3. Julian
CHAPTER 3
JULIAN
W hen you run a construction company, there are a lot of expectedly unexpected things that come with the territory.
Running into Natalie Williams is not one of them. And two days in a row, for that matter.
As Natalie disappears into the cool shadows of the Langford, I can't help but linger on the sight of her departure. The sway of her hips, the casual flip of her hair—it's all too easy to get caught up in the familiar, yet entirely new, allure she carries.
The image of her face twisted in rage, only inches from mine, plays in my mind over and over again, bringing old memories back to the surface. And despite everything that's happened, I can't help but take a little pleasure in the idea that I can still get a rise out of her so easily.
But this distraction is a luxury I can't afford. Since taking the leap into starting my own construction company, every project, every decision counts. And I have more than just myself to think about. I’m doing this for my daughter, to make sure she has a good childhood and money in the bank when she’s grown. I want her to have a better life than I ever had.
Yet, the resurgence of old feelings for Natalie, feelings I thought I'd long since buried under layers of life and experience, was not something I was prepared for. It's honestly a miracle that I didn't fall flat on my face when she showed up at the diner last night, appearing out of thin air like a rain-soaked siren. I guess I have my military training to thank for that—keeping cool under pressure, even when the plan goes to shit.
It's been nearly a decade since we last saw each other, just teenagers with the world stretched out before us. The memory of our youthful dreams clashes with the reality of her here, now, a successful professional in her own right. The years have been kind to her, only adding to her beauty and she’s developed an air of confidence that's impossible to ignore.
She's certainly come into her own, but underneath it all, she's still the same fiery Nat that knocked me off my feet all those years ago.
I shake my head, willing myself to forget about Natalie. Her brother, Jack, would never forgive me if he knew I was having these thoughts about her. Especially after everything that went down.
"Julian?" The voice jolts me out of my reverie, pulling me sharply back to the present and the task at hand.
I turn to face the speaker, finding myself looking into the eager eyes of Gabriel King, my new subcontractor. His arrival marks the beginning of the work ahead, a reminder of the responsibilities resting on my shoulders.
And thank God, because at least for a minute, I'll have something else to think about other than if Natalie's lips still taste the way they used to.
But even as I extend my hand in greeting, part of my mind remains with Natalie, tangled in the ‘what-ifs’ of a past that suddenly feels all too relevant.
Gabriel extends his hand, his grip firm, enthusiasm radiating from him like an engine running on overdrive. He reminds me of myself when I was younger; eager to serve, totally unsuspecting of what life was about to throw in my lap. “Ready to get started, sir," he declares, a bit too seriously.
"Great to hear, Gabriel,” I say, trying to both match his enthusiasm and maintain the professional distance I've learned is necessary in this business. “We've got a lot to cover, and this project isn't going to be an easy one.”
I lay out the plan for the Langford Art Building, Gabriel nodding along as if trying to commit my every word to memory. Quickly, I catch him up to where we are, pointing to the scaffolding that's already climbing up the sides like ivy.
"The structure is sound, but we'll need to tread carefully with the renovations. This is a historic building, after all. If you have any questions, come to me, all right?"
Gabriel nods again, his eyes scanning the blueprint before us. "Got it, boss. We'll take good care of her."
Satisfied, or as content as I can be, I leave Gabriel to get acquainted with the rest of the crew.
Catching a glimpse of Natalie outside, I can't help but pause.
The sun catches her just right, illuminating her tanned skin and transforming her hair into golden fire. How fitting, I think with a chuckle.
She's shed her blazer, the summer heat proving too much, and the top buttons of her shirt are undone, revealing just a hint of collarbone. It's an innocuous enough sight, but it sends a jolt of lightning through me, stark and unexpected. I clench my jaw, reminding myself of the professional environment.
She's engrossed in a phone call, her expression a mix of concentration and frustration: eyebrows knit together, her upper lip pulled back slightly like a cat baring its teeth. It's a look I remember well, one that used to be directed at me during our teenage debates and disagreements.
It brings a smile to my face now just as it did then, remembering how annoyed she would be that I found her outbursts endearing. “It's not fair,” she would always argue. And I would always think, “entirely fair,” considering the hold she had on me.
The nostalgia is cut short when she suddenly looks up, catching my gaze. There's a flicker of something—surprise, maybe, or disgust—before she hastily moves inside, snatching her blazer from a nearby table on the way.
That final look hits me like a brick to the ribs. We used to be so close, sharing everything without a second thought. Now, the harsh reality is we're nothing more than strangers, bound only by shared memories and a renovation project.
I find myself wondering what happened to her in the years we were apart, what made her into this guarded, self-isolating person. Guilt writhes inside me as I consider the very real possibility that I might have had something to do with that.
The day wears on, the rhythm of work a familiar comfort, but my thoughts keep drifting back to Natalie. Finally, I get my chance to break through the awkwardness between us when I spot her in the parking lot during my lunch break. She's rummaging through the back of her van, frustration etched in her every move.
I approach casually, trying to seem nonchalant. "Need a hand?" I ask, leaning against the side of the van.
She looks up, startled, then her expression softens slightly. "No thanks, I've got it," she replies, a polite smile not quite reaching her eyes.
I linger, not ready to end the conversation, watching as Natalie pulls out a dust mask and gloves from the van. I’m surprised when she pulls out a camera, too.
"Very high tech," I comment, nodding towards the oversized equipment in her hands.
She chuckles, a sound that momentarily bridges the gap between us. "I want to take before and after images of the place. Make sure I have everything properly documented."
I notice her gaze flicker momentarily to my arms, and I can't suppress the smug feeling that rises within me. I've spent enough time in the gym to know the effect it can have, and I'm deviously thrilled it seems to have ruffled Natalie. But I push down the satisfaction, reminding myself that now's not the time to tease her.
I move away from the topic, unable to stop myself from asking the question that's been at the forefront of my mind since she expertly dodged it last night.
"So, why are you here, Nat? I feel like you could have travelled anywhere for your job. Why this decrepit old building in a town you couldn't get away from fast enough?"
Natalie's smile falters, and she averts her gaze, focusing on securing her equipment. "I just...," she says, her voice wavering slightly. "Sometimes, you need a fresh start, you know?"
She still doesn't want to tell me the details, which I guess I can understand. I'm not exactly jumping at the bit to fill her in on the missing pieces of my story. “Yeah, I get it. I thought I’d be long gone from here by now, but then I had my daughter and… you don’t need the details.”
She perks up at that, eyes catching mine with rapt attention. “You have a kid?”
“Yeah, just one.” I shift uneasily under her stare. I’m honestly surprised she never heard anything about this, but I'm also not ready to talk to her about Aria yet. I just figured Jack would have told her that much.
Crossing my arms, I ask, “So anyway, why’s this project so important to you? You got some sort of personal interest here?”
She winces—not the reaction I was expecting. “After… well, after my last project fell through, there was nothing keeping me in the city anymore, so my boss pulled a lot of strings to relocate me. I have a lot riding on this.”
Finally, some common ground. I nod, understanding more than she might think. We've both sought new beginnings in one way or another, though under vastly different circumstances.
And the way she keeps tucking imaginary locks of hair behind her ear tells me that whatever happened is still raw enough that if I keep prying, it's only going to make her mad. And not the cute kind of mad.
We start walking back to the Langford Building together, side by side. Despite the years and the distance that's grown between us, there's a familiarity in her presence, a reminder of simpler times. For a moment, it feels easy, and the weight on my chest begins to lift.
As we reach the entrance, Natalie pauses, turning to face me with a look that seems to wrestle between professional courtesy and something more personal. "It's good to see you again, Julian," she says, the words almost stumbling out over her tongue.
"Yeah, you too," I reply, meaning it sincerely despite the complex web of emotions her presence has stirred up in me.
She hesitates, biting her lip slightly. "I just wish it could have been under different circumstances."
Her words pique my curiosity, pulling at something deep inside of me. My hand almost moves to touch her, but I catch myself, instead just asking, "What do you mean?"
Natalie looks flustered for a moment, as if she'd said more than she intended. She shakes her head, a curtain of sandy blonde hair falling to obscure her face momentarily. "Never mind. Just forget I said anything."
She adjusts her grip on the box of equipment, but her hand slips. Without thinking, I reach out to grab it before it can tumble from her hands. Our arms brush, and I feel the warmth of her skin against mine. Our first touch in over a decade.
Natalie blinks up at me, her blue eyes wide. “Uh, sorry.”
I don’t move my arm right away. I swear I can almost feel the thrum of her pulse, see the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. She’s beautiful, even more so than I remember, all soft curves and fluffy blonde waves. All the same things she used to be, but somehow more. My mouth goes dry.
It’s her that steps back first, a tense smile on her face. “Thanks, Julian,” she says softly, and her voice makes me shiver.
Without waiting for a response, she turns on her heel and strides into the building, the spell instantly broken, leaving me alone and dumbfounded.
Standing at the entrance, staring after her, the brief connection we rekindled just moments ago already feels like it's slipping away. It's probably for the best, though. There's just too much between us. Too much to sort through, too much that's changed, and too much to focus on right now. As impossible as it seems, I'm going to have to push Natalie out of my thoughts for a while.
As I walk back to where my team is working, I notice Gabriel laughing and joking with some of the guys. Their easy camaraderie is a contrast to the tentative steps Natalie and I just took, and it puts me at ease to see him settling in. It's good to see, I remind myself, that at least some people are finding their footing today without the burden of the past complicating matters.
Gabriel's laughter peals across the construction site, momentarily lifting the heavy veil of summer heat. He's a natural, blending in seamlessly, his jokes finding fertile ground among the weary workers.
"Seems you're quite the hit around here," I remark, stepping into the lighthearted atmosphere.
Gabriel turns, his smile broad beneath crinkled eyes. "Well, you know, a good laugh makes the hard work a bit easier to swallow," he replies. Reaching into the cooler at his feet, Gabriel grabs a bottled water and tosses it in my direction.
I catch it gratefully, gulping down the cool liquid and quenching the dry heat that hasn't left my throat since talking to Natalie. “God, it's hot today,” I murmur, wiping the sweat from my forehead.
Straightening up, I cap the bottle and turn to address the team as a whole. "Keep working, but stay hydrated. The last thing we need are sloppy mistakes. We need to stay on it if we're going to treat this old building with the care it deserves."
Gabriel nods, filling the role of my right-hand man with ease. "Absolutely, Julian. I've got experience with this kind of work. We'll handle it with the upmost respect."
Good, at least that's one thing I don't have to worry about.
A distant rumble of thunder rolls through the worksite, and I glance at the sky. Dark clouds are approaching, but are still a few hours away. We should be able to wrap things up before the evening storm hits.
If there's one thing I can count on for certain, it's that Mariposa summers are a constant whiplash of scorching heat and raging storms. We'll all have to tread carefully as this project progresses, or else we might be looking at the end before we even start.