The Allure of Julian Lefray - R.S. Grey Page 0,105

Lorena, since I obviously might be biased, but I also told her that you’ve been a wonderful employee. Dependable, organized, and hardworking. I told her that she was crazy if she didn’t hire you.”

My eyes widened in shock. “You didn’t. Did you?”

He smiled and his gaze fell to my lips. “Of course I did. It’s the truth.”

“What’d she say?” I asked, alarm bells ringing in my head.

“She said that she’d notify you about the position first thing upon your return to New York, but that if I spoke with you first, I was allowed to congratulate you first.”

I covered my mouth in shock. “Julian! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!”

He laughed and shook his head. “It looks like I won’t be your boss anymore.”

I stared down at his chest, contemplating his words. I’d landed the job at Vogue. I would be working at Vogue. Vogue would be my employer.

No matter what way I spun it, it didn’t sound right.

How was that possible?

And why was I a tiny bit sad about it?

I liked my job working for Lorena Lefray Designs. I loved being with Julian all day, every day.

“Jo?”

“Yes?” I asked, keeping my gaze on his chest.

“This is a good thing.”

I bit my bottom lip and collected my thoughts.

“I know that. I do. I want the job, it’s just…the reason I didn’t tell you about the position earlier was because I wasn’t sure I wanted it. I really like working with you and if I leave…”

“We’ll still see each other every day,” he said.

I flicked my gaze up to him and smiled.

“Because you and I are dating,” he said. “Together. In love.”

I smiled and let his words sink in.

“You know what that means?” I asked. “We’re going to go out on dates, and I’m going to leave a toothbrush at your house, and we’re going to bicker about dumb stuff like where we want to eat, and then we’ll throw in the towel, order pizza, and have sex on the couch.”

He smirked. “I have to say that sounds pretty nice actually.”

“You know what else it means?” I said.

“What?”

“You definitely have to share half of that donut with me now.”

Chapter Fifty-Two

Josephine

I lugged my backpack through my parents’ house, confused about how I was somehow leaving Texas with fifty extra pounds of luggage. I’d taken a trip to Sally’s Thrift Shop the day before and had left with a pair of kickass cowboy boots for $5, but they weren’t that heavy. It was probably the five boxes of homemade cookies my mom had insisted I take back to New York with me. Twist my arm, why don’t you?

“Josie? Are you headed out?” my mom asked, popping her head out of the kitchen.

I glanced up from my bag to see her scanning over me, worry clouding her gaze. We’d had a long chat about my choice to get plastered the other night. I’d assured her that I wasn’t a crazy alcoholic, and she’d forced me to promise that I would be honest with her if I ever did have a problem. I’d all but promised to provide her with weekly blood screenings just to ensure her that I was okay. Even still, I knew she wasn’t wholeheartedly convinced that I should be going back to New York.

“Julian is going to swing by and pick me up after he gets Lily.”

She nodded and gripped a tea towel between her hands, staring hard at my torso.

I leaned my bag against the wall and stepped forward to give her a hug. I’d already said my goodbyes to my dad the night before. He couldn’t stand to see me driving away. It was easier for him to pretend I was just going off to a sleepover or something like I was still in high school. Big softie.

My mom gripped the back of my shirt and I pressed my face into the crook of her neck. I leaned my cheek on her shoulder and inhaled her scent.

“Take care of yourself, okay?” she said.

I nodded and stepped back, trying to keep my feelings at bay.

“It’ll be better now that Lily is coming with me. We’ll have a little family in New York.”

She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. I knew she was putting on a brave face.

“I’ll try to visit more often too. Maybe I can come back down for Christmas?”

She sniffed and glanced away. “That’d be great.”

I heard a car pull up onto the gravel drive outside and I glanced through the front door to see Julian’s rental car. I