Don't Say a Word - Barbara Freethy [122]
"I have a feeling it will take more than a cheeseburger to make me feel that way, but at least it's a start."
While Alex was ordering, Julia rose from the bed and got dressed.
"I liked you better naked," Alex said as he hung up the phone.
His wicked grin was completely lethal. She almost God he really was coming back. That would always felt like stripping down for him again-almost. After be the problem with Alex, she realized. She'd never a day of shocking revelations, her brain was beginning be sure how long he would stay or if he'd return. But to work again. And she needed to start thinking about how could she complain? If she'd wanted a man who her current situation and what she was going to do never left, she wouldn't have broken up with Michael, about it.
"Back to work, huh?'" Alex asked, obviously reading her mind.
"Is your laptop still in the car?"
Alex glanced around the room. "It must be. You distracted me so much, I forgot to bring it in."
"We need to make plane reservations for tomorrow, and we should try to find the location of the ballet companies in Washington DC. Maybe we can get a head start on tracking down Elena. We can also look up information on my mother and father."
"Thank God for the Internet," he said. "I'll get the computer out of the car." He slipped on his shirt and buttoned it up. "Don't let anyone in while I'm gone."
"I'm sure no one knows we're here."
"I still want the dead bolt on as soon as I leave. We can't be too careful, Julia. My dad made it clear that whoever killed your parents had connections on this side of the world. And we know firsthand those connections still exist."
"Are you deliberately trying to scare me? I just got my heart back to its normal rhythm."
"I…" His expression turned serious. "I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I already slept with you. You don't have to sweet-talk me," she said lightly.
"I mean it, Julia. Lock the door."
"I will." She followed him to the door, prepared to throw the dead bolt as soon as he left. Alex put his hand around the back of her neck and kissed her as if he were leaving forever, instead of just going to the car. Then he was gone.
Shaken, she slid the dead bolt into place, hoping to God he really was coming back. That would always be the problem with Alex, she realized. She'd never be sure how long he wouldstay or if he 'd return. But how could she complain? If she'd wanted a man who never left she wouldn't have broken up with Michael.
Chapter 19
Liz waited on the dock as Michael helped the last of his passengers off the fifty-foot yacht he used for charter services. The Annabelle was one of two boats owned by Michael's family. She knew he preferred the sailboat over the yacht, but his older brother had seniority in deciding which boat to run. She waved as he saw her. "Hey," she called.
He looked as if he wished he hadn't seen her and that she'd go away, but she was determined to talk to him. "Can I come up?" Without waiting for a reply, she boarded the yacht.
Michael wore his sailing clothes: jeans, a sweater, and a thick jacket. His face was red from the wind, his light brown hair ruffled and damp.
"What do you want?" he asked, a grumpy note to his voice.
"That's a nice greeting. I came to see how you were."
"I'm working. That's how 1 am."
"You're done working," she pointed out. "And I think you owe me more than attitude. I did help you with your house, not to mention a few dozen other things over the last year."
"Fine. But if you came here to talk about Julia, I'm not interested."
"I didn't come here to talk about Julia. I came here to talk about me. You probably don't care about any of this, but I want you to know anyway. I quit my job at the cafe. I signed up for some classes at San Francisco State. I'm going to finish my education."
"What brought this on?"
"Julia gave me a kick in the butt. She pointed out to me recently that I've been sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else play. And she was right." Liz paused. "I'm still pissed