Page 35 of Relentless Pursuit

“I know who he is.” Caroline sat at the kitchen table. “I also remember a certain teenager having the mega hots for him. You wanted to ask him to your prom.”

“I was a crazy kid.” Kayla laughed.Prom?As if her high school self could have handled him. She barely knew what to do with him today.

“He’s even sexier now than he was back then.” Caroline sipped her drink. “He’s improved with age.”

“I hadn’t noticed.”

Julian leaned back in his chair, stretching out his long legs. Were his muscles just as tired as hers?

“Liar.”

“Caroline.” Kayla hoped her sister-in-law would drop this. “When are we going to shop for nursery furniture? That should be fun.”

“Okay,” Caroline said. “Don’t tell me. If it’s something you don’t want Jack to know, then I don’t want to know either. I can’t keep a secret from my husband.”

“You shouldn’t.” Kayla admired Julian from a distance, wishing she was really his girlfriend. If she was, they wouldn’t have to hide anything. She could go out to that patio and plop into his lap and take a sip from his beer. He’d wrap his strong arms around her and nuzzle her neck. “Secrets can be messy.”

* * *

Julian managedto make it through dinner without touching Kayla once. Well, except for when she passed him the basket of rolls. He’d swiped his fingers along hers. Thoughts of the evening before ran wild in his head. Why had he agreed to keep the truth from one of his oldest friends? Because, for the first time in his life, he was at the mercy of a woman. Not just any woman. An alluring, stunning vixen who had him so wrapped around her finger he couldn’t breathe. She didn’t even know it. Maybe that was what made it all so appealing.

“Dinner was delicious, Caroline.” He kissed her cheek. “Thank you for having me.”

“Anytime,” she said. “You don’t come around nearly enough.”

“I may have to change that.” He glanced at Kayla. “How are you getting back to the city?”

“I’m taking her back,” Jack said. “I picked her up this afternoon.”

“I can do it,” Julian offered. “It doesn’t make sense for you to go. I’m headed there anyway.”

“That’s very kind of you.” Kayla pulled on her jacket. “Having a car in the city is a real pain.”

“If you’re sure,” Jack said. “I don’t mind taking her home.”

“It’s no problem at all.” He insisted because he needed some alone time with her. He didn’t usually become attached to the women he was matched with. He was always good with it being a weekend thing, but Kayla had him switching all the rules. “Whenever you’re ready.”

“Thanks for letting me hang with you guys today.” Kayla hugged her brother and kissed his wife. “I can’t wait until the little one gets here.”

“You come over whenever you want,” Caroline said. “It’s good having you so close.”

“I’ll call you this week.” Jack opened the door for them. “Both of you.”

“Talk to you soon.” Julian waited for Kayla to leave and then he followed her out, admiring the way her ass looked in her black leggings.

“No Francis tonight?”

“I only had one beer a few hours ago.”

“That’s not what I meant. I just thought he was your full-time driver.”

“He has the weekends off, but I’ve been keeping him on standby for you.” He opened the door to his Mercedes. “Since I knew I’d be taking you home this morning, I gave him the day off. I’m sure his wife appreciates it.”

“I didn’t know you’d be here today.”

“Jack called me this afternoon and invited me over. He wanted me to have dinner out with him and Caroline, but I didn’t have a date.”

“Oh.” She crinkled her brow. “Did you want to have a date?”

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