Page 25 of Come Away With Me (The Andrades 1)
While standing before the mirror in a navy strapless Gucci gown that fit her perfectly, Julia met Rena’s eyes in the mirror and asked, “How long have you known Gio?”
Rena smiled and looked up at the ceiling as if counting the years in her head. “I was still in braces when we first met. My brother, Kane, has been his best friend since middle school.”
A sliver of uncertainty crept into Julia. “Gio hasn’t mentioned him to me, but there is a lot he doesn’t tell me.”
Rena came to stand beside Julia in front of the mirror. Simply for the fun of it, she was dressed in a whimsical ultrafitted nude gown that boasted not only a bustier but also a long skirt covered in a layer of feathers. She said she’d fallen in love with it when she’d seen it on a runway in London but hadn’t yet found an event to wear it to. “Give him time. Gio doesn’t trust people easily. He’s had good reason not to.”
Julia couldn’t contain her question. “What happened?”
Rena smiled regretfully. “I wish I could tell you. I’m not supposed to know. He’d kill Kane for telling me.”
Changing the subject, Julia looked down at her own dress and said, “Will I need this dress? He said we’re not going to the wedding anymore.”
“He’ll go. He may say he doesn’t care about his cousins, but he does. He always has.” She took one of Julia’s hands in hers. “Take the dress, and don’t give up on him. He needs someone like you.”
Julia met her own eyes in the mirror.
I want to believe that.
I desperately want to believe that.
Several hours later, Julia followed Gio’s driver as he carried the bags of dresses and shoes Rena had loaned her. Although it was still strange having someone always at her side anticipating her needs, she had to admit it was nice.
It still feels like a dream.
Gio opened the door of his apartment and Julia’s heart pounded wildly in her chest. His eyes were dark and burning with need for her. If this is a dream, wake me tomorrow.
She flew into his arms and met his kiss eagerly. He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. He sat on the edge of his bed and simply held her for a moment, breathing in the scent of her hair like he’d waited all day to do just that.
She pulled her head back and looked up at him. There was sadness in his eyes that made her want to throw her arms around him and comfort him. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ve decided to attend the wedding this weekend. I leave on Friday morning.”
“You leave?”
He put a hand beneath her chin and raised her face up so she would meet his eyes. “You’re not coming with me.”
Julia clasped her suddenly cold hands in front of her. “Why?” Because it’s over? This can’t be how it ends. We haven’t even fought. “You wanted me to go. What’s changed?”
He slid her off him and stood. “I no longer want you there.”
Confused, Julia stood straight and tall in front of him. “I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t know how to be clearer.”
She stepped closer and studied his expression. Questions clamored within her. Insecurities circled like vultures waiting to swoop in. Rena’s words came back to her, bolstering her resolve. Don’t give up on him. “How about just being honest?”
He lashed out verbally. “Dammit, Julia. I’m not taking you to the wedding. I refuse to involve you in this.”
Tears clouded Julia’s eyes as she saw what was behind his anger. He wanted to protect her. “Okay.”
He frowned down at her. “Why aren’t you upset?”
Julia’s throat clogged with emotion. “Because I’m listening with my heart and not my ears. My father taught me that. It’s how he said you see the soul of something. You close out all distractions and you let yourself feel the essence of it.” She took him by the hand and led him out of the bedroom to one of the couches in the living room. She sat down even when he continued to stand and glower down at her. “You’re angry, but not at me. Let’s start over. Yell and rant as much as you want. Let it out. Then we’ll talk.”
Gio shook his head in bewilderment. “What?”
“Throw something if it makes you feel better. Sometimes I do that. Bottling it up only makes it worse.”
“I don’t yell.”
“Everyone yells.”
He shook his head again.
“Then I’ll do it for you.” She let out a high-pitched angry scream.
He sat beside her. “What are you doing? Stop.”
She screamed again.
He covered her mouth. “Someone is going to call the police.”
She smiled beneath his hand. He removed it and she said, “I just released all the anger I felt when you told me I couldn’t go to the wedding. Now you do it. You’ll feel better.”
He cocked his head to one side, then started to laugh. He laughed so hard his eyes misted over. And while he did he pulled her into his arms and hugged her.
She nodded with approval. “Laughter works, too. How do you feel?”
He cupped her face between both of his hands and looked down at her, his expression sobering. “Better than I have in a long, long time.”
“Do you want to talk now?
“Hell no.”
Even though she was disappointed, she was relieved to see him smiling. He swung her up and over one of his shoulders. “I just thought of another way to relieve some of my stress.”
She playfully swatted his back. “Don’t think this lets you off the hook. I want to know why you don’t want to take me to the wedding.”
He growled and rolled onto the bed with her. “What’s it going to take for you to stop talking?”
Julia smiled up at him impishly. “Do I really need to tell you?”
She didn’t.
The next hour left her pleasantly unable to speak or even form a coherent thought.
Chapter Sixteen
Julia woke in Gio’s arms. Lying naked in his embrace was heaven. He was absently tracing the curve of her lower back.
She hugged him tightly. She wanted to ask him so many questions, but she held her tongue. He would tell her when he was ready. “Gio?”
“Hmmm?” he asked, resting his chin on the top of her head.
“I care about you.”
He instantly tensed but said nothing. What is he afraid I’ll say? Who taught him that words of kindness are followed by something unpleasant?
Rubbing her hand across his lightly haired chest, Julia said, “That’s all. I just needed to say it.”
He bur
ied his face in her hair and held her for a moment longer, relaxing beneath her touch. “Did you have fun with Rena?”
Julia knew he was trying to distract her and she let him. “Yes. We even looked at some old photographs. I’m so jealous. How did you not have a gangly, awkward stage?”
He chuckled softly and ran his hand through her long hair. “I’m not sure I should let the two of you become friends.”
“Too late,” Julia said with a mischievous grin. “I love that she’s your best friend’s little sister. She told me that you and Kane ruled your high school. What was it like being so popular?”
Instead of laughing at her ribbing, his face grew serious. “Kane was my friend. The rest of them were more interested in how much money my family had. That’s the problem with money. People don’t see you. They see the car you drive. They see the house you live in. Beyond that, none of it is real. When you have enough money, it’s no longer a thrill to get more of it. All that matters is keeping it and ensuring it’s there for the next generation.”
Julia held up one of her hands and rubbed her thumb and index finger together back and forth quickly. She stopped and said cheekily, “Do you know what that is? It’s the world’s smallest violin, and I’m playing it for your very sad story. Too much money. The burden of it. How did you survive?”
He raised his hand and slapped her bare ass with enough force that she jumped, but not enough to hurt her. “I thought you were a sweet woman.”
She smiled back, unrepentant. “I am, but I call bullshit when I see it.”
“That can be a dangerous trait,” he said with a bit more seriousness. “Many people don’t like having their reality challenged.”
She propped herself up on one elbow and said, “I’m a lot tougher than you think.”
He ran a gentle hand down one side of her face and down her neck. “Are you?”
“Yes, I am.”
A pained expression twisted his face. “I don’t know what the wedding will be like. It has the potential to become an ugly situation.”
