“This isn’t a bad space at all,” Julianne said as they surveyed the empty, clean room. “I think it will make the perfect studio.”
Heath watched her walk around the space, thinking aloud. “Is it big enough for all of your things?”
“I think so. If I put the new kiln over here,” she said, “my big table will fit here. I can use this shelf to put my pieces on that are in progress. My pottery wheel can go here.” She gestured to a space below the window. “And this old dresser will be good to store tools and supplies.”
She seemed to have it all laid out in her mind. They just had to bring everything in. “Are you ready to unload the truck?”
Julianne shook her head and smoothed her palm over the wild strands of her hair. “Maybe later this afternoon. I’m exhausted. Right now, all I want to do is take a shower and get some lunch.”
Heath couldn’t agree more. “I’ll probably do the same. But proceed with caution,” he said.
“Caution?” Julianne looked at him with wide, concerned eyes.
“Yes. I will be naked up there. And wet,” he added with a sly grin. “You’ve been forewarned.”
* * *
Julianne was certain this was going to be the longest few months in history.
She’d quickly taken her shower and sat down on the edge of the bed to dry her hair. She could hear the water running in his bathroom when she was finished, making her think of his warning. He was wet and naked in the next room. She was determined to miss out on that event this time. Running into him once was an accident. Twice could be considered a fluke. A third time was stalking. Julianne wasn’t about to give Heath the satisfaction of knowing she enjoyed looking at him. She did; he had a beautiful body. But she’d already gotten her daily eyeful of his hot, sweaty muscles as they worked downstairs.
That was more than enough to fire up her suppressed libido and set her mind to thinking about anything but cleaning. She shouldn’t feel this way. It had been over a month since Danny moved out. Not a tragic dry spell by any means and she was more than capable of managing her urges. But somehow, the combination of Heath’s friendly eyes, charming smile and hard body made her forget about all that.
It had been like that back in high school. She had gone years having Heath live with her family, trying to keep her attraction to him in check. Heath had been the first boy she’d ever kissed. She liked him. But somehow, once he came to the farm, it seemed inappropriate. So she tried to ignore it as he got older and grew more handsome. She tried to tell herself they were just friends when they would talk for hours.
By their senior year, they were the only kids left on the farm and it was getting harder for her to ignore the sizzle of tension between them. After what had happened to her five years earlier, she hadn’t really dated. She’d kissed a boy or two, but nothing serious and nothing remotely close enough to hit her panic button. It was easy. Heath was the only one who got her blood pumping. The one who made her whole body tingle and ache to be touched. So she avoided him.
But it wasn’t until they were alone in Paris that she let herself indulge her attraction. There, with the romantic twinkling lights and soft music serenading them, he’d told her he loved her. That he’d always loved her. This had to be the right thing to do. She loved him. He was her best friend. Heath would never hurt her. It was perfect.
Until her nerves got the best of her. Kissing was great. Roaming hands were very nice. But anything more serious made her heart race unpleasantly. Heath thought maybe she was saving herself for marriage and that would remove the last of her doubts. So they got married. And it only got worse.
Julianne sighed and carried the blow-dryer back into the bathroom. Funny how the thing that was supposed to bring them together forever—the ultimate relationship step—was what ended up dooming them.
It was easy to forget about her problems when her brushes with Heath were few and far between. They were both busy, and usually he didn’t want to talk about their issues any more than she did. That did not seem to be the case any longer. She could tell that something had gotten into him, but she didn’t know what. Perhaps Ken’s second heart attack made him realize life was too short to waste it married to someone who didn’t love him like she should. Or maybe he’d found someone else but hadn’t told anyone about it yet.
That thought was enough to propel her out of the room and downstairs for some lunch. She didn’t like thinking about Heath with someone else. That called for an edible distraction. It was a terrible habit to have, but she was an emotional eater. It had started after Tommy attacked her and it became a constant battle for her after that. Her therapist had helped her recognize the issue and to stop before she started, but when things weren’t going well, it was nothing a cheeseburger and a Diet Coke wouldn’t fix. At least for an hour or so.
At the top of the staircase, Julianne paused. She could hear Heath’s voice carrying from the kitchen. At first, Julianne thought he might be talking to her. She started down the stairs but stopped when she heard him speak again. He was on the phone.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
Sweetheart? Julianne held her breath and took a step backward so he wouldn’t see her on the stairs listening in. Who was he talking to? A dull ache in her stomach that had nothing to do with hunger told her she’d been right before. He hadn’t mentioned dating anyone recently, but that must be what all the sudden divorce talk was about. Why would he tell her if he were seeing someone special? She was a slip of paper away from being his ex-wife, all things considered.
“Aww, I miss you, too.” Heath listened for a moment before laughing. “I know it’s hard, but I’ll be back before you know it.”
There was a tone to his voice that she wasn’t used to hearing—an intimacy and softness she remembered from the time they spent together in Europe. This woman obviously had a special place in Heath’s life. Julianne was immediately struck with a pang of jealousy as she listened in. It was stupid. They’d agreed that if they weren’t together, they were both free to see other people. She’d been living with Danny for a year and a half, so she couldn’t complain.
“You know I have to take care of some things here. But look on the bright side. When all this is handled and I come home, we can make that Caribbean vacation you’ve been dreaming about a reality. But you’ve got to be patient.”
“Hang on, baby,” Julianne muttered to herself with a mocking tone. “I gotta ditch the wife, then we can go frolic on the beach.” And to think he’d been acting like he had been interested in something more between them. When he’d pressed against her, she was certain he still wanted her—at least short-term. He apparently had longer-term plans with someone else.
“Okay. I’ll call again soon. ’Bye, darling.”
Julianne choked down her irritation and descended the stairs with loud, stomping feet. When she turned toward the kitchen, Heath was leaning casually against the counter, holding his cell phone and looking pointedly at her. He had changed into a snug pair of designer jeans that hugged the thick muscles of his thighs and a button-down shirt in a mossy green that matched the color of his eyes. This was a middle-of-the-road look, a comfortable median between his sleepy casual style and his corporate shark suits. He looked handsome, put together and, judging by the light in his eyes, amused by her irritation.
“Something the matter?” he asked.
“No,” she said quickly. There wasn’t anything wrong. He could do whatever and whomever he wanted. That wasn’t any concern of hers, no matter how spun up she seemed to be at the moment.