Love Is Crazy (Love Is… #1) (34 page)

J
uliet groaned
and opened her eyes onto a piercingly bright day, the sun streaking in through Ian’s curtain-less windows stabbing her right in her poor, hungover head. Ian’s head weighed heavy on her chest, his arms wrapped tightly around her, holding her close even in his sleep. She kissed his hair and breathed him in, closing her eyes and damning the wine. He stirred and she smiled. Waking up with him was a gift, hungover or not.

Last night was amazing. Everything she had ever wanted, everything she had ever needed, including things she hadn’t even thought of yet! He had taken control without being demeaning. Pushed her boundaries and played with pain, but did it so that it brought her pleasure. Made sure she came, and not just once. Oh no! Juliet came at least three times, and there was a good chance that her last orgasm started the moment he entered her and ended right about the time the sun came up.

This was a man who didn’t just take control but was in control. A man who operated from a place of confidence instead of some injured psyche that demanded he be obeyed above all things. A man she could fall in love with. A man she already was in love with. She swallowed hard and kissed him again.

“Do it again.” His voice was slurred with sleep.

“Do what again?”

“Kiss my head. It hurts. Red wine never has my best interest at heart.” Ian shifted, rolled onto his back and she immediately missed the contact of his skin on her skin.

“You too, huh?” She draped an arm over her face. “As much as I appreciate the whole waking up with the windows open to the sea thing, I think the sun wants to kill me.”

Ian slid his feet off the side of the bed and sat up facing the window. Stretched while Juliet watched the muscles in his back flex and ripple, then stood, giving her an unobstructed view of his backside.

“Body of an Adonis,” she said and pushed herself into a sitting position, clutching the sheet to her chest.

Ian turned his head so his face was in profile over his shoulder, flexed his arms like a bodybuilder, and grit his teeth. “Ouch,” he said, grimacing. “I was gonna make a joke, but I think I just angered the red wine again.”

“Goodness, don’t do that. It’s angry enough already.”

Ian padded around the front of the bed towards his closet, paused when he saw her. “No, no, no. That won’t do. You can’t keep a body like that covered up. Drop that sheet, now.”

Juliet giggled and let the sheet fall, exposing her breasts. “Ohhh,” she groaned. “Don’t make me laugh. It’s bad. It’s really, really bad.”

“Alright then, what this needs is hangover food. Get dressed. We’re going to Good Beginnings.” Ian disappeared into his closet and reemerged with some clothes in his hand.

“I can’t. I have to go let Lulu out.”

“Fucking Lulu.”

Juliet slid out of bed and started gathering last night’s clothes. “I thought you liked Lulu because she brought us together.”

“Yeah, but right now, she’s keeping us apart.” Ian pulled on some boxer briefs and pants. “How about this. We’ll stop at your house, let Lulu out, you can put on some new clothes because my sexy little angel won’t be doing anything close to the walk of shame, wandering around town in last night’s clothes. And then, I’ll take you into Good Beginnings and we’ll stuff our faces with whatever the hell we feel like.”

Juliet had to admit, the plan was a good one. Plus she really wasn’t ready to leave Ian’s company yet. She got dressed while Ian brushed his teeth, then they hopped in her car and Ian played with the dog while she took a few minutes to set herself to rights. It was only half an hour later that they found themselves seated in Ellie Charles’s cafe, coffee steaming in front of them, waiting for their food.

“Rough night?” Ellie asked with a quirk of her eyebrows when she brought a huge tray supporting the odd array of items they’d ordered.

“Oh, no. Rough morning,” said Ian, pulling a plate laden with pancakes in front of him. “The night was wonderful.”

Juliet giggled and bit her lip, met Ellie’s eyes with a sweet smile and nodded her agreement. “You’ll get no complaints from me.”

“Too much info, you two. Too much.” Ellie held up a hand and turned away, laughing gently to herself on her way back to the counter.

Juliet made quick work of breakfast, finishing a plate of pancakes, some bacon, and a biscuit, and drinking both an orange juice and a Coke in between sips of coffee. Ellie had made several trips back, wielding coffee like a trained hangover nurse and carrying away empty plates.

“So, looking back, was there anything about last night you didn’t like?” Ian asked, picking at a piece of buttered toast. “Anything you think fear or wine talked you into doing that you don’t think you want to do again?”

Julz thought through the night, taking the time to really process his question. The muscles deep in her belly flared to life and clenched, and damn if she didn’t get a little wet. “Nope,” she said with certainty. “Not one thing.”

Ian’s broad smile brought out one of her own. “That’s what I like to hear. You think we hit your limit? Or could we play some more?”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure we could do some more exploring. You don’t scare me. I feel safe with you.”

“You should. I’d never do anything to hurt you.” Ian leaned forward. “That you didn’t like, that is.”

Juliet hid her blush behind a long drink of coffee, the caffeine waging a very successful war against the pain in her head. “I’m so full.” She sat back in the booth, keeping her coffee in her hands. “But I’m not queasy anymore, so I’m not complaining.”

Ian cleared his throat and a serious expression fell across his face. “So, I was thinking,” he began and she was instantly queasy again, the change in him making her nervous. “If Michael Phillips broke the terms of your agreement, then he’s in breach of contract. I know you’re afraid he’s gonna try and find you or something, but I don't think you need to worry. He's probably thrilled you disappeared because you’re the one holding all the cards.”

Juliet shrugged. “Maybe. But I’m in breach of contract, too. I told both you and my friend Willow about what was going on. That’s a pretty direct violation of the non-disclosure clause. And I’m less and less sure he’s gonna want to find me. I think I’m just another notch on that belt, you know? Another name on a dotted line. But, I really don’t want to tempt fate. Tech Lord still owes me my final paycheck, and I sure would like to get it. I just can’t bring myself to reach out in case he comes swooping down on me and ruins all this.” Juliet made a sweeping motion, gesturing to Ian and the little strip of downtown Bliss out the window.

“If he owes you money, there’s no reason not to reach out and get it.”

“Yeah, but what if he gets mad and starts accusing me of stuff? What if he, I don’t know, sues me? What if he goes after Willow, or you, because you know the truth about what he likes. What if… ” She couldn't bring herself to finish that sentence, to speak the fear that hung so heavily on her.
What if he tried to kill me so I couldn't say anything?

“Do you really think any of that will happen?”

“I don't know. Not really…? But Ian, I’m really afraid of him. He’s got a lot of money, and a lot of power, a whole team of lawyers, and I’m in a pretty good spot to understand that he’s not exactly working with a full batch of cookies.”

“Cookies, huh?” Ian asked with a wry smile. “That what you’re going with?”

“You better believe it.”

Ian sat back and watched out the window while Juliet thought through all the fear she had surrounding Michael. It’d been, what? Over a month since she’d left? Surely, seeing as Michael really did have all the money and power and technology he could ever need right there at his greedy little fingertips, he would have found her if he really wanted to. His continued silence spoke volumes.

“I think you should ask for your paycheck,” Ian said breaking the silence.

All the reassurance Juliet had been feeling dissipated. “It’s not worth it.”

“No. I think it is. Sure, he’s rich and powerful and has a team of lawyers, but that might not exactly work in his favor. Money, power, and lawyers? The Moore family has those things, too, and you know what? If my lawyer talks to his lawyer, I bet Michael Phillips would end up terrified of the court case that might follow on the heels of any contact he made with you
other
than sending you the money you’re owed. You know, high profile CEO’s tend to shy away from sex scandals that make them out as selfish, abusive, assholes.”

Juliet didn’t know what to say. What Ian just said made a whole hell of a lot of sense. Maybe she’d been safe this whole time, just because of the nature of the very relationship she’d been scared of.

She grinned. Couldn’t have kept a straight face if she tried. “You are so right.”

“Of course I’m right. That’s what I do.”

“He’s not gonna want me anywhere near a courthouse, or a microphone, or a news crew. Even if his mighty team of lawyers came slamming down on my head, the damage would be done to him the moment I opened my mouth.”

“And if his lawyers even looked at your sweet little head the wrong way, my lawyers would be all over their asses.” Ian leaned forward and took her hands in his. “And you better believe that if he tried to hurt you, he'd have to get through me first.”

Juliet beamed at Ian and for the first time she could think about Michael Phillips without feeling like she was left to the mercy of his actions. Like he could destroy her on a whim. Hell no. Not now. With Ian at her side, it turned out that she was the one in control of this situation.
Michael
was in the palm of
her
hand, at
her
mercy. Not the other way around.

“Can I take that shit-eating grin as a sign that you’re gonna go after your last paycheck?”

“Hell yeah, I am. I’ll contact the Tech Lord human resource department as soon as I get home.”

Ian sat back. “How about this. Don’t contact them.”

Juliet frowned. Didn't he just talk her into calling about the money they owed her? How could she do that without making contact? “What do you mean?”

“I want you to let me get my lawyers involved. That way he knows to not even think about coming after you.”

“You’d do that for me?”

“You bet your sweet ass I’d do that for you.”

The smile was on her face again and she was nodding, laughing a little in disbelief. How had she gotten so lucky? She’d literally chosen Bliss on a whim and it’d been the best decision she’d ever made in all her life. All the years before Ian were cold and gray and mechanical. Stressful and tense. Since moving to Bliss and meeting Ian her world was filled with color and laughter. Things were easy. Right. Like this was the life she’d been destined to live.

“
A
re
you sure I look okay?” Juliet stood in front of the mirror in the bedroom and fussed with her dress, picked at her hair, leaned in and checked her makeup.

“You could look okay in a burlap sack.” Ian looked amazing, as usual, leaning back on her bed, his jeans hugging all the right spots in all the right ways, his cowboy boots kept respectfully off the duvet.

“I just really want to make a good impression, that’s all.”

Ian stood and crossed the room, wrapped his arms around her and met her eyes through the mirror. “They’re gonna love you. You’ve already met my brothers, and they’ve been busy going on and on about you ever since. If I was the jealous type, well, I’d be jealous.” Ian kissed her right behind her ear. “Besides, you’ve been so busy making me happy that my parents are halfway to charmed by you already. That only leaves Lilah and she doesn’t like anyone. Until they compliment her,” Ian said quickly when Julz whirled, eyes wide with alarm. “So now you’ve got a secret weapon. Tell her you like her shoes and you’re in there.”

It’s only lunch,
she kept telling herself on the car ride to the Moore family home.
You’ve done lunch plenty of times with high powered people at Tech Lord.
After their conversation at Good Beginnings last week, that name didn’t make her nerves go skittering around out of control anymore. Ian’s lawyers were busy talking to Michael’s lawyers and, according to Ian, things were going well. Just knowing that she had so many people in between her and Michael felt good. Knowing one of those people was Ian? Well, she felt damn near invincible.

“This is not the quaint little beachside home you described,” she said as he pulled into the driveway. She worried the hem of her skirt between her thumb and middle finger. “This is a huge-ass beachside mansion.”

“I never said it was little.”

“But you did use the word
quaint
.”

“Yes, I did. That’s very true. This isn’t some cold, modern, billionaire’s hideaway. This is warm and inviting, the home I grew up in.” Ian threw the car in park and turned the key in the ignition, but didn’t get out.

“Those things are all true, but you have to know that when you use the word
quaint
it just automatically means small.”

“No. It really doesn’t. It means picturesque and charming. Not small.”

Juliet sighed and stared at him. She didn’t mean to be difficult; she was just so nervous. Not only did she want the Moores to love her, but this lunch was pretty much everything she’d ever wanted as a child. Hell, as an adult, too, for that matter. A family lunch where everyone came together, laughing and joking? At the home all the kids had grown up in, nonetheless? She’d been lucky to have a sullen meal in the same room with her mom and step-dad in any of the many houses they’d lived in throughout the years. And her biological dad? Yeah, right.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m just—”

“Nervous,” he finished for her and smiled. Reached out and took her hands. Kissed each one and then held them to his lips. “You’re gonna be fine. Now, we’ve officially used up my calm and patient demeanor and it’s time for you to buck the hell up, Private Lane.”

Juliet stifled a giggle. “Yes, sir!” she said with a curt nod, trying to lose her nerves by playing.

“Ah, ah, ahhh.” Ian dropped her hands and waggled a finger at her. “What did I say about that word?”

They got out of the car and Ian led her up to the front door, his hand grazing the small of her back. He didn’t knock, just opened the door and tried to guide her through. Juliet froze. She really didn’t want to go in first. Many threads of mingled conversation and what sounded like some kind of sporting event on the TV burbled out towards her, mixed with the scent of something delicious. All very warm and welcoming and utterly, completely, terrifying. She hung back and Ian gave her an odd look, but went in first anyway.

“Hey! You’re favorite first born is here with a very important guest!” Ian took Juliet’s hand and led her through the entryway into an open first floor where his family was gathered in the living area, ignoring the TV and focusing on a very sullen James.

A tiny woman, her gray-streaked dark hair still long and thick and pulled back into a low ponytail, bounded up to them and wrapped her arms around Ian. “So good to see you. I miss you every day, you know. You need to come around more.”

Ian dwarfed his mother. “I was here just the other day.”

“Were you here yesterday?”

“No.”

“The day before?”

“No. But I was here the day before that.”

“Well, that just proves my point. You need to be here more.” Ian’s mother disengaged from her son and took both Juliet’s hands in her own. “And this must be the angel that’s made you so happy lately.”

Ian put a hand on Juliet’s shoulders. “The very one. Mom, this is Juliet Lane. Juliet, meet the woman who gave me life.”

Juliet smiled and dipped her head. “Mrs. Moore.”

“Oh, we can just drop that nonsense before you even start it. Call me Diane. I’d tell you to call me Mom, everyone always does, but I’m afraid Ian would think I was trying to be prophetic or something.” Diane dropped an eyelid in the very same conspiratorial wink her son used. The one that Juliet loved so much. She couldn’t help but smile when Ian blustered in some kind of shocked response to his mother’s statement. Was he actually blushing? She’d never seen Ian look out of sorts. Never ever. It was kind of adorable.

An elegant older man ambled over, his salt and pepper hair thick and long enough to curl at his ears and neck line. “So this is the one, is it?” He asked, extending a hand. “Juliet? Did I hear that correctly?”

This man just oozed power and confidence. He had Juliet’s eyes dropping to the floor and a flush running up her cheeks. “Yes, sir. Juliet Lane.”

Mr. Moore shook his head and laughed. “What did my wife just say, young lady? We can drop all that formality nonsense. You call me Frank and I’ll make up some funny nickname for you and we’ll just call it a normal Sunday, understand?” Frank’s eyes crinkled merrily and Juliet relaxed  significantly. Even if she
had
used the dreaded ‘sir’ word.

“Well, come in, come in, meet the rest of us.” Diane paused and looked thoughtful. “And I guess by that, I just mean Lilah because from what I hear, you’ve already met the boys.”  The three Moores led Juliet over to the living room. Harry sprung off the sofa and gave her a quick, though awkward, hug. James just waved, barely taking his eyes off the TV, and that just left Lilah—a striking blonde who regarded Juliet as if she had something nasty in her hair.

“So this is the girl everyone won’t stop talking about, huh?” Lilah regarded Juliet from her place on the sofa without making a move to get up or even extend a hand.

“Juliet, this is my very rude little sister, Lilah.” Ian gave Lilah one hell of a look while Diane chastised her daughter for not being polite.

“It’s nice to meet you, Lilah.” Juliet ignored Lilah’s caustic attitude and took a seat when it was offered to her. When it was appropriate, Juliet found a chance to compliment the youngest Moore on her entire outfit. And it wasn’t a fake compliment, either. Lilah truly looked stunning. It wasn’t long before everyone was talking and laughing and telling stories about Ian’s childhood. Well, everyone except for James, who kept his attention mostly on the TV.

Lunch was delicious, a combined effort of both Harry and Diane.

“Harrison didn’t just spring forth into this world knowing how to work magic in the kitchen,” said Frank when Juliet complimented the meal. “Diane passed her gift onto him.

“And I got all the looks,” chimed in Lilah, smiling broadly. “And Ian got all the smarts, and poor James, he got all the leftovers.” The Moores all snickered and joined in, poking fun at James in what sounded like a long-standing family joke.

When James only grew more sullen, Ian held up a hand. “Look, man,” he said as the family quieted, “you’ve been off all day. What’s up?”

James sighed and took a drink of coffee, a stalling technique Juliet recognized all too well. The entire family grew tense and Juliet wished she could ball herself up and disappear. Whatever was going on with him was none of her business and the flicker of his eyes to hers only confirmed that.

James sighed and rubbed a hand over his chin. “Erin and I called off the wedding.” And the look in his eyes revealed a heart breaking into a thousand pieces that only splintered into a thousand more. “I almost didn’t come,” he said, pushing his chair back from the table to stand. “But I didn’t want to be rude by not showing up and I thought I could pull off a good mood. I’m sorry to ruin your day,” he said to Juliet as he stood and left the room.

There was an explosion of sound and movement while the Moores rushed to console James. Ian muttered an apology and promised to be right back and suddenly, Juliet was alone at the table. She sucked in her lips and stared around the empty room, trying to decide just what to do with herself. Pictures adorned the wall in the hallway near the entrance, she’d seen them when she’d come in. She could go amuse herself with looking at them, but maybe that would come across as snooping. She didn’t think it would, but one never knew how private people could be. All she knew was that she felt pretty damn awkward, and totally like the odd man out.

She considered going home, just making a quiet exit so the family could console James, but she’d come with Ian and the Moores lived far enough away that a walk home was out of the question. After taking a couple nervous sips of her coffee, she decided to clear the table. She couldn’t just sit there alone anymore with nothing to do. Careful to leave any plates that looked like someone hadn’t finished, Juliet carried everything into the kitchen. Deciding that actually doing the dishes might be going too far, Juliet wandered into the hallway and amused herself looking at the pictures on the wall that chronicled the entirety of each Moore child’s life.

She saw Ian, tall and gangly and missing a few teeth with his arm around a very dirty James. That had to be Harry, there, with his hair streaked with blonde and curly with sweat and Lilah sitting daintily in her diaper, bows in her nearly non-existent hair. She found school pictures, and bad hair days, goofy outfits and camping trips. Juliet smiled and traced a finger along some of the best ones, getting a feel for the happy family Ian grew up in.

In almost every picture, Ian had his arm around at least one of his brothers, but more often than not, he had both of them under an arm, and sometimes, he managed to squeeze Lilah in there as well. Watching them all get progressively taller and stronger and better looking, it became more and more clear that Ian was the rock for his siblings. That he took care of them. Protected them. A hero and guardian from day one.

As the pictures progressed into the high school years, James often had his arm around a girl, a pretty blonde thing with a wide smile. The pictures of her started off with that smile showing off crooked teeth, then braces, then, in one of the last few, the girl—who was a woman in these—was proudly showing off a diamond on her left hand. Damn. Judging by these pictures, James just dumped the girl he grew up with. Called off a wedding after at least ten years of dating what looked like his first love. Juliet’s heart broke for him. She remembered the loss of her first love, and they’d only dated a year or two. It’d been harsh and bitter and hard enough to make her retreat into herself for a long time, afraid to put her heart into anyone else’s hands. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what James was going through.

She wandered back down the hallway, looking for pictures of Ian she’d skipped while following James’s progression with Erin. She found a few of him in his dress whites and stopped. He looked so handsome! So proud. So strong and straight and trustworthy. She found a few of him, standing in front of an airplane, beaming. The guy beside him was the same in each picture. A vibrant guy with a joking smile.

“That’s Bradley.” Diane’s voice came from behind, soft, nearly a whisper. “Ian’s co-pilot.”

Juliet spun and pulled her hand back from the frame. “I didn’t mean to pry … I’m sorry ….”

“Don’t be. There are no secrets in this house. Thank you for clearing the table, by the way. You didn’t have to.”

Juliet shrugged. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

Diane moved in beside her, ran a finger along the picture Juliet had been studying. “We were so proud of Ian when he decided to join the Navy. Scared, too. Very scared. And maybe not supportive enough because of that fear. But not surprised. He told us he was going to fly planes when he was barely able to speak and didn’t change his story for the rest of his childhood.”

“That sounds like the Ian I know. Gets his mind on something and then just goes for it.”

“I’d say that about sums him up.” Diane met Juliet’s eyes and Juliet felt like she’d known the woman for more than just the afternoon. Like she herself had been in those pictures on the wall. A lifelong friend, practically a member of the family rather than a stranger. “When we got word that his plane had gone down…” Diane shook her head and put a hand to her stomach. “There aren’t words to express the hole that appeared in my belly that day. Even knowing he was going to live didn’t completely fill it back up again. A fear like that—the fear a mother feels when her child is in danger—it stays with her.”