Rough Canvas (Nature of Desire 6)

Julie had apparently registered what was happening, for she and Thomas came back from the dance floor.

"I'm sorry, Marcus. " She gathered Ellen to her as she started to cry, soft, muffled sobs punctuated with hiccups. "I thought. . . I'm such an idiot. Ellen's husband," her voice lowered as if Ellen couldn't hear her, and maybe she couldn't, lost in her grief and the alcohol. "He died a couple years ago and it's been really hard on her. I thought if I took her out with guys who aren't really guys - "

Marcus and Thomas exchanged a look. Julie's face suffused with color. "Oh, Jesus, how awful did that sound? Of course you're guys. That's not what I meant. Guys who don't. . . no pressure, you know? Oh, geez, just tell me I'm a total asshole. " Ellen lurched up from the table and Thomas caught her arm to steady her. "I'll take her out for some air," he said quietly, squeezing Julie's shoulder and shepherding her friend away.

Marcus rose as Julie clenched her hands together. When she reached for her purse, he waved her money away. "The tab's mine, remember? I make the money around here, after all. "

"Marcus. . . "

"Hey. " He tipped up her chin, ran his knuckles alongside her face. "I know what you meant, Julie. "

"If I hurt your feelings. . . God, Marcus. I think I'd rather cut off a limb than make you think I don't love everything about you. Okay, yes, I've often, fervently wished you went for short brunette females instead of gorgeous guys like Thomas, but that's not what I mean. And it's not because you were one of my first major benefactors. "

"Julie. " Marcus let his expression relax into a slight smile and leaned in, nose to nose. "Shut up. "

"Okay, shutting up. "

When they emerged from the Club, they found Thomas and Ellen sitting on the curb of a landscaped natural area outside the front of the club. Ellen was cradled in Thomas' lap while she sobbed. Thomas held her close as her hands clutched his back.

Julie squatted behind her, rubbing her shoulder. "Oh, sweetie, it's okay. I'm sorry. I thought this would help. "

"It does. It did. " Thomas said. "Don't worry, Julie. She just drank too much. We got rid of most of it. " He inclined his head toward the shrubbery. "Now we're having a cry, then we'll be better. Sshhh, baby, it's okay. . . " He rocked Ellen as her sobs increased, the clutch of her hands. "Give us just a few minutes, okay?" Julie wavered, uncertain, but Marcus put pressure under her elbow and took her off a few paces, turning them so with the help of the landscaping and their bodies they were partially screening Thomas and Ellen from the invasive, curious glances of those exiting the club.

"I thought this would help. She's been in such a funk, and it's been two years. "

"Thomas doesn't say anything he doesn't mean," Marcus reassured her. "If he says it's helping, it is. "

Julie watched Thomas with him. "You know, it's so obvious what a pure heart he has. He's the type you can take home to Mom. "

"That should stand him well with the girl his mother wants him to marry," Marcus remarked acidly.

Julie glanced at him, startled, but Thomas was rising. He pulled out a pocket handkerchief, dabbed at Ellen's eyes and made her smile blearily when he had her blow her nose. Pulling her back in for another hug and kiss, he rubbed her back reassuringly.

When they began to move, she was wobbly on her dress heels. Thomas simply bent and picked her up, sending Julie a meaningful glance and head jerk to tell her to lead them to her vehicle.

"Tell Thomas I'll meet him at our car," Marcus said, turning on his heel. "I'll see you next week. "

Julie stared after him, but he was already striding away.

Thomas registered Marcus moving away from them and the shift in mood it signaled, but he followed Julie to her roomy SUV. When she opened the door, Thomas put Ellen in the passenger seat, pulling the seat belt over her and buckling it. Ellen looked at him, her eyes still wet. "Thanks," she said.

He shook his head, kept hold of her hand. "You owe me another couple dances. I think we can wipe the floor with them next time, when you're not in the mood to be such a pathetic lush. " When he gave her a wink, she managed a watery smile.

Closing the door, he turned, coming around to the driver's side. Before he could open it for her, Julie gave him another one of her hard, reassuring hugs. "Thanks," she murmured. "You just reminded me why I'm tempted to come kidnap you from North Carolina myself. "

Drawing back, she looked at him. "Tell him, Thomas. Even if you're going to leave again, he needs to hear it. People think it makes it harder if you say it when you know you're going to go, but it doesn't. It makes it worse thinking someone's ripped your heart out of your chest and just didn't really give a crap. " Thomas gave a half smile. "I hear you, Julie. " His gaze shifted. Ellen had leaned over and pressed her palm to the driver's window. He reached out, placed his on the other side. She nodded, her eyes wet. Then her head disappeared as she curled up on the seat like an exhausted toddler, oblivious to her surroundings. "You're staying with her tonight, right?"

"Lord, yes. She'll be in good hands. " Julie gave him a searching glance. "Fuck you, I'm not saying good-bye. I can't do it again. "

Getting in, she got Ellen propped up and closed the door. When Thomas tapped on the window, Julie gazed at him, her eyes sheened with tears.

"Lock the doors," he mouthed.

She managed a smile, put one fingertip to the glass where Ellen had put her whole hand. He did the same, nodded. He could no more make promises to her than he could to Marcus, but as he watched her pull out of the parking lot, the sense of belonging he'd had at the beginning of the night deserted him.

He walked in silence to the Maserati. Marcus leaned against the passenger side, bringing Thomas up short.

"You going to get my door for me?" Thomas raised a brow. "I think you've been hanging around too many women tonight. "