Page 144 of Meet Me In The Dark
That tiny shift in his expression.
The heat in his gaze sharpens into something colder, and a familiar shadow seems to settle over him.
I don’t know much about his past, but I know enough to recognize that Julian can’t stand bullies.
“Julian.” I step closer and rest my hand on his forearm just as his weight shifts forward. If I don’t stop him now, Kingsley’s face will be unrecognizable beforehis dinner arrives.
“Look at me,” I whisper.
His focus cuts away from Kingsley and lands on me, a thousand silent words passing between us.
“Everything is fine,” I tell him. “Tom was just receiving my final answer.”
My fingers squeeze his arm once. Twice. Three times.
I watch the tension bleed out of him until his shoulders lower and his breathing evens. The Julian everyone knows—the one who hides the darker parts of himself behind careful control—slides back into place.
He doesn’t take his eyes off me. Not once. “Good, because I’ve come to collect my architect. We have important matters to discuss elsewhere.”
I almost smile. “Then let’s go.”
Kingsley stands, irritation burning bright in his eyes. “Celeste—”
“Thank you for the offer, Tom,” I interrupt. “My decision stands.”
With that, I stride toward the exit, feeling Kingsley’s stare burning into my back.
Julian follows, but I can feel the anger bristling underneath.
Damn my stupid heart.
I might be falling for this man, but he’s not getting away with it that easily.
The moment we step outside, I whirl on him. “Were you following me?”
He shrugs and slips his hands back into his pockets. “Coincidence.”
“You don’t do coincidence.”
“I thought you were meeting with him and histeam.”
“Yeah, well, so did I,” I fire back. “Turns out he meant the team in spirit. Or in his imagination. Or maybe he thinks he and his raging ego are a team.”
Julian exhales a laugh, but it dies quickly.
I glare, hating how quickly my heart is beating, how completely this man can unravel me with a single look.
“I had that handled.”
His gaze darkens. “You shouldn’t be alone with Kingsley.”
“What the hell do you think I am?”
“I already know what you are.”
“And what’s that?”
“A woman who shouldn’t be underestimated,” he says. “Which is exactly why Kingsley won’t stop until he gets what he wants. I don’t like you around him. I needed to make sure you were safe.”
