Absolute Lovers (Absolute #2) (14 page)

We walked around the house and headed for the garden, where
I knew that everyone would be gathered for cocktails by now. We had only just
turned the corner when we were pushed backward by Matt, who looked a bit
agitated.

"Hey, what's going on?" I asked him.

“I have to tell you something, and you won’t like it.”

“Is everything all right? Mom? Rich?”

“Yeah, yeah. They’re fine. It’s not that.”

“Just tell me,” I said. “We’re already a bit late.”

"Fine. Michelle is here.”

What? No! Oh, God!

My blood ran cold.

"Fuckety, fuck, fuck," I whispered.

Why is Michelle here? I haven't
seen her in years and she shows up the day I bring my girlfriend home? This is
so unfair!

If there was one person in the world that I didn't want
Julia to meet, it was Michelle, and now it seemed inevitable that she would.

"Who's Michelle?" Julia asked, glancing between
Matt and me.

"Uh, she, uh," I stuttered, trying to figure out
how to explain.

"She popped Stephen's cherry," Matt supplied after
a few seconds.

What? How the hell does he know that?

"Matt!" I hissed.

"Sorry," he said. "But she did, didn't
she?"

Yes, but…oh, I hate this!

"H-How did you even…?" I managed to choke out.

"I saw her coming out of your room that night of the
party and…yeah, that's how I know.”

I could tell that he was holding something back and I
definitely knew my brother well enough to know that he wouldn't have let an
opportunity like that pass him by. He would have asked Michelle why she was in
my room and not at the party downstairs and would have probably included a few
lewd innuendoes along with his questions.

There was only one possible explanation: she had told him
what had transpired in my bedroom. She had to have told him everything.

That was why he knew that I didn't want to see her again,
why he had never teased me after he found out and never fished for details.
Matt may have been a jokester, but he was never cruel. The fact that he had
never mentioned this to me before now confirmed that he knew how awful it had
been or he wouldn't have been able to shut up about it.

"OK," Julia said slowly, giving my hand a squeeze.
"That’s gotta be a little uncomfortable."

That was something of an understatement.

"I'm sorry," I whispered to her.

I knew that Julia was nervous about attending this party and
the fact that she would now come face to face with a woman with whom I had
slept couldn't make it any easier for her. I knew that it would definitely put
me on edge if I had to meet one of Julia's former lovers. I would be a little
jealous.

A little? Making polite small talk with a man who has
been inside your woman? Try
insanely
jealous!

"Don't apologize," she said, tugging on my shirt
collar to pull me down to her. Her lips were warm and gentle against mine, and
I relaxed somewhat.

"Let's go and say hello to your parents," she
suggested. I nodded and wrapped my arm around her waist.

"Thank you for the warning," I said to Matt who
gave me a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

"No problem. You know I've got your back.”

The three of us walked around the house and into the garden.

"Holy shi—shish kebab!" Julia exclaimed.

Matt laughed. "Nice save!”

"Thanks. I'm trying to be classy here. Your parents
seriously went all out." She motioned to the set up in the garden with an
awed expression on her face. I could understand her reaction. The lawn was
littered with white garden party tents, tables, chairs, and people all in
semi-formal wear. I was used to the sight by now, but for a newcomer like Julia
I could see how it would seem over the top.

"Yeah, Mom is all about the parties," Matt said.
"This is nothing, though. Just wait until Christmas."

Christmas! That's almost six months away.

I held my breath as I waited for her response. Matt had just
mentioned a family event far in the future and I was anxious that Julia
wouldn't like being put on the spot like that. I also knew that the upcoming
holiday season would be the first one she would spend without any family of her
own and while I hoped that she would want to be with me, I hadn’t mentioned it for
fear that it would be too much for her to handle. She looked up at me and I
tried to seem as though it was no big deal by giving her a smile.

"I can't wait," she said, leaning into my side.

All efforts to act casual were tossed out the window and a
huge smile spread across my face. She had basically just told me that she would
still be with me in six months! I hadn't been overly concerned that Julia might
break things off with me since everything had been wonderful between us, but
hearing her make this sort of commitment filled my heart with joy. If we hadn't
been in the presence of my family and half the country club I would have kissed
the hell out of her. But seeing as we were, I managed to control myself and
simply brushed my lips against her cheek while I whispered in her ear.

"Me neither, sweetheart."

Apparently Julia didn't harbor any of the same reservations
about public displays of affection because she grasped my chin and turned my
face to kiss me properly. We managed to keep it relatively chaste, for which I
was extremely grateful when I heard my parents approaching.

"Look who I found," Matt said, motioning to us.

"Hello, son," Richard said, giving me a hug.

My mother followed suit and both of them looked expectantly
at me with less than subtle glances toward Julia. I fought the urge to roll my
eyes. It would seem that they had every intention of pretending that they had
never been introduced to the woman by my side, who was fidgeting nervously and
trying to smooth back her curls. As if they could ever forget walking in on the
sounds of me having sex! Yes, it had been highly embarrassing when it happened,
but I wasn't at all ashamed of the fact that I enjoyed amazing sex with an even
more amazing woman.

"Mom, Rich. You remember Julia," I said, giving
both of them pointed looks. "My girlfriend."

Now it's official and everything.

My stepfather was quick to respond. "Yes, wonderful to
see you again, Julia. You look lovely."

He proceeded to take her hand and kiss it. Julia blushed and
I didn't know whether to smile at her adorable shyness, which was something I
rarely saw in her, or pull her back to me and glare at my stepfather for
embarrassing her.

"Thank you for having me, sir," she said and gave
him a dazzling smile.

"Please call me Richard," he crooned. I knew that
he had been completely charmed by her, but he wasn’t the one I was worried
about. I caught my mother’s eyes.

Please, please be nice to her, Mom. She means the world
to me!

"Lovely to see you again, my dear," my mother
said, grasping Julia's outstretched hand with both of hers. "Thank you for
coming today."

Thank God. And thank you, Mom!

Julia looked bewildered for a second. Then she curtsied.
Next to me, Matt laughed under his breath, which made me elbow him in the ribs.

“Ugh. Sorry,” he gasped.

"Thank you for inviting me, ma’am,” Julia said.
“Everything looks beautiful.”

"Thank you. You must call me Joanne, please. The only
one who goes by ‘ma’am’ around here is my mother-in-law, whom you’ll
undoubtedly meet today," she said with a wry smile. My mother had never
gotten along with Richard’s mother and she usually stayed as far away from Gran
as possible at these functions.

"I look forward to it," Julia replied politely.

"Yes, well. We'll see about that," my mother said,
causing both my stepfather and Matt to chuckle.

"We have to go and mingle for a little bit. Please have
a drink and show your young lady a good time," my mother said to me,
pointing to the bar, as though I didn't know where it was located after all
these years.

"I will," I promised, offering Julia my arm.

“Well, that was mortifying,” she muttered when we were out
of earshot. “Did I seriously just curtsy?”

“You were fine,” I promised, giving her a reassuring smile.
“Let’s have that drink. Thirsty, my dear?"

Julia’s mood visibly lightened.

"Why yes, darling," she said, batting her lashes
in a coy manner. "I feel quite parched."

I grinned as we approached the bar and ordered wine for both
of us. This whole situation was so ridiculously formal and it wasn't who we
were at all. Julia and I were jeans and T-shirt people, sitting on the couch
all cuddled up watching a movie or listening to music. Well, actually, Julia
was an inappropriately short skirt—which I loved on her—woman, and
I was more of a button-down shirt kind of man. But the sentiment remained. We
were casual and this setting was not one we were comfortable in. There was
nothing to do but laugh at it, and I felt so incredibly happy knowing that
tonight we would be home again where we could be ourselves. I would peel the
beautiful but much too formal dress off her, lose my suit, and be naked with
her. We didn't necessarily have to make love. Simply enjoying her natural
beauty was enough.

OK, that was a lie. We hadn't been together for a few days
and I knew that I wanted to be with her in every way the second we got to my
place.

How many times did I just use the word "we"? It
doesn't matter. I love doing it!

"What are you thinking about?" Julia asked.

"Getting you out of that dress,” I answered
unthinkingly.

That made her laugh.

"You read my mind,” she said, “but we should probably
stay for a little while, don't you think?"

"I suppose."

We received our wine and I noticed that people were watching
us closely. Julia noticed as well.

"Why is everyone staring at us?" she whispered.

"They're wondering what on earth a gorgeous woman like
you is doing with someone like me," I half-joked.

Truthfully, I still didn't fully comprehend what Julia saw
in me that she couldn't easily get elsewhere. It seemed like a dream that she
had picked me out of all the men who clearly desired her. Even now at the party
I could feel their eyes on her. Men who were old enough to be her father were
looking appreciatively at her and while I could understand why, it didn't make
me any less irritated.

I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her close to
me, sending a clear message to anyone who might be entertaining themselves with
thoughts of her.

Mine. She is all mine.

Intellectually, I knew I had no ownership over Julia, but I
suspected I was no different than any other man feeling possessive of his
woman, even if it wasn’t entirely true.

"That's ridiculous," Julia scoffed in response to
my remark. "You look hot, baby. Half the women here are undressing you
with their eyes as we speak."

"The men are doing the same to you," I countered.

"Well, they can't have me," she said with a sexy
smile. "I'm
your
girlfriend and you are
my
boyfriend,
right?"

I nodded eagerly.

"They can't have you either," she continued and
glanced around the garden. "Especially not that redhead with the huge tits
over there. She's ogling you as if she knows what you look like naked."

My blood turned to ice. I knew which redhead she was
referring to, although Michelle had always called the color of her hair “strawberry
blond,” as if that was somehow fancier. I tried to look discreetly in her
direction but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I didn't want to see her. She
knew a lot more than what my naked body looked like and I hated it.

"She does know," I whispered. "That's
Michelle."

Julia stood a little taller and wrapped her arm around my
waist.

"Well, that puma better stay away from you," she
growled, pressing herself against me. "She's up to no good, I can tell.
And she needs to keep her eyes to herself."

"Why do you call her a puma?" I asked, uncomfortable
at the knowledge that Michelle was looking at me.

"She's a little too young to be a cougar," Julia
said, as if that cleared things up. I still had no idea what she was talking
about but decided not to ask.

"What are you two whispering about?" Matt asked as
he approached us.

"Something about pumas and cougars," I mumbled,
draining my drink quickly.

"What?"

"I was just saying that Michelle woman is eyeing
Stephen like she wants a piece of his man meat," Julia explained.
"And she's not quite old enough to be a cougar."

“Man meat”? Wait…my penis? Absolutely not. Even if that
were the case, she can’t have it. It's for Julia's enjoyment solely.

"True," Matt nodded. "But she definitely has
potential." He smiled at Julia. "But I think you can take her on anyway."

"Are you kidding me?" Julia said with a grin.
"She better not try anything. I'm a freaking lioness. I'll kick her
ass!"

Matt laughed out loud and even I had to smile at her
feistiness. I was still uncomfortable and felt as though I was on display. I
could feel Michelle's eyes on me and even though Julia was glued to my side, it
didn't lessen my anxiety completely.

"Uh-oh," Matt stage-whispered. "Looks like
the puma’s making her move. She's coming over."

Oh no, no, no!

"Oh God," I croaked. My heart rate was already
spiking and I needed to get out of there.

"Let me give you a tour of the house," I said to
Julia, pleading with my eyes for her to come with me,
now
.

"I'll run interference," Matt said.

"Michelle! Long time, no see!" I heard him boom as
I practically yanked Julia away and escaped into the house.

I started to show her around as if on autopilot, pointing
out random things until she pulled on my arm.

"Hey!" she said and made me look at her. "Are
you going to tell me what's going on?"

I sighed. "I just don't want to see her.”

"Why?" she demanded. "I know it's a little
awkward, but we can't spend the rest of the party running away whenever she comes
near."

Oh God. This is so embarrassing.

"Please talk to me, baby.”

"OK, let's go somewhere a little more private," I
said with a defeated nod.

We walked upstairs and as we entered the bedroom where I had
spent my youth it all came rushing back to me: Michelle and me in that bed
together, both of us slightly drunk; me shaking with nerves and her not
responding to my fumbling touches. The memory made me cringe. I didn't want
Julia to know that side of me. I was different with her. Julia would never make
me feel inadequate or hurt me just because she could. She was wild and
adventurous, but also tender and loving, which was exactly what I needed. With
Julia I was able to explore and discover new things that we both enjoyed in the
bedroom without feeling embarrassed. In a word, she was perfect for me.