If You Only Knew (And Then Came Love Book 1) (7 page)

Drew stiffened. “What about Ava?”

Julian suspected there was more to their relationship than Drew admitted.  Then because he could, he added a dig. “Something happened between you two before she left for L.A.”

“That was seven years ago, man.” Drew shook his head. “You’re grasping at straws. What happened to the two date rule?” Deflecting the verbal blow.

“This isn’t a date.” Julian shrugged.

“You had dinner last night. That’s one. You’re spending the day together – I’m going to assume you’ll have lunch and dinner together?” Drew raised his eyebrow.

“Yeah so – I’ll buy her lunch and then she’s making me dinner tonight.”

“She’s cooking for you?” Drew chuckled. “Back to the count. Lunch today, that’s two. Dinner tonight, that’s three. And I heard her mention you’re having lunch tomorrow. That, my friend, is four. Four dates – two more than your usual two date rule.”

“We’re friends. Shut up and go make sure those cars are up to your standards.” Julian shoved his brother.

*****

“Why don’t you go get your seat set up and I’ll finish up here?” Julian pointed to the metallic blue 2011 Toyota Camry she selected while he remained inside to sign paperwork.

Drew inspected the car and went to work.

“My boss has one more thing for Julian to sign and then we’re good.” Nick handed her the keys.

“Will do. I can’t believe the insurance agreed to a car this new.” Liza beamed.

“My parents have great insurance.”

She walked away.

Julian followed Nick into Mac’s office.

“What are you doing here?” Julian was surprised to find his father seated in the office with Mac.

Everett faced his son. Looking ever the part of the CEO, he wore a navy blue suit. His silk tie was also navy with an orange floral pattern on it. “The question should be, what are you doing? You didn’t let a pretty face convince you to buy her a car, did you?”

“As far as she’s concerned, the insurance is paying for everything.”

Everett frowned at Julian before glancing at Mac.

Mac held his hands up. “He called me last night told me to find five sensible and safe cars and get them ready for today. He said if anyone asked I was to tell them the insurance was covering it.”

Everett brought out his checkbook.  “Your heart’s in the right place, son, but lying to the girl isn’t the way to go about it. I’ll pay for the car. But you need to at least be honest and tell her it wasn’t your money that bought it.”

Julian watched as Liza got into her new car. He smiled. His mind on her and it wasn’t until his father snapped his fingers he realized his dad was talking to him. “What?”

“And you’re
sure
she has no clue you’re buying this car for her?”

“Yes.”

“What’s going to happen when she gets the claim check from the insurance company in six to eight weeks?” Everett settled in his chair.

“We didn’t file a claim. Mom’s idea was to pay to repair the damages. Drew said since the bulk of the damage was in the front quarter panel and the door, it would take a while to get it fixed. I figured a new car was the quicker and easier route to go.”

“How much do I owe you, Mac?” Everett smoothed his white hair.

Mac handed him the invoice.

“I can pay for it.” Julian shrugged. “She uses her car a lot at work. She needed something better on gas mileage and in good condition. I upgraded her.”

Everett wrote out a check and handed it to Mac. “I hope for your sake the third time’s a charm.” He stood.

“There’s not going to be a third marriage.”

Everett smiled and patted his son on the shoulder. “You keep telling yourself that, son.”

Julian looked down at the check for the full amount then hurried out of the office to catch up with his dad. “Thanks, you didn’t have to.”

“Your mother caused the accident. It’s the least I can do. You had your brother inspect it, right?”

“Of course, he left a few minutes ago,” Julian explained.

“Good.” Everett nodded. “Now, do I get to meet your young lady?”

“Come on.” Julian led his father out to the lot where Liza waited for him.

“Are you ready to go?” She grinned.

Julian waited as she noticed his father standing next to him.

“Is it a safe guess to say you’re Julian’s father?”

“Everett Vitalli.” He held out his hand.

She shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, I’m Liza Thomas.”

“My wife sends her apologies for the accident.”

“I guess I’m trying to see the positive side. I got to meet your son, so it’s all good.” Liza’s cheeks reddened and she turned away.

Normally, her expression would have him running for the hills. Drew was right, he was about to surpass his two date rule, with no chance of getting laid in the near future. Maybe there were feelings involved?

“Did you have to sign paperwork for the insurance company?” She questioned his father.

“Yeah – something like that.” His dad nodded. “What plans do you two have for the day?”

“I have some errands to run and tonight I’m making Julian dinner. Your son has been so kind to me. I can tell he was raised to be a gentleman.”

“Really?” Everett smirked and gestured to Julian with his thumb. “Are you sure you’re talking about him?”

“Gee, thanks, Dad.” Julian rolled his eyes.

“Well, I hope you two have fun. About time he found a good woman.”

“We’re not dating.” Liza snickered.

Everett raised his eyebrow at Julian. “There’s seriously something wrong with you.” He turned away from them shaking his head. “Let me know if there are any more papers I need to sign for this insurance thing, will you?”

“Sure. I’ll be around sometime this weekend and we’ll discuss things.”

“Whatever you say.” Everett walked away.

“What was that about?” Liza glanced over at Julian. .

Julian offered her his hand and helped her into her seat. “My dad’s strange at times. Don’t mind him.” He closed her door and then headed over to the passenger’s side. “Now come on let’s take this thing for a ride.”

*****

Liza drug the last grocery bag out of the car and handed it to Julian. She knew he was staring at her ass, but she ignored it. “Well, that’s all of them.”

“You don’t have to cook for me.” They headed for her apartment building.

“Too late. I have the sauce in the Crockpot already. It’s just a matter of finishing things up.”

He put his arm around her on the elevator, but then dropped it at the last minute. “Let it cool down, put it away, and we’ll eat it another day. Let me take you out for a night on the town.”

“I promised you dinner.” She faced him. “This is the only way I can pay you for everything you’ve done for me.”

“But you don’t need to pay me, we’re—”

“Yes?” She opened her apartment door.

“Wow, your sauce smells incredible.” He inhaled deeply and followed the scent to the kitchen.

“No – you’re not changing the subject on me.” Liza put her hands on her hips and stood there waiting. “We’re what, Julian?”

“We’re friends?”

“Friends?” She quirked an eyebrow at him.

“Okay, maybe a little more than friends?”

“I get the feeling it wasn’t what you were going to say.” She yanked the bags from him and set them on the counter.

She was busy washing her hands when he came up behind her and placed his hands on her waist. He kissed her neck and brought his lips to her ear. “What if I told you I want to reconsider the whole dating thing?”

Liza drug a towel out of the drawer and faced him. “I’d say ask me tomorrow because you’re still not getting laid.” She shoved him away from her and put away the groceries.

“Wait, what?”

“I told you.  I won’t sleep with you unless there was some kind of relationship. Nothing changed.”

Julian raked his gaze over her body.

Her cheeks warmed. Why did he have to be so damned sexy? Here she was trying to make a point when what she wanted to do was tear his clothes off.

“Keep looking at me like that, babe, and I’m going to question your resolve.”

She headed over to the refrigerator with a bag of groceries and bent over to put the vegetables in the crisper. “Go pick out a movie while I put the finishing touches on dinner.”

Julian chuckled. “All right, I’ll keep it light.” He made it to the opening between the kitchen and the living room.

“What made you ask me out for dinner last night?” Liza leaned against the refrigerator door.

“I wanted to get to know you better.” He shrugged.

“I’m glad you were there. If you weren’t, my client would have punched me and I’d be explaining why I had a black eye.”

“Yeah – I would have been pissed.” Julian seized the bottle of wine off the counter. “Where’s your corkscrew?”

Liza rummaged through a couple of her drawers before finding the tool. She handed it to Julian. “I don’t often have a reason to use a corkscrew, it’s surprising I even have one.”

“I’m not a big wine drinker either.” He held up the bottle. “Glasses?”

She pointed to the top cabinet above the stove. “I don’t even have the proper glasses, but I’m sure there’s something we can use.”

Julian got two glasses out of the cabinet and poured the wine. “These will work.” He held one glass up for her as she was putting a pot of water on the stove. “Cheers.”

“Cheers.” They clinked their glasses and drank. “You were going to pick out a movie. I doubt I have the best selection, but there should be something we can watch.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.” He headed into the living room.

Liza had finished putting the pasta into the boiling water when her phone rang.

”Fuck me!” She let the comment fly when she saw her boss’ name on her phone.  She contemplated not answering it, but figured it was important.

Julian whispered in her ear, “Are you trying to turn me on?”

Her eyes widened and she stuttered.
He sure was quiet when he wanted to be.
“I . . . it’s my . . . my boss is calling.” She answered the phone. She heat rose to her cheeks as he watched her. “Hi, Kate.”

“Trina called me this morning about the incident last night,” Kate said.

The incident.
Liza’s heart sank. She  grabbed the garlic bread off the counter and set it in the oven. Why did work always ruin things for her? “Wasn’t everything cleared up last night?”

“You sound funny.”

“I’m cooking dinner. What’s the problem?”

“It’s not so much about the incident itself, but the man who helped you.” Kate explained.

“And you’re telling me this why?” Liza tapped her fingernails against the counter. Every word out of Kate’s mouth sent her blood pressure through the roof.

“While in this business we have to be careful with whom we associate,” Kate stated. “You’re talking about a family that has supported our cause quite a bit. If they pull our funding, we all lose.”

“What’s going on?” Julian rested his hand on her shoulder.

She covered the receiver. “This shouldn’t take long.” She turned her attention to the phone call. “Sorry, I have company.”

“I heard.”

“Are you trying to tell me my association with Julian will affect the company?”

“Funny.” Julian scoffed. “They’ll take my donations, but they don’t want their employees to have anything to do with me.”

“I hear someone,” Kate told her. “Think about it.”

“No, Kate. The person in the background is Julian. He’s amused you don’t want me to spend time with him, but his donations are acceptable.”

“You told him?” Kate was horrified. “I was told to speak to you. Your personal life is none of my business. As long as it doesn’t affect your work, I don’t care who you hang out with.”

“I have to finish dinner. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Bye, Liza.”

Liza clicked off her phone and left it on the kitchen counter. “I hate my job.”

“Quit,” Julian said.

“I can’t. I’m barely scraping by on what I make now.”

“You should be able to save money now. You won’t have a car payment,” he reminded her with a smile.

“I didn’t think about it,” Liza said. “I’m glad I didn’t make my car payment today when I went to the bank.”

“See if you can save money for a couple months,” he suggested.

Liza turned away from him. She hated talking about money or the lack thereof. He didn’t understand — he had money. He may have spent the first twelve years of his life poor, but now, he passed out money like it was candy. Quitting her job would be wonderful, but how would she survive? She tried to think about something else. “I’ll finish dinner.” She angled to the stove. Many of his comments screamed his lack of understanding. Something else appeared off with him. One minute he was bold and presumptuous as well as excessive and the next, he almost appeared lonely.