The strength of Cortez’s embrace mixed with the force of his kiss could have been frightening. For Julia, it was intoxicating. How long had she dreamed of them this way?
When Cortez cupped her buttocks and lifted her against him, Julia came back to reality. Knowing what motivated his kiss caused her to pull away.
Cortez was more than a little shocked to feel Julia withdrawing from him. For a few long moments, only the sound of heavy breathing could be heard.
“Did I pass your test?” she finally asked, without looking into his eyes.
Cortez was obviously unable to answer. He simply watched Julia until she retrieved her purse from his sofa and left.
Chapter 13
“You don’t have to be so excited, Daddy. It’s not like I won the lottery or anything.”
Darius Kelly’s intriguing dark eyes twinkled as he watched his youngest daughter. “Julia, baby, it’s almost as good. With that boy out of your life, you can start giving some of those other poor souls a chance,” the retired police detective drawled.
Julia laughed and tossed a packet of crackers at her father. They were having lunch the next afternoon when Julia informed her father that she was through with Cortez. Of course, Darius Kelly couldn’t have been more pleased.
“I think I’m gonna take a break from men for a while,” Julia sighed, smoothing her hands across the satin sleeves of her orange dress.
Darius frowned. “Take a break from men?”
“Daddy,” Julia called in a warning tone, about to bubble over with laughter again. “From relationships. I promise you I don’t wanna explore any other romantic avenues,” she assured her father in the frank manner he always urged from her and her sister.
“Whew, thank God,” Darius sighed, running a hand over his salt-and-pepper Afro. “I tell ya’, girl, a man my age can’t take an upset like that. I’m goin’ to the men’s room.”
“Okay.” Julia laughed. Why couldn’t men be more like her father? Not only was he handsome, but he had a great sense of humor and he didn’t play games. Shrugging, Julia admitted that she was glad she had given up the chase too. Maybe now she could concentrate on finding a man like that. More important, maybe she and Cortez could concentrate on being friends.
Julia looked up and saw that Correll Wallace was standing over her. “Hey, how long have you been here?” she asked, smiling.
“A while,” Correll told her, stroking the smooth line of his jaw. “You look like you’re in deep thought about something.”
“Yeah.”
“So are you ready for the party?” Correll asked, taking a seat at the table.
Julia nodded. “I could use a party right about now.”
Correll leaned forward, a frown on his handsome face. “Hey, you all right? You seem kind of down.” he asked, patting her hand.
“You better not cancel your party because of it,” Julia teased, managing a smile. Her light mood faded when she saw Cortez across the dining room.
Correll noticed the direction of her gaze and turned. “We’re having lunch together,” he informed Julia while waving at his brother.
“You better not keep him waiting, then,” Julia softly advised.
Correll stood and was about to press a kiss to Julia’s cheek. He heard someone clearing his throat next to him and looked up. “Hey, Mr. Kelly,” he politely greeted Julia’s father.
“Correll,” Darius replied unaffectedly, taking his seat.
Correll accepted the cool dismissal and left the table.
“What was that about?” Cortez asked his brother as soon as they had taken their seats.
“What?” Correll asked, studying his menu.
Cortez scratched the soft baby hair near his temple. “You and Julia?”
“Why are you so interested?”
Cortez grimaced and lifted his menu. “I’m not. I did notice how close you seemed at dinner, though.”
Correll pushed his menu aside and leaned back in his chair. “What are you trying to say, Tez?”
“I’m just making an observation.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Cortez was silent for a while. Then he looked up at Correll and shrugged. “She came to the house yesterday and said she was giving up on me.”
“What?”
“I know. That’s what I said. She told me about how nice Renee was and how she just couldn’t hurt her like that.”
“Hmph.” Correll gestured, just as confused as Cortez was. “What do you make of it?” he asked, watching his brother shrug. “You don’t think she’d start playin’ hard to get now or act like she doesn’t care to get you interested, do you?”
Cortez didn’t answer. At the moment, he hadn’t a clue of what Julia wanted.
The neatly manicured lawn surrounding Correll Wallace’s home was filled with cars. Correll’s parties were a staple of the summer, and they were always successful. This one was no exception. People could be found in almost every area of the house and lawn. There was an abundance of laughter, talking and dancing, and the guests helped themselves to the impressive bar and buffet.
Julia decided to park her rental car across the street and walk over to the house. It took quite a while to make her way inside, with old friends she hadn’t seen in a while wanting to talk to her. After about fifteen minutes she found Correll. He was standing amidst a small group gathered around the grill. When Julia tapped Correll’s shoulder, he turned and smiled.
“Girl, I’m glad you made it!” he exclaimed, pulled her close for a hug. After a moment, he stood back to look at her. His hazel stare slowly traveled over her stylish turquoise bikini top and the very short cutoffs she wore. “I’m glad you made it.”
Julia laughed. “You already said that.”
“That’s because I really, really mean it.”
Julia’s lovely midnight gaze faltered briefly. The longer she talked with Correll, the more obvious it became that the handsome advertising entrepreneur was determined to keep her by his side all night. Still, despite Correll’s overt advances, Julia had a very nice time. She felt really good about deciding to come to the party. That is, until Cortez arrived with his fiancée.
“Hey, how about checkin’ out my heated pool,” Correll whispered in Julia’s ear. His arms slid around her waist as he led her out of the dining room.
Cortez grumbled about finding Correll even as he scanned the crowded living room. It didn’t take long for him to spot his older brother with Julia. When he saw how cozy they looked, his jaw tightened. The tiny muscle there danced erratically, but Cortez decided not to interrupt.
Renee’s gaze followed Cortez’s, and she saw Julia and Correll, as well. It was clear that Cortez was not happy, and she grimaced.
“I think the heated pool is a good idea,” Julia said. She was so preoccupied with Cortez she couldn’t concentrate on Correll’s traveling hands.
Smiling, Correll stopped and turned Julia in his arms. “I think it’s just what you need,” he decided, massaging her bare shoulders. “Damn, you’re tense as hell. What’s wrong?”
Julia’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. She just stared over Correll’s shoulder.
“Well, there he is. Let’s go say hello,” Renee suggested, pulling Cortez along behind her.
“We shouldn’t interrupt,” Cortez told Renee, watching his brother lead Julia out of the dining room.
Renee sighed and toyed with a lock of her hair dangling from her ponytail. “Cortez, it’s a party. I’m sure he’d want to know you’re here.”
Cortez fanned the forest green T-shirt he wore away from his chest. “Later,” he grumbled, heading over to the bar for a chilled beer.
“I never did thank you for inviting me to tag along,” Renee said in a voice of phony appreciation. Clearly, her presence there was only for Julia Kelly’s benefit.
Cortez twisted the cap off an icy beer bottle and took a long swallow. “Not a problem.”
“Cortez, why don’t you tell me what t
he problem is so we can at least try to have a good time?”
He fixed her with a blank stare. “What problem?”
“I don’t know…” Renee trailed away innocently.
“Fine. Let’s go,” Cortez hurriedly announced and headed in the direction he had seen Correll and Julia take.
“Cortez, we don’t have to.”
“Nah, Renee. You won’t be happy unless I see Correll, so let’s go.”
Renee watched Cortez walk out before her. Her innocent expression turned into a cunning one.
“What’s up, man?” Cortez greeted his brother and managed a slight smirk for good measure. He stood over the pool with one hand pushed into his sagging blue jean shorts. That hand was clenched into a fist, turning his palm a deep shade of crimson. Correll, who was already lounging back in the pool with his arm resting on the ledge behind Julia, looked up in surprise. “Hey, man, glad you made it! Hop in!”
“Nah,” Cortez declined, his smoky stare trained on Julia’s dark form glistening in the water. “Too hot for me in there.”
Julia tried to maintain eye contact with Cortez but it was near impossible. She wanted him so much. Accepting that he could have cared less, no matter what she did, was killing her.
Cortez was fighting just as hard to keep his composure. Seeing Julia next to his brother ate away at him. Blinded by jealousy, he didn’t fully register that Julia wasn’t exactly snuggled next to Correll. In fact, she was actually standing while Correll lounged back. That detail went unnoticed by Cortez, unfortunately.
“You could throw one of these things every week and people would be here,” Renee was telling Correll. They had been talking while Cortez and Julia tried to ignore each other.
Correll laughed. “You know, Renee, that’s a good idea. What do you think, man?”
“I need another drink,” Cortez grumbled. He tilted his beer bottle to his mouth and walked away.
Julia’s eyes followed Cortez so intently that she actually turned in the pool.
“Something wrong, Julia?” Renee asked, her brow rising slightly.
Julia shook her head quickly and resumed a more relaxing position in the pool. “You better go check on him.”
Renee nodded, giving Correll a sharp glance. “My fiancé hasn’t been in a good mood all day,” she informed them before leaving.
It was hard to miss the sadness on Julia’s face. “Hey,” Correll softly called, cupping Julia’s chin in his palm. “It’s not that bad.”
Julia managed a nod, but her exquisite dark stare lowered once more. A gasp escaped her lips the next minute when Correll kissed her.
“Correll! What are you doing?” she demanded, pushing herself away from him.
“I’m trying to help.”
Julia smiled at the simple admission. “It’s not necessary. And why are you being so helpful all of a sudden, especially when you never gave a damn about me before?” Her eyes narrowed in further suspicion. “Or is this all because your brother and I are done and you’re hoping for a turn?”
Correll smoothed a wet hand across his neck and had the decency to appear remorseful. “I’m sorry, Julia. For everything. Cortez told me about what you overheard, what I said that night. Truth be told, I never had anything against you. But Ma…she has ideas about the sort of women her sons should take to the altar.”
“And their beds,” Julia noted.
“That, too.” Correll chuckled. “I admit to buying into her anger and overreacting that night. I guess that proves I care more about the family name than I thought.”
Though Julia continued to watch him curiously, she couldn’t dismiss the fact that she thought he was being sincere. Without another word, she left Correll alone in the pool and missed the cunning intensity return to his gaze.
Correll spent another ten minutes relaxing in the heated water after Julia’s departure. He was about to go looking for her when Renee appeared.
“Where is she?”
Correll didn’t bother to look at Renee as he reached for a towel. “Who?”
Renee rolled her eyes toward the sky and sighed. “You know who. Julia.”
“She left.”
“Why?”
“I kissed her. She left.”
Renee gave him a dry look. “That’s not the reaction I would have expected.”
“Me, neither.”
“What is wrong with you?” Renee furiously whispered. Propping her hands over the black-and-gray silk wrap around her waist, she stormed over to Correll. “I want this taken care of. Fast.”
Correll’s smile was lazy and confident. “I have it all under control.”
Julia had hidden herself away in an unoccupied area off of the kitchen. She sat there sipping on a creamy mixed drink and berating herself. God, what was I thinking? she silently moaned. Attending that party, thinking she had a chance with Cortez…This had to be the biggest mistake she’d ever made. The thing was she couldn’t seem to stop it. Again, she’d opened her heart to Cortez, and again she had come out a loser.
Shaking her head, Julia decided to forget it all and start over. Standing, she took another sip of her drink and turned to head back into the party. Unfortunately, Cortez was blocking her way.
“Excuse me,” Julia mumbled, figuring she would walk around him.
Cortez brushed her arm and tugged her close. “What are you doing with Correll?” His voice was soft but probing.
Julia, shocked by the question, stood there watching him with an open mouth. Was that jealousy she saw in his eyes? “It’s none of your business,” she slowly replied, trying to extract her arm from his now iron grip.
The look on Cortez’s face gradually took on the appearance of a frown. His temper weakened and he pulled Julia with him into the pantry and snapped on the dim light that hung overhead. “Don’t play this game, Julia,” he urged, trapping her against the door.
“Games? No, Cork, that would be you.”
Cortez shook his head. The look in his eyes spoke volumes.
“Why won’t you just tell me the truth about what’s going on?”
Cortez’s stare raked Julia’s scantily clad body warmly before turning cold. Giving her a stony glare, he pulled her away from the door. “Not knowing doesn’t feel so good, does it?” he whispered, leaving the pantry.
She watched him leave, her vision blurred by tears.
Julia was on her way to the nearest exit. She took off into a light sprint following the talk with Cortez.
“Hey, where’re you goin’?”
Julia closed her eyes briefly, before she turned and smiled. “I gotta get out of here. Now.”
Correll tilted his head and watched her closely. “What’s going on? I thought I had you out of this mood.”
Julia focused on her key ring. “I’ve just had enough socializing for one day,” she said, tracing the bronze letters of the ring, which spelled out her name.
“Well, the party’s starting to thin out. Why don’t you stay? I hate for people to leave my parties upset.”
A brief but genuine smile crossed Julia’s full lips. “I’m not upset, just—”
Correll smoothed his hand along her baby-soft bare arm. “Look, you can’t let whatever it is rule your emotions like this. Not anymore. You’ll be a mess.”
Julia took a deep breath. “How sad it is that I’m too much of an idiot to realize that.”
“Does this mean you’ll stay?”
“I guess for a little while.” Julia nodded eventually. She took the arm Correll offered and let him lead her deeper into the house.
Cortez found his brother ten minutes later. “Hey, man. Wait up,” he called.
Correll was out dumping large troughs of oil that had been used for frying fish. “What?” he called, pouring a tub of the grease into a deep hole dug behind one of the huge trees at the edge of his backyard.
“I need to talk to you.”
Correll gave his brother a completely innocent look. “Man, look, if this is about me and Ju
lia in the pool, we’re just friends.”
Cortez shook his head. “Yeah, it’s about Julia, but not about that.”
“What then?”
Cortez stroked his bearded cheek. “Listen, I’ll probably call you after I take Renee home, all right?”
Correll just nodded as he watched his brother leave. A look of concern clouded his face.
The party was completely over about an hour and a half later. Julia waited for Correll to bid the last guest goodbye before she stepped forward.
“You’re pretty good at these parties.” She complimented him after the last two guests walked out the door. “I had a very nice time.”
Correll closed the double mahogany doors and leaned against them. “Thanks, but they wear me out. You’re not leaving, are you?” he asked, his eyes staring at her purse.
Julia held her arms out at her sides. “Well, the party is over.”
“I’m not cool about your state of mind yet.”
“What? Correll, I’m fine. There was nothing for you to worry about. I was just feeling sorry for myself.”
Correll pushed himself from the door and grabbed her hand. “Well, have one more drink with me before you go.”
“One drink and then I have to leave, Correll. I mean it,” Julia decided, dropping her purse and key ring onto an end table.
Correll nodded absently as he prepared the drinks. He made them both Long Island iced teas, but in Julia’s he put an extra dose of each liquor in the drink. “So what was wrong with you today?” he asked, handing Julia her drink.
“I’m wising up.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Correll asked, sipping his drink.
Julia smoothed her hand across her short hair and groaned. “I did come here to agitate things with Cortez and his fiancée.”
Correll’s face responded in surprise. “You sure you wanna be tellin’ me this?”
Julia sipped from her glass and savored the slight sting of the drink. “Well, I already told Cortez, so—”
As Good as the First Time Page 11
