Page 54 of Cause and Effect

“I love your house, Julian,” Sara said.

“Yeah. It’s so big and cool!” Stella said.

“I can’t wait to swim tomorrow,” Sophie chimed in.

“Thank you, girls.”

“Mom, where are you going to sleep?” Stella asked.

“In the guestroom upstairs,” Laurel replied.

“Oh. We thought you’d sleep in Julian’s bed,” Sara said.

Laurel and I both looked at each other.

“Julian and I are just friends.”

“So.” Sophie shrugged. “When I sleep over my friend’s house, I sleep in the same bed as her.”

“Okay. Come on, girls. Finish up your snack. It’s time for bed,” Laurel said.

“Will you tuck us in, Julian?” Sara asked.

“Uh. I guess I can.”

Once the girls had eaten their strawberries with whipped cream, Laurel and I brought them upstairs and tucked them into bed. It was the last thing I thought I’d ever do, but here I was, making sure three little girls were tucked in for the night.

“Come with me.” I grabbed Laurel’s hand and led her down the stairs and to my bedroom.

“I’m not sleeping in here, Julian.”

“Okay. Then we’ll sleep in the guestroom upstairs,” I said.

“No. You are staying down here, and I’m going upstairs.”

“You heard the girls. They want you to sleep in my bed.” I grinned.

She was already on edge from the phone calls and the stranger in her home, so I backed off.

“Listen, Laurel. Sleep in my bed tonight. I’ll be on my best behavior. I promise. We’ll get up before the girls do, and they’ll never know you were in here all night. Please.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Laurel

Against my better judgment, I agreed. Lately, it seemed that my better judgment regarding Julian Hamilton had gone out the window. After changing into my nightshirt and cleansing my face, I climbed into his bed.

“Good night.” His finger stroked my cheek.

“Good night.” I stared into his sexy eyes momentarily before rolling over and closing my eyes.

I couldn’t believe I was sleeping in his bed with my daughters upstairs. There was no denying the chemistry between Julian and me. We were like the collision of two stars, creating a new constellation in the sky. Every touch, every look, and every breath I took sparked a fire inside I couldn’t resist. He had a hold on me like no other man had, including Jason. My biggest fear was happening. I was falling for Mr. Julian Hamilton, and I couldn’t stop it, no matter how hard I tried.

I awoke the following morning to his arm wrapped tightly around me. I wouldn’t lie and say I didn’t like itbecause I did. Reaching over, I grabbed my phone and looked at the time. It was seven a.m.

“Morning.” I felt his lips press against my shoulder. “What time is it?”

“Seven a.m.”

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