Chasing Julia (Rhode Island Romance #2) (12 page)

“He has to be
smart.”

“True. You don’t
want to marry an idiot.”

She thought some
more. “And vulnerable. I like a man who’s strong but isn’t afraid to show his
softer side. A man who can admit he’s not always right.”

“Well, that pretty
much eliminates all the guys on my construction crew.”

She gave a soft
huff of laughter. “He needs to want a family.”

“A big family,
right?”

“Yes. He’ll need to
be a good father and provider.”

“You haven’t
mentioned looks. What does your ideal man look like? Is he tall, dark and
handsome?”

“Maybe. Maybe not.
If he fits all the criteria, and the chemistry is there, he could be cross-eyed
and bald for all I care.”

Tony chuckled.
“Aha. I know just the man for you then.”

“
Sure
you
do.”

“I do. I can
introduce you to him tomorrow if you want. He’s an old college friend of mine.”

She played with a
button on his white dress shirt. “So…he’s your age.”

“You’re not open to
marrying a younger man?”

She had never
considered it
Before Tony
. “It depends on how young he is. And how
mature.”

“What’s the biggest
age difference you’d accept?”

“I don’t know.
Seven years, maybe?”

“Hmm. On second
thought, my friend is probably too immature for you. He spends most of his
weekends watching football.”

“Ugh. No thanks.”

As they talked,
they snuggled closer and closer together. His fingers gently squeezed her hip,
the fingers of his other hand sifted slowly through her hair. She had one hand
pressed flat against his chest; the other had gradually slid upwards until it
was curved around his neck. Her fingers played with the soft hair at his nape.

“Julia.”

“Hmm?”

“
I’m
a man
of honor and integrity. I like to think so anyway.”

“Yes, you are.”

“I’m pretty smart,
too.”

“Yes.”

“And I can be
vulnerable. You’ve certainly witnessed that.”

Her pulse raced.

“I’d like a big
family, too,” he continued. “I know I’ll be a good father.”

“Yes. She’d be a
fool not to marry you. You
do
have all the essential qualities most
women find appealing.”

“She?”

“That girl you’ve
been talking about. The one you bought that house for.”

He brought his
hands to her face. His touch compelled her to look up at him. His luminous eyes
pierced her heart. “Julia. That girl I’ve been talking about? Baby, it’s you.”

And he lowered his
mouth to hers and kissed her.

The room started to
spin. Julia slammed her eyes shut. She gasped against his mouth, in both shock
and excitement, and the kiss went from soft and tender to hard and hungry in a
heartbeat. Through the clamor thundering inside of her head she heard Tony
groan, the sound emanating from deep in his chest as he brought her chest flush
against his. He lightly bit her lower lip before sliding his tongue between her
parted lips and entwining it with hers in an erotic dance. One hand grasped the
nape of her neck, fingers threading into her hair as he angled her head to
allow his tongue to plunge deeper into her mouth. His kiss was sweet and rough
and hot. His lips were pliant and smooth.

He skimmed his
other hand down her arm, his thumb grazing the side of her breast. She quivered
and his touch became bolder. He cupped her breast and squeezed. His thumb circled
her taut nipple. She pushed into his questing hand and made eager sounds in her
throat. She writhed in his lap. She felt the rigid length of his arousal
beneath her bottom. She pressed down on it.

He groaned again.
He tore his mouth from hers, catching his breath. He kissed her cheek, dragged
his mouth up to her ear. He nibbled on her earlobe. “Julia.
Julia
. You
taste so good. Just like I’ve always imagined.”

She suddenly had a
visual of him at thirteen, jerking off in his bed while he thought of her. She
froze for a second and then pulled away from his kisses. “Oh, my God. What are
we
doing
?”

His face was ruddy,
his skin taut across his cheekbones. His chest rose and fell rapidly with his
panting breaths. “What? What’s the problem?”

“You’re Tony!”

His eyebrows
lowered. “And?”

“And I used to
babysit you!” she wailed. “And I’ve slept with your
brother
!”

His glower grew
darker. “Both facts that I have managed to push out of my mind completely.”

“I haven’t.” She shoved
against his chest, trying to break free from his firm hold. He wouldn’t let
her.

“Don’t tell me you
don’t feel this attraction between us,” he said, his voice gruff.

She swallowed,
averting her eyes from his piercing gaze. “I do. That doesn’t mean it’s right.”

He cupped her jaw,
bringing her eyes back to his. “Why not? You’re single. I’m single. You know me
better than anyone else. And I know
you
.”

“I’m in a
vulnerable place,” she said, her tone pleading. “I miss being held and kissed
by a man. That’s all this is.”

His fingers pressed
into her jaw. “Bullshit.”

She smoothed a hand
down his chest in a placating gesture. “Don’t you see? The worst thing I could
do is allow this to happen. I’d just be using you to feel desirable again.
That’s not fair to you.”

He didn’t relax his
grip. “I think you’re just lying to yourself. You’re afraid.”

“Yes,” she
admitted. “I am. There’ve been so many changes in my life in the last six
months. I don’t want
us
to change. I like having you as my friend.”

“And I’ll keep
being your friend, Julia. But I want more. I want you. Do you feel how much I
want you?” He ground his hips against her bottom.

“Oh, my God.”

He captured her
mouth with his again. Her resistance was futile. She collapsed against him, eagerly
lifting her face to his for more.

God, he was a good
kisser. He took total control. There was no hesitation in his touch, no
concessions for her softer femininity. He sucked her tongue into his mouth,
tangling his tongue with hers in slick, wet duel as his hands played with her
breasts. She felt a tugging on her blouse as he swiftly undid the buttons. Then
he was unfastening her bra. He took possession of her naked, swollen breasts,
cupping, squeezing. He took a nipple between thumb and finger and pinched
gently.

She moaned.

He released her
mouth. His tongue licked hungrily down her neck. She arched her back, using the
armrest for support as she offered her breasts to his seeking mouth. Her body
was melting. Melting. She felt delicious quivers of delight shooting up and
down her spine.

What was happening
to her? She’d never felt this way before. So hot. So possessed.

“Sweet. So sweet,”
Tony whispered against her skin. He drew a nipple into his mouth, scraped and
soothed with his tongue.

She felt a fierce
clenching between her legs. She squirmed in his lap, lifting her hips in a
silent plea.

His hand cupped her
there through her skirt. His probing fingers and thumb found her pleasure spots
with ease. He pressed down. “Do you see how much you want me, Julia?” His dark,
sultry voice poured over her. “Tell me now that you don’t want this.”

Her blood was
pounding wildly in her ears. “I do. I
do
want it.” God, she sounded drugged,
delirious; she almost didn’t recognize her own voice. Shock rippled through
her. She opened her eyes, her blurry vision gradually clearing as she stared at
his passion-dark face.  She battled with desire and rational thought. This was
happening too fast. She was losing all control. She wasn’t used to that.

She grabbed his
wrist, forcing him to hold still. “Stop.”

He froze. “Why? Why
are you fighting this?”

“This is just sex!”

His breath hissed
between his teeth. “It’s more than that.”

“Stop touching me.”

“I can’t.”

She surged upright
and shoved herself away from him. “Stop it, Tony. I’m serious.”

He let her go.

She slid off his
lap and stood on shaky legs. Her fingers fumbled as she set her bra and blouse
to rights. She avoided his gaze.

“Talk to me, Julia.”

She took a bracing
breath. “You’re moving too fast. This is all happening too fast.”

“What’s the point
in taking it slow?” he reasoned, his voice low, almost calm. He captured her
hand, persuading her to look at him. His eyes gleamed with that heart-tugging
inner light that only he seemed to possess. “The truth is, I’m in love with
you. I love you and I’m
in
love with you. Do you get that? I think I
always have been.”

While her heart
sang at his confession, her thoughts remained clouded. “That’s impossible.”

His grip on her
hand tightened. “It’s true. I was only just beginning to realize how I really
felt about you around the same time you and Joe broke up.”

She narrowed her
eyes at him. “Would you have told me this if Joe and I were still engaged?”

“Yes.” His tone was
firm, assured. “Yes, I would have. You probably think that’s an easy thing for
me to say in hindsight. But it’s true.”

“I wouldn’t have
left him.”

His gaze narrowed
with irritation. “That’s immaterial. He already had doubts about the engagement
before he met Willa. He told me that the day he broke up with you.”

Joe had told her
the same thing. But it still hurt to hear the words again. “If you really love
me, why did you toy with me that way? Why did you pretend that you were in love
with someone else?”

He grazed his calloused
thumb against her palm. “Because I wanted to get you riled. I needed to know
that the passionate girl I used to argue with was still there. You were
jealous. Doesn’t that tell you that you’re in love with me?”

“I’m not in love
with you.” Her words didn’t sound as adamant as she would’ve liked.

His features
shuttered. “You can look me in the eye and say that?”

She tugged at his
grip. “Stop badgering me. Just stop it. You’re not being fair. You just dropped
a bomb on me, and you expect me to fall into your arms, be all lovey-dovey and
confess my undying devotion for you? Yes, I’m attracted to you. Yes, I’d like
to have sex with you. But I don’t know if it’s anything more than that. I don’t
know if there’s something deeper. I don’t
know
if I’m just feeling needy
and insecure. You need to give me space, Tony. I need time to process this.”

His grip tightened
further. “How much time?”

“I don’t know!” She
barely managed to not stomp her feet in a childish display of frustration. She
tugged again.

This time, he let
her go. He gave a heavy sigh. “Okay. All right. Maybe I am being a selfish
jerk. I wasn’t planning on telling you these things tonight anyway. I can give
you the time and space you’re asking for.”

“Thank you.” Her
tone was prim.

He rose to his
feet. His eyes burned into hers. “But don’t make me wait too long, Julia.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll come after
you.” He reached out and brushed his knuckles against her cheek. “You’re mine.”

She swayed
helplessly into his touch.

His deep groan was
swift and urgent. He latched onto her arms and brought her against him. His
mouth melded with hers. He kissed her long and deep.

They were both gasping
for breath when he finally released her several minutes later. “Go,” he said,
sounding tortured. “Just go. Before I break my promise.”

She went.

After
she’d closed the door behind her, he collapsed into the desk chair, legs
sprawled. He scrubbed his hands down his face before clasping them behind his head
and staring blindly at the ceiling. His pulse was speeding like a runaway
train; his arousal was an excruciating ache in his groin. 

Had he pushed too
hard? Moved too fast?

Probably.

Holding her on his
lap had been his undoing. She’d been all cuddled up against him, so soft and feminine.
She had fit against him perfectly. Her sweet breath had whispered against his neck
and become increasingly hot and panting as his touches had grown bolder.

Oh, she had wanted
him all right.

She was worried
that it was just sexual attraction. How could she not understand that it was so
much more than that?

He’d dropped the L
word way too soon. He felt frustration and disappointment clutch at his heart.
She hadn’t reacted to his declaration the way he’d imagined she would. She
hadn’t told him that she loved him, too.

That hurt.

His erection eventually
subsided. He stood up, straightened his tie, and smoothed a hand over his hair.
He took a steadying breath before opening the door and returning to the party.

He kept in the
background, lurking behind one of the curtain panels as he watched Julia work
the room. She was wearing a flowing white blouse tucked inside a straight black
skirt that ended a few inches above her knees. Black heels accentuated her sleek
legs.

She must’ve used
the restroom after she’d left him. Her long blond hair was pulled back in a
slick ponytail. A fresh coat of pretty pink lipstick colored her generous
mouth.

Her white teeth
gleamed as she spoke with a group of guests; her amber eyes sparkled as she
chatted with her staff. Her hands made graceful gestures as she gave
instructions to the caterers.

She was good at her
job. She carried herself with such grace and confidence. He wondered why she
couldn’t be as confident about acknowledging her real feelings for him.

It hadn’t been easy
for him to grant her the time she’d requested. The ball was in her court now.
He didn’t like that. He didn’t like not knowing what was going on inside her
head. He didn’t like waiting.

He would because
she’d asked him to.

But not for long.

Now that he’d had a
taste of her, he ached for more. God, he’d never felt this possessive over a
woman. Never felt like such a…caveman, going all alpha male on her. He wanted
to claim her, mark her…

“Looks like you
could use a drink.”

Tony spared a brief
glance at his brother who had come to stand beside him. He took the bottle of
beer Joe extended towards him. He guzzled half the cold liquid down then swiped
at his mouth with the back of his hand.

“I’d ask what’s
bothering you, but, based on where your eyes have been these last ten minutes,
I think I know,” Joe said.

Tony watched Julia
talking with Audrey and Collette. He released a frustrated sigh. “I think I
might have scared her off. I think I moved too fast.”

“What did you do?”

“I kissed her.
Things might have gotten a little out of control. And I told her that I’m love
with her.”

Joe gave a low
whistle. “Wow. You did move fast. How did she react?”

“She was into the
kiss. Way into it. And then she panicked.” He kept his gaze on Julia, hoping
his brother hadn’t seen him wince. “She says she needs time to process.”

“Huh.”

They were silent
for a few moments. They drank their beer.

“She said something
to me and Willa earlier,” Joe confided. “She said she didn’t like the way you
and I have treated her like she’s made of glass.”

Tony frowned.
“Maybe I did once. Not anymore. I’ve been tough with her lately. I’m not afraid
to push her buttons.”

“What are you going
to do now?”

Tony hitched one
shoulder. “Give her the time she’s asking for,” he admitted, unable to conceal
his impatience. “But not too long.”

“I’m glad I was
finally able to talk with her tonight,” Joe said. “She said she’s over what
happened between us and that she’s ready to move on. I believe her.”

“I do, too.” He
threw a glance at his brother. “Now if I can just get her to believe in me and
her as a couple.”

Joe clapped his
hand on Tony’s shoulder. “Good luck.”

Five
days later, Tony was attempting to do some bookwork at his office when Audrey
called his cellphone. The call was just the distraction he needed from his
muddled thoughts. So far, he’d kept his promise to Julia and hadn’t made any
attempts to contact her since the previous Friday. But his patience was wearing
thin.

“Tony,” she said
without preamble. “We have an emergency.”

He sat up in his
chair. “What’s wrong?”

“I was at Julia’s
office this morning reviewing the final invoices from the party when her friend
called.”

“Hannah?”

“I think that’s the
name she said. I was sitting in the conference room. She left her office door
open. I couldn’t help but overhear.”

“And?”

“She and her friend
are going to Las Vegas.”

Tony frowned.
“Okay…”

“Doesn’t that
bother you?”

Hell yeah, it
bothered him. “She’s free to go where she wants,” he said with nonchalance.

“I don’t think
that’s a good idea.”

“Why?”

“It appeared to me
that she’s very stressed. I overheard her telling her friend that she’s looking
forward to letting off some steam, exploring her options.”

Tony stood up from
his desk and started pacing the floor. “Exploring her options?”

What the hell did
that
mean?

“That’s what she
said. I heard her tell her friend to book a girl’s getaway weekend.”

“When?”

“This weekend. I
heard her say Southwest out of T.F. Green, this Friday. And they’re staying at
the Four Seasons.”

“Huh.” He balled
his free hand into a fist.

“So, what are you
going to do?”

“What do you expect
me to do? She’s entitled to have her fun. She’s not glued to my hip.”

“You’re not worried
about her hooking up with some random guy?”

He wanted to slug
something. Hard.

“Stop it, Audrey.
Julia’s not that kind of girl.”

“I don’t know,
Tony. These past few months have been really tough for her. And she’s not
thinking clearly. She was so distracted today when we were reviewing the
catering numbers.”

“Thanks for letting
me know.” His tone was brisk.

“What are you going
to do?”

“That’s for me to
know. Thanks for calling, Audrey.”

After hanging up on
her he sat back down and pulled up the Southwest Airlines website on his
computer screen.

Exploring her
options
?

The only option she
was going to be exploring this weekend was him.