C.J. Urban - Julie Townsend 01 - Hidden Intent (18 page)

Julie stood now, standing in front of him to stop his restless pacing. “Skye. What is it? You know you can tell me anything.”

He put a hand on her shoulder. “Really?” He asked, frustrated now. “Because I don’t know. I think I’m a fool. Julie, you’ve been calling the shots ever since I met you, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing. I’m not a control freak or anything, but I’ve done everything I could for you. Since the moment I set my eyes on you.”

Whatever she thought he’d say, she wasn’t expecting this. “What?”

“You just blew into Dupont, and into my life, and we had this crazy experience, situation, whatever you want to call it. A lot has happened, and I never once doubted helping you.”

“But…”

“But it wasn’t just helping you out. We’ve become close,” he said, his voice becoming lower, sexier. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t just…get close like we did. Are. This, “we”, for me, is really special.”

Julie was about to speak when Skye unzipped his backpack and drew out a manila file. Nervously, he began thumbing through pages, then just handed it to her.

“Here,” he said with finality. “This is some research I’ve been doing today. I looked around on the internet, and found a PI school in Sacramento. Some of the classes are online. You would only have to go a couple of times a week. And not forever. And I found grant applications, and I bet you could get some letters of recommendation…”

Julie took the file and scanned the papers, amazed.

“And I know you could find work while you go to school,” he started pacing again, “and my mom loves Sam. And I do too.”

Julie was speechless.
He’s fighting for me,
she realized.

“Skye, I don’t know what to say.” She really didn’t.

“Well, I don’t know what
more
to say,” he said, facing her again. “Except that I don’t want you to go.” He drew a hand through his hair. “There, I said it. I don’t want you to go.”

He’d finally come to a stop. They faced each other, each unsure of what to say or do.

“You said you came here for a purpose, and now you have no more business in Dupont.”

“I did say that.”

“Am I an idiot, Julie?” His eyes pleaded with her. “God, I feel like one right now.” He sat now, slumping in the chair.

Julie sat down too, again looking over the paperwork Skye had given her. He’d thought of everything.

“I can’t make you stay,” he said miserably, “but I had to try. I have to. Because you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

He put his hands on her waist, and drew her close, bending to kiss her…

It was too much for her. “Stop it,” she said coldly now, turning away from him. She moved away, putting her hands on the counter. “What do you think you’re doing? You have no right to just plan my life out for me.”

Skye took a step back. “Plan your life?”

“Yes!” She cried out angrily. “You don’t know me. You don’t understand.”

“But I was just trying to…”

“To get what you want,” she shouted. She picked up the file, and threw it to the floor. “This. You. My uncle. Tara. This house. And Sam!” Julie slammed her hand down on the table. “What about me? Has anyone ever asked me what I want??”

The hurt look in his eyes did little to ease Julie’s anger. “I never asked for any of this!”

Before he had a chance to respond, Julie picked up her keys and purse and bolted out the front door.

Chapter 35

Julie drove, tears streaming down her face, to the park. When she got there, she made her way to the spot that Skye and Sam had played Frisbee a couple of days before.

The park was all but empty, and the sun was setting. It was peaceful, and Julie felt calmer in the surrounding beauty. The pines smelled heavenly.

She felt she had a right to be angry with Skye. She was doing the best she could. Tears welled in her eyes once again. She missed her parents; something she rarely let herself think about anymore. She was alone, destined to care for Sam. She loved him so. But she never expected to have to act like a parent so early in life.

“Skye doesn’t understand,” she said to herself. “He doesn’t know what it’s like.”

She thought about Huntington Beach. She and Sam loved the beach, but it was expensive. They probably wouldn’t be able to find any place to live, and would have to move inland, but at least they would be nearer.

But nearer to what? Not her parents. She had no family now. Julie felt more alone than ever.

So she sat, just thinking. She tried to clear her mind. She was just so sick of it all.

She knew she shouldn’t stay in the park. It was getting dark. But she did enjoy the pines. She hadn’t expected to. She was a beach girl, born and raised.

Beyond those trees are a whole forest,
she suddenly thought to herself.

The thought made her angry once again. She stood, taking a final look around
, and headed back to her truck.

Julie had barely knocked when Skye quickly opened his apartment door. He could tell she had been crying. He hated to see girls cry, especially this one. He stepped aside to let her in.

“I took the casserole out of your oven and turned it off,” he told her. He couldn’t think of what else to say. He had a feeling he’d said it all, and there was nothing more.

“Thanks,” Julie said as she sat.

Skye took a seat across from her in his small living room. “I’m sorry, Julie. I shouldn’t have tried to make your decisions for you. I realize that now.”

“No, you shouldn’t have,” she agreed.

“You’re angry with me,” he said.

“I’m angry,” Julie agreed. “But not at you. Not anymore.”

Skye looked over at her, brightening a little, but he was still unsure of what to do or say.

“I’m angry at myself,” Julie continued. “Maybe at the world, a little, too.”

“I can understand, I think,” Skye said. “You’ve dodged some hardballs lately. And been hit a few times.”

Julie nodded, a faint smile on her lips.

“But why are you angry with yourself?” He asked.

“Oh,” she slumped back in her seat. “I don’t know. I guess I haven’t given myself time. And I need to.”

“Well, I can see that I was wrong,” Skye admitted. “I wanted to talk with you, but I didn’t know what to say. I thought if I showed you that you could make it work here, you might stay.” He sighed, feeling resigned to the inevitable. “If you need to go back, then you should do that. Maybe it was selfish of me to want you to stay here. You probably have a lot more family and friends down at the beach, and if that will give you the time you need, well, who am I to try to stop you?”

Skye was trying his best to be supportive, but his heart ached. He would miss her. God, he would miss her! He closed his eyes, rubbing them, forcing his own tears at bay. He would not let her see them. It would just make it harder for her.

Then he felt her hand on his cheek, and he opened his eyes again. She was kneeling beside him.

“See now, that’s what I’m angry about,” she said as she looked into those big blue eyes.

“What? What did I do now?” Skye asked. “I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t. What do you want from me? What are you mad at now?”

“At myself,” she said quietly. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Skye. Not now, and not before.” She glanced down, and said, “I don’t have family down at the beach. They’re gone. I just have to accept that. But I do have family here. And, I do have friends here. At least two,” she smiled, “and pretty good ones at that.”

“I’m trying,” Skye said. “I don’t know if I’ll ever understand women, but I’m glad you feel that way.”

“If I run every time I get scared, or lonely, or overwhelmed, I’ll probably just keep running. And that wouldn’t be good for me or Sam.”

“What are you saying?” Skye asked.

“I’m saying thank you,” she answered. “Thank you for everything. For helping me with the case, for being so kind. And for showing me how it could work here. How it will work, if I try.”

“You’re staying?” He asked, almost afraid of her answer.

“I think I should give it a shot.”

Then Julie kissed him, and he wrapped his arms around her.

“Besides,” she said, “I know this guy here. He’s really cute, and sweet, and I never thought I’d meet anyone like him. I couldn’t just up and leave.” She poked him playfully.

“Really?” Skye asked, kissing her again. “What’s his name?”

Julie laughed. It felt so good to laugh with Skye.

“You have to promise me something though,” she told him.

“Oh, a condition. What is it?”

“Promise that we’ll laugh every day.”

“That, I can do. With pleasure.”

THE END

C.J. Urban is a social worker and writer who lives in a small town in Southern California.

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