Chapter 3 #2
Julian pondered. That description didn’t jibe at all with the outspoken, pointedly honest woman who’d become a person of interest to him. Petula was in-your-face, and engaged; not at all antisocial that he could see.
“I don’t believe that,” he countered. “The woman is opinionated. She talks a blue streak, and doesn’t hesitate to say exactly what’s on her mind.”
“Oh yeah?” Tabitha leaned forward again. “Not my experience with her. I never get more than a grunt or two. So…what did she tell you?”
Julian wasn’t going to repeat the stuff Petula had said to shut him down.
He chose to concentrate on the positive for now.
“She said my face was a showstopper, that I have good genes, and she thinks I’m a hottie.
” He puffed up a bit, not mentioning that with that description, she’d grouped him with his brothers.
Still, there’d been one more affirmation.
“She also, joking told me to call her by a pet name, Paul,” he revealed, waiting for Tabbi’s take on whether that was a good or a bad thing.
“A pet name, huh?” Tabbi repeated thoughtfully. “Paul. That’s adorable. And I guess I have to admit it doesn’t sound like something Petula would offer lightly.” She tapped her bottom lip. “Maybe you have something here.”
Jumping from her perch on the desk, she’d obviously made up her mind, deciding she was going to help him as she donned her metaphorical, action-hat. “Do you want me to do a little digging? Find out more about her?” she asked alertly.
Julian, although pumped Tabbi was now on board, wasn’t sure that was the right move. He didn’t want to spook Petula if she found out he’d set Tabitha to snooping. “Umm, how, exactly, would you do that?”
Tabitha snorted. “Oh, yea of little faith. I wouldn’t be doing it, personally, silly. I’d be asking our ‘dig-safe’ bestie, Tex, to handle it. He can do a deep dive on Petula without raising a single red flag that she’s being looked at.”
“Tex?” Julian speculated, rolling the possibility around in his head.
Sure, the guy was absolutely uncanny with the information he could uncover, but he was also hella busy. Was it worth wasting the man’s precious time on a personal matter like this when clearly, Tex was always up to his eyebrows in aiding special operatives around the world?
“It’s a nice thought, Tabbi, but I don’t think we should bother him with this,” Jules countered a bit regretfully. “He’s got too much on his plate to worry about becoming a dating enabler.”
“Hah. Are you kidding me?” Tabitha scoffed. “At our wedding, I’ll have you know, his wife told me Tex needs more light, personal distractions. His job is so stressful, that a few softballs are always welcome. And what’s softer than helping someone find love?”
Julian’s eyes grew wide and he backed up a step. “Whoa. Whoa, Tab. No one said anything about love here. I’m just interested in getting a woman to go out for a cup of coffee to see if anything comes of it.”
Tabitha narrowed her eyes at him. “Oh really? Then riddle me this, Julian. When was the last time you dated?”
“Uh…”
Julian wasn’t interested in letting Tabbi in on the truth; that he really never had. It might label him a loser.
“A long time ago?” he offered up.
“Right.” Tabitha looked like she saw completely through his bullshit. “And on a similar note, what have you said every time me and the ladies have tried to fix you up?”
“That I’m…not interested,” he posited with trepidation.
“Exactly. Give the man a prize,” Tabitha added triumphantly.
“That means if Petula, uh, Paul, has caught your eye, there’s something in your gut other than idle curiosity.
Because seriously dude? The women we’ve pushed in your direction have been successful business-people, smart, and beautiful.
And you rejected each one without going on a single date.
That piece of intel leads me to believe that something has made our UPS driver stand out to you.
So I believe there must be serious interest there, at least on your part. Tell me I’m wrong.”
Tabitha crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin.
Julian fumbled. “I…she… Ahh, okay, fine. I’ve been feeling something every time I hear the rumble of her truck. I’m almost as bad as the dogs.”
Langly opened one eye and huffed, before dismissing Julian to settle back down again, adding a disgruntled doggie-groan when Duck demanded part of his bed.
“I get all tongue-tied around her; flustered,” Julian continued. “When I shook her hand today, I felt like I didn’t want to let go.”
Tabitha looked satisfied. “Good. That’s pre-love 101, and certainly Tex-worthy,” she told him.
“I’ll get in touch and give our guru the deets.
In the meantime, can I enlist Bobbie and Jett in finding ways to get you and Petula on the same page?
” Her face grew impish. “We can call it Operation Paul.”
Julian barked out a laugh. It was exactly what he wanted. “Okay. I like it.”
“Great.” She rubbed her hands together. “As soon as the ladies get back from their various jobs, I’ll fill them in.”
Julian let his shoulders drop in relief.
“But understand,” he added sheepishly, “I might have already started the ball rolling in my own, inept way.”
She urged him on silently with a nod.
“I just got online, ordering two regulators, even though you know we could use at least half a dozen.” He qualified rapidly. “It’s to get Petula here as many times as possible. I plan on ordering a couple more in a few days, then additional ones after that.”
“A solid plan, for a start,” Tabitha responded, not calling him out on the wastefulness of what he was doing. “But I bet if we put our heads together, we can come up with a much better course of action.”
“A better course of action for what?” Spencer asked, coming in with his arms laden. He’d obviously picked up everything on the wish-list, plus a bunch more.
“A better course of action to vet all the potential students who’ve responded,” Tabitha answered smoothly while giving Julian a covert wink.
“We need to know more about their physical and mental health issues before we start filling in spots. I’m going to begin reaching out to the people who’ve put their names down, to see if they’re willing to pass along medical releases. ”
“Good call, Tab,” Spence praised, opening up the box of donuts with an anticipatory glint in his eyes. His sugar-concentration was such, that he was unaware of Julian turning away to hide his grin.
Damn, Tabitha was good.
That boded well for Operation Paul.