Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Julian
Laurel stuck the key into the lock and stopped.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“The door is unlocked, and I know that I locked it before we left,” she whispered so the girls wouldn’t hear.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. I’m positive because after I locked it, I dropped my keys.”
“Let me go in first,” I said. “Tell the girls to get their bags from the car while I check out the house.”
I walked in and looked around, scanning each room to see if anyone was in the house.
“All clear,” I shouted.
“What’s all clear?” Stella walked in and dropped her bag.
“The house.” I smiled. “It’s safe for you to come in.”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” Sophie asked, and Laurel shot me a look.
I needed to come up with something fast .
“Fine. It was just a game I was playing. Can you let me have a hero complex for a few minutes?”
“Sure. Okay,” Sara said. “You’re our hero, Julian.”
“Thanks, Sara.” I winked.
“Girls, take your bags upstairs and hang your bathing suits up to dry,” Laurel told them.
She walked into the kitchen and stopped, staring at the table.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“The chair is pulled out.” She pointed. “That chair was pushed in when we left.”
“Like the door was locked?” A smirk crossed my lips.
“Julian, I’m serious.” The frightened look on her face worried me. “Someone was in my house.”
“Maybe it was your landlord.”
“They aren’t allowed to enter the home without telling me first.” She grabbed the bottle of wine and poured us a glass.
“Why is there no security system in this house?” I asked.
“The landlord told me it’s a very safe neighborhood, and they didn’t feel the need for one. They lived here for almost twenty-five years and never had an issue.”
“I’m staying the night,” I said, sipping my wine.
“Uh, no, you’re not.” Laurel’s brows furrowed. “We’ll be fine.”
“It’s not up for discussion, Laurel. I’m staying.”
“Julian—" she started, and the girls walked in, arguing who would take a bath first.
“Mom, I’m the oldest, so I get to take one first,” Stella said.
“That’s not fair,” Sara whined, and all three of them started arguing over each other .
I let out a loud whistle, and they turned and looked at me.
“What is going on?” I asked.
“I want to take a bath first!” Stella said.
“Why can’t you all take baths at the same time?”
“We only have one bathtub, duh!” Sophie spoke.
“My mom’s bathroom only has a shower,” Stella said. “They can take showers while I take a bath.” She placed her hands on her hips.
I pulled out one of the chairs at the table and sat down.
“Come here, girls.”
The three of them walked over and stood in front of me.
“I know a way all three of you can take a bath separately but at the same time.”
“How?” Stella asked.
“The four of you are staying at my house tonight. I have four bathrooms with bathtubs. That way, you lovely little ladies can swim after breakfast in the morning.”
“Really?” Sophie beamed with excitement.
“Julian—” Laurel snapped.
I glanced up at her as she stood behind the girls, arms folded and an angry look on her face.
“Go on, girls. Pack a bag with all of your necessities. We’re leaving in ten minutes.”
They ran out of the kitchen, and I knew I was in trouble with Laurel.
“What the fuck are you doing?” She gritted her teeth.
“Making sure you and the girls are safe tonight. Besides, we have to call a tow truck in the morning for your car, and it’ll be easier since we’ll already be at my house.”
“We’re fine, Julian. We’ll be safe. I can protect my girls. ”
“I know you can.” I stood and gripped her hips. “But I’ll be worried all night, and I don’t want to have to be. I won’t worry as long as you’re at my house with me. Now, go pack a bag. You have five minutes.” I gripped her shoulders and turned her around. “Go on.”
“I swear to God, Julian,” she huffed, walking out of the kitchen.
Having the girls stay at my house wasn’t the best idea. I didn’t like people invading my personal space, especially children. But I would be up all night worrying about their safety if they stayed here. Pulling out my phone, I called Simon.
“Julian, my man. What’s up?”
“Hey, Simon. I’m sorry to bother you on a Saturday night.”
“No big deal. Just hanging with the family.”
“I had to drive Laurel and the girls home, and Laurel believes someone was in her house while she and the girls were gone all day. The front door was unlocked, and one of the kitchen chairs was pulled out as if someone was sitting in it. Laurel said she knew that it wasn’t like that when they left. I’m taking them back to my house for the night.”
“Good idea. Text me her address, and I’ll swing by in the morning and take a look around.”
“Thanks, Simon. I appreciate it.”
“No problem, my friend. I’ll be in touch tomorrow.”
“Who were you talking to?” Laurel walked in and set her bag down.
“Detective Simon Kind. He’s going to stop by tomorrow and take a look around.”
“We’re ready!” Stella shouted from the living room.
“Let’s go.” I smiled, reaching down and picking up Laurel’s bag .
When we reached my house, I grabbed two of the four bags, and Laurel grabbed the other two. Taking them into the house, the girls followed me up the stairs.
“Stella, you’ll stay in this room. The bathroom with a nice large tub is right there.” I pointed. “Sara, this is your room tonight. Follow me, Sophie.”
“But Sara and I always share a room. We’re twins, remember?” Her little brow arched.
“Okay. Not a problem. You can stay with Sara, but use this bathroom right here to take a bath.” I walked into the bathroom and turned on the light. “Deal?”
“Deal.” She smiled.
“Good.” I patted her head.
I walked downstairs, opened the cabinet, and selected a bottle of aged scotch. Grabbing two glasses, I poured the amber liquid into them and made my way through the sliding door to the patio. Laurel stood there—her gaze fixed on the ocean as the waves crashed against the shore.
“I thought you might need this.” I handed her the glass.
“Thanks. The girls and I could have stayed with my parents.”
“You could have. But, you strike me as the type of woman who doesn’t like or want people to worry, so you keep things to yourself.”
She glanced at me, her beautiful eyes staring into mine.
“Maybe.” She smirked.
I chuckled. “I knew it.”
Her phone rang, and as she pulled it from her pocket, she noticed the display read: Unknown Number. It was far too late on a Saturday evening for it to be telemarketers.
“Give me that.” I grabbed her phone from her hand and answered it. “Hello?” Click. “Have you been getting a lot of these calls? ”
“Just about every day,” she said. “I talked to Morgan about it earlier, and she said if I wanted her to, she’d try to find out where the calls were coming from.”
“And that’s exactly what we’re having her do first thing Monday morning,” I said.
We both turned and stared at the three little girls standing on the patio when we heard the sliding door open.
“Can we have a snack before we go to bed?” Stella asked.
“Yeah. Sure. Let me see what I have,” I said.
The three girls sat on the island’s stools while I opened the refrigerator.
“How about some strawberries and whipped cream?”
“Yeah!” All three of them exclaimed.
“And why do you have a can of whipped cream in your refrigerator?” Laurel’s brow raised.
The corners of my mouth lifted as I winked at her.
“I love your house, Julian,” Sara said.
“Yeah. It’s so big and cool!” Stella said.
“I can’t wait to swim tomorrow,” Sophie chimed in.
“Thank you, girls.”
“Mom, where are you going to sleep?” Stella asked.
“In the guestroom upstairs,” Laurel replied.
“Oh. We thought you’d sleep in Julian’s bed,” Sara said.
Laurel and I both looked at each other.
“Julian and I are just friends.”
“So.” Sophie shrugged. “When I sleep over my friend’s house, I sleep in the same bed as her.”
“Okay. Come on, girls. Finish up your snack. It’s time for bed,” Laurel said.
“Will you tuck us in, Julian?” Sara asked.
“Uh. I guess I can. ”
Once the girls had eaten their strawberries with whipped cream, Laurel and I brought them upstairs and tucked them into bed. It was the last thing I thought I’d ever do, but here I was, making sure three little girls were tucked in for the night.
“Come with me.” I grabbed Laurel’s hand and led her down the stairs and to my bedroom.
“I’m not sleeping in here, Julian.”
“Okay. Then we’ll sleep in the guestroom upstairs,” I said.
“No. You are staying down here, and I’m going upstairs.”
“You heard the girls. They want you to sleep in my bed.” I grinned.
She was already on edge from the phone calls and the stranger in her home, so I backed off.
“Listen, Laurel. Sleep in my bed tonight. I’ll be on my best behavior. I promise. We’ll get up before the girls do, and they’ll never know you were in here all night. Please.”