“I have no doubt the Center will be packed,” Kristin answered, trying to plaster a fake smile on her face, still wanting to kill Julian for telling her parents that the timing was good and that he was looking forward to the reception.
There was no way she could cancel it now. Not unless she wanted to dump Julian way earlier than they agreed. He’d make her life miserable if she did, and honestly, she greedily wanted that time now.
Somehow, living with Julian, being with him, took away every bit of the loneliness and isolation she’d felt for so many years. Even though she already knew how it was going to end, she didn’t want to miss the beginning and middle—the good parts. Even though he did, more often than not, make her crazy.
She rose, feeling awkward for lying to her parents. “I’d better run.” She bent down and kissed her mom’s cheek, then moved to her father to do the same. “Julian might cook if I’m not home, and that’s more than a little terrifying.”
They both chuckled as she waved, leaving the living room exhausted from trying to smile so damn much. Letting herself out, she dashed to Julian’s SUV, pushing the button to open the door as she ran. Freezing rain was coming down, and Kristin was grateful when she got inside the comfortable vehicle. She put her foot on the brake pedal and pushed the button to start up the automobile. If she had thought about it earlier, she could have started the SUV from the house so it would be warm. But her car was older, and didn’t have the fancy features that this one did.
The moment they’d returned from Hawaii, Julian had lectured her about needing a new car. She’d put her foot down, arguing that her car might be old, but it ran just fine. He’d finally given up, grumbling about her refusal to let him replace a perfectly reliable vehicle, but she’d lost the battle of what car she was going to drive. He’d heard they were in for some bad weather, so he’d finagled her into driving his SUV today because he was staying in to work on his screenplay.
When she’d lived in town, having a compact vehicle hadn’t been an issue. But once she got going on the country highway, Kristin was grateful to have a heavier vehicle beneath her.
Slowing her speed, she drove home thinking about what to make for dinner, wondering how much work Julian had managed to get done on his writing.
Kristin was fairly certain that his career change wouldn’t last. At some point, he was going to want to do more movies. He’d never be happy in a small town like Amesport after living in California for so long. Granted, townspeople rarely bothered him. Everybody was accustomed to the Sinclairs living in the area, and nobody cared that the place was crawling with billionaires. Most of them were grateful for the changes Grady, his brothers, and finally his cousins had brought about for the citizens. The Sinclairs cared about the town they lived in, and it showed with every improvement they helped to make happen.
It took her longer to get home because of the icy roads, but Kristin finally pulled into the garage with a sigh.
Julian met her at the garage door with a frown. “I was getting worried. You didn’t answer your text.”
“I was driving,” Kristin retorted. “The roads are slick. I think it will turn to snow shortly.”
He took her coat and hung it up. “I’m glad I didn’t know. I was just wondering if you got delayed.”
“I stopped at my parents’ house. I’ve been driving in winter weather here for years, Julian,” she reminded him, but her heart melted over the fact that he’d been waiting for her.
“Doesn’t matter,” he grumbled. “Shit still happens.”
His comment made her wonder if he was thinking about Xander and his parents. The thought choked her up a little, knowing that Julian still wasn’t completely over his sudden loss. Hell, if she’d lost her parents that traumatically, she’d be the same way: always wondering if and when it could happen again.
She wasn’t about to tell him that she was glad she’d driven his vehicle. He’d just gloat about the fact that he was right, or he’d say something that would touch her heart. Kristin was never sure which response to expect from Julian. “Let me go shower and then I’ll cook something.”
Still in her scrubs, the first thing she wanted when she hit the door was to get cleaned up. Even though she used a lab coat at work, she still wanted to get out of her office attire.
“Kiss me first,” Julian insisted, catching her around the waist as she tried to escape.
“I’m all germy,” she protested with a laugh.
“Then we’ll share germs. Not like we haven’t before,” he said huskily as he swooped down to steal a kiss.
Her body reacted immediately, and she hated the fact that he smelled so damn good.
“Enough,” she told him as she came away panting. “I’ll be back.” She danced out of his reach and took the stairs, smiling as she heard him muttering about her leaving him hard up as he turned back toward the kitchen.