Why Romeo Hates Juliet (48 page)

Romeo sat in the front seat of his rental car in the bookstore parking lot with his hands clenched on the steering wheel and with his eyes unfocused and staring at nothing in particular through the windshield. He could feel a tremor literally coursing through his body, and he was finding it difficult to steady his breathing. Seeing her again and having her so close had been torture for him. The only way he’d been able to get through that scene in there had been to focus on his anger that he still felt over how she’d walked out on him for some other man last year.

God, she looked fantastic and still so damn beautiful. In fact, she looked even more stunning than he’d remembered. How was that fair?

Instead, he’d gone through hell and back over her this past year. The memories of them together had haunted him every night and the thought of her now in some other bastard’s arms had driven him crazy. The only thing that had saved him and pulled him from the depths of despair had been his baby girl, otherwise he knew he would have spiraled back into his wild, partying, drinking lifestyle - and maybe worse.

Maybe coming here to see her today had been a mistake, but he just hadn’t been able to stop himself. Ever since he’d flown into Vancouver to do the movie shoot, all he’d been able to think about was how close she now was to him. He’d then picked up a copy of her new book and read it, and was surprised at how good of a writer she really was. The story had wit and charm and spirit, just like its author, and he’d laughed at the way she’d portrayed many of the things that had happened between them. Of course, her novel didn’t tell the whole story; it was just a funny novel about funny people who ended up having a funny and happy ending, something real life had failed to deliver for the real Romeo and Juliet.

And then he’d found out about her book-signing event today and the temptation to see her had proved too difficult to resist. He knew he had to come no matter what. At first he’d told himself that he’d just unobtrusively skulk around the store and just watch her from afar as she signed her books, and that’s exactly what he’d done. But as he’d watched her smiling with her fans and chatting with them and graciously posing with them for pictures, he’d jealously wanted to be that close to her too. Her lure for him was too overpowering, and he just couldn’t have stopped himself if he’d wanted to. It was like the pull the moon has on the tides, a fact of life that was too strong to defy.

And so he’d waited until the line had diminished and the book-signing event was almost over. He’d come up then with the idea of telling her that he was planning on suing her over her book as an excuse to talk to her, and he’d given her his hotel room number hoping beyond hope that she would come to him, even if it was just to talk business about his lawsuit. He wasn’t planning on telling her how he really still felt about her though. Yes

- he still loved her, but she was with someone else now that she loved more, and Romeo did have some pride. He wasn’t about to grovel at her feet, even if every instinct in him was urging him to do just that if it meant having her back in his life again.

But when he had approached her, she had given him no indication that she’d even wanted him back. She looked happy and the new man in her life was obviously responsible for that. Funny though - the first thing he’d looked for was a wedding ring on her finger, but there had been none. Why hadn’t the creep made it official yet?

~ ~ ~

“Don’t go!”

“I have to, Sara. I can’t afford to get sued and if I go see him, then maybe I can talk him out of it. I have to try.” Juliet was sitting at her sister’s kitchen table, nervously crumbling a shortbread cookie that lay beside her coffee mug. Sitting opposite her was Sara, who was sporting a worried frown on her pretty face as she watched her sister destroy the biscuit.

“Rob has some lawyer friends. We’ll get one of them to look into this for you, but please, Juliet, stay away from Romeo Boyd. I’m begging you.”

“Why? You were the one who was telling me months ago to tell him the truth and go back to him. Now you’re telling me to stay away from him?”

“Yes! He’s with Carrie Ann and their baby now. Just last week I saw a picture of them in Gossip World at some ll.A. park together and they looked happy.”

“So? I have no intention of breaking up their little family, if that’s what you mean.”

“It’s not what I mean!” her sister shouted.

“Why are you getting so mad at me?” Juliet yelled back in the same angry tone of voice.

“Because I saw, first hand, the devastation you went through over losing him last year; the tears and the depression and the days you never left your bed once. But you’ve finally been able to pick yourself up and your life is back on track. If you go see him now, all those old feelings are going to resurface and I don’t want to see you in that place again. Nothing good can come of this, so please, please, please, let Rob’s lawyer friends handle this and stay away from Romeo Boyd.”

Juliet let out a deep sigh. She understood where her sister was coming from. Seeing him again today and knowing that he now was with someone else had been agony for her. As he’d stood across the book-signing table from her, her hands had literally wanted to reach out and touch him - touch his cheek and his lips and travel downwards to wrap around his neck bringing her body closer to his, but she’d had to school them to remain at her sides even as his steely, hard, angry gaze had bored into her. And if she were to go to his hotel room to try to dissuade him from proceeding with his lawsuit, how much more difficult would that be for her - to have him so near and yet so far? How would she get through that? Yes

- Sara did have a point.

But she had to try, didn’t she? She couldn’t afford to go through a court case, not after her bankruptcy. She was only starting to get back on her feet financially, and if she allowed Rob’s lawyer friends to deal with this, Romeo might just be stubborn enough to dig his heels in and move forward with his lawsuit anyway. He certainly did have the money and the clout like he’d told her today, and he also had hate for her for what she’d done to him. And those three things together were a lethal combination which could only spell trouble for her.

No - she had to try to talk some sense into him and get him to drop his plans; she just had to give it a shot first. And if he refused? Well, then she’d bring in Rob’s friends and only then. Yes, her mind was made up. She’d go see Romeo.

Sara’s eyebrows shot up at the pensive expression running across her sister’s face. “So what are you going to do?” Juliet shrugged her shoulders in a non-committal way. “I don’t know; I have to think about it some more.” Not believing her, Sara sat back in her chair and felt a knot of fear for her sister starting to form in her own stomach. Juliet was playing with fire -

a raging inferno that could suddenly erupt, consume her and destroy her all over again if she thought she could just meet up with Romeo Boyd to casually discuss business and then leave it at that.

~ ~ ~

Room 2201, Penthouse Suite…

Juliet drew in a deep, steadying breath as she stared at the room number on the closed double doors leading into Romeo’s suite. It was after 8

p.m. and she was hoping that he’d be in by now. She hadn’t called him first, even though his cell phone number was still engraved in her heart, because she was afraid that he’d refuse to see her. After all, he hadn’t extended an invitation for her to come see him here, only her lawyers. No, she would just screw up her courage and show up unannounced and hopefully he wouldn’t throw her out.

And no… she wouldn’t speak to him inside his hotel suite. That was too intimate and too dangerous a place to be with him alone. What she would do when he answered the door was ask him to go for drinks in the bar downstairs that she’d passed when she’d taken the elevator up here.

In that type of locale, other people were around and they’d be able to discuss the lawsuit in a rational, business-like manner and maybe resolve the issue amicably.

Juliet took another deep breath and knocked softly on the door. Her heart began tattooing itself against her ribcage as she anxiously waited for him to answer.

The door suddenly opened - but it wasn’t him who answered, it was a pretty brunette of about 26 years of age. She looked at Juliet with a quizzical expression on her face. “Yes? Can I help you?”

“Umm, I think I might have the wrong room.” Confused, Juliet looked down at Romeo’s business card clasped in her hand. “I was looking for Romeo Boyd and…”

“No, this is the right room. He’s staying here,” the brunette said.

Juliet’s shocked eyes flew upwards to study the young girl standing in front of her. Was this Romeo’s new girlfriend? Had he already replaced Carrie Ann? A surge of pea-green jealousy shot through her. “If he’s not available, I can come back,” she stammered, trying to overcome her awkwardness at being there.

“He’s still shooting, but he should be back anytime now. If you want…” suddenly the brunette halted her speech and her eyes narrowed in on the woman standing in front of her. “Wait a minute - you’re Juliet, aren’t you? I’ve seen your picture.”

“Yes, I’m Juliet Soma.”

The other girl flashed a grin and placed her hand on Juliet’s arm. “Well, don’t just stand there; come on in,” she enthused as she pulled Juliet into the suite and closed the door behind them.

Startled, Juliet let herself be led in and just as she was about to say thanks, a baby’s loud wail erupted from one of the side rooms.

“That’ll be Katie. I’ll be right back,” the brunette said, before disappearing in the direction of the crying.

When she left, Juliet eyes scanned the luxurious suite. It had a massive living room, dining room, kitchenette and what looked like various bedrooms positioned off to the sides of the main living area. Obviously, no expense was spared for the major star who was in town to film his movie.

“Here she is,” the brunette announced, as she came out of one of the side bedrooms carrying a sleepy-eyed baby girl in her arms. “This is Katie,” she beamed proudly as she approached Juliet.

Juliet couldn’t take her eyes off of the beautiful 7-month old baby girl nestled in the brunette’s arms. Her hair was wispy blond, she had cute dimples in her cheeks and her eyes were piercing blue in color, just like Romeo’s. She was drinking from a bottle of milk she was trying to clutch in her tiny hands and her curious but shy eyes were glued to the new woman in the room.

“She’s beautiful,” Juliet gushed, in awe of the tiny bundle that looked exactly like her Romeo. “She looks just like him.” The brunette laughed. “Let’s hope she takes after him too and not like Carrie Ann.” Juliet’s eyes swiveled to the other woman as she detected the sarcasm in the comment and saw her clearly for the first time since she’d stepped into the room. “You’re Hailey, aren’t you? Romeo’s sister?” The brunette nodded and Juliet continued. “He showed me your picture once, but you were blonde in it, not brunette.”

Hailey laughed. “That would have been my Holl ywood, bleached blonde phase.” She extended her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Juliet. My brother has told me so much about you.”

Juliet’s eyes twinkled mischievously as she accepted the gesture. “And you’re still willing to shake my hand?”

“Listen, whatever went down between you two is your business; I’m staying out of it. But he’ll be back soon and you’re welcome to wait.”

“Thanks. Umm - is Carrie Ann here?” Juliet cautiously asked. She certainly didn’t want to get into any scenes with the actress if she were to suddenly show up.

Hailey shook her head. “No, she’s back in ll.A. working on a new TV series. It’s just the three of us here. I’m looking after Katie while Romeo’s working.”

Juliet let out an audible sigh of relief before her eyes alighted on the adorable baby girl in Hailey’s arms again. “Could I - maybe - hold her, if it’s okay?” she shyly asked.

“Of course,” Hailey said, before quickly plopping the baby into Juliet’s arms.

Little Katie’s eyes grew wide with curiosity as she studied Juliet’s face now so close to her own. “Hi there,” Juliet whispered. “You’re so beautiful with those gorgeous blue eyes just like your daddy’s. And Katie is such a pretty name.” The little girl extended her hand out and reached for Juliet’s nose, causing her to laugh. Juliet giggled back.

At that moment, the front doors to the suite opened and Romeo walked in, his eyes suddenly devouring the scene before him. Stunned, he could only stare at seeing his Juliet cradling his beautiful Katie-girl in her arms and the both of them laughing together. His lips lifted in a smile of joy, and his heart began beating fiercely as his mind traveled at lightning speed to what could have been if she hadn’t left him. But she had left him -

because she hadn’t loved him enough. She’d made her choice and now she was probably here to only try to talk him out of his supposed lawsuit. It was just business for her, nothing more. A frown replaced his smile.

“I see you’ve met Katie,” he drawled.

Both Juliet and Hailey lifted their heads simultaneously to stare at him. They’d both been so focused on Katie that they hadn’t heard him come in.

“She’s beautiful, Romeo. You must be very proud,” Juliet said, her stomach already doing somersaults over him standing only a few feet away from her.

He walked up to her then while she was still cradling the baby in her arms, but he didn’t reach for the little girl. He let Juliet continue holding her while he bent down to kiss Katie on the top of her head before straightening back up again. “She’s my Katie-girl, the love of my life,” he responded, as his eyes bore into Juliet, signaling to her that she’d given up that moniker a long time ago. “Why are you here, Juliet?” he demanded. He knew very well why she was here, but he was not going to make this easy for her.

Hailey reached for Katie and pulled her out of Juliet’s arms, wanting to give the two of them some privacy. “This little poppet needs a bath,” she declared, before disappearing into one of the side rooms to the suite.

Juliet turned back to Romeo and straightened her spine at the anger she could sense emanating from him. “I thought maybe we could talk about your lawsuit.”

“So talk.”

He was being bell igerent and she sighed. “Could we, maybe, go downstairs for drinks and talk there?” He stared at her hard for a full minute, not giving anything away. Was he going to refuse to sit down with her and hear what she had to say?

But suddenly he nodded. “Okay, we’ll do things your way, Juliet,” he quietly agreed.

~ ~ ~