Addicted (The Addicted Series, #1)(85)

God he has a perfect smile. He looks happy, it's amazing, I thought. I'll be honest when I say it caused my heart to skip a beat, and I smiled in return. "Keep it a secret, it's not airing until Thanksgiving, but yes we did. Shannon sprung for a spa treatment for me. I just got back. How was your day?"

"It's been a monumental couple of days," he said. "Last night I had dinner with Kimberly at her apartment."

I regret to say I felt a momentary twinge of jealousy, but it died as soon as it flared when I saw the look in his eyes. "How was it?"

"Kim showed me the truth about my mother . . . about my dad," Julian said simply. "It . . . it changed a lot of things inside me."

The admission was earth shaking, and I felt my hands clench in my lap. "Julian, I'm sorry. Forgive me for not telling you."

"No need, I wasn't ready at the time," he replied. "Also, she kind of clued me in on some other things too. Krystal, I think it's time for me to do something with my life, you know?"

"I think that'd be great Julian," I replied.

"Krystal, you remember a week ago when you came home late and we watched that video together?" Julian asked, suddenly looking a bit nervous. "At the end, we almost, well, we were going to kiss until I said no and nearly ran out of the room?"

"I remember," I whispered, "how could I not?"

"Well, I said no then because I didn't deserve to kiss you. I still don't know if I do, but . . . I think I'm falling in love with you. And I don't mean like family, but as a man and a woman."

The silence after he said it was deafening. I could hear something crack, and looked down, realizing I'd popped my knuckles without knowing it, I'd been squeezing my hand so hard. I could feel the blood rushing through my veins, and my heart was loud in my ears as I looked at Julian, so handsome, so open, so vulnerable and yes, even a bit scared as he bore his heart to me. There was only one answer I could think of, and it came out so naturally it didn't even seem to be my voice until I saw him smile.

"Julian, I think I'm falling in love with you too."





Chapter 14


Julian




I hadn't been back to Chicago O'Hare Airport since flying in, but as luck would have it, my cab driver was the exact same guy who'd given me a ride from the airport my first day in Chicago. "Hey, how's it going big man?" he asked as I slide into the back seat of his cab. "How's Chicago treating ya?"

"Chicago's been great," I replied. "Gotta say, it's a lovely city."

"You're tellin' me. You get down to Wrigley yet?"

I shook my head, chuckling. Did this guy have a memory that filed away every conversation with customers, or did he just say the same thing to everyone? "Not yet. I was down in the neighborhood the other day to check out a gym, but the Cubs were on a road trip."

"Ah, that's a shame. When you get a chance though, you should go. I can tell by your look, you've found yourself a lady. Congratulations."

I blinked in surprise. "Is it that clear on my face? Damn, people in California say I'm one of those unreadable types."

The cabbie laughed as we pulled onto the Interstate heading to the airport. "Maybe in other things my friend, but love . . . I've been driving a cab for twenty years, and love is one of those things that is easy to see. She's high quality, I take it?"

"Very. Best in the world, in my opinion. Going to O'Hare to pick her up from a business trip."

"That's the only opinion that counts, ain't it?" the cabbie said. "Well, congratulations. I'll get you to the airport as quick as I can."

The cab driver was true to his word, and I was outside the terminal a half hour before Krystal's flight was supposed to come in. I stood at the curb, not sure what to do, when suddenly it hit me. I turned to the driver, who was waiting for his next fare. "Hey man, does O'Hare have a flower shop or anything like that?"

"Yeah, Terminal 1, there's a Hudson's right before the security gate. They might have what you're looking for. How much time do you have?"

"Half hour. Hey, thanks for the help. You mind another tip?" I asked, taking out my wallet.

The cab driver waved it off. "If I'm still here when your lady friend comes out, you just catch a ride home with me, okay? That'll be tip enough."

I nodded my thanks and ran across from Terminal 2 down the concrete walkways to Terminal 1. I found the Hudson's, which was your basic airport convenience store and gift shop. There wasn't a lot in there, and I didn't think Krystal would need a coffee mug that said "I love Chicago," but near the back there was a tiny little refrigerated section with flowers. I found a white rose that looked perfect, and I picked it out, paying and hurrying back to Terminal 2. I waited right outside the Delta baggage carousels nervously, almost hopping from side to side. I'd dressed up even, wearing a button down shirt and slacks that I'd bought just that morning as soon as the stores were open. I figured picking her up in a t-shirt and jeans wasn't going to work.

With each buzz of the baggage carousel, I felt my nerves increase, until I was almost hopping from foot to foot in a panic. I controlled myself a bit when a couple of airport cops walked by, but I could still feel nervous sweat trickle down the small of my back.