Page 72 of Relentless Pursuit

“What would work out?” Jack asked. “You see? That doesn’t even sound normal. People date. They don’t wait to see what’s going to work out before going public. If you’re not doing anything fucked up, why hide it?”

“You need to go right now.” Julian stood from the table. “I’m losing my patience.”

“I lost mine when I saw you touching my sister.” Jack looked at Kayla. “You’re making a mistake.”

“You’re wrong.” Her tone was softer now. “You don’t know anything about him or who he is or what he wants. Whatever you thought he was doing over the years is not what you made it out to be in your head.”

“You keep drinking the juice.” Jack returned his attention to Julian. “If you hurt her, you’ll deal with me.”

Julian nodded because he was staring at his best friend, and he didn’t want to fight. There was nothing that could ever come between them. When they were younger they used to joke that no woman would be worth their friendship. He never imagined it would be Kayla who would test that bond.

“Jack,” Julian said. “I want to discuss this, but not today. I swear to you, I would never hurt her.”

“I hope you believe that because... You know what, I can’t do this right now.” He put up his hand. “I can’t.”

When he walked away, Kayla stood, but Julian took her hand and sat back down, guiding her into her chair.

“We should go after him,” she said. “I should go after him, I can make him understand.”

“He’ll come around.” He stroked her hair. “I know him better than anyone. He’s pissed we lied. I don’t blame him.”

“That’s my fault.”

“You’re not in this alone. I kept it a secret too. I’ll meet with him in the morning and make him understand what we are to one another. We’re not doing anything wrong. The things he said—”

“No, you don’t have to explain your past to me. I knew who you were when I came into this. I know who you are now, and I wouldn’t have done a single thing differently.”

“We need to go home right now.” He motioned the waiter over to get the check.

“Why?”

“Because I need to show you something.”

“What do you want to show me?”

“How much I love you.”

“What?”

He smiled just as the waiter brought him the check. He hadn’t meant to blurt his feelings out that way, but he couldn’t take any more interruptions.

“There’s nothing else I can get you, sir?” he asked.

“No, everything was just as commendable as always, please give my regards to the chef.” He tucked his credit card in the leather holder and handed it back to the server. “That will be all.”

The man nodded as he took the check back to the computer.

“That’s what I was trying to tell you before your brother interrupted us.” He took her hand. “I knew you were going to be different from the moment you walked into my club. I did everything to chase you away, but you stood strong. You were in my face, and I wasn’t used to that. When I decided you were my match, I fully expected you to run from my house after that first time, but you came back. You kept coming back, and now I never want you to leave.”

“I... Julian?”

“You don’t have to say anything, and you certainly don’t have to reciprocate. I know this isn’t what you were searching for, but I’m a man of action and when I have something to say, I say it.” Now he wished he hadn’t been so forward. He should have given her more time to adjust to a man like him. She wasn’t ready for him to be this open, but he was always telling her how important it was to be honest with one another.

“I’m glad you did.”

“You are?”

“I never expected us either. I didn’t think I could be the woman you needed because I was so inexperienced. I still am, but you keep showing me, waiting for me to get it. When I would leave your house on Sunday, I used to think ‘maybe he’ll change his mind and want normal’, but then I realized I didn’t want normal. I want you.”

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