Lucky Fall (7 page)

“You never had children, Julianne?”

“No, I wanted to. It just didn’t happen.”

“Do you still want to?”

My jaw dropped open, but Victor held out his hand.

“I’m not saying right now. I’m just curious.”

“It’s too late.”

“I just read that a sixty-year-old woman just had a child. It’s not too late.” He squared my shoulders in his hands. “You’re a beautiful, vibrant girl, but sometimes you act as if you have one foot in the nursing home.”

I couldn’t argue with his perception.

“I walked away that night because I’m a broken, bitter woman, and I’m too scared of being hurt again to give you an opportunity to break my heart.” It was nothing I’d ever said or thought out loud, yet it was completely honest just the same.

“You taste too sweet to be bitter, and I think the only way for you to heal is to open yourself up to risks.”

“What is it you want from me, Victor?”

“Isn’t it obvious I want a relationship?”

It seemed too incredible to be true. Men like Victor didn’t just happen to women like me. “What does that mean exactly?”

He leaned into me, dropping his voice to that husky whisper that sent shivers up my spine. “It means I get to take you out to nice dinners and introduce you as my girlfriend. It means trips abroad, and nights with you tucked beside me. It means watching television until we fall asleep on the couch, and reading next to each other in bed. It means the only male I share your affection with is Rusty. It means you are mine completely. Do you need to me to be more specific than that?”

“No, I think you covered it.”

He tucked a lose piece of hair behind my ear. We were on a crowded street and I’d never been one for public displays, but in that moment, I felt too full of emotion to swallow it all down. I embraced him, holding him against me until Rusty started barking at us.

“Guess we should move on,” Victor said, putting his arm around me.

“Yes, we should move on.”

He meant it in the literal sense, but I was being completely figurative.

“Would you like to come back to my place? It’s not a suite at a luxurious hotel, but I can whip us up some spaghetti, and although my wine’s not from the Bordeaux region of France, it doesn’t have a twist off cap.”

“I’d love to,” he replied, dropping a kiss on my head.

Chapter Four

We had been dating for two months. I loved it, but being with Victor presented some challenges I wasn’t prepared for—women threw themselves at him. He was the most eligible bachelor in New York. I had been with an average man that betrayed me. Victor was an extraordinary man, but I knew with certainly that he wouldn’t do that. It didn’t make the flaunting females any easier to take, but he always had an arm around me, making it obvious to any passerby that he was mine.

The other issue was his fame. On a few occasions, reporters parked outside my apartment, trying to get a picture of us together. Victor wanted to hire security, but the idea was ridiculous to me. Besides, they never seemed to go over that line. The worst thing, though, was his schedule. He worked long hours and often had to travel. He always asked me to go, but I was a one-woman shop and had to work six days a week, so it was difficult to find time to spend together. Although, whenever we did, it was as magical as that first night. The man knew all the ways in which to pleasure a woman, leaving me breathless and craving his touch. He was the teacher in the bedroom and I was his apt pupil.

Then there was his wealth. Victor plied me with gifts that were not only expensive but far too extravagant. He wanted me to take up residence at the hotel, but I refused, as I did most of his gifts. He finally relented when I told him it made me feel like a kept woman and I valued my independence. I think it resonated with him because of his birth mother. He loved her, but he’d suffered as a consequence of her occupation. He still worried about the lack of security in my building, though, and it was a constant point of contention with us. None of it dampened my growing feelings for him. There was no way I was letting him go now.

I decided to keep myself occupied one evening by making doughnuts. My birthday gift had remained unopened, and frankly, I was tired of Libby’s ribbing that I’d never use it. I was planning to make a few dozen and hand deliver them to her. After I purchased all the ingredients, I realized I could have simply bought six dozen and had money to spare.
Oh well, there’s nothing that can replace homemade
. I turned on
Animal Planet
and gave Rusty a large bone to keep him occupied.

I set out all my mixing bowls, my ingredients and poured the required oil into the doughnut maker. I had never been much for baking, but per the instructions it looked like this would be such a labor-intensive task, which was good, as it would keep my mind off Victor, who was in Los Angeles opening a new hotel.

The phone rang as I was kneading the dough. I wiped my hands quickly, hearing the sultry lyrics of U2’s
Mysterious Ways
. It was my ringtone for Victor.

“Hi there,” I said, trying to sound sexy while massaging a lump of dough.

“Hey, beautiful, guess where I am?”

“In LA?”

“Actually I’m about fifteen minutes away from you.”

I got so excited that my fingers assaulted the dough more than kneaded it. “What about the opening?”

“It turns out I own this damn company and that comes with certain benefits. I miss you.”

My heart started fluttering with the idea of seeing him tonight. “I miss you too, Victor.”

“What are you wearing?” he asked, lowering his voice a few octaves.

I laughed. “An apron.”

“And nothing else? That sounds incredibly sexy.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, but it’s strictly utilitarian. I’m frying up doughnuts.”

“I didn’t think people actually made doughnuts anymore. You are a woman of many talents, Julianne.”

I wiped the flour from my cheek with the back of my hand. I didn’t want him to see me like this, but then again, baking with him sounded fun, especially considering I had chocolate frosting, whipped cream and sprinkles. “It’s my first try, so no promises. They’ll probably look more like bagels and taste like croissants with my luck.” I took the dough and started making a small circle like the instructions stated.

“Hmmm…this gives me an idea. Are you up for role playing?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“I can get a police officer’s uniform and you can be the diner waitress.”

“You think that’s sexy? I was imagining whips and chains.”

“Damn, you’re making me hard. Don’t worry, I’ll have the perfect prop.”

“What’s that?”

“Handcuffs.”

A shiver coursed through me as I imagined myself handcuffed and blindfolded while he had his way with me. I let out a screech, but not because of Victor’s salacious words. The hot oil in the doughnut maker had splattered onto my arm. Then another hit me in the chest. I threw the dough toward the ceiling where it stuck. The whole mechanism was boiling and sputtering hot liquid, scalding my skin as if it was aiming for me. “Hold on a minute.”

“Julianne?”

I tried to unplug it, but the oil splashed across the outlet, causing acrid smoke and a small flame to appear. I screamed, dropping the phone. I grabbed an oven mitt and managed to take the plug out, but then every light in my apartment shut off at once, leaving me in the darkness. Another shot of oil hit me on the neck and I realized the machine was still hot enough the oil was continuing to boil. Even when I touched the oven mitt against it, it felt too dangerously hot to move.

Rusty came in just then, whining like a baby, and jumped on my back. I knocked down the glass bowl of sprinkles. It crashed on the floor, breaking into pieces. I grabbed Rusty, threw him to the floor and lay on top of him. It was the only thing I could do—the kitchen was a landmine of danger with no lights, scalding oil and broken glass. My dog was scared to death, and I knew he’d only get hurt if I let him roam free. I sat there wondering what I’d done wrong. Why did I get myself into these crazy situations? Then a blob of dough fell on my head. Damn…was this really happening? I clung to Rusty trying to calm him, but my hands were shaking. I felt the pinch of a new burn as the oil spurted out like volcanic lava over the countertop and onto my back

I heard the click of the door then the banging of a fist being pounded on it. “Julianne?”

“Victor, hang on, I can’t get to the—”

He was inside the apartment, his shoulder having easily splintered through the wooden frame. “Where are you?”

“In the kitchen. Be careful, glass and hot oil.” I wasn’t making much sense, but he didn’t hesitate to find me.

It took barely a second, then he was kneeling next to me, rubbing my back. “Are you hurt?” he asked, looking around the kitchen.

I was too embarrassed to thank him when he removed the blob of dough from my face. This was too ridiculous to be happening.

“Just a small burn,” I croaked, feeling utterly stupid.

“Are you laughing or crying, because I can’t tell.”

“Maybe both,” I replied.

“There’s no need for either, my beautiful American girl.” Victor helped me up, but I held onto Rusty so he wouldn’t start freaking out again.

“It’s okay, Julianne. Let go, I’ve got him.”

I relinquished my hold.

“Robbins!”

Robbins appeared out of nowhere with a flashlight then took hold of Rusty’s collar.

“Take him for a walk, please.”

I was sure from the look on his face that it was the strangest request the old chauffeur had ever gotten, but he wasn’t immune to Rusty’s charms. He smiled and petted my dog’s head before leading him toward the door.

“The leash,” I said, walking toward him.

“Don’t move,” Victor said, halting my forward progress “You’re not wearing shoes and there’s glass everywhere. I’ll take care of it.”

Victor walked over to the door. He unhooked leash for Robbins, petting Rusty in a way I could never manage that always made him calm down.

Robbins handed Victor the flashlight. I stood in the same spot while he walked around the kitchen, shaking his head and cursing.

He came back over to me. “Hold this, baby,” he said, handing me the flashlight. I took it then yelped in surprise when he picked me up and walked me out of the door.

“Where are you taking me?”

“To the limo. Your apartment is off limits.”

I was completely at ease in his arms. He didn’t strain against my weight even when carrying me down the stairs. He walked me straight to the limo, where he set me inside. “Where are you burned?”

I showed him my forearm then pointed to the space on my back and the one at my neck. He scooted in beside me, taking a first aid kit out of an overhead compartment. He was quiet while he got out the salve and applied it to every area.

“Stay here, I’ll be right back,” he said when he was done.

I nodded. He looked at me for a while then crushed his lips against mine. It wasn’t a gesture of passion, but one of need and relief.

“I don’t have any shoes on.” I said, holding up my naked feet.

“I’ll take care of it,” he said, before pressing another kiss to my forehead. He turned my face so it met his. “I’ll take care of you, Julianne.” There was something strange in the way he was acting. What happened was so dumb it was funny, but Victor was as pale and upset as if he’d seen a ghost.

I sat in the limo watching him and Robbins exchange Rusty’s leash while each man went up to the apartment separately. I could hear Victor yelling at someone on the phone—he sounded so enraged I shivered. Once he’d hung up, he opened the limo door to let Rusty inside. The dog jumped on my lap right away and licked my face. I petted him, noticing the other lights in the building were still on. At least I hadn’t caused a major power outage.

“Rusty’s going to sit up front with Robbins. You don’t mind do you, Robbins?” Victor was already taking Rusty’s leash though.

“No, sir, Master Rusty and I have become fast friends,” Robbins replied. “As long as I can drive the speed limit this time.”

“Yes, Robbins, the emergency is over.” Victor slid in next to me then took my hand and kissed every finger. He pressed a button on his side, closing the window between Robbins and Rusty and us.

“Are we going to the hotel?” I asked as he clasped my waist and placed me on his lap.

“No, we’re going to my house in Connecticut.”

“I can’t. I have to work tomorrow.”

He brought his face close to mine so our mouths were hovering over each other. “I went to Libby’s apartment and explained what happened. She’s going to open the store for you. You and Rusty are coming home with me. No arguments.”

I couldn’t believe he had thought of that. “Who were you yelling at?”

He gave me a puzzled stare.

“I heard you yelling.”

“Your landlord. Your apartment’s electrical wiring is not up to code. I let him know I will not stand for it. He put you in danger, and he’s lucky that I’m using my financial resources and not my physical ones to make him see the error of his ways. He’s sending out some workmen in the morning, and I’ve already contacted the fire marshal, who will be doing an inspection tomorrow afternoon.”

My mouth gaped open. “Victor, you didn’t have to go all that trouble.”

He arched his eyebrows as his face tightened with anger. “Trouble? You think taking care of you is trouble for me? I was going fucking crazy driving to your house.”

I winced at his response, and he immediately looked contrite, brushing my hair back.

“Julianne, you have to look at this from my perspective. We were having a normal conversation and then you screamed and the phone went dead. I was imagining every possible scenario and none of them were good. I love Rusty but we both know he’s more lap dog than a protector.”

That was true. The bloodhound loved me, but he was scared of his own shadow.

“It was just a silly accident.”

Victor took a deep breath, and his body started to loosen as his arms tightened around me. “That’s true, but it could have been much worse, although I have to admit the idea that the damn doughnut maker was attacking you never crossed my mind.”