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She looked like he’d slapped her and he did not know why. He hadn’t meant it as a blow. Or had he?
“No,” she said. “I’m a full-time mom to my six-year-old daughter these days.”
Touché. The age of her child proved Julie had wasted no time finding his replacement after they’d broken up. For all he knew,she’d already had someone else when his naive and foolish younger self had proposed marriage to her. Good thing he hadn’t yet emptied out every penny of his savings to buy her a ring—only to take a loss when he returned it to the jeweler.
Enough. He gave Julie his best caring-doctor smile. “I’ll bet your daughter is adorable. So, here is a sample of the mini pill you had expressed an interest in trying. I believe it’s a good choice. And I will have a prescription sent to the pharmacy we have in your records. Unless you have any other medical concerns you need to discuss, I should get to my next appointment.” He stood, making it clear she was being dismissed.
Julie got up, took the package of the mini pill starter sample from him, inadvertently brushing his fingers. The same old rush of who-knew-what went through him. He could tell she felt it too. That strange sensual buzz that used to run between them whenever they were together. It was still there.
Not that either one of them would acknowledge it.
2
Julie marched through the door at Le Charlot, a sunny, relaxed French restaurant in the heart of Southampton, then slid into a chair across the table from her British friend Gillian Maxwell who’d called her saying she was here in the US and wanted to have lunch.
When the server came to the table, they both ordered a quiche with salad and fries. “Maybe we should skip the fries,” Julie said.
Gillian shook her head. “No way. I’ll also have a glass of the Rocklyn pinot noir. What about you, Julie? You look like you need one.”
“Iced coffee for me,” she told the server, then turned to Gillian as the girl left. “I’ve got to pick up Molly at the country club at two. The woman leading the arts and crafts program this year ends right on the dot.”
“That still gives us eons of time,” Gillian said in her upper class British accent, which made everything sound like a pronouncement. “Why do you look so rattled? Something else is going on. Out with it now.”
Julie heaved a sigh. “We are supposed to be talking about your new project. Don’t let my tense mood shift the focus to me.”
Waving her off, Gillian said, “I am being purely self-serving, I assure you. I know your OCD tendencies, and if something is bugging you, I won’t be getting your full attention, which I absolutely demand. Get on with it.”
Julie laughed, knowing any argument was useless with her old friend. The two women had met when they were twenty-four and Julie had gone to London for a spring semester at the London College of Fashion where Gillian had been studying clothing design and Julie interior design. Roommates on campus at first, they had become fast friends—the Julie and Gilly duo—and moved off campus together where they partied nonstop with Gillian’s brother and his wild bunch of friends.
Julie pushed the part about Gillian’s brother and his posse from her mind.
When the server returned with their food and drinks, Julie gazed at her friend who’d turned out to be her bestie over so many years. Big boned, her hair a natural platinum, Gillian came from an aristocratic family with loads of money, and today she looked it wearing a mix of Stella McCartney and Burberry.
“Remember I told you I was going to make this summer about getting out of my six-year-solo rut and start dating again?” Julie said.”
Gillian nodded. “Right. Time to take your lady parts out of the deep freeze.”
“Yes, but it is not only that,” Julie said, slicing into her quiche. “I’ve been so lucky to have a brother like Bryce who doted on my daughter and was there for her as a stand-in father. But he and his new wife are so in love that it isn’t fair to ask her to share him with me. Not that he would abandon me or Molly, but between his new business and new marriage, even selfish oldme can see he deserves a chance to have his own wife and kids be the center of his life. And Molly and I need to take a backseat.”
“Hmmm.” Gillian eyed her with new interest. “So, it’s not just sex you’re after. You are looking for someone who can go all the way to husband and father status. Tall order.”
A slight shudder ran through her at the thought of giving a man that kind power over her life and that of her child. “I know, and after what happened with Wayne I’ve had a bad taste in my mouth for getting into any romantic relationship with a man. I’ve been avoiding situations where I might meet men, and when I do, I start taking notes on all their faults the minute they open their mouths. But there is a singles night at the new bistro in Bridgehampton and I thought I should go. And I need you to come along with me for support. Will you?”
“Of course.” Gillian bobbed her eyebrows. “You know I’d never turn down a chance to flirt with available men.”
Julie laughed. “And you’ll probably pick up some hot guy while I end up going home alone.”
“Not if you bring back the old Julie who used to love having fun.”
“Am I really that bad now? I’ve turned into a bitter old pill, haven’t I?”
Gillian touched her hand. “At thirty you are hardly old, and if I could have your face and body for one week, I would make the most of it and have a blast.”
“Stop it, girl. You look pretty damn good.” She knew Gillian had always disliked her stocky body and less than perfect face. But Julie saw the unique beauty in her friend that some smart guy would someday appreciate.
The server brought their food and Julie wondered if she should tell Gillian about Noah. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to go into the whole embarrassing subject of her disastrous love life, but then Gillian started in again.
“Here’s the thing, Julie. You can’t just go looking for a father for Molly. You have to open yourself up to being attracted to someone. And the way you clench your jaw so hard that you might crack your teeth won’t exactly draw men to you.”
