Chapter 11
chapter eleven
The moment they stepped into the house in Oahu, Julienne’s mobile started playing her mother’s ringtone. “Hello, Mother.”
“Julienne,” her mother said, her voice strained over the miles.
Alarm had her smile fading and her stomach muscles clenching. “What is it? Please tell me there isn’t another story about me.”
“No, but we had to take Nicola to hospital. She had some contractions.”
Fear hit her square in the chest, and she found it hard to take her next breath. She knew that Nic was having some issues, but she didn’t think it would be anything this serious. She rushed toward the stairs, her mind already working on getting to England.
“We’ll be on the plane within the next two hours.”
“No.”
She stopped halfway up the staircase. “No?”
“No, the doctor said they were false contractions and that we don’t need to worry, but they want her on bedrest.”
Some of her worry eased, but they wouldn’t put her on bedrest if it wasn’t serious. “I should be there.”
“Yes, but…”
Her mother didn’t say anything else, but Julienne knew exactly what she was thinking. If she were to show up, the paps would pay attention, causing more embarrassment for the family. The stress wouldn’t be good for Nicola.
“I understand,” she said around the lump in her throat. Her mother wasn’t trying to be mean and, in a way, she was trying to protect both Julienne and Nicola.
“I did have a request though.”
“Anything,” she said immediately. That was her little niece or nephew and her sister-in-law. She would do anything she could to help.
“What we were wondering is if you really need David there?”
Jules’ gaze moved to David, who was watching her intently. “Not really.”
Although they were going to use it as a sort of mini vacation, she knew that she could deal with things herself here.
Her mother sighed; the sound filled with relief. “I would love to have him come back here and fill Nicola’s spot. Your brother and I think that she might actually listen to the doctor if she has someone she can direct, and we trust David.”
And that said a lot. Wulfs weren’t the most trusting of people due to our issues in the past and if her mother trusted David, that meant good things for him in the future. She hated to send him back but as his best friend, she couldn’t stand in his way.
“Yes. As long as he’s okay with it, he’ll be on the plane back.”
“Good. How are you doing? How were the Johnsons?”
Julienne hesitated for only a second. Her mother wasn’t cold by any means, but she was a bit of a stickler about things, and one of those things was business. All of them had been frustrated they had to wait over six months for the lawyers to work through all the issues before they could start redoing the entire Johnson resort. “The whole family is really nice. I don’t know if I need to be here with Sammie in control of the designs.”
“I feel better with you there.”
She came by her control freak ways honestly. Her mother taught her well, and while Julienne sometimes bemoaned her mother’s interference, she knew it had helped her in life.
“I was wondering if I could send Brent and Jack back too?”
“You don’t think you need security?”
“First of all, we have an exceptional security system. And I don’t plan on going anywhere. I’m going to spend most of my time here at the house, just detoxing my life.”
There was a beat of silence. “Sending David back and then no security, I don’t know if your brother would be happy about that.”
“I’m a grown woman, mother. They will go back with David.”
Another sigh, this one irritated. It told Julienne that her mother had more to do with the security detail than Jensen did.
“I guess I’ll have to let you.”
“No one knows I’m here, mother. My social media is all dark.”
It was one of the things she did when the last round of gossip hit the press. She couldn’t take all the nastiness, and it was useless for her to still be on Instagram when the commenters only focused on the nasty gossip.
“I guess you’ve made your mind up.”
“Yes.”
“Fine. I’ll deal with Jensen.”
“Thanks, Mother.”
“Please be careful.”
“I plan to work on my tan and the new designs. That’s it. Oh, and probably eat my weight in carbs since the Hawaiians seem to love them.”
After a few more warnings from her mother, she ended the call. David was still standing there, avid interest coloring his expression.
“Nicola had false labor, but her doctor wants her to stay on bed rest.”
“But everything is okay?”
She nodded. “Yes, but my mother wanted you to come back to England.”
“Why? What did I do wrong?”
Julienne chuckled. “You did nothing wrong. They want you to become Nic’s surrogate. Basically, you would do her job at her direction.”
His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open, then he snapped it shut, swallowing hard. “They want me to take Nic’s place?”
“Yes. I told her only if you were willing. I’m assuming from your reaction you do want to go back.”
“I do. I mean…” he squealed loud enough to be heard back on the mainland, then he grabbed Julienne. “I hate to leave you, but this is such a big deal.”
She hugged him back, so happy for him. She loved him like a brother, and this would be a real good thing for his prospects. He pulled back and looked at her. “Are you sure it’s okay with you?”
She nodded. “I hate that you’re going to have to go back to work and miss our workcation, but it is a good opportunity for you. I plan on just hanging here at the house.”
He frowned. “I don’t like that. I think you should go back to Maui.”
“No. Alek and I had that discussion. I told you that.”
“And you sealed the deal.”
She fought off a shiver. “And we agreed it was a mistake to…you know.”
“Shag each other’s brains out.”
“Yes.”
“He didn’t look like he agreed with you.”
Oh, baby, I know you’re all woman.
“Stop. Go get your stuff ready. I think you’ll need to wait until tomorrow because we just flew over.”
He nodded. “How about we have a celebration tonight? Lots of liquor and carbs.”
“How can you be gay? You would be the perfect boyfriend.”
“Well, other than the fact that I don’t like shagging women.”
She laughed. “Go pack up so we can get to drinking.”
David practically skipped up the stairs to his room. It had been years since she had been by herself, just alone in her own space. It scared her a little, but she was looking forward to it too. She would use the time to focus on what she wanted and decide what to do about Alek. She knew what she said to him, but he had proven he wasn’t done with her. And she wasn’t so sure she wanted him to be done with her.
God, she thought, walking up to her room. Why did he do it for her? Other than the fact that he was a Hawaiian god, all brawny with golden brown skin and those wicked hands. Okay, maybe that was it, she thought with a smile.
The next afternoon, she rode in the car to the airport. Her head pounded as of there were a drumline assembled inside it. She was not someone who got pissed that often, especially not anymore. She had always worried because of Jensen’s addiction. She didn’t want to go down the same path he had.
“You sure you’re okay with this?” David asked. She looked over at him and smiled. They’d both donned their darkest sunglasses to deal with their hangovers. They’d had more than their fair share of shots last night, but thankfully, their celebration had taken place at the house.
“I’m positive. If I need some help, I’ll let you know, but you know I was going to keep a low profile here and just work. And, I talked to Jensen this morning.”
That had been a fun conversation with him yelling at her over the phone about Brent and Jack. Her hangover had so loved that.
“You did?”
She nodded and instantly regretted it. “I got him to agree to send you back over here after Nic has the baby. Expenses paid by Wulf Industries.”
“Jules,” he said shaking his head.
“You deserve it. I love Nicola but being stuck in bed isn’t going to make her that easy to deal with.”
He smiled, leaning over to give her a peck on the cheek. “You’re the best.”
“So they tell me. Now go. You have another layover in San Francisco.”
Less than ten minutes later, she was on her way home.
“Do we need to stop anywhere, Miss?”
“No. I just want to go home for right now.”
John nodded and took H1 out of the airport. She didn’t know much about getting around on Oahu, but she knew which way took them back to the house.
Her phone buzzed and she frowned. She didn’t think her family would be bothering her now, but when she picked it up, there was a string of messages from Alek.
Alek: Please tell me you weren’t out last night.
Julienne: Why?
Her mobile buzzed and his name came across the screen.
“Hello. Why are you calling me?”
“You don’t remember the messages you left me?”
A feeling of dread settled in her chest.
“Uh, no.”
He sighed. “At least tell me you were in last night.”
“Yes. David and I were having one last party before he left.”
“Party?”
“Of two. Not with other people. What did I say in these messages?”
“You really don’t remember?” His deep voice rolled over the syllables, and it shot right between her legs. How did he do that? Just ask her a question and get her wet? It was like he had some kind of control over her sexual needs.
She cleared her throat. “No. We were by ourselves just living it up for one night before he went back to England.”
“I thought he was staying there with you.”
“Nicola had false contractions yesterday, so he’s going back to help her run things. I’m not doing anything important here, so I pushed him back onto the plane and sent him home.”
There was a beat of silence, and she wished she could see his face. Although, that was a bad idea because if he was there, she would want to kiss him. Then shag him. A lot.
“Is she okay?”
Her heart softened. A lot of men would ignore the news she had just given Alek.
“Yes. The doctor wants her to have bed rest, which is not good for anyone involved. Nicola is probably already going insane, so David is going to go help her.”
“Are you coming back here?”
“Not in the next week. I have some things I need to catch up on and some meetings to handle.”
“There in Oahu?”
“They’re virtual.”
“Hmm, okay.”
Then nothing. The silence stretched out and she didn’t know what to say or do.
“Is there anything else?”
She cringed the moment the words came out of her mouth. First, she gave in to the need to say something. Second, she had the prissy tone again.
His response was to chuckle, causing her to squeeze her legs together tighter.
“No. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Are you going to tell me what I said on the voicemail?”
“Nope. I’ve got a meeting. Stay safe, Jules.”
“Always.”
Then he ended the call. What the hell?
She sighed and tossed her mobile on the seat next to her. What was it about the man? She’d had crushes when she was younger, and she thought she had been in love with Gregor. And maybe, in her own way, she had been. Maybe she wasn’t incapable of falling for anyone because trust wasn’t something that came easily to her. And Gregor had made sure to ruin any chances of her moving on to be a better person with that.
Irritation ran along her spine, and she gritted her teeth. She didn’t have enough caffeine in her to fight the hangover and think straight. She hadn’t gotten so pissed she forgot what she did for years. It was something she avoided for a long time. And now, she didn’t know what she had said in the voicemail. God only knew because alcohol and with David there to egg her on…it could be really, really bad.
Her brain was fuzzy, so it took her a few minutes to realize she could look at her outgoing calls on her mobile.
It showed that she didn’t send any texts at all. But there was one phone call that lasted three minutes at one that morning. God, she was relieved that Alek apparently slept through her call. Unfortunately, there was now a recording out there with who knows what on it.
She closed her eyes and thought back over the night and a bit of it emerged. The shots, David telling her to call someone, and her…oh, no.
She had called Alek and proclaimed him the King of Orgasms.
How did she get herself into these things? Well, this time, it was tequila. That and David.
She didn’t want to, but she felt she needed to contact Alek and apologize.
Julienne: I’m so sorry.
Alek: Ah, you remembered?
Julienne: Yes. I’m sorry.
Maybe if she was super apologetic, he’d pretend it didn’t happen.
Alek: No worries. I kind of like the title.
She rolled her eyes.
Julienne: I would rather just forget about it.
The three dots appeared then disappeared twice before she finally got the message.
Alek: Forgetting is not an option with you.
What the bloody hell did that mean? And why did it make her so happy?
Julienne: Still. As a favor to me?
Alek: I would try, but I have a feeling that every memory I have of you will be set in my brain until I die.
She blinked and tried to fight the warmth that filled her chest and left her entire body tingling.
Alek: Gotta go. I will be calling you.
She sat there in the back of the town car trying to figure out what the hell she had gotten herself into.