Signed, Sealed, Delivered (14 page)

Another yawn slipped out. “Can we save it for breakfast?”

Sleep claimed him before he heard a response.

* * *

Juliana would’ve answered his question if Connor had given her more than a few seconds before he conked out. Where had he been for so long after he’d picked up Tracy?

The wariness was difficult. She’d never felt anything as powerful or all-consuming before. Jimmy might have been a terminal flirt, but not once did she want to yank one of his target’s hair right off her head.

But Tracy Barrett?

The woman meant something to Connor, something important. Exactly what remained a mystery, which made Juliana’s mind wander down all sorts of paths it shouldn’t. One led to an irrational jealousy she had difficulty crushing.

How weird that she could implicitly trust Connor as her business partner. But as a lover? As a boyfriend?

A stupid word. “Boyfriend.” They were both in their thirties. To call him her boyfriend seemed absurd.

Then what was he? Her lover? Her roomie?

Thankfully, sleep began to drug her thoughts—a blessing since those thoughts ranged from immature to downright silly.

Juliana’s last coherent thought before drifting off was that if Tracy wanted Connor she was in for a hell of a fight.

* * *

The moment of truth had finally arrived. Juliana had been avoiding it long enough.

Connor was at an early closing and had left before Juliana even wanted to think about getting out of the warm bed. But the moment she’d heard his SUV leave, she’d jumped up, fished the little sack from the bottom of her panty drawer, and headed to the bathroom.

Juliana set the white stick on the sink and sat down on the closed toilet seat, torn between wanting the little plus to appear and hoping it wouldn’t. While it might be easier to just go back to being her and Connor as a couple, her heart wanted this child. A baby she’d created with Connor. It seemed almost too good to be true.

Why did the minutes click by so damned slowly? This was supposed to be the fastest and most accurate test on the market. She hadn’t realized it was also powerful enough to change the perception of the passage of time.

Did all potential mothers have this kind of anxiety?

The bathroom smelled like Connor’s cologne, so Juliana took a deep breath, letting his scent comfort her. He’d left his wet towel on the floor again and she made a mental note to scold him about it later before realizing the last thing in the world she wanted to be was a nag.

One more minute. Then she’d have her answer.

What would Connor say? He’d been rather nonchalant when the condom broke. Would he be every bit as nonchalant if they were going to be parents? For that matter, could she even handle the news?

Five. Four. Three. Two—

Juliana stared at the stick, blinking to be sure her eyes weren’t deceiving her.

“I’m pregnant.”

“Jules!”

Juliana looked up from her desk. Concentrating on work hadn’t been easy after last night. Why hadn’t Connor wanted to make love?

Was he already bored with her?

I’ll go crazy thinking like that.

At least she had a distraction now…

She smiled as Mallory and then Bethany and Danielle spilled into the office. The three of them were dressed in shorts, summery shirts, and sandals, making Juliana peek down at her business suit and envy their three months of freedom. The only thing she missed about school was summer break.

And her students. She’d expected that, but the intensity came as a surprise.

The Ladies Who Lunch surrounded her desk, shaking their heads and clucking like mother hens.

“This won’t do,” Mallory declared. “It’s eighty degrees and the sun is shining. You should be out working on your tan.”

“But here you are, stuck at your desk,” Dani said.

Beth slapped her hand lightly against the desktop. “I think it’s time for someone—”

“
Three
someones,” Dani interrupted.

“—to come and rescue you.”

Juliana put her pen down. “Meaning you three?”

“You got it!” Mallory slid behind Juliana’s chair and pulled her away from the desk. “We’re kidnapping you.”

“Kidnapping?”

“Yep. Ben made us a picnic lunch. For an hour or so, we’re going to be the Ladies Who Lunch again.”

A quick check of the clock brought a frown. “But I have an appointment at—”

“No, you don’t,” Beth said.

“I don’t? How would you know?”

“Connor and Ben arranged all this.” Mallory took Juliana’s hand and dragged her toward the door. “Connor’s taking your appointment, Ben made a fantastic lunch, and all of us want a chance to sit and talk, just like we used to. We haven’t seen you since the Fourth of July cookout.”

Guilt hit her broadside. “I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry?” Danielle asked.

“I’ve been so damn busy I’ve been ignoring all of you.”

“Not ignoring,” Bethany insisted. “This business is hectic. We get that.”

“You’ve got a new firm to run,” Dani added. “We totally understand.”

“But,” Mallory said, “we missed you something terrible.”

A smile bloomed, and Juliana blinked back happy tears. “I missed all of you, too.” Shedding her jacket, she tossed it on a chair and opened the door. “Where are we heading?”

“It’s a surprise.” Mallory exited, followed by Dani and Beth.

“Good thing I love surprises.” Juliana locked the door behind them.

Less than ten minutes later, they were in the city park.

The sun on her face was heaven, and the picnic table inside the shelter gave them a nice place to eat.

Juliana smiled, loving every moment of being with her friends again. She banished the guilt at not seeing them as often as she used to, pleased that they realized how difficult it had been to get Kelley-Wilson Realty up and running and to keep it going.

She should’ve known that the Ladies would be understanding—theirs was the type of friendship that didn’t need daily contact to thrive. The bonds were strong, even strong enough to allow Juliana the distance she needed to make this change in her life.

It was, however, a bit of a surprise that Connor recognized she needed a break, if only for a lunch away with her friends.

“You said Connor called you?” she asked Mallory.

“Actually, he called Ben,” she replied. “He said you seemed a bit overwhelmed.”

“I’m
not
overwhelmed.”

“I didn’t say you were. It was Connor’s word, not mine. I figured he didn’t know how to describe exactly what you were feeling, so he just picked a word.”

Dani chuckled. “Men aren’t all that great at explaining things, especially when emotions are involved.”

“Amen to that,” Beth chimed in.

Mallory gathered the last of the plastic containers from the picnic table and stowed them in the cooler. Then she sat down on the bench next to Juliana. “He meant well. Plus, you have to admit, you missed us as much as we missed you.”

“I did. It’s just… I hate that Connor thinks I can’t do my job.”

“Oh Lord.” Danielle rolled her eyes. “There’s the Jules I know and love—not happy unless she’s got something to fret about.”

Insults from friends always had less bite, but Dani was on to something. Juliana was a worrywart, always had been. She should be thanking Connor for caring enough to reach out to her friend’s husband, and she should be grateful to Ben for going to the trouble of making that fantastic lunch for the Ladies. The man could cook.

Dani softened her words by sitting on Juliana’s other side and giving her a hug. “Now, tell us all about this Tracy Barrett. Heard she and Connor are close.”

“How did you know?” Juliana asked.

“He told Ben,” Mallory replied. “The two of them are getting pretty chummy.”

Maybe Ben can nudge Tracy right out of Connor’s life.

“Uh-oh. Why the frown?” Bethany asked.

Juliana shrugged.

“What you need is something fun. How about a swim?” Bethany whipped her tank top over her head to reveal a yellow one-piece with blue polka dots. “Dani and I are going to work on our tans. Join us?”

Mallory opened her mouth before quickly closing it. She directed that intense gaze at Juliana, the one who seemed capable of seeing straight through to the heart of the matter. “You know what, I changed my mind. I’m not up for swimming today.”

“But we promised Connor we’d drag Jules into the pool,” Beth protested.

Sometimes Juliana forgot how much older she and Mallory were than Beth and Dani. Sure, it was only four or five years, but the difference was more than mathematics. Barely thirty was worlds away from thirty-five.

“I’d really rather not swim,” Juliana said. “I sunburn in two minutes flat. I’m going to pay for today as it is—probably get a hundred new freckles.”

“We brought sunscreen.” Beth fished around in her bag and held up a bottle.

“Eighteen block?” Juliana snorted a laugh. “I need a minimum of forty-eight. I’m a ginger, remember?”

“Really, ladies. I’m not up to swimming,” Mallory said. “Don’t worry about us. Go on. Get a tan and let the lifeguards ogle you.”

Beth looked back at the pool, nothing short of hunger in her eyes. “If you’re sure…”

“We’re sure.” Mallory shooed them away with the back of her hand.

Both slung their bags over their shoulders.

“See you, Jules,” Bethany said, kissing Juliana’s cheek.

“Yeah, bye, Jules,” Danielle added with a pat on the shoulder.

They headed toward the pool, one of the few civic advancements Cloverleaf had made in a very long time. Would the arrival of Barrett Foods bring an influx of money to the community? What other good things could the residents look forward to?

“I hope Beth and Dani don’t think I chased them away.” Juliana glanced over her shoulder.

Mallory followed her gaze to the women, who were showing plastic season passes to the teenager manning the pool’s entrance. “Nah. Judging from their tans, they’re right where they wanted to be.”

They probably didn’t want to deal with her ridiculous problems anyway.

“How’s it really going?” Mallory watched her as if expecting her to be overwhelmed with emotion.

Since she’d never been able to hide anything from her best friend, Juliana didn’t even try. “A while back, a condom broke.”

“Oh…”

“Yeah. I feel the same way.
Oh.
”

“What are you going to do about it?” Mallory asked. “The baby, I mean. The condom’s already a lost cause.”

“You knew? How?”

“It was a joke. Did you take a test?”

“Yeah. I’m definitely pregnant.”

“What did Connor say?”

“I’m not going to tell him. Not yet. Not until I pass the first trimester.”

“Won’t he be angry?” Mallory asked.

“It’s what I want, Mal. After my last pregnancy, I just don’t want to get my hopes up, let alone his. Okay? Not Dani or Beth, either. Just us. Please?”

Mallory thought it over a good, long while before giving Juliana a brusque nod.

A sigh of relief slipped out. “Thank you.”

“Are we happy about this?”

“We’re not even thinking about it. Not yet. I—I can’t let myself hope until I’m past the scary part.”

Mallory took her hand. “Then we won’t talk about it. Tell me about Connor instead.” A smile lit her face. “Considering you two are going to have a baby, I’d say your relationship is going strong.”

“I only let him move in because his place is such a pit and—”

“You mean you finally got to see it?”

“Well, no, but—”

“Ben likes him.”

A sardonic laugh slipped from Juliana. “That was an abrupt change of topic.”

“Didn’t want the conversation to turn maudlin.” Mallory hopped up and fished a water bottle from the cooler. “Want one?”

“No, thanks.” Juliana kept turning around Mallory’s words. “You’ve piqued my curiosity. Why does Ben like him?”

After a long swig of water, Mallory twisted the lid back on. “He says he and Connor are a lot alike. Both have a rather odd sense of humor. Both work their asses off. Both are committed to the people they love.”

“Love?
Love?
Are you saying that Connor told Ben he—he
loves
me?”

Mallory gave an exaggerated eye roll. “Puhleeze. Even when they’re in love, men won’t admit it right away.”

“Then why would Ben say something like that?”

“Because every time they’re together all Connor does is talk about you.”

Juliana’s first response was to scoff, at least until she realized that she’d spent the entire picnic talking about him. Sure, a lot of those comments were about Kelley-Wilson Realty, but damn it all if her entire life wasn’t wrapped up in Connor Wilson.

So much for escaping school and asserting my independence.

Mallory let out a squeak and then giggled.

“What’s wrong?”

She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. “Phone vibrated. Always tickles me.” A couple of taps on the screen broadened her grin. “Ben says we’re going to help Connor move his stuff out of storage. Says we can have a barbeque for everyone after that. Since it’s only a few days until school starts, we’ll turn it into a back-to-school celebration.”

“Wonder if Tracy’ll be there.”

“Tracy Barrett? Is she close enough to him to come to a barbeque?”

“Yes. Um, no.” She shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. Connor’s never told me their whole story.”

Cocking her head, Mallory said, “Do I detect jealousy?”

“A shitload,” Juliana admitted. “Probably because I don’t have any idea what she means to him.”

Sitting down next to her, Mallory wrapped her arm around Juliana’s shoulders. “How about you tell me what you do know?”

“That’ll take all of five seconds. They grew up together. End of story.”

“Perhaps you and Connor need to talk. He should tell you all about Tracy, and you should tell him all about Jimmy.”

My thoughts exactly.
Although she’d already told Connor she was divorced, she’d never explained about Jimmy’s drinking or told him she’d lost a child. “We will. Not knowing is killing me.”

Can a person die of stress?

On the other hand, this was exactly what Juliana had wanted. At least it was what she thought she wanted when she’d blurted out the invitation for him to move in. Now she was thinking about making it a permanent arrangement, especially if she didn’t lose this pregnancy.

So what exactly was Connor to her? A temporary roomie? A permanent boyfriend? A potential husband?

Problem was she wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted. Only one thing was certain…

She loved Connor and the possibility of this baby, which meant there was no turning back.