“We need to talk,” Cortez told her, sighing with relief when she nodded.
As the couple headed upstairs, the silence downstairs turned alive with excited conversation.
“Have you lost your mind?” Julia asked in a hushed voice when they reached her old bedroom.
“I promise I haven’t.”
Julia propped the side of her face against her palm. “You wanna tell me what just happened down there?”
Cortez stroked the light shadow darkening his face and took a seat on the bed. “What happened down there had a lot to do with me trying to prove how much I love you and want you to be with me.”
“I believe that,” Julia told him, sitting on the bed, as well. “I believed that before you did…all this. I can’t forget what was said in California, though, or what’s happened since I’ve come back to Detroit. I can’t go through life wondering if you trust me to say the appropriate thing or whether I’m coming across too strong or if aspects of my personality will dictate your level of trust.”
Now Cortez closed his eyes as realization hit him. “Is this why you couldn’t give me an answer, Juli? Is it what really fueled your decision not to work on the show together?”
Julia was already shaking her head. “I would’ve taken issue with that regardless.” She leaned over, bracing her elbows to her knees. “L.A. lives on gossip, and while we’ve got a lot of competition, you can best believe the two of us would’ve made for some juicy stories.”
“Damn right,” Cortez muttered almost proudly, clearing his throat when she looked his way.
“As for your proposal,” she kept her eyes on his, “yes, that had everything to do with why I stalled on answering.” She exhaled as if a weight were lifted with the confession. “I love you,” she said, brushing the back of her hand across his. “I know you love me, but unlike my love, yours is set on a foundation of requirements.”
“Juli—”
“Be honest with me now and admit it.” Her eyes were suddenly ablaze with emotion. “The only reason you came back to L.A. was because you discovered Correll had lied about what happened.”
Cortez ground on his jaw until it ached. “Am I glad you didn’t have sex with my brother? God yes.” He stood. “And was what he did wrong? Absolutely. None of it was your fault and I realized that as long as I had you back that was all that mattered.”
Julia’s eyes wavered in disbelief and she bowed her head.
“Now who’s having a problem with trust?” Cortez challenged as he watched her.
Julia opened her mouth to explain and closed it when she couldn’t. Frustrated then, she stood and smoothed her hands over the tight sleeves of her black jumpsuit while she paced.
Cortez crossed the room, taking her by the hand and pressing her back to the nearest wall. “It didn’t matter, Julia. That’s the truth, I swear it. I tried to tell you that, but you wouldn’t take my call.”
Julia blinked then as memory of the call to her office hit her like a rush of cold wind.
Cortez graced her with a knowing smile. “I guess I should have told Lexi more about why I called, but I didn’t think you wanted her knowing quite that much.”
Her fingers curved into the front of his shirt. “So you were calling to—”
“I was calling to ask you to forgive me for being the biggest idiot in the world and for hurting you so many times.” He cupped his hands around her neck. “I called to tell you that you’ve got my heart, mind and body. I called to tell you I love you, Julia Kelly.”
Determined not to let the words turn her into a blubbering mess, she pressed her lips together and took a shuddery breath. “When did you talk to Correll?”
“I went to his office right after the call. I was pissed off as hell and went in there intending to rough him up,” he managed to say without getting upset at the memory. “I decided instead to ask him for the truth, and he gave it to me. If you must know, hearing the truth made me feel like an even bigger idiot. Listen, Julia, I’ll do whatever you say to prove how serious I am.” His lips met hers and he pressed ever so gently. “Only please don’t say go.”
Julia’s attempt at suppressing her emotions was hopeless when he kissed both corners of her mouth.
“I love you,” he whispered. “I love you.” A low growl sounded in his throat when he felt Julia soften in his arms. “Will you marry me now?”
The words caused Julia’s body to stiffen and she shivered slightly. Cortez pulled away and cupped her chin in his hand.
“Do you love me?”
“You know I do. I love you more than anything. I just don’t want to get hurt again,” she admitted softly.
Cortez nodded, the look in his brown eyes soft and warm. “Honey, I can’t promise that won’t happen.”
“I know—”
“But I did just declare my love in front of a lot of people I know. I assure you I’m not looking to get hurt, either. I’ll chance it for you, Julia. I’ll chance anything for you.”
Julia’s heart skipped at the words. “You want to marry me after all this time,” she whispered, feeling lightheaded.
Cortez chuckled. “And I was crazy enough to almost let you get away from me twice.”
They were silent for a while, each taking in all that had occurred that evening. After a moment, Julia smiled and allowed herself to melt into another of Cortez’s mind-numbing kisses. “Now what?” she asked, once he’d released her lips.
Cortez leaned close again. “Now we get married.”
Julia tilted her head and watched him curiously. “You already have a date in mind, don’t you?”
“Tomorrow.”
Tears filled her eyes as she laughed. “Tomorrow? Don’t you at least want to take time to—”
“Uh-uh,” he refused, walking his fingers across the fabric of her outfit. “I’ve taken enough time. All I want to do now is take my wife. Besides, it’s already been planned.”
Julia’s tears of laughter mingled with tears of elation. “Cortez! I can’t believe you already… When did you…How did you know I would finally say yes?”
“Let’s just say I had a good feeling about it,” Cortez said, smiling.
Julia smiled back, wiping a tear from her eye before kissing the man she loved. She looked into his eyes as she thought that this wasn’t as good as the first time. It was even better.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6036-2
AS GOOD AS THE FIRST TIME
Copyright © 2010 by AlTonya Washington
All rights reserved. The reproduction, transmission or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without written permission. For permission please contact Kimani Press, Editorial Office, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
® and TM are trademarks. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and/or other countries.
www.kimanipress.com
As Good as the First Time Page 18
