Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Laurel
Against my better judgment, I agreed. Lately, it seemed that my better judgment regarding Julian Hamilton had gone out the window. After changing into my nightshirt and cleansing my face, I climbed into his bed.
“Good night.” His finger stroked my cheek.
“Good night.” I stared into his sexy eyes momentarily before rolling over and closing my eyes.
I couldn’t believe I was sleeping in his bed with my daughters upstairs. There was no denying the chemistry between Julian and me. We were like the collision of two stars, creating a new constellation in the sky. Every touch, every look, and every breath I took sparked a fire inside I couldn’t resist. He had a hold on me like no other man had, including Jason. My biggest fear was happening. I was falling for Mr. Julian Hamilton, and I couldn’t stop it, no matter how hard I tried.
I awoke the following morning to his arm wrapped tightly around me. I wouldn’t lie and say I didn’t like it because I did. Reaching over, I grabbed my phone and looked at the time. It was seven a.m.
“Morning.” I felt his lips press against my shoulder. “What time is it?”
“Seven a.m.”
“We knew you were in here!” All three girls ran into the bedroom and jumped on the bed.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Why are you girls up so early?” I asked.
“We’re hungry and want to go swimming,” Stella said.
“It’s too early to swim,” Julian said. “Go to the kitchen, and we’ll be there to make you breakfast in a second.”
“Okay!” All three girls climbed off the bed and ran out of the room.
Julian looked at me. “That was weird. I’ve never had children in my bed.”
“God, I would hope not.” I smirked.
“You think you’re so funny,” he said.
“I am.” I smiled, climbing out of bed. “You do have breakfast foods, right?”
“Uh, I think.”
After the girls finished their waffles, they asked to go swimming.
“You’re good to go,” Julian said. “Go put your bathing suits on.”
As the girls ran up the stairs, the front door opened, and Parker walked in. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Julian and I in the kitchen.
“Did I just see the girls run up the stairs?” he asked.
“Yeah. They spent the night last night,” Julian replied.
“Wait a second. You, Julian Hamilton, let three children sleep in your house?”
“Knock it off, douchebag. When I drove Laurel home last night, someone had been in her house. There was no way I was allowing her and the girls to stay there.”
“What?” Parker’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“The front door was unlocked, and one of the kitchen chairs was pulled out,” I said.
“She’s also been getting a lot of calls from an unknown number. When she answers, they don’t say anything and then hang up. Why are you here so early?”
“I need a cup of coffee. I’m out.”
“I’ll make you some,” I said.
“Morning, Parker! Do you want to swim with us?” Sophie asked him as the girls ran into the kitchen.
“Morning, little ladies. Uh, I’m good for now.”
“Let’s take our coffee and sit on the patio,” Julian said.
“Did you call the police, Laurel?” Parker asked.
“I called Simon last night. He’s going over to the house this morning to check things out,” Julian said.
“Okay. Good.”
Julian’s phone rang, and Simon’s name appeared. After taking the call, he looked at his brother.
“Can you watch the girls while Laurel and I meet Simon at the house?” Julian asked.
“Yeah. Sure. Come on, girls. We’re going swimming at my house.”
“We are?” Stella asked.
“Julian and I have to run an errand, so Parker is going to watch you while we’re gone,” Laurel told them.
“Yay!” Sophie exclaimed.
“Oh, by the way, bro. Can you call a tow truck and have Laurel’s car towed to the dealership?”
“Yeah. I’ll do it when I get home.”
“Thanks.” Julian patted his shoulder .
When Parker and the girls went to his house, Julian and I dressed and headed to mine.
“Laurel, Julian, I’d like you to meet Sameen. She’s one of our best forensic technicians.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” I smiled, shaking her hand.
We stepped inside the house, and Simon looked around. “You said the kitchen chair was pulled out?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“Sameen, let’s start with the table and chairs. Hopefully, whoever was in here wasn’t smart enough to wear gloves,” Simon said. “Laurel, do you know of anyone who would want to hurt you?”
“No. No one.” I shook my head. “I just moved here, Simon. I barely know anybody.”
“Simon, it’s a no-go for fingerprints. The person was obviously wearing gloves and careful,” Sameen spoke.
“Shit,” Simon sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Thanks, Sameen. I owe you one.”
“Now what?” Julian asked him.
“Well, there’s nothing we can do right now. There’s no evidence of a break-in, no prints, nothing. I suggest installing a security system with all the bells and whistles.”
“It’s a rental,” I said.
“Then call the landlord, tell them what happened, and say you’re putting in an alarm,” Simon said. “If anything else comes up, you know how to reach me.”
“You’re staying with me until the security system gets installed,” Julian said.
“I’ll be fine. Follow me,” I said, walking up the stairs. When I entered my bedroom, I opened the closet and pulled down a metal box from the top shelf. Opening it, I pulled out my gun.
“You have a gun?” Julian’s brows furrowed. “Are you licensed to carry that? ”
“Yes. My father bought it for me and taught me how to use it after Jason died. I’m going to need a rental car until my car is fixed.”
“Nah. You don’t need a rental. Sam will drive you anywhere you need to go.”
“I have to drop the kids off at school in the morning,” I said.
“Okay. We’ll drop the kids off before heading to the office. But I really wish you’d stay at my place until we figure out what’s going on.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I appreciate the offer, Julian, but the girls will start to get suspicious, and they can’t know anything about what’s going on.”
“Laurel?” I heard my mom’s voice downstairs.
“Shit. My mother is here.”
Julian and I headed down the stairs.
“There you—” She stopped midsentence when she saw Julian. “Oh, hello.”
“Hi. I’m Julian Hamilton.” He extended his hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Julian. You’re Laurel’s boss, right?”
“One of them.” He smiled.
“Where are my granddaughters?”
“They’re over at Parker’s house swimming in the pool.”
“So early?” Her brows furrowed.
“We were at Roman’s house yesterday for a barbecue, and my car wouldn’t start when we went to leave, so Julian was kind enough to let us stay the night at his house so I could call the tow truck first thing this morning.”
“So, why are you two here and the girls at Parker’s?”
“Because I have some errands to run and forgot my credit card. Julian drove me here to get it. What are you doing here, Mom? ”
“Well, I have the most exciting news to tell you!”
“Okay. What is it?” I smiled.
“Two weeks ago, I entered a radio contest and won!”
“What did you win?”
“A month-long, all-expenses-paid Caribbean cruise for two. Can you believe it, Laurel?” She beamed with excitement.
As happy as I was for her, I worried about how it would impact my life for an entire month.
“That’s great, Mom!”
“Congratulations.” Julian smiled.
“When is the cruise?” I asked.
“I don’t think your father and I are going to go.”
“Why not?”
“Because you need us here. I was just so excited to tell you because I’d never won anything like that before.”
“Mom, you have to go. The girls and I will be fine. I’ll work it out while you’re gone.”
“No, Laurel. I couldn’t do that to you.”
“Mrs.—”
“Please, call me Darlene, Julian.”
“Darlene.” He smiled. “Laurel and the girls will be fine. I’ll make it my mission. I have a driver named Sam who can pick them up daily from school while you’re gone. You won a trip. Not everyone can say that. Go and have fun. You’ve earned it.”
“Yeah, Mom. You and Dad have to go. You two haven’t been anywhere since you moved to San Francisco to take care of Grandma.”
“I don’t know, Laurel.”
“Mom.” I took hold of her hand. “If you and Daddy don’t go, you’re never allowed to see your grandchildren again. ”
“Okay, Laurel. Now, you’re being dramatic.”
“No, I’m not. I mean it. You will be relinquished of all babysitting duties. Please, Mom. Go on your cruise. We’ll be fine.”
“Okay.” She grinned. “If you insist. We leave next Friday.”