Deception (7 page)

She smiled. “Let’s go swim.”

As they walked to the pool she put her plans for the evening into motion. “Your cousin came by my office today.” In front of her Julian froze for the tiniest of flashes before he evened out his pace. “He wants to take me for dinner to some place in town that has good gumbo. Seven o’clock.”

“You told him you’d go?”

“Well no, he told me he’d pick me up at seven and walked out of my office before I could refuse him. But I thought it would be a most excellent lesson if a good portion of your family were to accompany us. I’m sure Bailey would be up for it, so that means Parker would go. Do you think your sisters and Everett might consider going?”

Julian laughed deeply. “A most excellent lesson indeed. What about me? Am I invited?”

“If you want to go I won’t stop you.” She was confused by his sudden interest and acceptance of her and she felt her brow furrow only to be smoothed by his finger.

On the back porch he took her hands in his. “I’d like for you to want me to go. I tried to come by your room last night to apologize for being such a dick on the porch when you . . .” His eyes closed for a beat and when he reopened them they smoldered like wet liquid earth. “When you honestly bared your soul I didn’t react very well. I’m sorry. What I should have said was I also cherished our time together, but I have issues that I need to deal with before I can even consider a relationship, if I ever can. There are things in my past that no one should be subjected to—least of all you.”

The grave sincerity in his raw voice pulled at her heart. He was conflicted by past sins. She demurely hung her head to give him some privacy while he cleared his eyes.

“Thank you, Julian . . . for the apology.”

He nodded as he held her gaze and she kissed him on the cheek.

“Thank you, Maura. And about the cousin Maximilian matter—I think we should all accompany you to dinner—Mom, Dad, Ari, Courtney, Everett, Bailey, Parker, and myself. It will be perfect.” He winked.

“To be honest, I may end up needing Max’s help with my situation and I don’t want to—”

Julian held a palm in front of her. It was something he did when he wanted to hear no more of what she had to say. She’d hoped they were past that. “Max isn’t like that. No matter what happens, if you need help, he’s your best bet. He’ll seek out the truth and do what’s right. He may seem like a player”—Julian nodded—“trust me, I know he does seem that way, but in the end he’s all heart. His students love him. So do his colleagues. I don’t think women mind him much either. Usually he’s smooth, but I think you’ve gotten under his skin.”

“
I’m
under his skin?”

“You tend to have that effect on men. It’s difficult to be around you without thinking things one shouldn’t.”

She felt her stomach tighten when his gaze traveled to her chest and his expression told her he was currently thinking those things one shouldn’t.

At the pool Julian dove in like an Olympian. Maura on the other hand cautiously tested the water with her toes and then sat on the top step so that only her calves were submerged.

“You know, that’s not how you get into a swimming pool.”

“I’m good. The water feels nice.”

“Are you going to swim?”

“I don’t know how.”

Julian swam up to the step and sat next to her. “Seriously, you don’t know how to swim?”

Maura looked down into the water. “No, there wasn’t much occasion to swim when I was young. But I do enjoy sitting in the water.”

“I can’t let you do that. You have to get wet at least.”

She shot him a look of doubt, afraid he was going to do something boy-like, such as sling her into the water and push her shoulders down to ensure she was submerged.

“Hey”—his hand squeezed her knee—“no one is going to force you to do anything you don’t feel comfortable with, but if you want to climb onto my back, piggy back style, I’ll walk us across the pool.”

She assessed the length of the pool. Wouldn’t it be easy for him to go under if he had her weight on his back?

“I’m six-feet-one inch. This is a game pool, three feet deep on each end and five in the middle.”

She smiled, nervousness averted. “In that case, I’m in.”

“At your service, mademoiselle.” He stepped lower than her so that she could position herself accordingly.

Her hands snaked up his torso and she subtly cupped his pectorals while her thighs squeezed against his hips. He felt so divine beneath her and she knew it would be hard to let go once he carried her across the pool.

Her hands, with a will of their own, delicately traced his wet chest muscles as his body waded through the water. Suddenly, he clasped her hand in his and pulled her to sit at the pool’s concrete steps. A fleur-de-lis tile mosaic decorated the steps. The image was skewed through the water and seemed to move and take on a life of it’s own.

“Maura, about your move . . . you don’t have to leave. It’s nice having you here.”

She giggled at his ridiculous sincerity. “Julian please, this is your home and you shouldn’t have to share it with some crazy mixed-up female. You’re already having to contend with Bailey.”

“You don’t understand, I like having you here.”

“It’s sweet of you to say that, but I need to deal with my issues myself. Your family has been more than gracious to me. I honestly couldn’t have made it through the last few weeks without them.”

“What can I do to make you stay?” His expression stilled and grew serious.

“Tell me the leech joke.”

“Can I interest you in a different joke?”

“Okay.”

Julian cleared his throat. “So one day Charlaine was sweeping the living room floor when the doorbell rang. She opened the door and let the nice vacuum cleaner salesman inside. He started dumping white powdery dust all over her recently-swept floor. She swatted his hand and said, ‘Hey, don’t do dat.’ The salesman said, ‘It’s okay, this baby will suck up everything or I’ll lick your floors clean.’ The salesman plugged the cord into the wall and flipped the switch to ‘on’ but nothing happened. Charlaine said, ‘Power’s been out since da storm. You want some salt and peppa wit dat?’”

Maura threw her head back in laughter at his Cajun accent. It wasn’t that funny but his demeanor when he told the jokes was easy and he spoke to her as if she were the only person in the world he wanted seated near him.

The mood turned serious when he traced her neck lightly where she was bruised. She’d covered the spots with makeup that had no doubt been washed away by the chlorinated pool water. “Will you tell me the truth about these marks?”

The pain of that day seized her body. She wanted to tell him,
only him.
She felt a deep connection to him, but he’d felt so very hurt by her. They were two souls adrift. Their timing couldn’t have been worse and it had her wondering all over again
what if
. If they could have met, four, five, six years ago what would they have now?

Curses fell from his mouth. “He did this to you?”

“I would love it if Maura Douglas didn’t come with mistakes, but she does. Just as you come with a past. I want to give you all of me, but I can’t. You made me realize that. I’ve made mistakes. I don’t want you included in them. We each have things in our past that we don’t want tarnishing our future.” She did want to tell him all about it but knew he didn’t want to be involved in her situation with Alan so she was giving him an easy way out.

“Maura, if someone’s hurting you, I want to be the first to know.”

“There exists a piece of me that is under his control. To live in fear of another human being is a very inefficient thing, but I can’t fight him. When I’ve tried it’s just done more harm than good. I suppose it’s weak, but you know what?”

“What’s that?”

“Where Bailey’s concerned I would do it all the same if I had it to do over. I would give everything I have—body included—if I could be certain it would save her.” He needed to understand that she didn’t regret her mistakes—she grew from them. What she did regret was the one soul she’d been unable to save.

“How can you say that when you’re covered in bruises? You don’t have to be a martyr anymore. Tell me how you got the marks.”

“Why does it matter?”

His eyes were dark, brooding. “I need to know.”

“Please, if you won’t take everything, don’t just take the worst part. These marks represent the worst part of me—the mistakes. I would give you everything—if you wanted to know, I would tell you my whole story.”

“Okay, for now.” He leaned in close to her ear. “You should know that I don’t think there is a worst part of you. All parts are wonderful. I regret what I said. I’m an idiot—the greatest fool.”

***

Julian had been wrong. Brutal honesty is what Maura Douglas brought to the game. Her words had the ability to cut through to the marrow in his bone. Her hand rested on his at her neck. The look in her eyes was torment coupled with longing and desire. Maura needed him. In order to beat her demons away she’d need him. God, was it possible he already loved this woman? It didn’t matter because once she found out about his past, she’d never speak to him again. Maura wouldn’t escape the clutches of one monster just to be consumed by another.

Was it even fair to Karina’s memory for him to find absolute happiness while her body lay rotting in the ground
? The few dates he’d been on had left him frustrated. To be fair, he’d been a moody, withdrawn prick. On those dates he’d felt almost nothing, but still he thought maybe he could put the past behind him. And then he’d met Maura. For some reason, she unleashed every emotion inside of him that he’d ever had—good or bad.

A lone tear fell from her eye and he captured it with his lips. A soft, slow kiss to let her know that when she needed him most he’d be there.

“Oh my God, Maura. Guess what?”

Bailey dove into the pool and swam up to her sister, ruining their heartfelt moment. Still their intense eye connection remained for as long as possible. Her glance spoke volumes and he hoped he answered her unvoiced question. He wouldn’t leave her to fight Alan alone. He’d be right beside her. He would make her tell him her story before the night was out.

“Maura, what’s wrong?”

Bailey’s hand on her shoulder diverted her gaze. “What happened?” She questioned the marks on Maura’s neck.

“My fall this morning.” Maura laughed nervously. “I’m so clumsy.”

“I didn’t know it had been that bad.”

“I’ll be fine.” Maura waved away her sister’s concern. “So what’s your news?”

Parker joined the fray, acknowledging Julian with a head nod before diving into the water.

“Everett has been trying to woo Fiona—like seriously the old-fashioned kind of wooing.”

Maura’s expression held equal parts of surprise and joy. “Well, I can believe it. Who wouldn’t give their right arm for Fiona?”

“And you know how much he hates Louisiana?”

Maura nodded, her smile fading.

“Well, he can’t say that anymore. He accepted a position at the Baton Rouge branch of his firm.”

“Awe, that’s one of the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.” Maura answered.

“You buying this?” Parker pointed to the sisters as he sought Julian’s opinion.

“It would have been hard to believe if I hadn’t heard it from Everett himself.”

“You’re shitting me!”

Julian held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”

Just then Everett emerged from the house with Courtney and Ari in tow. They all sat beneath the fans of the porch and Ari dialed up some insipid reality television show that had Everett grumbling.

Parker, Bailey, Maura, and Julian all smiled knowingly at one another. “Oh, Everett?” Bailey called.

“Yeah,” he responded from his position on one of the outdoor chairs.

“A little birdy told me that you’re in love with Fiona.”

Ari’s mouth erupted with whatever she was drinking when she heard Bailey’s comment. “Oh my God, Everett”—her singsong voice pierced the air—“you’re in love.” Ari clapped her hands. “Everett and Fiona sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.” The girls all snorted and laughed.

“Real mature, guys. How old are we?”

“Actually Ari, she hasn’t let him kiss her yet.” Julian offered.

Ari and Courtney squealed in delight while Bailey and Maura lightly giggled.

“The real reason Everett has landed in Baton Rouge and has yet to return to Boston.” Parker piled on.

Everett rose to his feet when he couldn’t take it anymore and made his way to the door. “Don’t go too far, lover. We’re all going to Bridges for dinner.” Julian hollered.

“Don’t worry. I’m just going to retrieve my iPod from Parker Pee Pee’s room. He’s been holding it hostage since I came home.”

“Parker-pee-pee?”

“When Parker was little he used to pee his pants and he’d walk up to Mom and the way he’d let her know was to say Parker-pee-pee.” The pool and porch erupted in all-out laughter while Parker punched Julian in the arm.

“Shit, that’s gonna bruise.” Julian rubbed his arm where it burned.

“Don’t be such a pussy, Julia.” Parker made an obscene gesture. “So Bridges for dinner?”

“I’m not sure if that’s where Dr. David intended. He never mentioned a place,” Maura answered.

“Dr. David?” Parker questioned.

“Max asked her out.” Julian tugged at his chin as he thought of Max trying to be smooth with Maura. “Except he didn’t ask her. He basically told her he’d be here at seven to take her to get the best cup of gumbo in Louisiana.”

“Oh? So your plan is to bring the entire family?”

“It is.”

“Awesome. Can’t wait to see the look on his Ivy League face.” Parker smirked in delight. Julian quite agreed and removed himself from the pool to put the plan in place. Tonight would be anything but boring.

***

Maura donned her favorite pastel-green dress. She fastened a cognac belt around herself and contemplated her shoe choice. At five-feet-eleven heels made her taller than most men, but she liked the sexy feeling she got from wearing them.

“Can I borrow your beige patent leather Tiffany Sellars pumps?” Bailey whistled as she took in Maura’s attire. “You’re dressing up?”