Page 35 of Betrayal of a Billionaire
“Don’t you? Because this is kind of weird. They’re kind of weird.” Ethan flicked his gaze to her new family.
“They’re not that weird. And no, I don’t. Look, it’s bad enough that we accidentally ran into Luke this morning. That was…uncomfortable.”
“It’s okay, Juju, he understands.”
“Did Ally tell him? He made a call this morning before we sailed and ever since then–“
“I don’t know. But what I do know,” Ethan said as the song wrapped up and a new one blasted from the old jukebox, “is that you should spend a little time together.”
Julia furrowed her brow as her brother-in-law slyly sidestepped and shoved her into Luke’s waiting arms. She hesitated, a pang of confusion making her uncertain this was a wise idea. She was with Grant, but the echoes of her past with Luke tugged at her heart, creating a storm of emotions she couldn’t calm. The pressure of Ethan’s hand on her back only lifted when Luke pulled her closer.
The warmth of his hands as one circled around her waist and the other intertwined with one of her own brought back another flood of memories. With the pressure of the day weighing against her, she couldn’t stop them from filling her mind.
Memory after memory, many of them on this very dance floor, flashed through her mind, some of them so vivid, they blurred the lines between past and present.
Her arm naturally slid onto his shoulder, and she lowered her chin as she glanced up at him. As always when she saw Luke, everything felt normal. They’d parted ways only to end up together so many times before. They could easily pick up where they let off without skipping a beat.
It had been this moment that she’d avoided when she went to New Orleans. She hadn’t trusted herself to stay in Harbor Cove without ending up with him. And she still didn’t.
She swallowed hard as he stared down at her, his dark eyes soft. She found herself leaning toward Luke, their past connection undeniable. But as her eyes found Grant across the room, a wave of guilt washed over her, and she instinctively tried to put distance between them.
Luke tilted his head to catch her eye. “It’s good to see you, Juju.”
She offered him a fleeting smile. “About earlier…” She tried to find the words to explain, but none came.
“You don’t need to say anything,” he answered.
Julia’s heart raced, each step a dance between past and present. Memories of Luke’s embrace mingled with the reality of her life with Grant, stirring a storm of emotions she struggled to navigate. “I hadn’t intended for you to find out that way. Sierra…”
“Julia, it’s okay.” He smiled at her as they swayed together, their dance stirring something within her.
Her lips curled at the corners, old emotions resurfacing as his easy way soothed her. Before she could speak again, a shadow loomed over them.
“You wouldn’t mind if I cut in, would you?” Grant asked.
“Ahhhh,” Luke said, freezing with her still in his arms as their song continued to play.
“Seriously?” Alicia’s voice snapped. “You’rethatcontrolling that she can’t spend five minutes with an old friend?”
“Ally,” Julia warned as she stepped back from Luke.
“I don’t see the problem here. She’s my wife,” Grant said.
“Oh, right,” Ally said, “which means you own her. But, given the circumstances, I could see how you’d think that.”
“Ally!” Julia exclaimed, her eyes wide as she stared at her sister.
Luke’s hand slid around her shoulders. “Why don’t we let Julia decide what’s best for her?”
“Excellent idea, Luke,” Ethan said as he stepped away from Alicia to get between Julia and Grant.
“Fine,” Grant said as he refused to back down. “Though I think the constant pressuring from you is a little much.”
“We’re hardly pressuring her,” Alicia retorted, “just protecting her because she’s family.”
“She’s–“
“Don’t even tell me she’s your family because she’s not.”
