Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Julian
“Did you find out who sent the flowers?” I asked as we drove to Georgina’s house.
“The saleslady told me it was a young woman who looked homeless. She said the woman handed her a piece of paper with my name and address and paid with cash.”
“That’s odd.” My brows furrowed. “Why would a young woman send you red and pink roses?”
“I don’t know. How was your golf game?”
“It was good.” I smiled, glancing at her.
We pulled up to Georgina’s house and knocked on the door. When she answered, she led us to the living room.
“What do you know about an offshore account in your name with ten million dollars in it?”
“What? I know nothing about that,” she said.
“Also, your credit card was used to reserve the two hotel rooms the night of your husband’s murder,” Laurel told her.
“I didn’t reserve any rooms. I swear to you, Julian. Someone must have gotten hold of my credit card.” Tears filled her eyes.
I stood and tucked my hands into my pants pockets as I paced around the room.
“Things are looking really bad, Georgina. If there’s anything you aren’t telling us.”
“I swear, Julian,” she sobbed. “Someone is framing me. I can’t believe this.” She cupped her face in her hands. “I loved Derek so much. I could never hurt him.”
After Laurel and I calmed her down, we climbed into my car.
“Fuck! We need to find that other woman,” I said, glancing at Laurel. “We’re running out of time.”
“We’ll figure it out, Julian.”
“I hope so.”
We stopped at my house first before heading back to Roman’s so I could grab my swim trunks.
“I’ll be right back.” I flew up the stairs.
After I grabbed my bathing suit, I went downstairs and saw Laurel putting the dishes from the sink into the dishwasher.
“You don’t have to do that,” I said.
“I know. It was bothering me.” She smiled.
That smile. It was just as beautiful as the rest of her. I couldn’t stop thinking about our kiss last night and how far we would have gone if her kids weren’t in the house. Walking over to her, I cupped her cheek.
“What are you doing?” she asked, staring into my eyes.
“Admiring your beauty.” The corners of my mouth curved upward.
“You’re smooth, Hamilton. I suppose you want to kiss me?”
“I do. Do you want to kiss me?” I leaned closer to her mouth .
“Maybe,” she whispered.
Our lips tangled with passion while our tongues happily danced.
"I want to be inside you so deeply that you'll remember it for days," I murmured into her ear, my lips brushing against her neck.
My fingers gripped the thin straps of her cotton dress and slid them off her shoulders, exposing her bare breasts. I lifted her onto the island, taking each hardened peak between my teeth before removing her panties. Pulling her to the edge of the counter, I got on my knees and devoured her while her hands tangled through my hair, and soft, pleasurable moans escaped her.
“Are you ready for me?” I asked, stripping out of my clothes.
“Yes. Hurry up!”
I checked my wallet for a condom, and there wasn’t one. “Shit. I’ll be right back.”
“No.” She grabbed my arm. “Don’t ruin this moment. We’re good.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, double-checking.
“Yes. Get over here and fuck me, Julian.”
“Your wish is my command, beautiful.” I grinned, gripping her hips and thrusting inside her.
The warmth and sensation of our skin-to-skin contact were unreal and unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Moans and gasps filled the air as every nerve in my body was on fire. I’d wanted her again so badly after the other night and feared she was becoming my drug. Our breaths came in ragged gasps as our bodies indulged in intense pleasure. She orgasmed, forcing me to do the same. I halted and pushed every last drop I had inside her. With my arms wrapped tightly around her and her legs wrapped around my waist, I held her for a moment while our heart rates returned to normal.
“That was—” I smiled, placing my forehead against hers.
“Incredible?”
“Incredible.” I pressed my lips against hers.
I lifted her from the island, collected her dress and panties from the kitchen floor, and handed them to her.
“She’s lying,” Laurel randomly blurted out as we dressed.
“Who’s lying?” I turned and looked at her.
“Georgina. I think she’s working with the woman who murdered Derek.”
“What?” I chuckled. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Something wasn’t sitting right with me when we met with her earlier. It was her body language. She seemed very nervous.”
“Wouldn’t you be if someone was trying to frame you for murder?” I asked.
“That’s the thing. Remember when she said she loved Derek and could never hurt him?”
“Yeah. I remember.”
“ She couldn’t hurt him, but she could have someone else do it for her.”
“Laurel, I’ve known Derek and Georgina for years. Georgina would never do that.”
“Exactly!” She pointed at me. “Nobody would think Georgina Bennett could ever harm anyone. That’s the whole point, Julian. Here’s my theory. Georgina hired someone who looked like her to murder her husband, knowing she would be accused.”
“Oh, come on, Laurel. That is absurd.”
“Not if you have one of the best lawyers in California representing you.” Her brow arched. “Someone with a proven track record of never losing.”
“If that’s the case, I must withdraw as her lawyer. But I can’t and won’t do that until there’s evidence or proof that she colluded with someone to murder her husband. I’m sorry, but I don’t believe your theory. Someone is setting Georgina up to take the fall, and it’s our job to prove it.”
“Okay,” she said, heading toward the front door.
“Okay? That’s it?” I asked.
“Yeah. You’re right, Julian. We’ll just have to work harder to find evidence of her innocence.”
“Are you agreeing with me to disagree?” I followed her out the door.
“No. Not at all. It was just a dumb theory.”
I narrowed my eyes as we climbed into my car and drove down to Roman’s house.
“It’s about time you two got back,” Parker said as we stepped through the door. “Heads up. Your shirt is misbuttoned.” A smirk crossed his lips.
Looking down, I noticed it was. “Shit.”
“Really?” he whispered. “You two had sex again?”
“It couldn’t be helped.” I smiled.
“There you are.” Roman stepped inside from the patio. “How did it go with Georgina?”
“They had sex.” Parker glanced at him.
“You and Georgina?” Roman’s brows furrowed.
“No, douchebag!” I spoke.
“He and Laurel had a little fun before returning,” Parker spoke.
“Ah. Good for you.” Roman grinned, patting my shoulder.
I grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and stepped onto the patio. Stella, Sophie, and Sara ran over the moment they saw me .
“Can we dance again, Julian?” Sophie asked.
“Again?” Parker’s brow arched.
“Julian was over our house last night and danced with us.”
“He did?” Parker cocked his head at me.
“Knock it off, bro. It was no big deal.”
“We had so much fun.” Stella grinned.
“Why don’t the three of you swim in the pool,” I said.
“Good idea!” Sara said, taking off her bathing suit cover-up.
“Will you swim with us?” Stella asked.
“In a little bit.” I patted her head.
“Can you take Maddie while I put the hot dogs and burgers on the grill?” Roman asked, handing the baby over to me.
“Uh—where’s?—”
“Thanks, bro.” He walked away.
“Hey, kid.” Her tiny hands grabbed my nose as I held her before me.