“Just this little diner I know,” I said. “I think you’ll like it.”
We drove through town, the conversation never faltering. Julie told me about her visit with her family and asked how my weekend had been so far. I was embarrassed to admit that I’d done nothing but work. Julie didn’t seem to mind. She kept up her end of the conversation effortlessly.
“So,” I said. “Your mom really gave you a hard time?”
“Not too bad,” Julie said. “She’s been worse.”
“How so?” I asked.
“My mother has a very specific idea about the way I should live my life,” Julie said. “And if I don’t follow that idea to the letter, she just has to throw her two cents in.”
“I think that’s all moms.” I laughed. “You should have been there when I told my mom that I was going to open my company.”
“She didn’t like the idea?” Julie asked.
“God no,” I said, shaking my head. “She hated it. She was convinced I would fail and, being my mom, she didn’t want to see that happen.”
“I’m the miracle child,” Julie said. “My parents had my sister, then waited ten years before I came along. They thought they’d never have another child, so, when they did, they pushed all their hopes and dreams onto me. As the miracle child, I can’t screw up.”
“They worry about you more,” I said with a nod. “I get that.”
“You do?” Julie asked.
I nodded again. I understood more than she realized. We were almost to the diner and, as much as I didn’t want the conversation to end, I knew it had to. I pulled into the parking lot, and we made our way inside.
An older waitress seated us, and we ordered lunch, picking up a simpler conversation than before. We joked and flirted through lunch, Julie occasionally reaching across the table to take my hand. Every time we touched, I found it harder to focus.
By the time we were done eating, I was itching to get her alone. Julie’s eyes hadn’t left my face all through lunch. That same hungry look was staring back at me, making my stomach tighten and my palms sweat.
“Any plans for the rest of the day?” I asked as we climbed back into my car.
“Nope,” Julie said. “I’m all yours.”
I grinned and gunned the engine. The tension between us mounted on the drive home, but I did my best to keep talking. The closer we got to Julie’s house, the harder it became. I just wanted to be alone with her, to have an excuse to kiss her perfect lips again.
“Should I take you home?” I asked, hoping she would invite me inside.
“Well,” Julie said. “You’ve seen my place. It’s only fair that I see yours.”
