Following Love (11 page)

It was time to clear away the pain and sorrow. Forester's clothes had long since been carted off to local charities. Now she needed to dig deeper and purge the rest to start a new beginning. It was time. Three hours later she returned to her car.

Looking up through the front windshield she smiled feeling a surge of emotional progress in her life. A new job and a new life awaited her. It was time to let go and move on. Since the house sat vacant, the idea of selling it seemed more real than ever. There was interest but nothing substantial, but she was hopeful. The sooner it sold the sooner she'd move on to a new life with her son.

Paid in full by the one mortgage policy Adel didn't control, the house was all hers. The upkeep was minimal and she used what money she had in the saving accounts for maintenance, water, electricity and landscaping.

She glanced up, taking one last look. Her beautiful dream was gone and it was time for something new. She shifted gears and drove away. The house she loved was silent again. A while later she was back at her aunt's house.

“Hi,” she said, walking into the kitchen, seeing her aunt reading through some recipe books piled high on the kitchen table.

“Hey, sweetie, when'd you get back?”

“Just now. How's Dillon?”

“He's fine. He had a great day out back and passed out early. I told him you'd wake him up to say good night when you got in.” Ellen looked at her watch and frowned. “I thought your appointment was earlier.”

“It was. I ran a few errands afterward then stopped by the house to get a few things.”

Ellen sighed wearily, knowing the turmoil that usually came after her niece went home. The house often drained her, which is why she was so insistent that Dena stay with her for a while. “Are you okay?” Ellen asked, knowing she wouldn't be.

Dena half smiled. “Actually, yeah, I think so.” She half chuckled. “I'm good.”

Ellen looked at her oddly. “Are you sure, after dealing with Adel and her lawyers and then going to the house?”

“I'm sure. Lynn was phenomenal this morning. Every trick they pulled she countered brilliantly. Thanks to her, I actually got the upper hand for once, at least for now.”

“Wonderful, that's great news.”

“And then going to the house was different this time. It was strange. I was there but I felt nothing—no pain, no love, nothing. It's like I got lost somewhere along the way but now I'm back.”

“I'm glad to hear that,” Ellen said happily.

“So Dillon played in the backyard. I thought he had a play date next door.”

“Julian came over so he decided to stay and help him finish the fire pit.”

“Julian, huh,” Dena said.

Ellen nodded. “He's really attached.”

“That may not be such a good idea,” Dena said.

“Why not?” Ellen asked.

“Well, first of all, Julian is a busy man and I'm sure he doesn't want a three-year-old hanging around while he's trying to get work done. Also, I don't want Dillon getting too attached to any man, we'll be moving on soon.”

“Did someone make an offer on the house?”

“No, not yet, although several people have walked through and seemed interested,” Dena said, seeing her aunt's despondency. “I know we never really talked about this but we both know that we can't stay here forever.”

“That's just plain ridiculous, of course you can. This isn't some bed-and-breakfast or flophouse, this is your home and you're family. You're welcome to stay as long as you please and yes, forever is just fine with me.”

“Thanks, Aunt Ellen.”

“Don't thank me. Now get up stairs and say good-night to Dillon while I heat something up.” Ellen opened the refrigerator.

“That would be a great idea. I'm starved. What was for dinner?”

“Your son's favorite, meat loaf, mashed potatoes and green beans,” Ellen said.

“Um-yum, sounds perfect,” Dena said as Ellen began pulling covered dishes out and placing them on the counter. She stood by her great-aunt and laid her head on her shoulder, holding her warmly. “You've been a godsend, Aunt Ellen. I don't know what I would have done without you.” Dena kissed her cheek, turned and headed up the back stairs to Dillon's bedroom.

She opened the door, finding him fast asleep with his teddy bear, hard hat, tool belt and crime-fighter cape beside him on the bed. Dena smiled warmly and removed the items. She tucked the covers up to his chin then reached down and touched his cheek. The gentleness of her touch and the sweet softness of his face warmed her. She leaned in and kissed his forehead. He never stirred. “Good night sweetheart,” she whispered.

T
he next few weeks sped by in a blur of dreamlike busyness. Dena kept her distance while at work with Julian, but the evenings and weekends were tricky. As he still came over to work on her aunt's yard, she made sure to busy herself elsewhere while the backyard work continued uninterrupted. Always noticeably absent, she decided that avoidance was best since the last thing she wanted was another awkward moment.

“Why don't we take a break?” Willamina sighed.

Dena looked up, seeing that Willamina looked completely drained. “Great idea. This is your last day and you must be exhausted.”

“Actually I just need to go to the bathroom again. I know it's to be expected, but it's really a pain in the butt. I spend most of my waking hours either going to or coming from the bathroom. And right now this kid is sitting right on my kidneys, kicking my ribs,” she added as she stood.

“Oh, I remember Dillon, he was a kicker and puncher. I thought I was going to give birth to the next prizefighter.”

Willamina laughed, shaking her head, commiserating completely. “I'll be back in a few minutes,” she said, then opened the door to leave.

Dena welcomed a break and a brief distraction. She and Willamina had been going through last-minute details for the official transition. It was Willamina's last day and Dena wanted to be completely up to speed with all assignments. They'd been at it all morning and afternoon.

Dena stretched her neck and relaxed back in the comfortable chair. Although they'd been swamped all morning, it was the fact that she'd gotten very little sleep that had worn her down the most. She picked up a few papers and reviewed some files then decided to close her eyes and lay her head down on the conference room table for a few minutes.

“Dena, are you all right?” Julian asked from the doorway. Her head popped up like a jack-in-the-box.

“Yeah, fine.”

“Are you sure you're okay?”

“Yeah, of course, I was just resting my eyes.”

Julian, standing in the doorway, walked into the room and stood beside her. “I haven't seen you around in a while.”

“I've been really busy.”

“I guess we've been working you kind of hard. It's just that with Mattie out and Willamina leaving we just want to make sure we're covered.”

“Don't worry, I'm on top of it.”

“Good,” he said. “Just want to make sure you're not overdoing it. We don't want you burned out.”

“No, not at all. Actually, I've enjoyed the challenge. It's a huge change from my previous position.”

“You were a lawyer, right?” he asked.

“Yes, I worked as a Legal Aid lawyer for the city's Fair Housing Commission.”

“Really, sounds fascinating,” he said with interest as he leaned back to half sit on the side of the table.

“It was very rewarding although my husband and in-laws wanted me to join the family firm. I decided against it.”

“More money at the commission?” he joked.

“Hardly,” she said, smiling, “but the satisfaction of seeing a landlord forced to clean up his building was priceless.”

“Well, I don't think we can offer you anything quite so exciting.”

“On the contrary, this is very interesting work, very detail-oriented. I'm learning a lot. I had no idea all of this went into building and construction. Interestingly enough, I came across a few instances that your attorney might want to look into.”

“Great,” he said, pleased at her knowledge. “I guess having you is truly an asset,” he said warmly.

“I hope so,” she replied, looking up into his eyes. They stared at each other a few seconds as a warm feeling built inside. A sense of admiration and genuine respect passed between them. Unspoken, the attraction was always there just below the surface. And of that attraction they were always just seconds from yielding.

“Dena, about our last conversation, what we talked about—”

“No worries,” she interrupted him. “I get it, nothing personal, just coworkers and friends. We—”

“Actually, that's not what I was going to—”

“Julian, you don't have to do this. I understand. Yes there is this thing between us, this attraction. But as adults and as colleagues we can resolve it and I hope become friends.”

He nodded. “I'd like that.”

“Me, too,” she said, looking into his intense eyes again. The pull was there, she felt it. The desire still burned strong but she needed to resist. She lowered her head to look away. They paused, letting a few minutes pass before saying anything again.

“Are you almost finished here?” he eventually asked.

“Yes, just about.”

“Good.” He paused another moment.

“Is that all?” she asked.

“No, yes, Willamina's shower,” he began.

“Today, yeah, I heard about it, sounds like fun.”

“I just wanted to make sure you heard about it and planned to attend.”

She nodded. “I did, and yes, I do. Is there anything else?” she asked again, nervously shuffling the papers on the table again.

“Yes, tell Willamina that I'm ready to get started whenever she is.”

“Sure,” she agreed. “Is that it?”

“That's it,” he said, standing. “I'll talk to you in a few.”

As soon as he left Dena breathed a heavy sigh of relief. This was getting ridiculous. Being in a room with Julian was torture. The whole don't-touch thing, wanting but not being able to have was more difficult than she thought.

He had seeped into her subconscious and she'd been dreaming and fantasizing about him for the last few weeks. She needed to quell her attraction once and for all.

“I'm back,” Willamina said as she sat down in her chair. “Sorry about the delay, I got to talking and one thing led to another.”

“Don't worry about it. Julian stopped by, looking for you. He said that he's ready whenever you are.”

“Oh, good, we're about done here, so why don't you finish with him.”

“What?” Dena asked.

“Julian's going to show you the rest of the process.”

“Can't you show me? I mean, I know he's busy and I don't want to disturb him.”

“He volunteered.”

“Did he?”

“Yep. I just ran into him on the way to the bathroom. I was going to just use either Jordan's or Darius' office computer but since he volunteered to show you on his, this is even better,” Willamina said as she began handing her files, piling one on top of the other. “The program is on only three computers. They usually take care of that part of the job, but since they're so busy we thought it might be worth it to show you. Then you can teach Mattie and me when I come back after maternity leave.”

“But I'm temporary. I won't be here that long.”

“But in the meantime someone needs to know it and that's you.

“Maybe it would be a good idea if we learned together, you know, help each other out. Two heads are better then one,” Dena said, beginning to babble. Willamina looked at her strangely. “I mean, having both of us know this program can only be a benefit to the company.”

“We will, just not right now. Besides I thought you and Julian might want to…oh, rats. I need to go to the bathroom again. I'll see you later.” Seconds later she was headed back to the bathroom.

Dena was speechless. She hadn't expected to spend the rest of the afternoon in Julian's office side by side learning a computer program. She reshuffled the files in her arms and headed to his office.

Keep your distance, be detached.

The mantra repeated in her mind over and over again. She needed to stay focused. No, she needed to have her head examined. There was no way she could spend the afternoon in Julian's office and not want to rip his clothes off. Was she really that horny? she asked herself. The answer came quickly. No. She didn't want any man. She wanted Julian.

Seconds after that affirmation, she arrived at Julian's open door. He was inside, on the phone. His back was to her but she couldn't hear the conversation and he hadn't realized that she was there.

Dressed in a relaxed fitted pair of blue jeans and a polo shirt, her eyes immediately went to the firm tightness of his butt. This was going to be impossible. Granted, he looked good in anything he wore, but in casual clothes he was spectacular. All she could do was stand and stare and shake her head. She was never one to have a heightened sexual appetite but the fact remained: she couldn't stop thinking about him.

 

Julian had gone back to his office then stepped outside on the balcony that ran the length of the building's upper level connecting his office to his brothers'. He stood looking up at the midafternoon sky wondering what in the world possessed him to offer to teach Dena the project software program.

A stroke of genius at the moment, now, not so much. How was he going to focus on teaching Dena when all he wanted was to make love to her? The logic of his brilliance made him chuckle. It was plain to see that his vow of celibacy had completely dissipated. He heard his office phone ring and went inside to answer. “Julian Hamilton.”

“Julian, it's me.”

“What do you want now, Stephanie?” he asked coolly.

“I need to talk to you.”

“We already talked.”

“In person, I mean, today, please,” she nearly pleaded.

“I'm busy, Stephanie.”

“I know, but it's important. I can stop by the house tonight. I'll even bring dinner, if you'd like?” she asked hopefully.

“I'm busy,” he said.

“I can make your favorite, I'll cook it myself. I actually learned how to cook, you'd be proud of me.”

“Good for you. I'm still busy.”

“Julian…” she began, cooing softly in that way that always got her whatever she wanted, “please.”

“I'm busy Stephanie,” he said flatly.

“I can stop by the house afterward.”

“No,” he said emphatically.

She paused, hesitant by his sharp answer. “Okay, then anywhere, anytime you say.”

Julian sighed heavily. Stephanie's drama was about to invade his life again. Although he'd moved on long ago he needed to sever ties completely. “I'll meet you outside the building in an hour.”

“This is a private discussion, Julian.”

“Outside the building in one hour,” he repeated.

“Fine, but I'm not in the area, I'll take a while to get there. My flight is just boarding now.”

Julian looked at his watch. He hoped to get this over with as soon as possible, hopefully while everyone was at the baby shower for Willamina. “All right, call my cell when you're on the way. I'll meet you outside.”

“Outside? Why, I'm coming all this way to see you…?”

“If you'd rather not, that's fine with me.”

“No, outside will be fine,” she said with added gratitude, “thank you, Julian, I'll see you in a few.”

Julian hung up.

This thing with Stephanie was beginning to wear on him. He had no idea what she wanted other than the obvious and he was tired of putting her off and delaying the inevitable. Stephanie was determined to see him and from past knowledge, whatever Stephanie wanted she got, and that included him.

They'd dated, they'd married and they'd divorced all in the span of ten months. Tumultuous and combative, their union was fraught with lies and deceit. From the very beginning she never mentioned that she had a child. Then she'd lied, telling him that her first husband, her child's father, was dead and that she was destitute. He found out later that she'd never been married and the father of her child was a friend of his and a fellow doctor.

After spending time overseas he'd returned to Boston. Stephanie found out a month later and within a week was trying to get back with him. Embarrassed but not particularly upset, Julian dealt with her deception with ease thanks to the help of his brothers. They of course warned him against the impetuous relationship, but all he saw was a way to help someone in need.

That was the last time he'd seen her.

He'd filed for divorce. She'd initially insisted on a huge monetary settlement but after his lawyers got through with her she wound up paying his court costs. Now she was back for more. He picked up his phone and called his friend. After explaining the situation, his friend, attorney Kenneth Fields, insisted on being present and assured him that everything would be handled.

Julian rounded his desk and sat down, pondering the situation. He looked up and saw Dena standing there.

“Hi,” she said simply, almost breathless as she stood in the doorway avoiding his focus.