Yes, I’d made many mistakes.
The last thing I wanted to do was make them with Julia.
With Julia, I wanted the opposite of what I’d wanted in the past. I wanted her to shine because from my view, out of all the guests downstairs, she was the star, a red nova to be envied, not ridiculed.
When our kiss ended, I said, “Thank you for showing me your room.”
“No fucking?” Her blue eyes swirled with desire.
“Once I get you back to the hotel, plan to ring in the new year as you come and scream without the threat of interruption.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” Taking a deep breath, she turned a complete circle. “Before we go back to Ashland, I should come back here and decide what to have shipped to your house.”
“Our house,” I reminded her as I walked to her bedside stand. “You were living here before you came to Wisconsin?”
“I was. I know it’s lame to live with my parents. I missed my own apartment. I had one in college, but with the wedding and the house Skylar and I were building…” Julia gasped as I reached for the handle of the top drawer of her bedside stand. “Van, stop. What are you doing?”
Even in the red high heels, she was next to me in less than a second.
“Let’s go downstairs,” she said, tugging at my arm.
“Oh, I was curious what this drawer might contain.” She stood in the way, stopping the drawer from opening. I lifted her chin. “You see, I’ve heard stories about an unfulfilled sex life, and I was curious if my sexy vixen took matters into her own hands.”
“You know I did. I showed you.”
“Did you have help?”
“Jeez.” Julia’s complexion paled as she sunk to the side of her bed and covered her face with her hands. “Yes, there’s a vibrator in there.”
Tugging her hands away, I crouched in front of her. “I won’t look if you promise to be sure it’s in your things to be moved to Ashland.”
“Oh my God. Why does that turn me on?”
“Because, Ms. McGrath, I found the most perfect woman in the world, and I plan on keeping her.”
“I’ll be sure to pack it.” She stood. “If we don’t get back downstairs, there’ll be rumors.”
I offered her my arm. “Instead of rumors, let’s show them the real thing.”
Julia didn’t lead me to the back staircase. Following the hallway toward the landing, Julia led me to the grand staircase, the one overlooking the foyer. As we reached the top of the stairs, I stood tall, my gaze narrowing as the crowd below came into view. One man in particular stood out. He didn’t see me, but I saw him.
Fucking prey.
Logan Butler.
“Fuck,” I growled under my breath.