Chapter 2
Julian
Ican’t help my chuckle as the massive dog nearly hauls Delilah right off her feet. Again. She rights herself quickly with a bright laugh, then chatters away to him as she marches up to the front door.
When she gets back, I want to ask her if she believes in fate. Or kismet. Whatever you want to call it.
The thought catches me by surprise. I’m not one to wax poetic, even in my most romantic moments.
I’d rather let my body do the talking.
There’s something about her, though. Something in those striking green eyes and her quick laugh.
I’m not usually at the local park in the early evening.
Most days, I’m either at home figuring out dinner, dropping in on an event at one of my galleries, or on the road home from the winery.
But something had me stepping out for a breath of fresh air after an unexpected week almost entirely indoors.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out, smiling at the name that pops up.
Thing 1: Where the hell have you been?
Me: Around
Thing 1: Helpful. Make time for The Islands soon
I frown. Felix is a quintessential middle child and I can count on one hand the number of times he’s asked me for anything.
Me: Everything okay?
Thing 1: Theo’s here
My eyebrows rise. My wayward younger brother hasn’t made an appearance in over a year.
Me: Why?
Thing 1: He won’t say
Another text pops up in our group thread before I can answer.
Thing 2: Alright, assholes. Stop talking about me
Thing 1: Presumptious as ever, aren’t we?
Theo reacts with an eye-roll emoji to Felix’s message.
Thing 2: Julian, when will you be here?
Me: Tomorrow
There’s a pause, both of their typing bubbles bouncing in the corner. While I’d never describe my communication style as verbose, my response was far shorter than normal.
Thing 1: Ooooh, Theo…you’re in trouble
Thing 2: Shut it, Felix
Me: As fun as this is, I’m busy
Thing 2: Shit. You mad, J?
As my shit-stirring best friend reacts with a laughing emoji to Theo’s question, I sigh.
Me: I’m busy, Theo. I’ll see you both tomorrow.
Thing 1: You’re in for it now, little bro
I take Theo’s silence as evidence he’s hunting Felix down to no doubt put him in a headlock or tackle him or otherwise dole out some form of corporal punishment. Whatever Theo’s come home for, it’s sure to turn at least my and Felix’s lives upside down.
Theo’s drama always does.
There was the time he ran out of money during his gap year, only returning long enough to convince us to bankroll him before disappearing to continue his European adventure without our parents ever knowing.
Or when he broke his arm hiking in Australia and called me instead of Mother, tearing me away from work and sending everyone into a frenzy.
Or perhaps when he brought home a “friend” from college and woke the whole house during late night activities, only to flee when he realized our parents had many questions.
Whatever he needs this time, Felix and I will be there to handle the undoubtedly dramatic aftermath.
Family drama couldn’t be further from my mind as my attention is drawn back to the house Delilah disappeared into.
The lights went on and off in different spots as she and Goliath moved through the space. Nearly all the lights are off now, which I assume means she’ll join me again soon.
And what exactly do you plan to do with her, hm?
While my mind has been working overtime to—unhelpfully, I might add—imagine all the many different things I’d like to do to the perky dog sitter, I’m determined to be nothing less than a gentleman.
Last thing I want is to scare her off.
A soft click draws my attention as Delilah lets herself out of the house. Her jeans look darker, almost like she attempted to rinse them off, but the dark streaks from Goliath’s gift are still there.
“You alright?” I ask as she approaches.
She let down her ponytail.
The warm light of the street lamps has her wreathed in a golden glow, her dark hair tumbling around her shoulders. My fingers twitch with the desire to reach out and see if the waves are as soft as they look.
“What? Oh.” She looks down, a wry smile on her lips. “Had to give the dude a bath to get all that dirt and muck off. He decided to share the watery wealth, per usual.”
“Even more reason to come over to mine and get clean and dry.”
She bites her lip and I can’t stop myself from reaching out to gently pull it free.
“None of that, Delilah,” I chide. “A gentleman can only have so much control.”
“Are you?” she asks, her lips parted and glistening.
Did I step closer or did she?
“Am I what?”
We’re close enough I could breathe the words and she’d still hear them.
She licks her lips, my eyes drawn to the motion like a moth to a flame. “A gentleman.”
My mouth twitches in one corner. “I can be.”
I stop resisting the urge and reach my hand up to tuck the lock of hair obscuring the side of her face behind her ear. When her eyes flutter and she leans into the touch I swallow a groan and slide my fingers along the side of her neck, my thumb tracing her jaw.
“Though sometimes it’s more fun not to be.”
She blinks slowly and huffs a laugh, a smile tugging at her lips. I let my hand fall away to give us both some breathing room.
No need to ravish her on the sidewalk, fun as that would be.
“You’re trouble,” she mutters, shaking her head.
“Sometimes,” I concede. “Usually the good kind.”
She starts to worry at her lip again, then pauses with a sideways glance at me. I smile my approval and she blushes, which makes the need to adjust myself more pressing.
“I’m happy to give you my address if you want to drop a pin to a friend,” I offer. “Want a picture of my ID? You could send that, too.”
I go to retrieve it as she shakes her head.
“I should’ve asked you for both of those things,” she admits. “It’s a little embarrassing that I didn’t think of it.”
“Don’t be hard on yourself. You’ve had an eventful evening already.”
She snorts. “This was nothing. Wait til I tell you about the Great Poop Bag Debacle of 2024.”
It’s impossible not to grin. “Was it an abundance of poop or a lack of bags?”
“Both? And more?” Her nose scrunches as she shudders dramatically. “That story is definitely not first date material.”
She goes comically pale, her eyes widening. “Not that this is a date! Fuck, sorry. I’m not saying this is a date. You’re just being a kind stranger and all, right? Real neighborly and whatnot. Shit, now I’m rambling, aren’t I? Just do me the biggest favor and ignore me. Please.”
“No, I don’t think I will. You say the most intriguing things,” I tease.
Her cheeks pink as she shakes her head. “I won’t lie, I’m awkward as hell on a good day, but fuck do you make me nervous.”
Placing a gentle hand against the small of her back, I steer us down the sidewalk toward the park and, a few blocks beyond, my house.
“Now why on earth would I make you nervous?” I ask innocently.
She rolls her eyes and answers playfully, just as I hoped she would. “Oh, I don’t know. Doesn’t have anything to do with your stunning good looks or anything.”
“Stunning, hm?”
That laugh. It slays me.
“The last thing you need to fish for is compliments, Mr. Julian Fancy pants.”
I’d fish for anything from you, Delilah.
“I’m not sure whether to be offended or flattered.”
She eyes me, mouth curling in one corner. “Something tells me offense would make more of an impression on you.”
Grinning, I steer us onward, each step closer to my house feeling like a promise. “You’re not wrong, Miss James. You’re not wrong at all.”