Back to the Drawing Board (14 page)

It was go time. I was dressed in a black satin ball-length gown with a slit up the right leg. My hair was curled and piled on top of my head, and I had on more makeup than I’d worn to my high school prom. I was going to pay for the rest of the week for the heels I was wearing tonight, but it took my petite frame much closer to the sky. Or to Carter.

I loved this part of my job. Even though being an architect wasn’t my number one dream, this part of the job was so rewarding. Tonight’s benefit was for a children’s hospital we’d built and had recently opened. We were not only doing a ribbon cutting tonight, but also the $1,000 a ticket dinner and subsequent silent auction would all benefit the kids at the hospital. If there was something I hated seeing, it was a sick child. If my job indirectly helped one child get well and get to stay near their family, then I had purpose. My parents, despite their faults, were overly generous with their money. We’d never wanted for anything, but I’d guess they gave away almost as much as they made. This hospital was one of those. Every year, my mother picked their charitable contribution for the year, and it was always something to help the citizens of Colorado. Our company did it for their cost of materials and donated all of the labor.

I guess, in a way, I followed in her footsteps. I’d been volunteering at Colorado Cares, a statewide housing initiative for low-income families, since high school. It started out as fulfilling required volunteer hours for a class I was taking, but it developed into so much more. I loved every second of not only helping build the houses, but over the years it had morphed into me getting to utilize my creative passion there. I’d become the head volunteer in charge of interior design, and it was there that I felt my place in life. I could design a mean building, put the plans together, and oversee it, but there was nothing like the feeling I got from transforming the house into more than just a building. I loved seeing the family’s reaction as they saw their new home for the first time. Many of these families had nothing, or next to nothing, and were so grateful for everything that was done for them.

I had never wanted for anything, much less something as basic as a safe place to live. I was humbled to be able to use my skills to help others who were less fortunate. And the more I volunteered, the more I wanted to continue.

I’d offered to pick up Carter tonight but he’d declined, saying his car had arrived from Florida and he would find his way there and meet me. I couldn’t help but think that after our shopping trip, he didn’t want to be alone with me anymore. The last few days at work, we’d been extremely busy visiting the site of the Adams project and meeting with the foreman on the construction team. We hadn’t had much, if any, alone time, but that was probably a good thing.

Sighing, I picked up my black clutch and slipped my phone inside it. There was sure to be a plethora of guys there at the benefit tonight. I needed to find a different focus and keep my hands—and thoughts—off of a certain blonde haired, blue-eyed man.

When I arrived at the hospital, I valeted my car and stepped into the breathtaking lobby, my eyes immediately drawn to the huge chandelier and the twinkling lights. People milled around, looking at the framed plans that were on easels around the room, as well as the displays describing the modern technology the hospital was using to be able to run almost completely on reusable energy. I stopped, taking a moment to appreciate what we’d accomplished here. I’d been one of many architects in our office on this project, but every single time I saw a project at its completion, it made me emotional. We made dreams come true.

“This is phenomenal.” His voice shot tingles down my spine.
Carter
. I was afraid to turn around, knowing who I was going to see behind me.

“It is,” I answered, still facing away from him. “When I see the building finished, like this, I realize how awesome it is that we played a major role in it.”

“Absolutely. This is why I wanted to work here. There are millions of buildings under construction every day in this country, but few that can do what your company does, Julia. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen.”

Was I reading too much into what he was saying, or did it seem that he was giving me the reason again for why he didn’t want to be involved with me? I got it already. He’d been very clear.

Knowing it was time, I turned so we were facing each other and saw the god-like man behind me. I’d had some warning, knowing what Carter was going to look like after seeing him try the tux on. I couldn’t stop the feeling of satisfaction from creeping over me, however, when Carter’s eyes bugged out of his head and he scanned my body unabashedly. Every single thing I’d done to get ready for this was with him in mind, and I’d been successful. I think I was a glutton for punishment, determined as I was to get through to him.

“You look gorgeous,” Carter said, his eyes finally lifting to mine.

“Carter!” I scowled to see Ethan making his way to us. I liked Ethan a lot, except in this moment.

Carter and Ethan shook hands. “Julia, you look gorgeous as always. This place is amazing, don’t you think?”

“Thank you.” For some reason, Ethan telling me the same thing as Carter didn’t affect me at all. “Yes, it’s amazing.”

Carter and Ethan started talking, and I watched them, not computing what they were talking about. It was great to see Carter making a friend here other than me. All I could do was watch his mouth as he talked, his hands moving in animation and his eyes lighting up with interest. I zeroed in on his lips, thinking about the way they felt against mine just days ago.

Sighing, I forced myself to turn when Paige came up. “Hey,” she said, looking stunning in a long red satin gown. Paige was tall and curvy with dark blonde hair and green eyes. She was the only one other than Tracey that knew how I felt about Carter, mostly because she read me like a book and I couldn’t hide the physical reaction I had to him anytime he was near.

She caught my gaze and smiled, not saying a word. “This place is breathtaking. Will you give me a tour?”

I knew what she was doing, but I allowed her to pull me away, anyway. As we walked away, Paige’s arm linked with mine, I looked back at Carter. He was still talking to Ethan, but his eyes were following me.

“Girl, you have it so bad. I’ve never seen you like this.” Paige elbowed me playfully. “What are we going to do with you?”

“Get me him,” I laughed, but I wasn’t really kidding.

Paige sighed. “You sure know how to make things complicated, Jules. All these eligible bachelors that would fall at your feet for a chance at a date with you, and you want the one who is off limits.”

I lifted my eyebrows at her. “Have you
seen
him?”

Paige looked back at Carter. “I’m not
blind
. I’m just not gaga over the man.”

“That’s because he’s mine. And you have Zeke.”

Her face blushed at the mention of Zeke, but she didn’t deny it. I wondered idly where he was. “So what’s the problem then?”

I snagged a drink from a passing waiter. “He’s . . . complicated.”

“They always are, my friend. They always are.”

I TRIED TO FOCUS ON
Ethan’s words. I did. But the second Julia turned and walked away with Paige, my eyes followed her across the room, watching her talk and laugh with every person that came up to her. I saw her look back at me no less than half a dozen times.

“Uh oh,” Ethan said. It was nice to have a guy friend here. He’d taken me out with him last week and I’d met a few of his friends. Since then, we’d worked out together daily and I enjoyed his company a lot. It made me miss Hayden just a little less.

“What?” Ethan had no idea how I felt about Julia (hell, I didn’t even know for sure how I felt about her), or what quite possibly happened with us. I’d been careful not to mention her at all unless we were discussing work. I had to play dumb now, because I was sure I was being very obvious.

He laughed. “Man, I might’ve only known you a little over a week, but I know that look.”

“What look?”

“You’ve been watching Julia Gibbons since the second she walked away. She’s off limits, man. Don’t even think about it.”

I processed his words. I knew this, of course, but that didn’t mean I wanted to listen. “Julia? She’s great. I have to work under her for the internship.”

Ethan lifted his eyebrow at me. “I’m sure you would like to work
under
her, Carter. You and every other male at GSJ.”

Heat flooded my face. Was she this forward with everyone? “What do you mean by that?”

Ethan looked over to where Julia was laughing with Zeke, and my stomach constricted when he put his hand on her arm. “Haven’t you noticed that every man in that office practically drools when she goes by? Most of them, married or not, would give a nut to get that. But they know better.”

“Would you?” I had to know.

He shook his head. “She’s gorgeous, but not my type. I totally want her friend, though.”

“Paige?” She was okay, but as Ethan said, not my type.

“Nope. Tracey.”

I hadn’t met Tracey yet, but I remembered Julia talking about her. I needed to steer the conversation back to Julia because I had to find out what he meant.

“What do you mean they all want her but they know better? Is she a player or something?”

Ethan laughed again. He was sure finding this amusing. “No. Not at all. I’ve never even seen her go out with
anyone,
and she’s been around a long time, even before she graduated college. They all know better because her father would have their heads if they even thought about touching her.”

My throat dried out and I coughed while attempting to swallow. Mr. Gibbons seemed like a good guy. “Really?”

He nodded. “He’s
super
protective of her. He knows that she attracts a lot of attention. She’s his whole world. He doesn’t even have to say anything for everyone in the office to know that. Word gets around. Julia Gibbons is to look at, respect, work with, but
not
to touch. No one has crossed him yet, for good reason. They want this job worse than they want to have her.”

I sighed, forcing my eyes away from her curves in that black form-fitted dress. I needed to listen to him and heed his advice. I wanted this job more than I wanted her.
Right?