8:25 am. There are things you don’t know about me and I don’t want to hurt you.
Chloe’s finger hovered over the delete button. What could he possibly say to make her feel better? Did their conversations and kisses mean anything to him? She wasn’t too sure how she was going to handle Julian coming around the house after the day she’d had with him on the hilltop.
Please don’t be here. Please don’t be here, Chloe chanted, eyes clenched.
She heard the faint voices of her friends downstairs. She scrambled out of bed, headed to the bathroom. She washed her face and brushed her teeth. The reflection in the mirror showed a pathetic girl, red-rimmed eyes from being up all night, tossing and turning. Her mind wouldn’t let her rest. Every time she closed her eyes Julian was front and center.
Only a couple more weeks then I’m back home. Julian will be forgotten.
Chloe mentally slapped herself.
How can I be this stupid? I shouldn’t have ever listened to Feebs.
Chloe shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Easier said than done,” she told her reflection. Flashbacks of Julian came to her mind. Chloe giggled, remembering the first night she arrived, laughing at his arrogant banter in her bedroom. She touched her mouth, missing Julian’s lips when he kissed her at the club. The hilltop picnic and the things he told her about possibly meeting his sister. Then the punch to his jaw that he deserved for leading her on.
Chloe slipped on her bikini. A lazy day under the sun and a book to read sounded pretty good.
After a couple of hours in the sun, Chloe stared out at the glassy ocean in her front of her, drinking in the calm crystal-blue shimmers. Even with the wide view of nothing but sailboats, all she could think about was Julian. His intense dark brown eyes always made it hard to look away. His touch ignited an electric charge and awakened all her senses. She would gladly surrender herself to him over and over again.
Every part of her screamed Julian was the one for her.
She needed to get over him. But how?
She fought the tears that stung behind her eyes. Although she was hating every bit of her life right now, she needed to get a grip. She refused to let Julian ruin what was left of her vacation.
“Paging Doctor Channing… Hello, Chloe…” Ryland said, pulling Chloe from her thoughts. “So, what do you think?”
“Think about what?” Chloe’s legs dangled on the edge of the pool, her feet dipped in the water.
“The sangria?”
Chloe raised her glass to her mouth. “It’s delicious. Just what the doctor ordered.”
“Everything alright?”
“Yeah. Peachy. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Because you’ve been in la-la land. Would there happen to be a hunky Latin lover consuming your thoughts?” Phoebe sat in a large inflatable lounge chair in the pool, sangria in the cup holder, her fingers skimming the top of her glass.
“I don’t know…he switched.” Chloe rolled her shoulders and blew out a breath.
“What do you mean?” Ryland was bobbing in the middle of the pool, her hair floating above the water like the kelp in the ocean.
“He’s not the same person. As if the weight of the world is on his shoulders. He’s backed off and so will I.”
“How can you tell? You barely know the guy.”
Chloe’s thoughts were scattered like a jigsaw puzzle thrown across the table. Not only was she trying to piece together the mess of flashes, she was trying to figure Julian out.
Why the sudden change?
Still, the niggling in the back of her mind kept telling her they’d met, and she wasn’t letting this puzzle piece go missing. If they had met before, why didn’t Julian say anything?
“I know him well enough… For starters, I’ve tried several times to kiss him and he turned away.”
“Maybe you had bad breath?” Phoebe teased.
“Bitch.” Chloe kicked the water, splashing Phoebe in the face. Chloe sipped her sangria.
“Hey, watch it,” Phoebe screeched, using her hand to shield from the splash.
“I’m serious. He hasn’t touched me since the day after he picked us up from the spa. You’d think after a kiss we’ve had, he wouldn’t be this way.” Chloe wrinkled her forehead. “Instead of going on our jog, he wanted to teach me self-defense?”
“Better late than never,” Ryland said, before swimming to the other end of the pool.
Phoebe lowered her sunglasses down the tip of her nose. “Hon, you’re overthinking this thing with Julian. Maybe it’s you who’s sending him the wrong signals. Have you thought about that?”
Ryland swam back toward the two women and stepped out of the pool. She dried herself off with a towel. “Why don’t you ask him what’s bothering him? Ask him if he still wants to make it work with you?” Ryland ruffled her hair with the towel. “If you don’t ask, you’ll never get the answers. And I’m testimony to letting the million-dollar question pass by.”
“I think I already know the answer, Ry. Besides, like I said before…this thing with Julian was a bad idea. Only a couple more weeks and we’ll be back home.”
“What if Jacob had told you he wanted to work it out?” Phoebe asked.
“I would go for it,” Ryland answered, lifting a brow at Chloe. “Ask him, babe. What have you got to lose?”
My dignity.
Chloe pushed herself up from the side of the pool. Everything started to spin, and it took her a minute to focus. A kaleidoscope of memories tumbled through once again. Before the fog could clear, she held the images a little longer this time.
A red elegant gown.
A man standing next to her.
A drop-dead smile and sexy-as-hell dimples looking down at her.
“Whoa.” Chloe placed both hands to her side to balance herself. “Head rush.”
Ryland rushed to Chloe’s side before she slipped into the pool. “Oh my god, sweetie. Are you okay? Here…sit down.” Ryland escorted her to one of the lounge chairs. “Drink this.” She gave her a bottle of water.
“I’m fine.” Chloe tipped the water bottle and took a sip. “I just got up too fast.”
That was a lie.
Phoebe scrambled out of the pool and stood next to Chloe. Her body blocked the sun from Chloe’s face. “You’ve been having these spells lately. It’s kind of scary. Maybe you should see a doctor.”
“I am a doctor and I’m fine,” she snapped. “I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Nightmares?” Phoebe asked, her eyes soft, concern lacing her voice.
“No. I just couldn’t sleep.” Chloe didn’t want to let her friends know that Julian possessed her thoughts and he was the cause of her sleepless night of tossing and turning.
“Maybe you should rest,” Ryland told her, slipping her sunglasses over her face. “You look tired.”
Chloe met her friends’ worried gazes. “I’m fine. Stop looking at me like that. I just—”
“We should skip the skydiving.” Phoebe looked at Ryland. “I could reschedule or get a refund—”
“No. Don’t. You two go have fun.” Chloe’s cell jingled the Hawaii Five-O theme song. Without looking at the caller ID, she knew who it was. “It’s Dad. I gotta get this.”
“Kay.” Phoebe kissed Chloe on top of her head. “We’ll see you later.”
Both ladies disappeared through the double doors, leaving Chloe in the sun’s warm kisses. The ringtone played again. Picking up her phone on the table beside her, she swiped her finger across the screen.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Hi, Pumpkin. How’s everything?” His deep overpowering tone filled the line.
“It’s good…just hanging out by the pool.”
“I haven’t heard from you in a few days. I was beginning to worry.”
Chloe could hear an undertone, something distinct. Concerned desperation started to alarm her thoughts. “Dad? Is everything okay?”
“What makes you think there’s something wrong?”
&
nbsp; “I know that tone.” There was silence as if he were deciding how to answer her question. “Dad?”
“I wanted to hear your voice, that’s all.”
“I’m here with Feebs and Ry. Not to mention you had Sammy come along. What else could get you so worried?”
Almost every conversation with Dad was like a broken record. He was always worried ever since Mom died and especially since Chloe’s attack. And she couldn’t fault him.
Chloe was their rainbow child, their miracle baby. Mom and Dad tried for years, failed pregnancies after another until Chloe came along. So of course, her dad being worried and needing the validation to know his only child was doing fine was the least Chloe to do to bring him peace of mind.
“I’m just here at the office…and I was looking at the picture of you and your mother. The one at the charity event,” he sighed, and his voice dropped. “You both were so beautiful.”
Chloe sat straight up and squared her shoulders. Could it be any more of a coincidence? “Uh, Dad. What color dress was I wearing?”
“Color of your dress? Why?”
“Please, just answer the question,” Chloe implored. Images of the past charity events danced in her head. It was time to start putting the puzzle pieces together.
“You’re starting to sound like you’re in the courtroom. Maybe you should’ve been a lawyer instead of a doctor.”
“Please, Dad… I just want to know.”
“You’re wearing a red dress. Now are you going to tell me why that is so important?”
Well there’s one puzzle piece placed. Red dress, check.
“I-I just was curious, that’s all.”
“I don’t buy it. You never were into dressing up and all of sudden you want to know…what gives?”
“I’ve been…” Chloe took a breath. “… having flashbacks.”
“What kind of flashbacks?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course, it matters. Tell me what you see.”
Chloe cleared her throat. “Me in a red gown.”
“That’s it? Anything else?”
“A man in a suit. I can’t see his face. Not completely.” She twisted her lips. “I’m sure it could’ve been any of the men you and Mom introduced to me to that night.”
“Hmm. I wonder what’s triggering these?”
“Mom’s hosted about five of these things and last Christmas was the first time we skipped it. Maybe the stress of the planning.”
“Are you saying you’re not up to hosting this year’s event? If not, you should have Stacey—”
“I can do it. I want to do it. These women and children need this event, need me…and we need the donations.”
“Your mother would be so proud of you. I certainly am. Picking up where she left off.”
“Yes.” Chloe knew this, too. “I’ve swindled Feebs and Ry to participate in the dating auction.”
Dad chuckled. “How’d you pull that off?”
“Let’s just say there’s a wager riding on this.” Chloe’s mouth turned up.
“Whatever works. With Phoebe being the new face for Channel 3 primetime news and Ryland’s family history, you’ll be sure to raise some money for the event.”
“I already have about ten stunning women lined up for this. It will be a success, like it’s always been.”
“Yes. It always is.” Dad cleared his throat. “Pumpkin, I wanted to ask about…Julian Cruz?”
Chloe jolted at the mention of Julian. Well, this conversation was unexpected. Does Dad know about us?
Nervous feelings brought her back when she was a teenager when Dad disapproved of the boys she’d dated. Dad would go ballistic if he knew about her and Julian, and would most likely fire him.
“Um… He’s okay. Why do you ask?”
“Heard he did some improvements around the house.”
“Oh… I guess so. He installed a home security system. Was that your idea?”
“Yes. I thought it would be a good investment. He’s not just the handyman. He’s also paid to drive you around. That is a non-negotiable.”
“Wha-why?”
“Because I’m paying him to do it. That’s why.”
Chloe needed to know more about Julian and who he really was. She only knew of his family and the fact he was in the Navy.
But what else made him tick?
Why the emotional switch?
Whenever Chloe looked in his eyes, there was a deep-seated mystery.
Where was he from?
Was he temporary or a permanent hire?
“Dad, why don’t you tell me about Julian. How much do you know about him?”
Silence stretched through the phone line, as if Dad were trying to summon the answer. “Enough to know he needed a job. He’s ex-Navy, was married I think…”
A woman’s voice echoed in the background. “Mr. Channing. Charles Fremont is on line three. He said it’s important that he speaks with you.”
“Thank you, Martha. Give me a second,” he told his secretary. “Pumpkin, I’ve got another call I need to take.”
Chauffeur? Hogwash. Dad hired Julian not knowing more about him? Unlike him.
Chloe recalled a conversation she had with Dad and why Sam had to accompany her on this trip. Incognito babysitter. But Sam had been so preoccupied with Sage, maybe this was Dad’s creative sham to hire a backup babysitter. Or, in laymen’s terms, a bodyguard.
But why? What was Dad not telling her?
“This conversation is not over, Dad.”
“It is for now. Call me sometime, will you? I’d like to know you’re doing okay over there. I love you, Pumpkin.”
“Love you too.” Chloe hung up. With her cell still in her hand, she tapped the edge of her phone softly on her chin, deep in thought.
Married? And maybe another babysitter…or bodyguard?
At least that was something. Is this why he’d been acting distant?
She felt a shift in the air, sprouting goosebumps up her spine. “Jiminy Christmas.” Chloe gasped, her hand on her chest. “You really need to stop sneaking up on me like that.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” Julian walked around and stood in front of her. “I ran into Ryland and Phoebe out front. Are you okay?”
A visual aphrodisiac. His tan olive skin, chocolate dark eyes, chiseled jaw with just enough shadow made her heart beat. Broad shoulders and muscular corded arms. Julian smiled, flaunting his sexy-as-hell dimples she adored.
Hmmm…my flashback… Dimples?
Chloe pulled the towel over her stomach, hiding her scars. “I’m fine. I just got lightheaded. I blame Ryland’s famous sangria.”
“You didn’t want to go skydiving?”
“Honestly…not really. It was Phoebe’s idea and a dare on her part. I like my feet planted right here.” Chloe padded her foot on the cushion.
“May I?” Julian asked, pointing to the opposing lounge chair.
“Sure. Have a seat.” She studied Julian as he sat across from her. His elbows on his knees and his fingers clasped together. He wore a pair of board shorts and his white t-shirt clung against flexed biceps and broad shoulders. Everything about Julian screamed sex appeal and mystery.
Chloe focused on Julian’s hand. She didn’t see an untanned ring line around his finger to some sign of a wedding band. In the back of her mind, she wondered about Julian’s wife and why they were no longer married.
Does he still love her? Do they have children? How long were they married? Why aren’t they together anymore?
“Want to tell me about them?” Julian asked.
“Tell you about what?”
“Your flashbacks.” He raised a brow.
“Did anyone ever tell you it’s not nice to eavesdrop?”
“Did anyone ever tell you not to bottle things up? That it’s good to talk about things?”
“Pot, meet kettle.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Give and take. C
hloe was not one for games, but if Julian showed her a piece of what was hiding in that proverbial locked box of his, then maybe she would open up her box, just for him. The one question burned her mind.
Why was it so important for Chloe to know more about him? The answer was simple, but yet not so. Was she falling in love with Julian Cruz?
She had to take a step back. No pretenses, no expectations.
She’d revel in the moment and enjoy the time she had left with him. Julian had somehow breached the walls protecting her heart. But when the time came for them to part ways, she had to be strong enough to say goodbye.
The heel of her hand pressed against her chest, coddling the rising ache. She couldn’t bear it, another heartbreak. And Chloe knew she would not be able to recover from this one.
Booker heard the shuffle of Sam and the women barreling through the kitchen, then through the sliding-glass window that led to the pool area. It looked like they were going to be out all day with oversized beach bags in their hands.
He looked over to Chloe, still in her bikini, laid out on the lounge. She covered her scars with the towel, and he gritted his molars, knowing exactly how she got them.
Booker sat in the other lounge chair, took her all in. Sexy long legs and smooth tanned skin and the curves of her tits. Booker forced a swallow down his throat. A strong desire rang straight to his balls at the sight of her tightened nipples peeking through her white bikini top.
Damn, get a hold of yourself.
“You’re here,” Sam piped out, ripping Booker from his gaze. “Take care of my cousin, yeah?”
“Always.” Booker looked up at Sam and gave him a chin lift. He turned back to Chloe, creased his forehead. “Are you sure you don’t want to go?”
“Personally, I think she wanted to get out of my dare to skydive,” Phoebe said, hand on her hip.
Ryland spoke up, sliding her sunglasses over her face. “Maybe if you’re feeling better, you two could meet us at the bar later tonight?”
Chloe looked up at her friends. “Maybe. I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks for your ticket, Chloe,” Sage said. “I’m not one for skydiving either. But Sam is so persistent.”
“I gave Sage your ticket since you’re not coming anymore.” Phoebe shrugged. “At least someone will get to use it now.”
Till I Found You: The Broken Hero Series—Book One Page 15
