She added “kissing” to the list.
She stared at it and then deleted it. Kissing Danny wasnotrelaxing. They’d barely touched lips last night, and her entire body had woken up and been on alert.
Everything about him worked for her. His bad boy looks. The way he dressed, like he was on his way from a business function to a sex club. All those muscles and his braids.
That tattoo peeking out from under his shirt drove her crazy. She wanted to undo his shirt to trace its lines, to see where it ended.
She shifted in her seat. Not that she thought of that. Much.
But the way he talked and his actions belied his bad boy demeanor. The gleam in his eyes should have denoted that he wasn’t often alone, but she had an excellent bullshit meter, and the way he spoke to her said otherwise. He looked like he had a little black book that was full of women—women who’d drop everything to have him look at them with those stunning eyes while he whispered naughty things to them. But he wouldn’t take her back to his hotel.
All things pointed to him being the perfect man—a bad boy with a heart of gold.
He was even more perfect in that he had to go back to England in a couple weeks. It’d be a perfect, logical break for them—no emotions to get in the way, both of them back to their daily routine.
She frowned.
Her phone beeped, and she looked down to see a text from Louisa.
Louisa
You have everything in you to succeed.
A love note, as Louisa called them. Louisa had started writing them on a chalkboard at Sunflower Alley to help spread hope and inspiration. Jules remembered scoffing at the first love notes Louisa had given her, all about hope and the future being bright. She’d been sixteen with a crack addict mother—there wasn’t any hope in her life. But over the years, Louisa and her love notes had become cherished.
Louisa always knew just what to say.
She picked up her phone and texted back.
Jules
I don’t know… I have a doozy of a homework assignment.
Jamie pulls no punches.
Louisa
Come over tomorrow night and we’ll help you. I’m making spaghetti. 7 pm.
Jules
Can’t. Busy tomorrow night.
Louisa
It’s Saturday. You can take the evening off to eat.
She thought about Danny and how he’d told her in a very no-nonsense way that she’d need to eat, so maybe she’d eat with him.
She couldn’t wait to see him again.
Jules
I am. I have dinner plans.
Her phone rang one second later. Knowing there was no getting out of this conversation, she answered it.
Before she could say a word, Louisa said, “Who is he?”