anyways, we aren’t here to talk about the fact that I make love to my wife. What is going on with you and Stevie?”
Julian tensed. If he could be honest with anyone, then it was Noel. He didn’t have to lie. There was no point because Noel already knew. The only person they needed to lie to was Julian’s brother, Rob.
“She’s broken,” Julian whispered and fiddled with the tie in his hand. “And last night…”
“What happened?” Noel asked as he reached over and flicked the kettle switch to boil the water.
Julian knew he couldn’t go in-depth with Noel. Not just yet. Not until he knew what she had been through—what she had seen and what she had experienced. Knowing all that there was to Stephanie was his main mission.
“No condoms. No sex.” Julian pouted and then shoved his tie in his pocket.
There.
That’ll get Noel off track for a bit.
Noel raised an eyebrow, and Julian could see him biting back a smug grin. “You didn’t come prepared?”
“And you do? I didn’t realise I had left my wallet at the office until I was in the taxi. Luckily, I had money in my jacket from lunch.” Julian sighed.
A low chuckle came from Noel. He turned and took two mugs out from the cupboard behind him and then returned to face Julian. “I don’t have to come prepared. My wife’s on birth control. You’re not as frustrated as you should be… Wait. You haven’t already? Have you?”
Julian felt the twitch his upper lip had made. His poker face was under inspection. Just as he was about to lie, Noel shook his head.
“Don’t confirm it. If I don’t hear it, I don’t have to keep it from Clara. I don’t know anything. Got it, Julian? I don’t know anything. You had better get back to Max’s before Clara does wake up. I don’t know how you’ll explain this.”
Julian rolled his eyes. “I’ll just say I visited.”
Noel squinted and then let out a bothered exhale. “My wife isn’t stupid.”
“I don’t know… She did marry you. So I question the legitimacy of her decision making and her intellect.” Julian buttoned his suit jacket and then smirked at the nostril flaring Noel.
His best friend shook his head as he picked up the ready kettle. “Julian, it’s early in the morning. Don’t piss me off before I go on my honeymoon. Don’t say stupid shit about my wife again. Okay?”
Julian’s grin widened. He couldn’t help but love that through all their troubles, Noel loved his wife profusely.
“Okay, I won’t. I’ll just keep it confined to you and Rob.”
“Thanks. I’d offer you a cup of coffee, but you need to get out of this apartment if you wish to keep this a secret. My wife normally gets up soon. She has a weird body clock thing going,” Noel explained as he placed a tea bag in a mug.
Julian nodded in agreement. Clara Parker knowing that he and Stephanie had already had sex was something he wasn’t ready to face. She’d no doubt find a way to put off her honeymoon just a bit longer and have them sit down. But that wasn’t what he wanted. Slow and steady, he was going to win Stephanie’s heart back. It had to be him and only him.
“All right. I’ll go back to Max’s, shower, and change, and then I’ll be over to take you both to the airport. I’ll have to stop by the office and make sure Rogers sees the report I busted my ass over. I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Max and Rob can’t come because they have to wor—” Julian stopped; he noticed Stephanie’s wide eyes on him. He turned around and stared at the front door of the apartment he had just walked in. He was sure that when he had left over an hour ago, it had been locked.
“What are you doing here?” Stephanie asked.
Julian shut the door and ensured that this time it was locked before his attention was back on Stephanie. The confusion gleamed in her eyes, and he smiled at the sight of her. She was in a pair of tight black jeans and a loose blouse. It was the first time he had ever seen her hair down in loose curls. She looked heavenly. Julian glanced around to see that neither Noel nor Clara were in the hallway. He took the few steps needed until his body was close to touching hers. Then he cupped her face and brought her forehead to his