Julian (Trinity Academy 4)

When I pull back, I see a smile tug at his mouth. “Jamie…” he tilts his head, his eyes filled with warmth as he looks at me, “will you go on a date with me?”

A grin spreads over my face. “I’d love to.”Chapter 35JulianPreston has been keeping an eye on the web for any chatter about Henry Little, but luckily, there hasn’t been any.

The first three days were stressful, wondering if we might’ve missed anything, but Hayden assured me he and Max took care of the evidence.

Before they headed home to Virginia, I made a substantial donation to their foundation as a show of gratitude.

I’m busy putting on my tie for my date with Jamie when my phone rings.

“Julian Reyes,” I answer.

The liaison at reception, says, “Sir, there’s a Detective Olsen asking to see you.”

Fuck.

Knowing I can’t avoid him, I answer, “Send him up.”

I finish perfecting my tie, then shrug on my jacket.

Jamie comes out of the bathroom, putting on an earring.

“Detective Olsen is here,” I say. She freezes, and I see a flash of fear on her face. Closing the distance between us, I lift my hands and frame her face. “Don’t worry about a thing. All you have to say is that you haven’t heard from Little again.”

“Okay.”

Taking a step back, I glance down at the pale blue cocktail dress she’s wearing. “You look absolutely breathtaking.”

My compliment brings a smile to her face. “Thank you.”

Taking hold of her hand, I say, “Let’s handle this so we can go on our date.”

Just as we walk into the living room, there’s a knock. I take Jamie over to the sofa. “Sit down while I get the door.”

Opening the door for him, I move back so he can enter. “Detective, please come in.”

“Evening, folks. Sorry for coming over so late and not calling beforehand,” he says as he glances around. “We’ve linked Henry Little to twelve homicides that were previously ruled suicide. I felt you should know.”

Jamie told me he confessed to seventeen. I swallow the bitterness of the news down and say, “Thank you for letting us know.”

“Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to find any leads on his whereabouts. It’s possible he fled the state.”

Detective Olsen locks eyes with me for a moment too long, and it makes unease dart down my spine.

“We’ll be careful.” I keep my reply short, not wanting to arouse any suspicion.

The Detective glances around again, then asks, “Where are your guards?”

“They left. It was only a temporary arrangement.” I see the question forming on his face, and add, “We still have our usual security.”

“Oh, good.” He glances at Jamie and asks, “How are you holding up, Miss Truman?”

Jamie smiles at the man, and her voice is steady when she answers, “I’m much better. Thank you for asking.”

The detective nods, then looks at me again. “I’ll keep you updated should we learn anything new.”

“We’d appreciate that.” I walk him to the door and reach out my hand to him.

As we shake, he stares at me again for a long moment. “I don’t reckon we’ll find him, huh? That’s alright by me. Less paperwork.”

His words catch me off guard, but I recover quickly and reply, “One can only hope.”

He smiles one last time. “You keep well.”

“You, too.”

I watch as he walks away, sure that he knows I killed Little.

Was that his way of telling me, I don’t need to worry?

“That went better than I thought it would,” Jamie whispers from behind me.

I turn to her and seeing her relieved smile, I say, “Yes, it did. How about that date?”

She walks toward me and asks, “Where are we going?”

I wrap my arm around her waist and press a kiss to her lips. “You’re going down to the restaurant. I have a table reserved for us.”

“Me? Why? Where are you going?”

The corner of my mouth lifts, “I’ll be down shortly.”

“Okay.” She gives me a confused look, then walks out and says, “Weirdest start to a date I’ve ever had.”JamieWhen the host seats me at the same table I sat at when I met Julian, I let out a chuckle. It looks like Julian reserved the entire restaurant because all the other tables are empty.

“Would you like to order something to drink?” A waiter asks.

“A virgin strawberry daiquiri, please.” It’s the same drink I had back then.

My eyes stay on the door, and when Julian walks in, a wide smile stretches across my face. He walks to the piano and sits down before he glances my way.

For a moment, he stares at me, then he glances down at the keys and begins to play.

It’s the melody I love so much, and when the intro is done, he looks over to me with tenderness.

My heart melts for this man.

Maybe my judge of character is not off. The moment I saw Julian, I knew he was different from any other man.