The Allure of Julian Lefray (The Allure #1)(21)

“That’s okay, I drink it black sometimes,” I said before taking my first sip. I’d prepared myself for the bitter taste, but was surprised to find the coffee slightly sweetened.

“I found it somewhere else,” he clarified with a little smile.

Warmth spread from my belly, up around my chest, holding my heart in a tight grip. He’d gone to that much trouble for me?

“Is this the building?” he asked, peering over my shoulder.

“Yes! Just look at it!” I exclaimed, waving my hand toward the storefront.

He stepped closer, peering through the glass and studying the square footage just as I’d done a few minutes earlier. The tree-lined sidewalk was already getting busier as the rest of the city woke up. People were trickling out of their apartments, heading out for breakfast. I knew that by midmorning, it’d be a lively street. Perfect for a clothing shop.

“The location is great,” Julian nodded, pulling his face away from the glass.

I nodded.

“We could build out the front of the space for Lorena’s shop and then keep that entire back section open for offices,” I said, pointing toward the rear. Without the lights on, it was hard to see into the distance, but it seemed like there was plenty of space.

“I like it a lot,” he affirmed. “How’d you find it?”

“I was on a morning jog and I happened to wander by.”

Julian arched a brow. “You’ve never mentioned you’re a runner.”

I smiled. “‘Runner’ is a strong word. On occasion, I’ve been known to move slightly faster than a walking pace, but it’s not very often.”

The side of his mouth hitched up. “I usually run over at Central Park. Have you ever done that trail?”

I laughed. “You’d have to carry me for most of that.”

He smiled. “Nah, you could do it. We could walk for parts of it. Think of it as a team building exercise.”

Was I willing to run just to spend time with him? I chose not to read into that fact.

He nodded toward the subway entrance a few yards away. “C’mon, let’s head over there before breakfast.”

My face fell. “What about the property?”

“I’ll have my agent set up a time to view it,” he promised, walking backward toward the subway entrance.

When I didn’t immediately follow him, he paused.

“That’s it? I feel bad for waking you up,” I said, moving to join him. “Your response wasn’t as awesome as I’d hoped it would be.”

“I like it,” he said with a reassuring nod.

“That doesn’t sound very convincing.”

He laughed and came to stand in front of me. “Jo, I love it. Thanks for waking me up at the ass-crack of dawn to see it. I don’t know what I would do without an employee as dedicated as you are.”

The bastard was patronizing me.

“I hate you,” I said, hitting his shoulder playfully.

“No.” He smiled, pretending to massage where I’d just hit him. “You can’t hate your only friend in New York.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Pfft. I have way more friends than you.”

He arched a brow; he clearly didn’t believe me.

“Like Dean,” I said with a triumphant smile. I’d only met him last night but that didn’t mean we weren’t friends.

He rolled his eyes. “Right.”

“He’s pretty cute.”

I’d said it as a joke—partly—but Julian obviously didn’t take it as one. His laughter died and his gaze sliced over to me.

“Dean has a new girlfriend every week. He’s not the settling down type.”

I held up my free hand. “Whoa. It’s not like I want to date him.”

He didn’t seem convinced, so I pushed further. “Besides, I don’t date. Ever.”

There. Julian had the truth and he could do with it what he wanted.

I brushed past him and headed toward the subway entrance, ignoring my flaming cheeks. He jogged to catch up with me and I could feel him studying me, clearly struggling with what he wanted to say. We walked down the stairs in silence. I swiped my subway card, pushed through the metal barrier, and headed toward the blue line track, all the while keenly aware of Julian’s presence beside me.

“Why not?” he finally asked as we took our seats beside each other on the subway.

I tilted my head. “Why not what?”

“Why don’t you date?”

His voice was gentle, and where I’d assumed there would be hints of judgment, there was only curiosity.

“Do I need an excuse?” I laughed.

He chuckled. “You make it sound like it’s worse than pulling teeth.”

For me, it was.

“The last time I went on a good date, I was in the seventh grade and Hunter Buchanan invited me over to play Mario Kart with him for three hours.”

Julian started to crack up. “You’re kidding me.”

I shrugged. “I wish.”

“Are you a virgin?” he asked. Just like that. Point blank.

I gaped so wide my jaw practically came unhinged. Jesus. Good thing the subway car was fairly empty.

“No!” I said, glaring over at him. “I’m not a freaking virgin. How lame do you think I am?”