Page 125 of Battle with a Billionaire

“Hey, Juju,” her sister said before she could hang up, “I know you don’t want to hear this, but you can’t avoid him forever.”

Julia licked her lips, her mind whirling. Maybe she could. Could she really never go home again? A knock interrupted her thoughts. She rose and opened the door, finding Kyle in the hall.

“Okay, lecture over. And I’m sorry. Just please come home soon. Face it, then you won’t have to keep avoiding it, and we can actually see each other.”

He followed her inside as she shuffled back to the chair, resting a hand against the wing. “I’ll think about it. I just…I need a little more time.”

“Don’t take too much. I miss you. And I need you.”

“Okay.”

“Yeah, okay. That’s a no. I’m not going to stop asking. Just so you know. Be prepared to be exasperated. Because I’m going to bug you.”

Julia smiled. “Consider me warned.”

“Consider yourself lucky I’m letting you off with a warning and not coordinating with the New Orleans police to have you extradited back to Harbor Cove.”

“I’m not a criminal, you can’t do that.”

“Oh-ho, you’re not a criminal right now. But a few little taps on my keyboard, and suddenly, you’re wanted in five states. Don’t tempt me.”

“Very funny. I’m hanging up now.”

“Bye, sis. Don’t make me make you a criminal.”

“Bye,” she answered before she ended the call and twisted to face Kyle. “Sorry.”

“Should I ask or is it too complicated?” he asked.

“It was my sister. I just wanted to hear her voice now that I actually remember her.”

He pressed two fingers against the inside of her wrist. “And the part about you being a criminal?”

“She’d really like me to come home. She threatened to give me a criminal record so I’d have to.”

“Your sister sounds frightening.”

“She can be,” Julia answered. “I hope I can avoid her for a little longer.”

“Because she has no idea you’re married. So you don’t want to go home and explain that ring on your finger.”

Julia flicked her gaze to the floor as she rubbed her thumb over her engagement ring. “I don’t want to explain any of it.”

“And you can’t leave here to see her even if you leave the ring behind.”

“That’s not true,” she said. “I’m certain if I wanted to see Ally, Grant wouldn’t have an issue.”

He pulled his stethoscope from around his neck and donned it. “Then do that. Then you won’t be in any danger of being transported back there like a criminal.”

The cold metal pressed against her blouse, sending a shiver down her spine. “Sorry, next time I’ll warm it.”

“It’s not that.”

“Oh, yeah? Is it about why you’re avoiding going home?”

She slid her eyes up to his. “It’s complicated.”

“Oh, Julia, everything seems to be complicated with you.”

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