Page 59 of Unpredictable
“It doesn’t have anything to do with Harrison, does it?”
“Harrison?” My voice came out high-pitched and airy.
Just saying his name sent my pulse skittering. After our weekend in Ojai, something had shifted. And it wasn’t just because we’d had sex again. We’d finally opened up to each other, baring our souls as we connected over the tragedies of our pasts.
My girlfriends knew about him—knew I was now planning the wedding for the daughter of my one-night stand. But I hadn’t told them about our weekend in Ojai. And I didn’t want Alexis to think my decision to sell the house was influenced by him.
“Yes. The silver fox father of the bride you seem to be spending a lot of time with lately.” She arched an eyebrow.
“I-I’m helping him plan his daughter’s wedding.” I stumbled over the lie.
“You know, if that wasn’t all you were doing, that would be okay too.”
“Alexis,” I gasped, holding a hand to my chest. “Are youencouragingme to mix business with pleasure?” I teased.
Ever since she’d started publicly dating Preston, it had become a sort of inside joke. She’d always been so opposed to mixing business with pleasure, and then she’d fallen for her daughter’s nanny.
She laughed and tossed a shirt at me. “Whatever. My situation with Preston was different, and you know it.”
“How?” I folded the shirt. “You’re a single parent, and so is Harrison. You both hired someone younger to do a job.”
“First of all, Harrison may be a single dad, but his daughter is gettingmarried. While her opinion factors into the equation, it’s different from my situation. Also…you slept with him before he ever hired you. Not that it really matters.”
“I might have slept with him again.” I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for her reaction.
“I knew it!” She flashed me a big grin, a smug one. “So…was it as good as the first time?”
I blushed, thinking back on last weekend and the way he’d made love to me. We’d spent Sunday morning in bed, having sex, ordering room service, and nearly missing our check-out time. “It was amazing.”
She grasped my hands. “I’m so happy for you, Jules—soproudof you.”
“Thanks.” I dipped my head, feeling as if her praise was unwarranted.
She took my hand in hers. “I’m sure it isn’t easy. I get it—sort of. Just…don’t blow what you have with Harrison because you’re scared.”
I nodded. “Thanks. But…it’s hard, you know? Moving on after being so invested in someone else.”
“I get it.” She folded a shirt and placed it in the donate pile. “It was hard to trust after Cal. And I was so scared of what I had with Preston that I almost lost him.”
The trouble was, I was fearful. I’d already lost one man I loved, and I was falling for Harrison. He made me happy. He was supportive and caring. Everything he said and did told me this was more than just sex for him. I wanted to love him, but that meant putting my heart on the line again. And it scared the hell out of me.
Chapter Eighteen
“So…” Reg said, leaning against the bar. The lights of the skyline reflected in the aqua pool of the hotel. “How’s it going with the wedding planner?”
Reg had wanted to get drinks. And since Juliana had asked me to meet her here after work, I figured I could kill two birds with one stone.
“Pretty good,” I said. “We’ve got the menu nailed down, and Olivia seems happy with everything so far.”
He tilted his head back to take a sip of his beer. “Not what I meant. But I’m glad the planning is going so well.”
I scanned the crowd, eager to evade his questions. Women sauntered around, scantily clad in tiny bikinis, tottering on high heels with their runway-ready hair and makeup. I almost felt overdressed in my jeans and button-down, but I didn’t care. The only person I wanted to impress was Juliana. And I’d taken great care to select a shirt I thought she’d like.
I glanced at my watch, knowing it would be another hour until she was done. One of her clients had gotten married here earlier in the day, and I couldn’t wait to see her. Couldn’t wait to take her up to the hotel room I’d gotten for the night and undress her. Reg nudged me, and I realized I’d zoned out, envisioning all the ways I wanted to make her come.
“So, what are we doing here? Because this isn’t your usual scene.”
He was right. I usually preferred something with a more laid-back vibe. Somewhere I was less likely to be recognized. We’d already had one person stop to ask us for a picture, and if the women prowling toward us were any indication, they knew who we were. I let out a deep sigh, turning my back to the crowd, hoping it would be enough to deter them. I wasn’t interested in any woman but Juliana.
