She refilled her coffee cup and glanced out the window. She couldn’t help but take a moment to daydream, remembering her time last week in Miami. The state attorney’s office had called earlier that day to let her know the jury had found Marcos Rodrigo guilty. As far as she was concerned, there was no other verdict that could have been delivered. The prosecution had presented a fantastic case, but when the mother, Carla Rodrigo, had taken the stand with her heart-wrenching testimony, that had pretty much nailed it.
Jules went back to her desk and sat down. She wished those were the only thoughts she had about Miami, but they weren’t. She couldn’t forget the days and nights she had spent with Dalton. Once they had finally gotten out of bed that first morning and showered, she was able to see that he didn’t have just a hotel-room suite like she had. The man had the penthouse that could have held at least three suites the size of hers comfortably with room to spare. Needless to say, that’s where she had spent most of her days and nights. There was no need to let all that space go to waste. It had been his suggestion, and she saw no reason not to go along with it.
Pretending had been nice. It had given them a chance to put out of their minds their dislike for each other and concentrate on satisfying their bodies’ hunger. And that hunger had bordered on being downright greedy. Ravenous. To the point where they had made quickies a very fashionable pastime. She had to hand it to him; the man definitely knew how to please a woman between the sheets. Although she still didn’t care for arrogant men, at least he could back up the attitude with skill.
Jules took another sip of her coffee, consumed in her memories. Hot. Racy. Sexy. She figured it wouldn’t hurt to give in to them a few minutes longer, and she leaned back in her chair. Not only had her nights been spectacular, but her days with Dalton on the beach had been pretty fantastic, as well.
She wondered what he was doing now. More than likely he had returned to the office today as she had. And...more than likely he had moved on...like she should be doing. They had agreed that Miami was not to be repeated, and she had no reason to think he wouldn’t keep his end of the deal, like she intended to keep hers.
But still, the memories were nice, and nothing was wrong with indulging in them.
*
“I’m glad we could all get together and do lunch,” Sedrick Timmons said, smiling over at Shiloh and Caden. “My hours are crazy at the hospital.”
“I can imagine,” Caden replied, taking a sip of his wine and studying his brother-in-law, the heart specialist.
He would admit that he had been surprised when Shiloh mentioned her brother’s invitation to lunch today. Growing up, Sedrick had been Jace’s best friend, just like Shiloh had been his. Yet when Shiloh had chosen to defy her father’s orders, Sedrick had not.
In fact, Jace admitted to not even recognizing Sedrick at first, when he’d arrived at the hospital after their grandfather’s heart attack. And then, only a couple of months ago, Caden could clearly remember attending the open house for Shiloh’s wine boutique and the discomfort of Sedrick staring him down with blatant dislike and hostility in his eyes.
But, to be fair and to give the man credit, the animosity could have stemmed from the fact that Sedrick hadn’t wanted Shiloh to get back with him after what he’d done all those years ago, which Caden would admit had been shitty. But he and Shiloh had worked out their differences and put the past behind them. Caden hoped this invitation meant Sedrick was ready to do the same.
“Before the waitress comes back with our meal, there are a few things I need to clear the air about, Caden. And an apology to you tops the list.” Sedrick paused a moment. “As you know, I was upset by the way you treated Shiloh when you were to be married the first time, but the two of you have worked things out and are finally happily married. All I have to do is look at my sister to see how happy she is, and if she’s happy, then I’m happy.”
“And I am happy, Sedrick,” Shiloh said, taking Caden’s hand. “I couldn’t be happier.”
“I can tell,” Cassie Mayfield, Sedrick’s girlfriend, said, with a huge grin on her face. “You’re practically glowing.”
“Thank you,” Shiloh said, smiling.
“Your apology is accepted, Sedrick. And I promise to take care of Shiloh, and to always make her happy.”