AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Autumn nervously giggled. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“I would.”
Both their stares snapped toward my direction.
“Julian…” Autumn zeroed in on me, not appreciating my answer.
“What, baby?” I reached around her waist, caging her in with my arms as I held her against my chest to run my nose along the nape of her neck. I inhaled her comforting scent, leaving a trail of longing in my wake. She tensed in my arms, but I didn’t give a shit. If she was insistent on taking a trip down memory lane, then I was using it to my advantage as much as I could.
Whispering into her ear, “Smile for the camera, kid.”
“Oh, my goodness!” Anne exclaimed. “You two are absolutely perfect! The gorgeous babies you will have!”
“Who knows, Anne.” I winked at her while kissing Autumn’s neck. “There may already be one in there.”
She squealed, and Autumn glanced at the camera. “You can’t use that.”
“Baby, now’s not the time to be shy.” For only her to hear, I murmured in her ear, “You want the world to know me, and I’m just showing the best part of me.”
Without taking in what I’d addressed, she elbowed my ribs, making me groan and let her go.
“Let’s go see the kids.” She grabbed Anne’s arm, rushing to get away, but before she could take a step, I grabbed her hand.
Determined to remind her who was still in control.
—Autumn—
For the next few hours I watched in fascination how Julian was interacting with the kids. I had no clue he liked children—we’d never been around any before. This whole time I thought I was going to have to threaten him to play with the kids, but he genuinely seemed happy and not showing off for the cameras who were filming his every move.
Anne wasn’t exaggerating—the kids were ecstatic over having him there with them. They adored him, and the feeling was very much mutual. Half the time I couldn’t believe what was in front of my eyes. Julian was laughing, joking, bonding with each of them. From playing basketball to soccer, to throwing around a football. At one point, he was carrying around two toddlers in his arms, showering them with affection.
“I’m not surprised,” Anne observed, sitting beside me at one of the picnic tables while we watched Julian throw a kid on his shoulders, in order for him to dunk the basketball into the hoop. “Julian has always had a big heart, especially when it came to children.”
“Really?” I peered at her.
“Oh yes. He’s always known how to calm the little ones down even as a teenager. I think it was because he lived their lives himself. He knew what they needed to hear to feel safe in a new environment. This place can be rough on a child who just lost their parent or parents. Did you know he donates millions of dollars every year?”
I jerked back. “What?”
“Yeah, he not only donates to the group home, but he also helps the kids get into colleges, paying for their books and sometimes their tuition and dorms.”
“I had no idea.”
“This surprises you?”
“Yeah, it does.”
I fed into the gossip from the press. They labeled him as a cold, heartless bastard, and I figured he was like that in every aspect of his life. Especially after being with him the last few days and witnessing it for myself. Never in a million years did I imagine he’d cared about this place, let alone these children living there.
“He’s a good man. You’re lucky to have him.”
My heart fluttered, hearing her say those words to me.
Was I lucky?
The time flew by, and I’d be lying if I’d said I didn’t love every second of seeing him with his guard down. His suit jacket was in my lap, his tie was hanging from his neck with the first few buttons undone. He was relaxed, comfortable, and in his element.
My heart wasn’t just beating fast, it was hammering against my chest when Julian took off his collared shirt. Sweat glistening off every inch of his muscular, defined chest as he made his way toward us.
