Chasing Julia (Rhode Island Romance #2) (11 page)

“She’ll, uh, be out
of town. She won’t mind me taking my friend to a party.”

“She knows about
me?”

“Of course. I
explained to her what good friends you and I are.”

Good friends.

“I can’t,” Julia
bit out. “I’ll be working the event. I won’t have time to hang out with you.
Bring another friend. Call up one of the girls in your little black book. I’m
sure there are plenty in there.”

“Can’t. I threw
that out months ago.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. Once I
realized this girl was the one for me, all of those other girls became so much
proverbial dust in the wind.”

“I don’t believe
you.”

“Believe it, sugar.
I’m a new man. I’ve put aside my wicked ways.” He gave a soft, sultry chuckle.
“Well, not
all
of them. Gotta keep something for my wife to look forward
to on our wedding night.”

“You haven’t slept
with her yet?”

“Now that’s a very
personal question. But, as a matter of fact, I haven’t. Keeping things on a low
simmer with her, letting the anticipation build. By our wedding night, she’s
going to be climbing all over me.”

“I don’t want to listen
to this anymore. I’m hanging up.” She reached for the handset.

“Wait. Listen.” His
voice turned serious. “You know Willa and Joe are going to be there. I want to
be by your side for moral support. Don’t you agree?”

Honestly, she
hadn’t given Joe and Willa much thought lately.
One
good thing was
coming out of her preoccupation with Tony in any case. “I’m a big girl. I can
handle it.”

“You won’t need to
hold my hand?”

“No.”

“Good girl.”

“I’m not a dog.”

“Speaking of dogs,
which breed do you like best? Labradors or Golden Retrievers?”

“Why?”

“I’ve always wanted
a dog. Now that I’ve bought a house of my own, I want to get a dog.”

“You bought that
house?”

“Yep. The offer was
accepted last week. Congratulate me.”

Her heart sank at
the thought of him living in that beautiful house with his mysterious new
bride, their ever-growing brood of children and a big, tail-wagging,
slobbery-tongued dog. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you. So,
what kind of dog should I get?”

“I don’t know! Why
don’t you ask your girlfriend?”

She hung up on him.

On
the morning of Audrey’s event, the clouds rolled in, dark and threatening.
Julia kept one eye on the sky and one eye on her car’s speedometer as she
hightailed it over to Audrey’s factory in Pawtucket. She was supposed to meet
Tony and his crew at nine o’clock, and it was already half past the hour.

When she pulled
into the parking lot, gravel flying in her wake, Tony was there to greet her.
He was leaning against one of the Rossetti Construction pickup trucks, arms
folded across his chest. He was wearing jeans and a long-sleeved plaid work shirt
rolled up to the elbows. She tried to ignore the way his broad shoulders and
chest narrowed down to his trim waist and muscular thighs. She wasn’t very
successful.

He strode over and
opened her door.

“Were you
speeding?”

“Yes.”

“Bad girl.”

She scowled at him.
“Practicing for when you get your dog?”

He grinned. He held
out his hand to help her out.

She ignored it.
“Where’s the rest of your crew?”

“Inside. They
already have most of the rigging installed.”

Her mood lightened.
“Really? That’s great. What time did you all get here?”

“Eight o’clock.”

Julia grabbed her
shoulder bag and a box of supplies from the passenger seat. Joe held out his
arms to take the box.

“My staff is
arriving at ten” she said. “If we stay on schedule, we should have everything
ready to go before the open house starts at noon.” She looked up at the sky.
“God, I hope it doesn’t rain.”

He followed her
glance. “Doesn’t look promising.”

She stepped out of
the car and nudged the door closed with one hip. “Do you think people will
still come?”

“Are you kidding?
Free food? Free tours and demos? Raffle prizes? Live music? Not to mention free
parking? They’ll show. Don’t worry about it.”

They walked side by
side towards the building entrance. “I hope you’re right.”

“You need to have
more confidence in me, Julia. There’ll come a day when you’re just going to
have to trust me implicitly. No questions asked.”

“Blind faith?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

Looking up at him,
she caught the remnants of a mysterious smile before his expression smoothed
over.

Inside the huge
factory building, Tony’s crew was affixing the last panel to the ceiling. The
long curtains of gauzy white material were hung throughout the room, creating
different “rooms” to break up the expansive floor space. As she hadn’t been
able to find the exact shades of blue material to achieve her ocean theme,
Julia had decided to use gobos instead. The pieces of glass, when affixed to
the front of the small spotlights scattered throughout the room, would project
intricate, wavy patterns in blue, aqua and green tones against the white
fabric. A bubble machine would add to the illusion of an underwater world.

A stage had been
set up in one section. The band would be arriving at eleven to set up their
equipment and do a sound check. She’d hired two bands—one for the day and one
for the evening—that specialized in reggae music. A steel drum trio would
entertain guests with calypso music when the bands were taking their break.

The catering
company would be arriving at ten-thirty. She’d kept the food simple for the
open house: fish tacos, shrimp and vegetable skewers and sliders. One of her
assistants had come up with the idea to hand out boxes of goldfish crackers for
the children to nibble on—and adults, too, if they wanted.

The evening
offerings would be more substantial, including various food stations offering a
variety of fish and meat options as well as decadent desserts. Beer and wine
would be served. Martinis poured in glasses with blue lights in the stems would
also be offered.

In spite of all the
stress of the previous three weeks, everything seemed to be coming together
perfectly. As much as she loathed admitting at this point, Julia was grateful
to Tony for helping with the panels. The event would not have had such an
amazing visual impact without them.

He set her supply
box on a nearby table and turned towards her. “Is there anything else you
need?”

She shook her head.
“I think I’m all set for now.” Impulsively, she moved closer to him and gave
him a hug. “Thanks for all your help, Tony. I really do appreciate it.”

His arms wrapped
around her waist. He held her closer. “My pleasure.”

She would’ve moved
away, but his arms tightened.

“How are you doing,
Jules?” he asked softly. “Are you really up for seeing them tonight?”

“Yes,” she
answered, just as softly. She inhaled his scent—a hint of spice and the clean,
male fragrance that was uniquely Tony. “I can handle it.”

“What will you say
to them?”

“Hello?”

His chest rumbled
with laughter. “That’s all?”

“I don’t know. I’ll
play it by ear.”

“Joe said he’s
looking forward to seeing you. I don’t think he’s been able to completely
settle in to his new life with Willa yet. Not until he’s finally convinced that
you’re okay.”

She leaned back in
his arms to look at his face. “What is he looking for? Absolution?”

“No. Not that.” He
paused. “Once, when I was around thirteen, I remember waking up one night to
see him standing in my bedroom doorway watching me. I asked him what he was
doing. He said he was just checking to make sure I was okay. When I was in high
school and staying out late, he was always there waiting for me to come home,
no matter how late it was. It was the same for Sylvie. He told her once that he
couldn’t go to sleep each night until he was sure we were both home, tucked in
bed, safe and sound.”

“What are you
trying to say?”

“I think he’s just
looking for peace of mind, Julia. You’re his family, too. He just wants to make
sure you’re safe and sound.”

Julia’s body sighed
against his. If Joe had been there at that very moment she would have told him
that, right now, in Tony’s arms, she was feeling very safe and sound indeed.

The
party was in full swing. Everything seemed to be running without a hitch. Her
two assistants plus the college intern she’d brought on board were doing a
fantastic job. Best of all, it wasn’t raining. Storm clouds still threatened,
but not a drop of rain had fallen yet.

Julia allowed
herself to relax as she stood behind one of the curtain panels and watched the
party guests mix and mingle. A few people were on the small dance floor,
gyrating to the reggae beat. Others were strolling amidst the display cases
that showcased Audrey’s latest designs.

“This day has been
a
huge
success, Julia. Everything looks amazing.”

Julia pivoted
around to find Audrey standing behind her. The woman was beaming.

“Thank you,” Julia
said with a smile. “So far, so good.”

Audrey scanned the
room. “I haven’t seen Tony. Is he around?”

“No. He had to
leave just before noon. There was some kind of emergency at one of the job
sites.”

Audrey pursed her
lips. “That doesn’t sound good. I hope everything is okay.”

“Me, too.”

“That must be why
Joe hasn’t arrived yet either.” Then Audrey pointed over Julia’s shoulder.
“Hold on. Look who just showed up.”

Julia turned
towards the main entrance to see Joe and Willa standing just inside the door.
Joe’s expression was somber. Willa was clinging tightly to his hand and gazing
up at him with a worried look.

The first emotion
that took hold of Julia was fear.
Tony
. Something had happened to Tony.
Without a second thought, she walked quickly towards the couple. “Is everything
okay?” she asked in a breathless rush, her eyes fastened on Joe’s stern face.

He’d been looking
around the room. He turned his head, startled. “Julia.”

“Is everything
okay?” she asked again. “Is Tony okay?”

He touched her arm
in a reassuring gesture. “Tony’s fine. Sorry if I look a little stressed. There
was an accident this morning at one of the job sites. A section of scaffolding
collapsed. Two of our employees were sent to the hospital.”

Julia released a
deep breath. “Oh, no. I’m sorry to hear that. Will they be all right?”

“Yeah. One has a
broken leg. The other guy has a concussion. They’re keeping him at the hospital
overnight. Tony’s been there for most of the afternoon. But he should be here
soon.”

Julia became aware
of Audrey and Collette hovering. Collette moved forward. “What a relief,” she
said. “The look on both your faces when you first walked in gave me a scare.”

“Sorry, Collette,”
Willa said. She gave Julia a direct, guileless look. “It’s not just the
accident that has us both frazzled. I’ve been nervous about seeing Julia.”

Julia met the
younger woman’s eyes. Truthfully, she’d never been angry with Willa, just angry
with the situation. And something else had shifted inside of her when she first
saw them at the door. When she thought that something bad had happened to Tony,
it made her finally realize that some things in life were more important than
others. Holding grudges seemed pretty pointless.

Observing the
lingering worry in Willa’s eyes, Julia allowed her expression to soften. “No
need to be nervous,” she said. “We’re all adults. I’m over it. I really am.”

Joe glanced around
them; they were gathering a curious audience. He gave Julia a questioning look.
“I’m glad to hear that. Is there somewhere a little more private where we can
talk? Just the three of us?”

“Use my office,”
Audrey suggested. She pointed towards a far corner of the factory floor.

Julia walked alongside
Joe and Willa towards the small room. Once inside, Joe closed the window
blinds. Then he turned to Julia. “Did you really mean what you said? That
you’re over it?”

“Yes.”

His shoulders
relaxed. “Good. I know I said it over and over that day, but I said a lot of
things that might have been lost in all the emotion. I’m sorry I hurt you,
Jules. That’s the last thing I wanted.”

Julia straightened
her shoulders. “I know that. And I heard you. You and your brother need to stop
treating me like I’m made of glass. What hurts me now is the thought that you
were willing to sacrifice your own happiness just to make me happy. In the end,
I felt like you felt
obligated
to marry me because of all the support I
gave you and your family over the years. That’s not right.”

“No, it’s not,” he
agreed. “I was too stubborn to realize that at the time. I
do
love you,
Julia. You were my best friend.”

“I know.”

“Will we be able to
return to that?”

“Yes.” She nodded
at Willa who was standing close to his side. “But I won’t be your best friend,
Joe. Willa’s your best friend now.”

He looked at Willa.
His eyes softened. “Yes. She is.”

Julia’s heart
constricted at the way they were looking at each other. Envy spiraled through
her blood. Would a man ever look at
her
that way? Would she ever have
that same connection?

It was Willa who
broke eye contact first. She returned her attention to Julia and smiled shyly.
“I’m glad you and Joe were able to talk tonight. He’s been so worried about
you. He hasn’t been sleeping well.”

Joe’s cheeks turned
ruddy. “Willa.”

“It’s true. And
when he doesn’t sleep well, I don’t sleep well.”

Julia found the
clipped, direct way the woman spoke strangely endearing. She could see how
Willa could bring out the protective side of Joe. Feeling suddenly like a much
older sister, Julia reached out and set her hand on Willa’s arm. “We can’t have
that.” She forced lightness into her tone. “Now stop worrying. Both of you. I’m
fine. I’m moving on.”

“That’s what Tony
said,” Willa confided. “He says you’re ready for the next step.”

“Willa.”

Joe’s voice held
caution. He and Willa exchanged a look. Joe looked a little hesitant when he
turned back to Julia. “There’s something we want to tell you. You’re the first
person to know.”

“Oh?”

He took Willa’s
hand and drew it into the crook of his arm. He smiled at her and then at Julia.
“We’re getting married. The day after Thanksgiving.”

Julia felt a tiny
pain in her heart. She recognized that she didn’t hurt because Joe was marrying
Willa. She just missed the idea of getting married herself, all the abandoned plans
for her
own
wedding day. “Congratulations,” she said, glad to hear how
calm and sincere her voice sounded. “But that’s just five weeks away. Do you
need my help with anything?”

Joe’s eyebrows shot
up. “You’d do that?”

“Of course. I’m not
a wedding planner. But I have all the connections. I could hook you up with
some of my vendors. Will there be a reception?”

He shook his head.
“No. It’s going to be a very small, intimate ceremony. We’re getting married at
the Conimicut house. There won’t be more than a dozen people there.”

“Wow, that
is
small.” And then Julia nearly bit her tongue. Tony had told her that Willa
didn’t have any family; of course the guest list would be small. She gave Willa
a warm smile. “But sometimes those can be the best kind of weddings. No fuss.
It’s so much more relaxing.”

Willa’s return
smile was sweet. “We were going to wait until February,” she said. “I thought
it would be fun to get married on Valentine’s Day. But…”

She and Joe
exchanged another speaking look.

There was a mix of
apprehension and pride on Joe’s face when he looked at Julia. “The fact is…
Willa is going to have a baby.”

Julia slapped her
hand across her mouth. Her heartbeat clamored in her ears. It took every ounce
of willpower she had to pretend this news didn’t upset her. “Oh. Oh! That’s
wonderful.” She moved closer to hug Willa, then Joe. “I’m so happy for you
both,” she said in a shaky voice. She patted Joe’s back before moving away. “I
always thought Joe would make a great father,” she said to Willa.

Willa took Julia’s
hand and pressed it. “We want you to come to the wedding,” she said. “You’re
family. You always will be.”

Julia
sat alone in Audrey’s office. She’d told Joe and Willa that she needed to take
a break for a few minutes, that her feet were killing her after standing on
them all day. They’d believed her. After one more round of hugs, the couple had
left her alone.

She wasn’t upset
that they were getting married. That had already been a given. But the fact
that Willa was pregnant, that she was going to have Joe’s baby… A year from
now, that might have been Julia.
She
might have been the one expecting a
child. That had been the plan. She and Joe had talked about starting a family
right away. She dreamed of having children of her own.

Time was running
out. The prospects of finding a good and decent man to marry and start a family
with within the next year or two were slim. She was thirty-three years old.
This thing, this infatuation—if that’s what it was—with Tony wasn’t going to
lead anywhere. There wasn’t any point in even imagining the possibility of
starting something with him.  He already had his future wife in his sights.

There was no one.
She was all alone.

“Julia, what are
you doing in here?”

Tony stood in the
doorway, dark and handsome in a charcoal suit and tie. He took one look at her
face and quickly shut the door behind him. She heard the snick of the door
lock.

She took several
gulping breaths, striving to stay cool and collected. It was no use. All her
emotions rose to the surface. To her complete mortification, she burst into
tears. They weren’t pretty tears. They were loud and ugly.

In two strides Tony
was at her side. He lifted her into his arms and then sat down in Audrey’s
executive chair, holding Julia on his lap. He curved one arm around her waist,
the other around her shoulders. He cupped her head with his big hand and
cradled her against his firm chest.

“What is it? Is it
Joe? Did he say something to hurt you?”

She shook her head,
her sobs escalating.

“What is it, honey?
Don’t cry. You know I don’t like to see you cry.” He smoothed his hand over her
hair.

“They… They’re
having a b-baby!”

“What? Who?”

“J-Joe and Willa.
She’s h-having his baby.”

“Wow. That’s great!
I’m going to be an uncle.”

“And they’re getting
m-married. Next month.”

He stiffened. “And
that upsets you?”

“No.” She shook her
head in swift denial. “No. I’m over him. I’m m-moving on. I told them that.”

His body relaxed.
“Then why are you so upset?”

“Because
I
want that,” she wailed. “I want a man who will l-look at me the way Joe looks
at her. And I want to have a baby.”

“Who says you
won’t?”

“I’m
old
!”
The word came out in three wailing syllables.

Tony gave a
scoffing laugh. “You’re not old.”

“I’m thirty-three!
I only have a few years left to start a family. And I don’t even have a
b-boyfriend!”

“True.”

She fisted one hand
in his suit jacket. “Do you
know
how long it takes to find a decent
boyfriend, to decide whether or not he’s compatible? If he’s marriage material?
It could take years! I don’t have time for all that.”

“I don’t know about
that,” he said reasonably. What if you fall in love with a guy at first sight?
He could be right here in this building tonight. You could marry him next week if
you wanted to.”

“Yeah, right. Love
at first sight only happens in books and movies.”

“It happened with
Joe and Willa.”

She gave a
hiccupping sob. “Don’t be cruel.”

He was quiet for a
few minutes as he rubbed her back in soothing circles. Julia’s tears gradually
diminished. Her body stopped shaking. She relaxed against him. She flattened
her hand against his chest, suddenly very aware of his furnace-like heat
beneath his shirt, very conscious of his strength and masculinity.

He leaned forward
in the chair and yanked some tissues from the box on Audrey’s desk. He wiped
Julia’s cheeks and nose. After tossing the damp tissues in the wastebasket, he
placed his warm, calloused palm against her cheek, brushed his thumb gently
along her cheekbone. “Tell me, Julia,” he asked eventually, his chest rumbling
beneath her ear. “What kind of man is your ideal? Maybe I can find him for
you.”

“He has to be
good.”

“Good? You mean
good in bed?” His voice was teasing.

She poked him in
the ribs. “Don’t be an ass. I mean good. He has to be a man of integrity and
honor.”

“Ah. Those are
excellent qualities. But you should still want a guy who’s also good in bed.
What else?”