Page 8 of Nick

“I don’t care if someone sees us. It’s just that dinner with the family is a little more intimate than having dinner in public.”

“Now we won’t have to worry about anything.”

“I’m sorry that sounded like something a jerk would say.”

“Don’t worry about it. It was good seeing you again,” I said as I went around to the side and opened the door to where I put my bike. He stood there as I got on my bike and went home. I rode home in record time. I was so angry at myself for asking him to come to dinner. I didn’t realize I was already home.

5

Nick

Opal passed me a while ago on her bike. I’ve seen her around a few times since I screwed things up between us, but I screwed up so bad that I was afraid to ask her out again. I’d never been like this before. No woman ever had this kind of effect on me—none. She was beautiful, not just on the outside but on the inside. I heard around town that she is no longer a lawyer, except she defends people she believes are innocent and doesn’t charge them anything. She had a heart of gold and I wanted more of her. I wanted to spend a week in bed with her, to spend any time at all with her. Not just in bed but with her—to just talk to her and to be with her. I sounded like a dick. I doubt if she would ever speak to me again.

I reached over and grabbed my phone, “Hello.”

“Hey, we have a job in Texas,” Owen said. “We have to guard a woman whose neighbor tried to kill her. I’ll pick you up in thirty minutes.”

“Damn, Julia’s grandparents are still gone.”

“Does Julia know anyone else she could stay with? What about Opal? Doesn’t she know her?”

“Yes, but I don’t want to ask her. She doesn’t know her that well.”

“Hey, here she is. I’ll ask her. Opal, I have a…”

“I will ask her,” I interrupted. “Hand her the phone.”

“Opal, Nick wants to talk to you.”

God, I felt my face flushing. I was so embarrassed.

“Hi, Nick, what’s up?”

“I’m in a pickle. Julia’s grandparents are still away, and she doesn’t really know anyone around here except you. I have to go away on a job. Would it be possible for you to keep Julia for a couple of days until they return? I hate asking you, but she doesn’t know anyone else, and I have to leave.”

“Of course, she can stay with me. You can drop Julia off at my house. I live across the street from Owen.”

“Thank you, I’ll see you in about thirty minutes.”

“Okay, I’ll see you then.”

I looked at the phone and nodded. “Julia, you’ll be staying with Opal until Grandma gets home. I have a work thing to attend to, so I need to leave. I’ll call you if I can.”

“Okay, Daddy, can I take some of my dolls?”

“Yes, I’ll pack you some clothes and your bubble bath. Grab some pajamas and put them in your suitcase.”

I drove up and saw Opal talking to a man in her front yard, and when his hand touched her lower back, I felt my blood start to boil.MINE!my mind shouted inside my head. I shook my head and frowned as I walked toward her. “Who was that?” I asked without even greeting her.

She raised her eyes at my tone. “That was my friend,” she said through gritted teeth before her face broke into a smile and her eyes looked past me. “Hi Julia. I’m so happy you get to stay with me. We’ll have so much fun. We are going to have dinner with Lori and Laney. Have you met Laney?” she said, taking Julia’s hand.

“Yes, I like her.”

“Good, did you bring a swimsuit? We are going swimming. If you didn’t, I’m sure you can borrow one of Laney’s. I’m sure she has lots of extras.”

Finally, she looked at me. She was smiling. “I will take excellent care of her. You don’t have to worry about anything.”

“Thank you.” I looked in the direction of the voice I heard. It was a little girl calling Julia’s name. It was Laney.

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