Love Finds the One (Sully Point Book 2) (17 page)

But marriage? Was he thinking of marriage on some
unconscious level? He'd never ever considered getting married. In the past, he
could never imagine settling down with just one woman. There were so many out
there, after all. Then Julia had come into his life and now he only seemed able
to think about her. When they were together he felt as if he'd found his other
half.

He gripped the steering wheel tighter and thought about it.
What would it be like to be with Julia always? He already knew he was in love
with her, but he'd been in love before.
Not like this,
he thought.
What
we have is different.
He found himself smiling as he glanced in the
rearview mirror to see her car behind him. It was still very early to be
thinking of things like marriage, but he could wait. He'd wait forever for her,
if that was what it took.

They pulled up at the loft and proceeded to carry everything
up to the second floor. Julia was surprised when he took her down the stairs at
the back of the loft, leading to the first floor living area. "I didn't
even realize the two floors were connected. I think I'll only need the top
floor though."

"Well, it's there, in case you do need more space.
Let's go back and get the Corvette. I think I'd better call Dad and tell him
I'm cooking again tonight. I'll make some of Anna's favorite foods. He won't
suspect anything is going on because he'll think I'm just trying to impress
you."

"You do impress me, in amazing ways," she said
with a grin.

"Okay, okay. I think we'll have macaroni and cheese for
one dish," Cody said with a grin right back at her. "She always loved
the homemade stuff Dad made. I'll do some barbecued chicken on the grill. And
grill some vegetables. After I get the Corvette from the beach house, we can
pick up some bread at the bakery." Then he hesitated. "I mean, if you
want to come with me. If you want some time alone here, I'd understand."

She laughed, and reached for him, running her fingers through
his hair even as he pulled her close to his body. "I was planning before
on spending the whole afternoon and night with you. Yes, I want to be with you.
No matter what you need to do, I'd like to be there."

He felt himself relax, and then took advantage of her close
proximity to kiss her thoroughly. "There, maybe that will tide us over for
a while."

"I doubt it," she said breathlessly. "Now,
kissing you will be all I can think of."

"Come on. We'll go get the car, come back here and drop
yours off, and hurry to run errands. Somewhere in there I'm betting we can fit
in some time for more than just a kiss."

"If that's the case...race you to the car." She
dashed out of the apartment with him laughing and chasing after her. He was
going to make damn sure they had time.

* * * *

Julia laid back against the pillows on the couch gasping a
little for breath. "That was...incredible, especially given the time
limits." She gave a laugh and nudged at Cody who was collapsed on top of
her. "You still alive?"

"Mmm. Maybe. I'm staying right where I am for a
while."

"You're the one who set the time frame, hon, so you
could get the grill going in plenty of time, remember?"

"Right." With a groan he got up and stood looking
down at her.

"What?" Julia asked suspiciously. "You have
such a look on your face."

"You're beautiful."

She felt herself blush. "Cody..."

"You are. Totally. Lovely. Now I'm going to jump in the
shower. Join me?"

"Is it safe?"

He laughed. "I think you're safe for the moment."

She grinned and let him pull her up off the couch.

After they got dressed, and were on the way to Frank's
house, she found herself wondering if it was just her, or if it was equally great
to him. "Cody, I'm not fishing for compliments when I ask this. I really
want to know. Is the sex--is it as mind-blowing for you as it is for me?"

He looked startled as he turned toward her for a moment,
then put his eyes back on the road. "It's mind-blowing for you?"

"Yes. I've never experienced anything like what I feel
when we're together. It's not just the immense pleasure, but also the deeper
feeling of connections." she said.

"Well, that makes two of us then. And you know I have
'been around' as they say. But everything is different with you."

She grasped his hand in hers. "Good."

As soon as they got to the house, Cody began prepping the
food. He was quickly placing pieces of chicken, flattened out by a mallet, on
the grill. "We can let those start cooking, and go inside to make the mac
and cheese."

Julia said, "I don't see how you know to make the
chicken come out at the same time as the macaroni and cheese. But don't bother
explaining. I'll be happy enough to eat it. Was your Dad suspicious about your
cooking again tonight?"

"Nah, he was rather busy at the store. He was just glad
I was doing it. He has no idea about the surprise."

Julia stayed out of his way while he cooked, sitting at the
kitchen table and sipping lemonade iced tea. She'd never had it before and it
was delicious. Watching Cody move around the kitchen was a feast for the eyes. He
was wearing jeans, and a sweater that molded to his body, showing off a muscular
physique. All she could think of was how his body had recently been entwined
with hers. She wondered how long they had to stay at dinner tonight.

"Julia?"

"Hmm?" she said distractedly.

"Have you heard a word I said?" Cody asked.

"What? No, sorry," she said and looked down,
flustered. "I was uh, thinking, you know, about, uh, stuff."

Cody stared at her as she looked back up at him. Then he
began to smile. "I'll just bet I know what you were thinking about."

"I'm sure you don't know," she managed to say indignantly.

He burst out laughing. After a moment she joined in. Frank
walked in on the tail end of their laughter.

"What's the joke?"

Cody and Julia burst into laughter again. Cody finally said
to a puzzled Frank, "You had to be there."

"I think your chicken may be burning out there,
son."

Cody dashed out the back door.

"Julia, have you thought any about the building
today?" Frank asked as he poured some tea for himself.

"Yes, I did. I think it might work out perfectly. I
plan to talk to Mrs. Gilchrest tomorrow about the financing details. I've even
been thinking about a name for the business. Either Tremaine Computer Services
or Julia's Computer Services. What do you think?"

"People around here think of you as Julia, not Julia Tremaine.
I like the one with your first name. Sounds neighborly. Computer Services,
huh?"

"Yes, since I plan to provide a variety of services,
not just one thing."

Cody came back in with a platter of chicken which he covered
with foil. "What did I miss?"

Frank said, "We were talking about the name of her
business. Tell him the choices."

Julia did so, and Cody thought Julia's Computer Services was
the most descriptive. "However," he said. "What about something
simple like Julia's Place?"

Frank and Julia both mumbled the name to themselves.
Finally, she said, "You know, I think I like it. Makes me feel like I'm
part of this town and here is my place in it."

Cody asked, "Does this mean you've decided definitely to
do it then? The business?"

She smiled at him. "With everything that happened this
afternoon, I never got around to telling you. Yes, I decided to go for it. I'll
start my own computer business here in Sully Point."

Cody came across the kitchen and picked her up and twirled
her around in a big hug. She laughed and Frank chuckled. A voice at the door
said, "Looks like we arrived in time for a celebration."

Frank jerked around and stood stock-still. "Anna?
You're here?"

"Yes, it's me," Anna said as she walked in and
stood in front of her father. "Me and a passenger at the moment."

"Anna! You're having a baby?"

"A linebacker by the feel of him."

Frank hugged his daughter with tears in his eyes. "Oh,
Anna, I'm so happy for you. And for you too, Sam."

Sam stood inside the doorway grinning at Frank. "How
does it feel to know you'll be a Grandpa soon?"

"Wonderful," Frank said with a big smile, wiping
his eyes.

Cody said, "How about all of you move into the dining
room, and I'll get the food on the table. Then, we can all hear the
details."

Julia helped get dishes and glasses out to the table.
Everyone seemed to be talking at once. It was the most cheerful dinner she'd
ever been at. And somehow she never felt left out. Cody or his father would
draw her into the conversations, and even Anna and Sam included her. They asked
about the celebration they'd walked in on, and Julia explained about the
business.

Sam said, "Excellent news. Knowing there's an expert
around when I'm writing would be nice. It will give me a secure feeling in case
my laptop blows up."

"She even looked at a place today for office
space," Frank said. "The Varley place."

Anna looked shocked. "The Varley--you mean the old
gothic building with gargoyles on it?"

Cody said, "Dad, you didn't show her that ugly thing,
did you?"

Julia frowned. "It was Mrs. Gilchrest and your father
who showed it to me. And I'm thinking about taking it."

"But, it's haunted," Anna blurted out.

Chapter 7

The question of whether the gothic building was haunted, had
been a matter of heated discussion at the Grainger house. Once they returned to
the loft, Cody suggested she talk to Mrs. Gilchrest about it. "I'm not
saying it's haunted, babe. What I'm saying is, there's a big rumor in town about
how it's got ghosts."

Julia was less concerned with haunted buildings and more
focused on the desire she'd felt all evening for Cody's touch.

When she started taking his sweater off, Cody chuckled.
"I'm guessing we're done with the topic of ghosts."

"I want us naked together--it was all I could think of
tonight."

"Why Miss Tremaine, I do believe your wish can be
granted." He undid her belt buckle and began unbuttoning her blouse.

The giggling started when Julia began to race to see if she
could get him naked first. Cody however wasn't willing to play fair and kept
distracting her with little kisses on her neck and shoulders, and elsewhere as
her body was revealed. By the time they tumbled to the bed naked, Julia thought
she'd never been more turned on in her life. Cody's whispered endearments into her
ear had her melting inside.

After yet another night of fantastic sex with Cody, Julia was
convinced she was experiencing some kind of miracle. How was it possible that
each day and night with him was better than the last? And it wasn't only the
physical side of things. The feelings growing inside her toward him were large
and expansive and filled her heart. Being with him was becoming vital to her
well-being.

A cup of coffee, and a stop at the bakery, prepared her to tackle
the topic of haunted buildings with Mrs. Gilchrest. "I'm not concerned
about ghosts, Mrs. Gilchrest, honest," Julia said, sitting in the bank
president's office. "What I'm worried about is perception. Is it the kind
of rumor that would keep people away from the business because it's located
there?"

Mrs. Gilchrest pursed her lips. "There is a generally
stated belief it is haunted, but I'm sure not many people actually believe it.
I think too, they'd be drawn to the place to see you, Julia, as you are a new
person in town. Then whatever atmosphere you have there will influence
people."

"I suppose the outside brick could always be painted--a
cream color maybe or a sage green. It might lighten up the place. All right,
let's talk numbers."

By the time they were finished, Julia was sure she would be
getting the building for an excellent price. "Just how long have you been
trying to get someone to buy the place?" she asked.

"Almost five years. That's why we reduced the
price."

"I think it will work for me. I need to contact my
accountant in the city and run the numbers by him, and make sure my financial
situation is what I think it is. I'll be back to you within a day or two at
most."

Mrs. Gilchrest smiled at her. "You're the only
potential buyer. A couple of days sounds fine."

Julia left feeling very good about her prospects. She drove
by the gothic building again.
Yes, it is terribly ugly. Maybe with some
flowers outside,
she thought. Heading back to the loft, she began to sing
with the radio.

* * * *

Frank was on the phone to Holly. "Yes, she's back and
she's pregnant!" He listened to the scream of delight with the phone held
away from his ear. "Things are looking up here. When are you coming to
visit?"

He was happy to hear she expected to arrive late in the
afternoon. Holly needed to take more time off, he thought. This would give her
a long weekend away from work.

"Yes, Cody is fine. And your Julia as well. Things are
developing quite nicely there...Hmm? Well, I probably should let Julia tell you
her plans...Okay, okay. Looks like she'll be staying here in town, which will
make Cody very happy. Going to start her own business. What? Don't sound
surprised. Your brother has an unusual influence over women." He laughed.
"No, no, I was kidding, Holly. She wants to stay in Sully Point. Now I'm
not saying anything else about it, you'll have to talk to her. See you this
evening then."

He shook his head as he put away the phone. Talking to Holly
was always an experience of exclamations. She didn't seem to have a very good
opinion of her brother when it came to women, but then, she hadn't been around
Cody much in the past six months.

Frank thought about how he'd soon have a grandchild, and
decided to spend some time at Martha's Toy Store once his help for the day
arrived. Martha's place was filled with unique toys and crafts for kids. He was
sure she'd have something for a new baby that would be a good gift for Anna.