Love Beyond Words (City Lights, #1)(52)

Julian finally reemerged with her bag and her velvet dress on a hanger. David took the remnants of Julian and Natalie’s breakfast to the kitchen sink. “Here, let me.” He started water and began cleaning the dishes noisily.

“You know you don’t have to do that, David,” Julian began.

“No trouble. No trouble at all.”

Natalie gathered her purse and sweater from the couch.

“Ready?” Julian said. “I’ll walk you down,”

“Pleasure to meet you, Natalie,” David called. “I’d shake your hand again but…” He flapped his soapy hands and smiled his ear-to-ear grin.

“I don’t like him,” Natalie told Julian the instant the elevator doors closed.

“What do you mean?” he laughed. “You were speaking to him for all of two minutes.”

“You know what they say about first impressions.”

“Oh, come on. David’s harmless.”

“He reminds me of Uriah Heep. And I don’t like the way he looked at me when I told him I knew who you were.”

Julian’s lips pressed into a thin line. The elevator opened and they walked through the lobby; the day security guard greeted Julian and gave Natalie a warm smile.

“He’s no Uriah Heep. That’s a harsh comparison, and uncalled for.”

“Don’t get mad,” Natalie said in a quiet voice. “I just…”

Julian took Natalie’s arms. His smile was strained. “David’s been a good friend to me—my only friend—for six years. He’s a little bit neurotic and a lot over-protective, but I care for him. Please tell me you’ll give him a second chance.”

“I’m sorry. I guess I just want you more to myself right now.”

Julian’s smile lightened. “I know what you mean. I’ll ask David to call before he stops over. And you’ll warm up to each other, given time. Samantha—my last girlfriend, whom I promise not to mention more than three or four times a day—”

“Four maximum, if you don’t mind.”

Julian grinned. “Samantha found David to be quite the confidant.”

I can’t imagine it. “All right. Next time I see him, I’ll try to start over. For you.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

Natalie slipped her arms around him. “I miss you already.”

They kissed until the car came for her. Angelo, the door man, cleared his throat discreetly.

“I love you,” she said. “Thank you for everything.”

He sighed and held her tight. “Oh no, love. The pleasure’s all mine.”

She felt another blush color her cheeks. “Not all of it.”





Chapter TwentyFour


After the weekend with Julian, going back to school and work seemed like drudgery. But Natalie slipped back into her routines, the days brightened now by dates with Julian, nights spent at either his place or hers, in throes of ecstasy or basking in the simple joy of his companionship. Her long, lonely days seemed like a bad dream; one that she never wanted to have again.

Well into March, Marshall called her, and Natalie felt a pang of guilt; she hadn’t spoken to either him or Liberty since that night at the Kyrie.

“Call her,” Marshall said. “Before it’s too late. If you dwell on why you’re mad, you’ll forget why you were friends in the first place, and then where will I be?”

“She owes me an apology,” Natalie said, plucking a thread on her couch cushion. Doesn’t she? It was getting harder to remember the particulars of their argument, though Natalie recalled she’d said some things she wasn’t proud of.

“Just take a photo of Julian’s Pulitzer with your shiny new cell phone and send it to her. That’ll clear everything right up.”

“Over my dead body,” Natalie said. “And he didn’t win it anyway. Just nominated.”

“Only nominated? What a hack.”

“I’d love for you to meet him.”

“Honey, tax season has me by the balls and won’t let go. This phone call is probably costing me three hundred dollars.”

Natalie smirked. “I’m sure.”

“But how are things with Sir Julian? Or should I say Sir Rafael?” He heaved a sigh. “Secret identities are so hard to keep track of these days…”

“Amazing,” Natalie said. “Beyond amazing. He’s the prize-winning author but every minute of every day, he makes me feel as though he’s the one who’s struck gold.”

“That’s because he has,” Marshall said, “and don’t you forget it.”

“Oh, Marshall, I love you.” Her smiled faltered. “How are things between you and Liberty?”

“Weird. It’s like she’s afraid to be friendly to me. What you said really knocked her a good one. Me too, I guess.”

“I’m sorry for that.”

“Don’t be,” he said, and she heard him smile. “I have an honest-to-god date on Friday.”

“Didn’t you just tell me you were too busy to even talk?”

“It’s possible I’m prone to exaggeration.”

Natalie beamed. “I’m happy for you, Marshall.”