The Allure of Julian Lefray (The Allure #1)(84)

“All right then, I’ll grab a new shirt for you and then you can help me get her cleaned up. I think it’s time for you to experience all the joys of loving my daughter: the good, the bad, and the ugly.”





Chapter Fifty-One


Josephine





I knocked on the door of room 208 and inhaled the scent of coffee and donuts. It was a winning combination by anyone’s standards, but it’d take a lot more than breakfast from Suzie’s Sweet Shack to earn Julian’s forgiveness. My mother had delivered the Cliff’s Notes version of the night as soon as I’d stirred from my beer-induced slumber. I’d tried to ignore the sledgehammer banging against my brain as she spoke, but as soon as she’d broken the news of what I’d put Julian through, I’d known I had to make it up to him before it was too late, even if I couldn’t exactly walk straight.

I’d inhaled two Advil, two cups of coffee, and two glasses of water, and then finally felt semi-human once again. After a shower and some makeup, I felt nearly good as new.

I knocked on the motel door again and then heard someone stir in the room. A few seconds later, the door opened to reveal Julian: shirtless, disheveled, and squinting to keep out the harsh glare of the sun.

I smiled and held up the supplies in each hand.

“I come bearing gifts,” I said, tipping the donut bag left and right so that the aroma would hit him.

Who can pass up donuts? Seriously.

He ran his hand through his hair, grunted some form of greeting, and then opened the door all the way for me.

I stepped into his motel room and glanced around. The bed was a mess, with covers thrown to the side and pillows splayed out in random directions. He must have showered the night before because I could smell his body wash over the normal stench of the motel.

“Fitful night of sleep?” I asked with a perked brow.

He shot me a glare and then took the coffee from my hand.

“Okay, here.” I dropped the bag of donuts on the TV stand and pulled out a chocolate iced donut with a napkin. He was sitting on the edge of his bed, watching me as I turned and handed it to him.

“You just sit there and drink your coffee and eat your donut as I talk. Okay?”

The edge of his mouth lifted in a half-smile as he glanced down to the coffee. I was definitely winning him over, but he wasn’t going to make it easy for me.

“Okay, well first off,” I said, straightening my back and preparing myself for the speech I’d rehearsed in my dad’s truck on the way over. “I’m so sorry that I, uhh, threw up on you last night.”

I glanced over his bare chest. It was tan, broad, and toned with no remnants of throw-up anywhere. Still, the memory would haunt me for the rest of my life.

“That was admittedly not one of my finest moments.”

He nodded and stayed silent, clearly giving me the stage.

“Okay, also, I’m really sorry that you had to take me back to my parent’s house after Lily ditched you. It’s hard enough to meet someone’s family for the first time, even under the best circumstances.”

His brows perked up as he took a giant bite of donut. Good, let that sugary goodness sink in.

“On the plus side, my mom really likes you. She said that most men wouldn’t have had the balls to bring me back home like that.”

He laughed. “Did your mom actually say ‘balls’?”

I smiled. “No. Not exactly.”

He nodded and finished off his donut.

“Okay, I apologized about the throw-up and my mom,” I said aloud, trying to think of what else I had subjected him to the night before. “Oh, and sorry for almost getting you shot by Mr. Jensen.”

“Is that all?” he asked, tilting his head and watching me.

“All that I have to apologize for?” I asked.

“No,” he said, shaking his head.

He stood from the bed and stepped closer to me. I watched him approach, curious what he was about to do. He leaned forward and dropped his coffee and donuts on the TV stand behind me. His chest brushed against mine as he moved and I pressed my lips together to stay quiet.

He slipped his hand around the back of my forearm and then slowly dragged it up around my bicep.

“All that you have to say.”

I swallowed, recalling the declaration I’d made in the truck the night before. I’d been drunk and exhilarated by the fact that Julian had flown to Texas for me. Could I be blamed for telling him the truth about how I felt?

Julian and I could go back to being friends, just the same as before. We could have amazing sex without the labels and responsibilities.

This didn’t have to end just because I’d accidentally told him I loved him.

I could take it back.

He leaned forward and wrapped both hands around my arms, pulling me against his chest. His mouth found my ear and he whispered the next few words against my skin.

“Tell me what you told me in the truck last night.”

I closed my eyes and pictured two scenarios: one where Julian and I were together and happy, and one where I told him my true feelings and he pulled back, slowly at first, and then all at once. Gone.

“Jo, tell me,” he said kissing the side of my cheek.

I wanted to tell him the truth. I wanted to throw myself at fate and live with the consequences if he decided he didn’t want me anymore.