Kendall felt her cheeks heat. “I don’t know about that. Julian and I have a complicated history. I think, by bringing me here, he wants me to see him in a different light.”
“And do you?” Lauren asked.
Kendall froze. She wasn’t ready to discuss her feelings for Julian with a stranger, even one as friendly as Lauren. She’d barely pieced them together herself.
The other woman shook her head. “I’m sorry. That’s none of my business. I have a habit of being too forward. Just ask my husband. I invited him on our first date.”
She laughed at herself, and Kendall liked her even more.
“Let’s talk about something else,” Lauren suggested. “Julian tells me you work at a dog shelter.” She picked up the pitcher of water and placed it on the table.
“The shelter is in Midtown.” And Kendall loved talking about her work. “There’s no better feeling than to place dogs that come in desperately needing homes.”
Lauren spun back around. “Wonderful! Because when we move out of the city, soon I hope, I promised Brian a dog. I should come check out your shelter.”
“Any time. We have an open door, and sadly, we get new dogs all the time.”
“You can leave the information over there.” Lauren pointed to a notepad and pen by the phone.
Kendall did as she asked, then turned back. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Actually I’m all set. Boys!” Lauren called out, her voice rising. “Dinner’s ready!”
A few seconds later, the two men and the little boy walked into the room, continuing their conversation as they took their seats. Julian pulled out a chair next to Kendall, while Brian grabbed the next closest one to Julian. The little boy had a cute case of hero worship going on for his Uncle Julian.
The food was delicious; the talk around the table was easy and comfortable. Brian was thrilled to discover Kendall walked dogs and had a ton of questions on the different breeds. She, of course, taught him the benefits of rescue. He was adorable and sweet, and she couldn’t wait to help match him with the right pet.
“So, Kendall, where did you and Julian meet?” Lauren asked as they were finishing up.
Beneath the table, Julian slid a hand onto her thigh, as if sensing she’d be treading on a sensitive subject. Obviously Lauren didn’t know minute details of their past, so Kendall pushed away the painful part of the memories, that Julian had targeted her, and focused on the day she’d first seen him and the feelings he’d inspired instead.
“We met at the gym,” she said, unable not to smile at the recollection. “He approached me as I was stepping off the treadmill and asked if I wanted to get coffee sometime.” It had seemed so genuine, so innocent in the moment.
After all, if a guy wanted to go out with you after seeing you at your sweaty worst, he was interested. Or so she’d thought. She swallowed hard. Focusing on his mistakes would be a surefire way to destroy any progress they’d made.
Julian’s hand squeezed tighter on her thigh, and though he meant to comfort, her body reacted in a purely sexual way. A ripple of desire shot through her, and a sweet pulsing settled in her sex, traveling outward, to the tightened peaks of her nipples.
“Kendall? Are you okay? Lauren asked.
“I’m fine,” she managed to say. She took a sip of water in an attempt to cool her body down.
The one place she and Julian had always clicked was in bed. Kendall, during a manic episode, craved sex… probably the way an addict like Julian once craved drugs. And he’d been all too happy to provide her fix.
On the wrong meds, she’d been reckless. She hadn’t worried about being caught. And those memories swamped her now.
“Julian, how’s your sister doing?” Lauren’s voice brought Kendall back to the present. “Is the flower shop job working out for her?”
“Sister?” Kendall asked. She didn’t know he had a sibling. He’d never mentioned it.
Another nod to how caught up she’d been in their sexual desire… and he’d probably been focused on getting her to do his bidding when it came to her brother-in-law. They hadn’t taken the time to really get to know the important things about each other.
“Yes. My sister’s name is Alyssa. She’s eight years younger than me.”
Another squeeze of her thigh; this one she took as a promise to explain more later. She hoped.
Julian cleared his throat. “She’s doing well,” he said to Lauren, his voice raspier than usual. “The routine of the job is good for her condition.”
Kendall narrowed her gaze. Something more was at play here, but she didn’t feel it was the right time to ask.