Chapter Fourteen
Today has been great.Not only has Julian stayed the hell away from me—I must admit, after deflating his tires, I was expecting him to come for me—but the agency approved Kingston to move forward with the childcare program. I can’t wait to tell my dad tomorrow.
At first, I started it to give myself a one-up on Julian. But I’ve learned how many employees have had to take time off or hire expensive nannies so they can come back to work, and now, I’m excited to help make this idea come to fruition. I have no plans to have kids anytime soon, if ever, but it’s nice to know how many people will use this service, knowing their babies are somewhere safe and they can see them while at work.
It’s a little after seven, and I’m planning to order in and then take a long soak in the tub with a large glass of wine. When I pull up to the garage and press the button on the clicker, the garage door doesn’t go up. Weird. I press it again, and nothing happens.
Leaving the car parked in the driveway, I grab my purse and make my way around to the front door. I’m searching for my house keys that I never use, so I’m not paying attention when the sprinklers on either side of the sidewalk kick on. They’re turned up so high that they soak me from every angle as I scream out in surprise and sprint to the front door, covering my bag that holds my laptop close to my chest.
By the time I make it to the door and open it, I’m beyond drenched and pissed. My initial thought is that I’ve never noticed the sprinklers on at this time because I always go in through the garage. Then, I close the door behind me and find Julian sitting in the reading chair, his ankle resting on his knee, a book perched in his hand, and a smirk splayed across his face.
Motherfucker!
“Were you playing in the sprinklers?” he asks in an amused tone. “You know we have a pool, yeah?”
“You’re an asshole,” I hiss, shaking the water off me.
He stands and walks down the hall, then returns a moment later with a towel. And that’s when I notice he’s dressed to the nines in an all-black suit with an equally black shirt and bow tie, looking like he just stepped off the cover of GQ.
“Going somewhere?” I mutter, snatching the towel from his hand and towel-drying my dripping hair.
“To dinner,” he says nonchalantly. “Wanna join me?”
“I’d rather starve than go to dinner with you.” I glare.
He chuckles. “Probably for the best.” He flicks his wrist and glances at his watch. “Reservations are for eight, and you need a shower.” He leans in and sniffs me. “You smell like a wet dog.”
Dad
Missed you at dinner tonight. Julian said you were sick as a dog. Do you need anything?
I’m lying in bed,and I sit upright in confusion. Dinner? Sick as a …
Oh, that sneaky bastard! He never said he was meeting my dad for dinner.
Me
I’m okay. I think it was something I ate.
Dad
Okay, good. We’re meeting tomorrow at 9:00. Ronan mentioned at dinner tonight that he’d like to do something different with our collaboration, and Julian and I agreed. We’ll discuss it tomorrow.
Oh my God! I shoot out of bed, ready to murder my fake damn fiancé. Here I thought the sprinklers were payback for me deflating his tires.
Me
WTF?! You went to dinner without me?
A response comes in seconds later.
Julian
I asked you to go. You said you’d rather starve.
Me
Game on, asshole.
Julian
Red, I think you’ve proven you’re playing a game you can’t win. Probably should surrender before you end up in the doghouse.
I’m going to kill him. No, that would be too easy. I’m going to get him back.
I pace the room, trying to calm my heart rate and think of how to go about it when the perfect idea comes to mind.
I’m going to hell for this.
Straight down, flames a-blazing.
But it’ll be worth it.
Julian wants to play dirty and insinuate that because I don’t have a dick between my legs, I can’t play with the guys. Well, he’s about to learn that this woman can play with the big boys—and I’ll come out on top. And by the time I’m done, he’ll be begging to be taken out of the game.
Yep, I’m going to hell for this.
But it’s going to be so worth it.