Love Is Crazy (Love Is… #1)

by Abby Brooks

  Except Willow, her best friend since forever, was probably starting to really worry about her. As the only person who knew the truth about Juliet’s relationship with the Tech Lord CEO (non-disclosure clause be damned!), Willow would probably assume Michael had finally gone insane and killed her or something.

  But if Michael had figured out Julz was missing—and he was sure to have figured that out by now—Willow would be the first person he’d go to. Hell, he’d probably even tap her phone. Luckily, when you’ve had a friend for a lifetime, you develop a few secret codes. Juliet flipped open her prepaid phone and typed out a series of texts. First, she just sent *67 twice. Then she sent her new number one digit at a time. It was a variation of a code they’d developed a long time ago when they tended to get themselves stuck at parties and didn’t want parents to see caller IDs.

  Figure that out, Michael Phillips.

  Juliet waited for Willow to find a phone. It shouldn’t take too long, wherever Willow was, she was sure to be surrounded by people. By the time Juliet had gathered her things and trekked back to the car, her phone started buzzing, with the caller ID showing an unknown caller.

  “Willie?” she answered.

  “Julz? Where the fuck are you?”

  Juliet laughed. “If I tell you, you won’t believe me.”

  “If you say you’re in the hospital, I’ll totally believe you. What did that ass do to you?”

  “Nothing. I left him.”

  There was a second of stunned silence on the other end of the phone. “You did?” Willow sounded hopeful.

  “Yep. Packed up all my old things, left all the pretentious stuff he bought me, and hit the road this morning.”

  “Where are you?”

  Juliet trusted Willow with all her heart, but she didn’t trust Michael Phillips. Not even a little. “Far away. Been driving since the middle of the night.”

  Willow either didn’t notice that Juliet hadn’t told her where she actually was, or didn’t care. “Good for you! I’m so proud of you!”

  “Yeah, it feels good. Just didn’t want you to worry.”

  “I was starting to. Thought maybe the dickhead had hurt you for real.”

  “Well, no worries about that anymore. I’ve taken every precaution I can think of. I don’t think there’s a way he could find me.”

  “I’ll keep this number safe. Won’t call you from my own phone. Go full on stealth mode and all that jazz.”

  “Thanks, Willie.”

  There was some muffled discussion on the other end of the phone and Juliet could hear Willow telling someone off. “Hey,” she said, talking to Julz again. “This jerk wants his phone back. You stay safe and keep me informed, k? When you get where you’re going, let me know. I’m gonna need to see you.”

  Juliet said her goodbyes and flipped the phone shut. Crawled into the front seat and curled up after locking all the doors. Part of her couldn’t believe she was going to sleep in her car. The other part found it absolutely thrilling. This was a day of firsts, a day of claiming her life and taking risks. This whole not-having-a-place-to-go thing was just a little bump on the path. Surely, she’d have a bed to curl up in tomorrow.

  After a night of sleeping all cramped up in the front seat of a Hyundai, Juliet’s outlook was slightly less cheery. She groaned as her eyes peeled open, the brilliant morning sun cooking her through the window. She was hot, she was sweaty, and her back hurt. Taking only enough time to clip the leash on Lulu’s collar, she lurched out of the car and was greeted with the splendor of a sunrise over the ocean.

  One deep breath and a huge stretching yawn later and Juliet’s bad mood had begun to evaporate. How could she do anything but smile and sigh in the face of such beauty? All she needed was a cup of coffee in hand and things would be right with the world, for sure. After letting Lulu potty, she rummaged in the back for an energy drink and sighed when she came up empty handed. As much as she hated to start digging into her savings envelope, she couldn’t function on any kind of analytical level until she’d had at least a cup and a half of coffee. She racked her brain, trying to remember if she’d seen a coffee shop anywhere last night and came up with nothing.

  Guess that gives me another chance to go exploring, she thought as she shook her hair out over her shoulders and tried to run her fingers through the tangles. A chance to change her clothes, brush her teeth, and pull her hair back didn’t sound too bad either. She gathered the items she’d need and shoved them in a bag while she opened the doors and let the inside of the car air out.

  Her drive through the streets of Bliss reminded her once again how much she was going to love this place. Sure, there were franchise stores here, but there were also a lot of locally owned places, too. The kind of places people put their heart and soul into. She passed up a Starbucks in search of the perfect deli or bakery or coffee shop and was just about to turn around and give up her search when she found a promising little store front at the end of a street. The name over the window? Good Beginnings.

  You couldn’t get more symbolic than that! Juliet found a place to park and then wondered what to do with Lulu. She couldn’t leave her in the car, not in this heat. Even with the window cracked, she’d worry that her little dog was getting cooked. It’s probably against health codes to bring a pet into a restaurant and sure, plenty of people just tied up their pets in the city while they went inside for a bite, but this is a much smaller town. Who knew what people would think if they came across little Lulu tied to the tree near the street?

  With a quick apology to her dog, Julz cracked the windows and gathered her things. She’d go in, use the bathroom to freshen up and change, then bring her order out to eat with Lulu. One more reason to find a place to call home as soon as possible. A night or two in the car was one thing. Totally living out of it while trying to manage a pet was a whole different subject altogether.

  When she pushed through the door to Good Beginnings, she was confronted with the scent of baking bread and eggs and bacon and all kinds of warm food smells. After twenty-four hours of nothing but pre-package gas station food, Juliet’s stomach lurched in excitement. She rushed through her visit to the restroom, pulling on clean panties and a little white sundress. Ran a brush through her hair and wished she could wash it before pulling it back into a ponytail. And finally, she washed her face and brushed her teeth. Feeling much better, she placed an order for a large coffee, two creams, two sugars, and a bacon and egg sandwich on fresh wheat bread.

  “You must be new around here,” said the curvy brunette behind the counter as Juliet craned her head to see Lulu through the window.

  “Just got in last night.” Juliet gave the woman a huge smile. “This is a great place,” she said, gesturing around the quickly filling cafe.

  The woman beamed. “Thank you. I’m quite proud of it.”

  “This is yours?” Juliet couldn’t keep the pleasure out her voice. This is what she was talking about. This woman was living the dream. Carving out her path and claiming her space and all that. Pouring her heart and soul into her business.

  “You know it.” The woman extended her hand over the counter. “Ellie Charles, owner and proprietor of Good Beginnings, cafe and coffee.”

  Juliet took Ellie’s hand and was pleased at the woman’s delicate grip. No domineering man handshake for her, just a sweet little feminine thing. Must be nice not to have to out businessman the men. “Juliet Lane, Bliss’s newest occupant.”

  “You movin’ in? Not just passin’ through?” Ellie looked surprised.

  “I hope to call this place home. Just need to find the actual home to make it official.”

  A deep baritone voice came from behind her. “You didn’t like the hotel?” Juliet jumped and squeaked a little before spinning around, her eyes wide and her hand on her heart.

  There, standing in line almost directly behind her, was the delectable Ian Moore.

  Chapter Five

  Julz let out a long breath and a shaky laugh. “Wow, Ian.
You scared me.”

  “I can see that.”

  Today, he was looking way more approachable in jeans, a t-shirt, and honest to goodness cowboy boots. Dressed down or not, he was still hot as hell. Maybe even better looking now than he was in the tux because Juliet could see the strong muscles in his arms and chest, the flat tummy that was sure to be all rippling abs under the thin cotton of his shirt. And he had the whole, scruffy, didn’t shave this morning deal going, which only set off his eyes all the more. Juliet suddenly wished she’d spent more time in front of the mirror.

  “What’s this about not finding a place? You didn’t like the hotel? Bobby too grouchy for ya?”

  Juliet stepped to the side while Ellie handed her a huge cup of coffee and went to work bagging up the rest of her order. “No, although he’s really not the most welcoming guy out there, is he?” Ian laughed and Juliet immediately wanted to make him laugh again. “He wouldn’t rent me a room,” she continued, eyes widening at the taut look spreading across Ian’s face.

  “And why’s that?” His voice had an edge she didn’t like.

  Not sure what she’d done to upset him, Juliet smoothed her hair back and squared her shoulders. Michael would have expected her to drop her eyes to the ground and go quiet. Julz wasn’t at all interested in being that girl anymore. “Because of Lulu, my dog.”

  Ian laughed again. “Fucking Lulu.”

  Juliet’s jaw dropped. “Excuse me?”

  “I’m sorry, but who names their dog Lulu?” Ian asked through a broad smile.

  Juliet looked him over from head to toe, all the while her heart pounding away in her chest. “And who are you to judge me for how I named my dog?” Michael would have grabbed her by the arm and thrown her over his knee, pulled up her skirt and spanked her ass until she cried for holding eye contact this long, let alone talking back like this.

  It felt so. damn. good. to be free.

  Ian laughed again and it felt even better. “I’m Ian Moore, that’s who. I’ll judge you, and your little dog, too.”

  “Did you for really real just reference the Wizard of Oz? On purpose?”

  “And who are you to judge me for what movies I reference?”

  Julz put a hand on her hip. “I’m Juliet Lane, that’s who.” She lifted an eyebrow and turned her back to Ian, pretending to see how close Ellie was to having her breakfast ready, but mostly just needing to hide the blush that worked its way up her chest and flared across her cheeks along with a giddy little smile. She liked talking to Ian.

  Thankfully, Ellie rescued her and showed up with her order. “I threw a couple extra napkins in there. It’d be a shame to ruin such a pretty dress.”

  Juliet looked down and fought the urge to say ‘this old thing?’ because while it was true, the dress was old, it’d only come across as false modesty. And she absolutely, positively, one hundred percent couldn’t stand any kind of falsehood.

  Ellie smiled at Ian. “What can I get you, Lieutenant?”

  Julz turned her back to Ian and made a surprised little face. Lieutenant, huh? Well, now, isn’t that a surprise? Ian Moore’s not only the kind of guy who drives fancy black cars and attends engagement parties in tuxedos, the kind of guy that owns beachfront rental properties, but he’s also a cowboy boot wearing, jeans and t-shirt sporting, military officer? Just who was this guy? This Ian Moore?

  Juliet sipped her coffee and closed her eyes in pleasure as she swallowed. So good. She smiled at Ellie and tipped her coffee cup in Ian’s direction. “Nice meeting you, Ellie. And nice seeing you again, Lt. Moore,” she said and headed for the door despite every ounce of her body begging her to stay and keep talking to Ian.

  “Juliet,” he called and she liked the way her name sounded in his voice. She turned in time to see Ian finish giving Ellie his order and then beckon her back over to the counter.

  Juliet took one glance through the window towards Lulu. “I’ve got the dog in the car. Meet me outside?” She had to speak more loudly than she wanted to and the other customers were busy watching the interaction. Some politely trying to hide their curiosity while others stared unabashedly at Juliet as if they thought they’d find her family secrets written somewhere on her body.

  Ian nodded and she couldn’t help the smile that blossomed from the bottom of her feet and bloomed on her face. Take it easy, she reminded herself as she floated on little imaginary clouds over to her car. You’re not looking for a man. What you need is a place to stay and a way to make money.

  Seemed like she wasn’t in the mood to listen to herself, though because as soon as she saw Ian exit Good Beginnings, her heart started pounding and her belly started growing a whole field of butterflies. She waited until she knew he’d seen her and then leaned into her car to let Lulu out.

  She knew her dress was short and by bending over she was giving him an eyeful, a tantalizing glimpse of juuuust enough leg. She made sure he had a chance to take a good long look and his expression when she turned back around said he’d liked what he’d seen. It felt good to be seen, good to flirt. She took a deep breath and let it out as Ian strode towards her, all boots and biceps and tummy fluttering smiles.

  Juliet took a long drink of her coffee and swallowed hard. She kind of wanted to touch him again, the memory of how hard his chest had felt under his tuxedo jacket ever so fresh in her mind. Strike that. She didn’t just kind of want to touch him again, she definitely wanted to touch him again.

  “Hey,” he said as he came to a stop beside her and leaned against the car.

  “Hey.”

  “Long time no see. How ya been?”

  He kept his face so pleasantly stoic that Juliet was a little thrown on how to respond. She went with light and sarcastic. “It has been a long time since I saw you inside Good Beginnings, just now.”

  “Longest five minutes of my life.” He said it without flinching, without winking or grinning or doing anything to weaken the words by making light of them.

  Juliet blushed and smiled again but tried to cover it by taking a bite of her sandwich. She broke off a piece and fed it to Lulu rather than climbing into the back seat to get her doggie bowl and food and giving Ian a chance to walk away.

  “Where did you sleep last night?” Ian unwrapped his sandwich and took a man-sized bite.

  Juliet tapped the hood of the Hyundai. “Right there.” There was an odd sense of pride in the statement.

  Ian swallowed the bite in his mouth with effort. “In your car?” Clearly he didn’t share her positive feelings about the experience. “Why didn’t you call me?”

  Truth was, she hadn’t really thought about it, but now that she did, she wasn’t really sure she’d have called even if she had remembered his card in her purse. “Put yourself in my shoes. New to town. Showed up without a plan. Get help from a random stranger and then, when your non-existent plan lands you in a tight spot, would you want to call that same stranger and ask for even more help?” Juliet shook her head and took a drink. “I know I wouldn’t. It was my fault I didn’t have a place to go. No need to make you suffer the consequences of my poor planning.”

  Ian shrugged and ran his hand through his hair. “There’s some sense there, I guess. I still don’t like that you spent a night in your car, but I can respect your decision not to call given the circumstances.” He held up a finger and put on a serious face. “This time.”

  Juliet smiled and the wind played in her skirt, brushing the light cotton against her legs. For just a moment, she felt out of time, as if this instant could stretch on and on until the rest of forever.

  “So what are you going to do?” Ian asked and reality came crashing down around her.

  “I was gonna look in the paper, see if there are some places in my price range. Hunt down the library and check online. I’m not opposed to another night or two in the car, if it comes to that.”

  “You don’t get service here?”

  It took her a second to parse the question, but then she realized that Ian was asking ab
out her phone. Because, in this day and age, who didn’t have a smartphone with instant access to the internet? Women on the run, that’s who.

  She smiled wryly and pulled out the prepaid Walmart phone. “Oh, I get service,” she said, flipping the thing open and closed before tossing it into her purse. “It’s just not very easy to Google stuff on that thing.” She tried to keep her smile light and easy in the wake of his ever growing judgement. She watched it darken his face and found that she much preferred his smile.

  “That’s settled then,” he said with a perfunctory nod. “You’ll move into one of my beach houses.” And then he smiled and it was like the sun parting the clouds. “I know just the one. It’s newly remodeled, all new appliances, counters, the bathroom is updated. Huge walk in closet in the master—”

  Juliet held up her hands and cut him off. “Whoa there, Cap’n. I appreciate the offer and it sounds absolutely wonderful, but there’s no way I can afford that and I’m not looking for handouts.”

  Ian studied her. “What can you afford?”

  Juliet sighed. “I’m here, in a new town without a job, sporting a prepaid phone and a car full of not enough stuff.” Juliet waited for him to respond and she finally sighed into his silence. “Not much. I can’t afford much.”

  Ian studied her and Juliet fidgeted under the intensity of his stare. “What are you running from?”

  “I’d rather not say.”

  “The law?”

  Juliet choked on a laugh. “God no.”

  “Trouble?”

  She sighed and nodded. “Of the crazy male variety.” And that was all she was going to say about that. That was already more than she wanted to say about that. If he wasn’t satisfied with the answer, then he could just go on about his merry way and leave her to figure this stuff out on her own.