“I don’t know. Kelsey just said shit went sideways today and Julia’s not taking it well.”
Elliot, driving well over the speed limit, made his way out of town and toward the park Kelsey said to be at.
“It’s not like you to go running when someone snaps their fingers,” Cole commented as he rolled the window down and stuck his arm on the ledge, his fingers drumming the metal.
“No one snapped their fingers,” Elliot growled, shooting him a glare.
“Yet, you’re still running. How’s Julia?”
“I have no idea,” Elliot snapped. “You heard as much as I did. Stop talking.”
Cole rolled his eyes. “You’re an asshole. I have no idea what Julia sees in you.”
“No one asked you.”
“I’m your brother. You never have to ask what I think because I’ll always tell you, whether you want to hear it or not. I just find it strange that you, a man that swore he’d never fall in love, is suddenly running out in the middle of a work day to console his woman. A few months ago I couldn’t get you to take the day before Christmas off.”
“What the hell did you need the day before Christmas off for?”
“I didn’t,” Cole explained. “Why are you purposely missing my point?”
“Because I don’t want to talk about Julia with you.”
“Fine.” Cole shrugged again, looking out the window as they fell into silence.
Elliot sighed, feeling like the asshole Cole accused him of being. Yes, Cole bugged him sometimes, he was a nosy gossip, and did nothing but talk. He was also his brother and always meant well.
“I didn’t swear I’d never fall in love,” Elliot corrected into the silence. “I swore I never wanted to fall in love.”
“Is there a difference?” Cole pressed, his voice low.
“Yeah,” Elliot said, resigned. “I’m pretty sure there is.”
“Maybe you should be more than pretty sure before you get any further involved with Julia.”
Elliot’s shot a death glare at his brother. “Maybe you should back the fuck off and mind your own business.”
“Hate to tell you, bro, but Julia’s a friend of mine. She is my business. And I don’t want to see either of you hurt.”
It took Elliot a minute of quiet, contemplative driving to clear his head and listen to what his brother was saying. He thought of Julia and how introspective she could be sometimes, how suspicious and quiet her nature was, how few friends she seemed to have. Frankly, it made him thankful that Cole was protecting Julia. Even if it was from him.
Elliot took a cleansing breath and tried to press reset on the conversation. “I’m glad you’re her friend. I’m glad you made us take that job. I don’t mean to act like a dick.”
“It’s cool,” Cole said in his easy way. “But do you see where I’m coming from?”
Elliot shrugged. “Kind of. I can’t predict the future, Cole. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“But you’re going to be careful with her, right? Because she’s not as tough as she acts.”
“Yeah. I’ve got her.” He nodded in his brother’s direction and Cole responded with a nod of his own. “I’ve got her,” Elliot repeated.
He thought about their conversation the entire way to the park. What was he doing with Julia? How long did he expect it to last? Long enough, he thought to himself, that he’d just responded to a wedding invitation and added Julia as his plus one without even asking her. Long enough that even though it was only April, he was planning on taking her apple picking in the fall if she’d let him. He’d even wondered if she’d want to head to the ballpark and catch a game. So, obviously, without really thinking too much about it, he’d insinuated Julia into his life. Things just felt right when they were together.
Did she feel the same? Did she ache when they weren’t together? Did her skin hum when they touched?
He’d never been the happy brother—that was Tucker. He certainly wasn’t the funny one—that was Cole. Elliot had always been the serious one, the solemn one. With Julia, he was someone else without even trying or knowing he was doing it. He was happier. Funnier. Things were just a little brighter and easier when they were together.
They approached the park where Kelsey had told him to go at the same time a helicopter was landing. The H-Surf logo was painted on the side.
Cole whistled. “Does it bother you that Julia’s rich?”
“Why would it bother me?” At the moment, Elliot didn’t care about anything but getting to Julia, but he’d started to appreciate his brother’s distracting chatter.
“I don’t know. Does it threaten your intense masculinity?” Cole laughed as he said it.
“Nothing could threaten my masculinity,” Elliot responded casually, slamming the truck into park and getting out. Cole met him around front and took the keys.
“Send Julia my love. And call me, you asshole,” Cole said with a slap on Elliot’s shoulder.
Elliot flipped him the bird over his shoulder and jogged to the helicopter without looking back. A pilot still sat in the cockpit of the chopper but a male flight attendant stood on the ground, expectantly holding out a hand. Ignoring him, Elliot climbed aboard and put on the provided headphones.
“Welcome aboard, sir. Just a quick twenty-minute trip and we’ll be at the airport.”
He wasn’t lying. Twenty minutes later, they were landing at an airport and he was led again to another craft. This one unmarked, but he recognized Kelsey standing at the bottom of the stairs.
She looked tired. Worried and tired.
“Where is she?” Elliot asked, not wasting any time with pleasantries. He’d come for one reason and one reason only. To see Julia.
She led him up the stairs and onto the plane, its plush leather furniture the color of caramel and sleek lighting making the cabin seem personal and inviting. It was small but well-outfitted and as opulent a luxury he’d ever seen. It smelled like rich leather and, if he wasn’t mistaken, prime rib.
“She’s been in there for almost two hours. I can’t get her to open the door.”
“What the hell happened?” he growled, not waiting for her answer, instead lightly tapping on the closed door in front of him. “Baby? It’s me. Can I come in?”
He waited for her answer, not wanting to intrude or catch her unawares. Even if she’d asked for him, she deserved her privacy. When the door unlocked with a click, he looked back at Kelsey and gave her a nod before slipping in.
Julia was sitting on the bed, still in her high-class work clothes, but her hair was a long, loose curly mess. She sat with her head down, her shoulders slumped and she looked so small it nearly broke his heart. He took the few steps, his steps lost in the thick carpet, and sat gently on the bed next to her. He sat close enough that she leaned into him, her shoulder against his bicep, and he could smell her citrus scent envelop him.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice gruffer than he intended. He didn’t like knowing something had upset her, but he also knew that she didn’t like to be overwhelmed with drama. The last thing he’d want to do was be part of the problem and not the solution. So, he held back, waiting for her to show him what she needed from him.
Julia shook her head, her hair sliding and bouncing onto his hand. “No,” she whispered.
“You want to talk about it?”
She shook her head again, hauntingly silent. Elliot didn’t think she’d be ready, but he took solace that, if nothing else, she’d called when she’d needed him. When she was ready to talk about it, he hoped she’d call then too.
“How about laying back in this bed and letting me hold you? Are you up for that?”
Julia sucked in a stuttered breath. “Please,” she whispered.
It took little effort to slip off his shoes and scoot them both up the bed until she had her head resting on his chest and his arms were wrapped around her. She was warm in his hold, soft and sweet against him, her thigh shifting until it was nestled between his o
wn.
He held her like that for a long time, the shadows on the wall shifting as the sun made its way across the sky. She was still, other than her fingers that toyed with the button of his flannel. Elliot ran a hand slowly up and down her back, relearning the curve of her spine and the feel of her against him. He took his time, letting her come down from whatever had gotten her so wound, and it was a physical thing.
She went from being stiff in his arms, her shoulders high and tight around her neck, to loose-limbed, her breaths finally coming out even and relaxed. Eventually, she raised herself up just a little, her head tilted so she could look at him.
It struck him then that she used to avoid his eyes, hers darting all over and barely meeting his. Now, she sought him out, their connection solid.
“They ruined it,” she choked, biting her lips between her teeth to keep control. “It didn’t go through.”
“Who ruined it?” he asked, smoothing the hair off her face, his hand lingering in her curls.
“My grandparents. They filed an injunction and stopped the sale.”
“Can they do that?” he asked.
She shook her head, more bemused, he thought, than answering. “I wouldn’t think so, but they did. Somehow, they did.”
“On what grounds? What do they stand to gain?”
“Nothing,” she said, sitting up more, color back in her cheeks. “They have no stake in the company; I don’t owe them anything. They don’t stand to gain anything.”
“So what? It’s just a power play?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted, her brow slashed down, deep in thought. “My lawyer said he’ll have it settled by Monday. The Louziers think they’re well-connected, but they have nothing on my lawyer. Brian knows everyone in town and they all owe him a favor.”
“Brian, huh?” Elliot asked, a brow raised in her direction.
“He’s my lawyer.”
“So you said.” His voice was low as a surge of jealousy shot through him—something about the way she talked about Brian, his name rolling off her tongue like she was used to saying it.
“He’s confident he can end this quickly. This wasn’t part of the plan.”
“I know,” he said. “I was hoping you’d come home tonight and we could get back to all the good stuff we were doing before you left.”
Chin on his chest, she assessed him. “I missed you.” The confession seemed pulled out of her, the vulnerability in her eyes when she said it was palpable.
“I missed you, too,” he ground past the emotion in his throat.
“I kept thinking about you,” she admitted. “At weird times.”
Elliot wanted to laugh that she seemed so put out by the whole thing. Like thinking about him was an annoyance she didn’t understand, but he kept his face straight. He was starting to think that for the first time, he really understood a woman. He knew enough about Julia to know that she was working out her feelings, most of them usually bottled up inside.
He nodded, commiserating, his fingers sifting through her hair. “I was at the lumberyard a few days ago, ordering beams for another job, and happened to see a display for a local artist who makes stained-glass windows. I took a picture of the display to show you and grabbed his card because it made me think of you.”
“Why didn’t you text it to me?”
“I didn’t want to bother you.” Elliot shrugged. “And I didn’t want to overstep any boundaries.”
“It wouldn’t have bothered me,” she whispered. “I would have liked hearing from you.”
Elliot finally smiled, close enough to see the gold flecks in her green eyes, and framed her face with his hands.
“It’s been almost a week since I kissed you.”
“What’s stopping you now?”
Elliot pulled her up, his lips taking hers quickly. He was glad he hadn’t rushed her and let her take her time coming around. She was calm and pliant, her lips soft and supple as her arms wound around his neck.
“Julia?” A knock sounded at the door and Kelsey’s voice floated through the rich wood. “I’m sorry to bug you two, but the crew needs to know if you’re planning to fly the original flight plan or if they need to cancel.”
“I hadn’t had time to ask where you were flying off to,” he told her.
“Not me. We,” she corrected. “I had Kelsey put together a celebration trip but obviously that isn’t going to happen.”
“Well, why don’t we make it a recuperating trip? Something to help you rest before Monday comes and you go back to being the big boss lady.” He laid his lips back on hers, letting her relax into the idea. “But for now, you can just let me take care of you.”
She considered his offer, her eyes locked on his. Those bright green emeralds laser-focused on him.
“I think that’s exactly what I need,” she whispered finally.
They never left the bedroom of the plane, instead taking off and flying in the privacy of the darkened room. No one bothered them; no one came to tell them they needed to put their seats in their upright positions. Elliot let the strangeness of the situation go, instead focusing on Julia and having her back in his arms after a long week without her.
“Did you at least get to enjoy seeing your father in London?” he asked.
They were sitting up now, he against the headboard, she cross-legged across from him. Her fingers toyed with his and he absently rubbed her thigh.
“I did.” She let out a small frustrated huff. “I was going to buy something while I was there and he bought it for himself instead.”
“You could have just outbid him, I’m sure,” he commented, reminding her of the time she outrageously outbid his offer on his grandmother’s house.
She sent him a droll look. “That would have seemed petty.” He shrugged, not agreeing or disagreeing with her. “Besides, he spends more time in London than I do, so it would have been inconvenient anyway.”
“What was it?” he asked.
“An art gallery.”
He only paused, his thigh rubbing for a scant second. “Would be hard to run an art gallery in London from Connecticut,” he agreed.
“I could have hired someone.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
Elliot laughed, unable to hold it in any longer and Julia sent him a sour look. “What?” she asked.
“I’ve never seen you pout before.” He pinched her gently. “It’s very cute.”
Hours later, they were shown into a very luxurious beach house on a private island that Elliot was sure cost a fortune. It was all polished, dark Brazilian wood and open windows, and as he and Julia made their way to the bedroom, he could see through the open French doors that his first steps outside would be onto white sand.
“This place is unbelievable,” he muttered as the concierge brought their bags down a long hallway to what he assumed was the bedroom. When returned, he faced them both with a smile and a bow. “Is there anything else I can get you this evening?”
“No, thank you.” Julia told him.
“If there’s anything that you need, don’t hesitate to call.” He then showed himself out.
Without another word, Julia headed down the same hallway the concierge had disappeared down. After taking another awed look at his surroundings, Elliot followed.
“Will you unzip me?” Julia, back in her amazingly high heels, asked over her shoulder as he walked in. Her hair was held to the side in one of her fists and he instantly hardened, imagining doing the same.
He took the delicate zipper between his thumb and forefinger and slowly pulled it down. He could smell the slight scent of oranges, but he was more entranced with the natural scent of her skin, the way that Julia smelled on her own. The farther down the zipper went, he revealed the thin band of her bra and the small of her back. When it was open all the way, he slid his hands into the dress and over her shoulders. It fell easily from the top of her body as she pulled those tattooed arms out of the sleeves, and he helped her skim the material down her hips
until it fell to the floor. When he looked down, she was still in her heels and that thong he’d complained about being in her bag.
“I recant my statement about the granny panties,” he growled as he slid his hands down to her hips.
“Unhook me,” she told him.
He did, her filmy bra coming off. She hung it on the door knob, turned around to face him and put a hand on his shoulder. He realized she was bracing herself as she slipped her shoes off.
“You have some catching up to do if you’re going to come swimming with me.” One of her heels clattered on the tile.
“Now?”
She shifted again and he heard the clack of the other shoe hitting the floor. Julia stood in front of him, hooking her thumbs in the sides of her panties and doing a little shimmy until they dropped to the floor.
“Now,” she confirmed before walking out the French doors and onto the beach.
Naked.
Elliot knew her and somehow had the magical ability to calm her anxiety.
Her feet, white sand between her toes, went from walking to running before she knew it, and she found herself streaking, naked, across the Caribbean sand, hair flying behind her. After the crushing disappointment of the sale not going through and her subsequent meltdown, running felt freeing. The air was heavy and hot, making her skin dewy under the moonlight, but Julia didn’t care. She was vibrating inside; a thousand emotions warred inside and she was still unsure what they all meant. She was so angry, furiously embarrassed yet strangely resolved, like she wasn’t that surprised. She was relieved Elliot had come when she’d called, needing his particular brand of stead and solid to settle her soul. She was excited that even though she’d been a mess, he’d still seen her as a woman. Her nerves still jangled like bells when she recalled the heated looks he’d sent her on the plane.
She let out a squeal when big arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her off the ground. Elliot laughed as he walked them into the water, her back against his chest.
“I hope this is a private beach, Shorty, or else the whole place just got one hell of a view,” he growled against her ear.
He let her feet down where the water lapped her knees and ran a few feet farther, doing a shallow dive into the surf. She held her breath and swam as far as she could, gliding through the warm water until she couldn’t anymore. When she surfaced and wiped the water from her face, she saw Elliot pop up not too far away. She gently paddled to him, wordlessly wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him. She kissed him with every ounce of emotion she’d felt over the last few days of missing him, disappointment over the deal’s fallout, and the unbalance she felt over seeing her father. She poured everything she had into him and felt a wave of unexpected relief.
Elliot: The Williams Brothers Page 14
