Don't Say a Word - Barbara Freethy [135]
"Are you scared?" she asked, half-teasing, half-serious.
"Terrified," he said lightly. He kissed her again, then released her. "Go to bed, Julia, before I can't let you go."
"I'd stay, but-"
"But you two women need to bond. I get it. And believe me, I've had enough girl talk to last me awhile. I'm going to watch something macho on television and not think about anything else until tomorrow morning."
"Good night." Julia stole one last quick kiss before leaving. When she entered the bedroom, Elena was, wearing a long T-shirt and sitting on the side of her queen-size bed. She was brushing out her hair, and Julia was struck once again by the resemblance between them.
"If you want to sleep with Alex, it's fine with me," Elena said, setting down her brush. She gave Julia a 340 curious look. "I still don't understand exactly what your relationship is."
"I'm not sure, either," Julia admitted. "I'm afraid to analyze it too much, especially in the middle of everything else."
"But you like him."
"Oh, yeah, more than a little. But that seems crazy, too, because a few weeks ago I thought I was in love with someone else."
"What happened to the other guy? I know you said he was upset that you were searching for your family, but was that all of it?"
Julia sat down on the bed. "No. I told you that my mother, Sarah, died six months ago. Well, Michael was so great through her illness. For two years he was supportive, kind, caring, everything a woman could want. After my mom died, he wanted to get married, and we'd been engaged for so long, I knew I had to say yes. I owed him. Deep in my heart, I knew that Michael wasn't the one for me. He was just taking up where my mom left off. Sarah raised me in a controlled little bubble. She protected me and hid me away from the world. I guess she was always looking over her shoulder, afraid she would be found out. Michael wanted a wife who would stay in his world, who wouldn't make waves, wouldn't want to travel or have a big job or do anything different. That's fine for him, but I would have suffocated."
"Alex certainly doesn't seem the type to put you in a bubble," Elena observed.
"I'm not sure he wants to put me anywhere. He's an admitted loner. He likes to travel light, and he told me that he's never met a woman who made him want more than a casual affair."
"I hope he didn't say that after you slept together."
"No, before. I'm a fool, huh?"
Elena smiled. "He's a good-looking man, Julia. He's smart, successful, exciting-the last thing I would call you is a fool. Just don't let him break your heart."
"I'm trying to keep that in mind."
Elena tossed her a T-shirt. "You can sleep in this."
"Thanks."
Julia took off her jeans and top and slipped on the T-shirt. She climbed into the bed next to Elena, feeling both awkward and strangely comfortable. A moment later Elena switched off the light.
"Was it hard losing your boyfriend when you had your accident?" Julia asked.
For a long minute, there was silence; then Elena said, "His leaving didn't hurt as much as the fact that I couldn't dance anymore, but it was very painful. I really loved him. I made a huge mistake. He only wanted the successful dancer who could bring his choreography to life. He didn't really want me, all of me. He was an ass."
"And there hasn't been anyone since?"
"I've been busy. I had to restart my life, get a new career going. Victoria, Mrs. Kay, she helped me get the shop. She actually owns this building, and I pay nominal rent. There's no way I could afford this area if I didn't have connections."
"The shop is great. I'm so impressed by how many beautiful pieces you have."
"I love knowing that each piece in my shop has a history. I don't love it as much as dance, I'll admit, but I like seeing things find their rightful home. Probably something subliminal about that, huh?"
Because they'd never been able to go home. "Probably," Julia agreed.
"Well, good night," Elena said.
Julia smiled as a long-ago memory flashed through her head. "Good night," she said. "Sweet dreams."
"You, too."
"Don't