Baiting the Maid of Honor (Wedding Dare #2)(41)

“Absolutely.”

Tyler hesitated, but turned and left. Julie watched him walk off, obviously under the weight of a heavy heart. She understood how he felt. Since her and Reed’s argument in the woods, she’d been burdened by a yawning, empty feeling in her stomach. Watching him disappear from the lobby had only made it worse. While she felt certain her actions were for the best, it didn’t stop the dull, insistent ache from spreading the longer she went without seeing him. If anything, the churning feeling should strengthen her resolve. If she felt this terrible after only a few days with Reed, allowing their affair to last through the week would prove infinitely worse. The assurance did nothing to quash the urge to go find him. Apologize for her harsh parting words. Apologize for saying one thing and communicating another with her body. For everything.

Attempting to focus, Julie pushed the door open and slipped inside. Christine lay on the bed, ankle propped on a pillow, one arm flung over her eyes.

“I told you to leave,” she said tearfully.

Julie winced. “Hey, sweetie. It’s just me.”

“Oh.” Christine quickly swiped at her eyes. “Hey, Julie. Come on in.”

“If this is a bad time—“

“No!” Eyes toward the ceiling, she blew out a shaky breath. “Actually, I could really use the company. I feel like such a clumsy idiot. Anything you can do to take my mind off this would be much appreciated.”

She held up a white box and shook it. “Fudge squares?”

“Bingo.”

Julie sank down on the end of the bed and toed her shoes off. “Truth be told, even world-class athletes sprain their ankles, Christine. And they don’t look half as good doing it.”

“I was distracted,” she mumbled around a fudge square. “And stupid.”

“I can relate.”

“Reed as difficult as he looks?”

Her head whipped around. “Why do you assume—oh, forget it. Everyone knows, don’t they?”

Christine responded by popping another piece of fudge into her mouth.

Julie debated for a moment over whether or not to disclose the entire story to Christine. If you can’t tell your best friend you’ve fallen for an impossible man who spanks your lady parts, who can you tell?

She sent Christine a sly smile. “Remember that guy in college? Bobby Cox was his name. He brought me flowers and took me for a helicopter ride on our second date. Brought along wine and had the pilot play a Norah Jones CD to get me in a kissing mood. Remember?”

Christine sighed dreamily. “Political science major. Blond. Yeah, I remember.”

She dropped the smile. “Well, this is nothing like that.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Reed doesn’t do the woo. I’d hazard to guess that he doesn’t even know who Norah Jones is.”

Mouth full, Christine sadly shook her head.

“Uh-huh.” Julie picked at the comforter. “He doesn’t compliment. Or try to find things we have in common. He doesn’t ask. He takes.” She thought about the way he’d made sure she got something to eat after the party at Spago. The way he’d cleaned up so she wouldn’t have to. His refusal to let her search alone in the dark woods. “But when he does make an effort, even just the smallest thing”—like chanting my name until his voice goes hoarse, taking me to that hot spring—“it blows Bobby Cox and his Norah Jones CD out of the water.”

She glanced over to find Christine studying her. Wordlessly, her friend handed her the box of fudge, which she gratefully accepted.

“Can I ask you a question, Christine?”

“You know you can.”

Julie hesitated. “Am I different? Since Serena…?”

Christine tilted her head, eyes full of sympathy. “You’re the same person, Julie. The same person with different priorities.”

Absorbing that, she nodded. “Right.”

“What brought this on?” Christine’s eyes widened. “Oh God. Today…”

“Don’t worry about it,” Julie rushed to say. “And please, don’t remind any of the girls. This week is about Kady.” She patted Christine’s arm when she nodded reluctantly. “Anyway, the anniversary is only partially responsible. Reed said…he thinks I’m overcompensating for Serena’s absence. Trying to be her.”

Her friend paled. That’s when Julie knew there’d been some truth behind his words. Why had no one ever said anything? How could she not have seen it?

She shifted uncomfortably on the bed. “Guess he was right.”

“No. Not entirely.” Christine exhaled on a sigh. “But we all worry you take on too much.” She laid her hand over Julie’s. “I don’t know Reed. But is it possible he said it out of concern? You’ve been working yourself to the bone. It’s hard for the people who care about you to ignore.”

“He doesn’t…it’s not like that with us. It’s sex. Plain and simple.”

“Julie.” Christine pursed her lips. “Give me some credit. I’m an investigative journalist. When that man is around you, he looks like he doesn’t know whether to kiss you breathless or tie you to a chair so you will finally relax.” She laughed at Julie’s stunned expression. “Does he want to jump your bones? Yes. But for my money? He wants more than inappropriate activities involving a ladder.”