Hurricane

by Taige Crenshaw

  By the time he had arrived, she was in control. They had shared a wonderful lunch in the sunroom just off her office. It was the usual place she ate and her sanctuary on especially hectic days. Each of the partner’s offices had a sunroom. They also used the sunrooms for their weekly meetings. The meeting rotated between Regina’s and Julianne’s.

  When they were done, Keenan had said he was leaving, but instead she found herself giving him a tour of Moments and introducing him to everyone. Julianne still had no clue why she had taken him around to meet everyone. Thankfully, and surprisingly, no one had said anything about it.

  It’s his damn affable grin. She chewed fiercely. When he flashed the smile at her, it was as if all sense fled from her mind. After Monday, he’d called everyday just before lunch to ask if she was free. And each day she had been. There was no way she would have admitted to him that she made sure her schedule was clear to see him. To compound the situation, by Wednesday she had even started taking over ordering their lunch, and he only had to pick it up to come see her. It saved time, and she could see him longer. The lunch hour went so fast. Now it was Friday, and it had already become a familiar habit that she didn’t want to change.

  “I’m splitting.”

  Stripping? Did he say he’s stripping? Come to mama. Eagerly, she raised her head.

  “I know you have a meeting with your partners. You feel like going out tonight?” Keenan was putting his empty plate in the bag.

  Julianne scowled, realising what he’d said. He was leaving. Returning her gaze to her food, she closed the lid on her lunch. She wasn’t hungry for food right now. She passed him her container, which he put in the bag with his. Keenan stood and she joined him, tilting her head back. His hand slid automatically around her waist. Keenan kissed her softly, then withdrew.

  “How does bowling sound? You can bring Rissa,” Keenan said.

  “Bowling sounds fine. Seven o’clock?”

  He nodded, then kissed her thoroughly. Julianne gasped and held on to him. Keenan drew away, releasing her waist. He ran his finger down her nose, then strode towards the side door. She followed him, watching his ass flex in his jeans. Licking her lips, she moaned, raising her head. Keenan glanced at her and flashed that affable grin.

  “Seven o’clock,” he said.

  He opened the glass door leading to the terrace and went out. Julianne moved to the bay window and watched as he strode across the area to the stairs. Keenan glanced back. He blew her a kiss, as he usually did. Julianne chuckled. In the one-way glass, there was no way he could see her standing there.

  “You both are so cute together.”

  Julianne jumped at the sound of the voice by her ear. She turned and swatted Regina.

  “You scared me.”

  “I did call out before entering…just in case. He must have you so scattered that you didn’t hear me.” Regina pushed back her kinky hair from her face.

  I wish. Julianne passed her, picking up the files she’d set on the table earlier.

  Turning back to face her friend, Julianne teased, “Admit it. You want to be a voyeur.”

  Regina snorted. “As if. I might not be getting any, but I have better things to do than spy.”

  Julianne closed the distance between them, touching her arm. “Things still no better with you and Spencer?”

  “No. When he moved out a year ago, I thought his reasoning of needing space away from each other made sense. The silence between us had become like we were screaming at each other. That I would have preferred,” she said softly.

  “How’s the marriage counselling going?” Julianne asked.

  “It’s not. He won’t come anymore. Said if, after a year, it wasn’t working, it was a waste of money.”

  “I’m surprised he even agreed to go. Spencer is so private,” Julianne said.

  “Exactly the reason it isn’t working. He just sits there, saying nothing. The silence is so profound, I don’t know what to say to break it.” Regina’s voice was shaky.

  Julianne hugged her. “You’ll work it out. Spencer loves you.”

  “I don’t know if he still does.”

  Julianne blinked, shocked. She shook her head fiercely. “He loves you. Always has. Don’t ever doubt that.”

  “It’s hard not to when he can’t even stand to look at me.”

  “That’s no—”

  “It is. At the hospital, when you were hurt, he said nothing to me. Looked through me.” Regina gasped harshly.

  Julianne hugged her, rocking her. “Oh…Reggie.”

  “I’m okay… Sorry. Give me a moment.” She pulled back and started to walk away.

  Regina turned suddenly and gripped her arm. “Promise me that if you have any problems with Keenan, you will talk it out. Don’t let the silence linger.”

  “We’re not like that. It’s just fun, not a relationship,” Julianne protested.

  “I think you’re deluding yourself. You might not have introduced him as your boyfriend, but that’s what he is. This is a relationship…at least to him. You, on the other hand, need to decide if you’ll let him in or keep him at arm’s length. My advice is to let him in, Jules. He’s good for you. I haven’t seen you so happy in a long time.” Regina squeezed her arm and left.

  Julianne went to the table and stared at the wooden top. She had been having a fun, though frustrating, time. Regina’s comment made her wonder if she had been keeping Keenan at a distance. Shaking it off, Julianne picked up the phone and dialled.

  “Hey, Jules,” a distracted voice said.

  “Hey, Kendall. How goes the landscaping?”

  “It was fine until some fucker delivered the wrong plants.”

  Kendall’s voice faded a little from the phone. Julianne heard her cursing someone loudly and colourfully. She winced as Kendall’s volume increased. Julianne wondered what had happened. It wasn’t like Kendall to curse or lose her cool.

  “You are not mother fucking trying to defend messing the fuck up. No, Topaz, I will not calm the hell down. This fucker—”

  Julianne hoped Topaz, Kendall’s partner, could calm her down.

  Voices faded, and then Kendall said, “Sorry. Topaz took the ass away.” Kendall sighed, then asked, “So what’s up, Jules?”

  “Are you okay?” she asked cautiously.

  “I’m good. What’s up?” Kendall asked again.

  “I was wondering if you can watch Rissa for me tonight.”

  “Aww, man, I can’t. I’ll be here late, working on this mess so we can meet the deadline. Shoot. I would have loved to spend time with my niece. Maybe Reid, Syneca, or Sybil can?” Kendall said.

  “Remember, Reid is out of town. And Syneca has to work. Sybil had that shipment of books coming in, so she’s working late.” Julianne sighed.

  “And Noelle and Pierce are having a romantic night out. I swear, those two act like newlyweds.”

  “They are,” Julianne laughed.

  “Please. They’ve been married over a year already. So newlywed they are not.”

  “When you truly love someone, you’re a newlywed every day,” Julianne replied.

  “Mushy load of crap.”

  “Mom and Dad are. Hell, so are the aunts and uncles,” Julianne countered.

  “They are from a generation when commitment meant something. Not like today. Anyway, when are we going to meet your man?” Kendall asked.

  “Umm…he’s not…” she sputtered.

  “Oh yeah? You’ve been spending so much time together because he’s a friend? Pull my leg, why don’t ya,” Kendall mocked.

  “I’m hanging up now. I need to find a babysitter.”

  “To see your friend, I assume. You are so full of it,” Kendall said.

  “Bye.” Julianne hung up.

  She chuckled, imagining Kendall listening to the dial tone.

  “I can watch her. Bring her by Tania’s, and pack an overnight bag so she can stay over,” a deep voice said.

  Julianne glanced at the tall, tanne
d man who had spoken. His steely blue-grey eyes were twinkling, and a smirk was on his face.

  “Oh, boy. I know that look. Where did you convince Tania to go with you? And how much trouble will you get into?”

  “Hey. I resemble that remark,” Dakota Campbell, one of her business partners, put his hand over his heart.

  “Admittance of the problem is the first step.” Julianne laughed, then asked again, “So where are you going?”

  “It’s just laser tag. A fun Saturday outing,” Dakota said, blinking innocently.

  Julianne wasn’t buying the innocent act for a minute. “Does Tania know where you’re going?”

  “Yes, damn it. She got it out of the kids.” Dakota pouted.

  “Then I accept your offer to watch Rissa.”

  “You know, I should be offended that you seem to like Tania more than me, your hard-working, unappreciated florist.” Dakota flopped down onto one of the couches.

  “So now you’re just a florist. Seems you are just that when it suits you, but pull out the term ‘partner’ when you don’t want to work with someone.”

  “The Calvin bride was not worth working with,” Dakota said.

  “You were right. And I refunded them. So we won’t be working on her wedding.”

  Dakota nodded. “Good. That almost makes up for my hurt feelings that you like Tania more than me.” He pouted, batting his auburn lashes.

  “I know your sister will keep your mayhem to a minimum. I remember what happened last time you went for laser tag unaccompanied by another adult.”

  Dakota scowled. “They ganged up on me.”

  “Yeah, the big bad eight, ten and twelve-year-olds hurt poor you,” Julianne said.

  Dakota sighed. “They did, and I was so proud. I taught my niece and nephews all they know. They’re good kids.”

  She walked over to him and flopped down. “They are. You’re a good uncle. And, even if Tania wasn’t going with you, I would let you watch Rissa and let her go with you all. I’ll drop her off at six.”

  Dakota was good with kids. He was gentle and treated them like people and not children. Kids flocked to him because of it. He babysat for her family and any of their friends who had kids. Julianne didn’t have a problem leaving Rissa with him to babysit. Dakota was also a prankster. Between him and Harmon, she didn’t know who was more inventive.

  “I knew you would. You just like to yank my chain.” He studied her suspiciously, then slid his arm over her shoulder. “But I bet you’re sending her with a digital camera.”

  “Hell, yeah. Pictures of them beating you at laser tag will be priceless, and good blackmail material.”

  “Note to self. Get rid of the camera. And, if that fails, the evidence, if they beat me. Which, since I have skills, is unlikely,” Dakota said.

  “Says the man who got beaten by the kid and tween crowd last time. Knowing Rissa, I know she will make it home with the pictures when they beat you,” Julianne said.

  “Humph. Not happening. I have a secret weapon. Taggart is coming with me. We’re going to take Tania and the kids on. Victory will be ours.” He pumped his fists in the air.

  “You know, if Taggart is coming, Tania probably called Byron to come, too. She knows how competitive you all are,” Julianne pointed out.

  Dakota stopped mid-pump, scowling. “Crap. You’re right. Gotta tell Tag to bring his A game and call Mallory.”

  He stood and went to the phone. Julianne shook her head, laughing.

  “What’s he doing?” Regina entered and took a seat on the other couch across from them, setting her folders on the centre table between them.

  “They’re going to laser tag.”

  “Oh, boy. Who all is going?” Regina asked.

  “Tania, the kids, his brothers—Taggart, Mallory, and maybe Byron. He’s watching Rissa for me. So she’s going, too,” Julianne said.

  “Oi. Someone should warn Jillian,” Regina said.

  “Don’t think it will be needed. They already know she will keep true to her threat and ban them if they get out of hand while playing.”

  “At least no one else in your family is going. Then you know it would be crazy,” Regina chuckled.

  “Hey, that was not my fault. Dakota was cheating,” Julianne defended.

  “Disparaging my name again.” Dakota rejoined them, sitting beside Julianne.

  “Telling the truth, that you were cheating at laser tag the last time we played,” Julianne said.

  “You’re just a sore loser. Hey, why don’t you bring your boyfriend Keenan to play sometime? He looks like he would know how to play.”

  “He’s not—”

  “Jules has a boyfriend,” Dakota sang, poking her in the shoulder.

  “Oh, boy. They’re at it again,” Rayne Hawkins, another of her partners, said.

  Some of the other partners filed in behind her and took seats on the various couches, and some on the floor by the table.

  “Just talking about Julianne and her man—she introduced him to all of us earlier this week,” Dakota said.

  “We’re here to work,” Julianne said firmly.

  “She’s been very close-mouthed about it. He’s been bringing her lunch this week. Looks like it’s getting serious. Give some details,” Rayne said.

  Dakota put his hands over his ears. “Christ, I don’t want to know about her freaky sex life.”

  I wish there was some freak going on. Julianne pulled his hands down. “There will be no details.” She slapped Dakota on the arm. “Since when are you such a prude, anyway?”

  “Since you all tend to share a little too much. We might be friends, but there are some things I do not need to know.” Dakota leaned his head back on the couch and moaned pitifully.

  “Sorry I’m late,” a deep voice said.

  Dakota raised his head, narrowing his eyes. “Are you coming to laser tag?”

  “Yep. Shame on you and Tag, ganging up on our little sister,” Byron Campbell, the last of the partners to arrive, said.

  “You—”

  “You all can bicker later,” Regina said firmly.

  “Yes. We want to hear about Keenan and Julianne,” Rayne said, smiling wickedly.

  “We’re here for a meeting.” Julianne frowned at her.

  “We can do both,” Rayne said.

  “Nosy,” Julianne said.

  “Business first,” Regina said.

  Julianne looked at her in gratitude. They got down to business. As they discussed the plans for upcoming events, Julianne’s thoughts were split between the meeting and Keenan. Once they wrapped up, she left quickly, telling them she was leaving for the day to get Rissa ready for the sleepover.

  Julianne pulled her hair back in a ponytail and fluffed it out. Pushing her feet into her low-heeled sandals, she left her bedroom. Moments later she descended the stairs, wandering into the living room. She stopped before the front window, glancing out as she waited for Keenan. Rissa had been excited to be spending the night with Dakota and going to laser tag the next day. Dakota said he’d have her back at four o’clock. She knew it was just before the weekly poker game he and some of the other men in their friends and family had. This week, if she remembered the rotation correctly, it was at Carlton’s house. Headlights came over the slight incline. Julianne glanced at the clock over the mantle.

  “Just on time,” she said as she hurried to the front door, opening it.

  Keenan parked in the driveway and got out. He came around the hood of his truck and onto the walk to the house. Julianne breathed out. The cream button-down shirt he wore fit his broad chest perfectly. His matching baggy shorts, just below the knees, looked delectable on him. Dark brown toe loop sandals completed his outfit.

  “You and Rissa ready for some bowling?” Keenan asked.

  “It’s just me. She’s spending the night at Dakota’s with laser tag on the agenda for tomorrow. Rissa is so excited. Let me get my bag,” Julianne said, turning away.

  “Why do you keep making sur
e I never see or spend any time with Rissa?” Keenan asked.

  “I don’t.” Julianne turned back to him, fiddling with the edge of her ponytail.

  “You do. Why, Julianne?” Keenan caught her hand, lowered it, and held it.

  Silently, she cursed his observant nature and him calling her on it. She also cursed herself for thinking he would not notice.

  “It’s too soon for you to be around her. I want to see where this is going first.”

  He frowned, a confused expression on his face. “But we went rollerblading that day in the park.”

  “By accident. That wasn’t planned. I want to know where we’re going before we move to getting to know my daughter,” Julianne said.

  Keenan nodded. “Okay. I can go with that. But I’m here for the long run. I’m not going anywhere. I hope you’ll realise that and let me get to know your daughter.” He squeezed her hand, then continued, “Now let’s go bowl.”

  “I’ll get my bag.” She went to the table adjacent to the door, then rejoined him. Keenan turned. She smacked him on the ass. He glanced at her, his look amused.

  “What? My boyfriend is sexy.” Julianne blinked her eyes innocently.

  “What did you say?” Keenan turned to fully face her.

  “What’s wrong?” Julianne was confused by his serious look.

  “You called me your boyfriend,” Keenan said softly.

  “Yeah. That’s what you are to me. Something Regina said made me think about it. And, you’re my boyfriend. This is the start of a relationship. Isn’t it?” she asked, unsure.

  Keenan was so still, it was like he wasn’t breathing. He stepped forward. Instinctively, Julianne stepped back. Keenan flicked the door closed with one hand, then locked it. He strode towards her. She moved backward, matching him pace for pace, uneasy at his silence. A feeling of being hunted filled her. She gasped as her back hit the wall. Keenan braced his hands on either side of her head.