Irresistible You (30 page)

By that following afternoon Jace and Colonel Wheeler had returned from their fishing trip. A welcome home fish fry and cook out celebration was planned. Taylor, Louise and Juliet cooked a feast while Jace, Colonel Wheeler and J.T. prepared an elaborate meal on the outside grill. That evening the three couples laughed and joked as Colonel Wheeler and Jace concocted outrageous tales about their week long Canadian boat trip.

The following morning, after long hugs and fond farewells, Colonel Wheeler and Louise left to return to Crescent Island. Louise embraced both Juliet and J.T. giving them a special hug and telling each to always cherish and nurture their love. She was obviously beyond elated.

It was finished. The plan had worked and J.T. had been patting himself on the back the remainder of the next day. He called Juliet at the theatre and asked her to join him in celebrating their success. She accepted. He gave her the directions.

Patricia looked at her watch then picked up the phone on the second ring. “Hello?”

“Why am I not surprised you’re still in the office.” Juliet said.

Patricia smiled removed her glasses and tossed her pen down. It had been a long exhausting day and she deserved a break. Talking to her best friend was the perfect remedy. “Hey girl, how are you?”

“Fine. What are you still doing there?”

“I had some paper work to catch up on. Pierce is working late tonight and Kimberly’s visiting Jasmine. The last thing I wanted was to go home to that big empty house.”

“Are you kidding, that place is a palace.”

“It’s an empty palace sometimes. So what’s going on with you?”

“Same old, same old, Richard and I are doing Don Quixote, Vanya still wants to break my legs, in a few days I’ll have no idea what I’m going to be doing with the rest of my life, I fell in love with J.T. Evans and I think he loves me too and finally, I’ve decided to attend my father’s wedding in Florida with Randolph.” Juliet exhaled quickly felling like a burdened weight had been lifted from her chest.

Patricia went completely silent. “What did you just say?”

“Richard and I are doing Don Quixote; Vanya still wants to break my legs…”

“No,” Patricia interrupted, “the last part.”

Juliet smiled, “I’ve decided to attend my father’s wedding in Florida with Randolph.”

“Don’t be a smart-butt. You know what part I’m talking about.”

“Don’t make me say it again.”

“Have you told him yet?”

“No.”

“Are you going to?” Patricia asked. Juliet remained silent. “Don’t you think you should? You owe it to yourself and to him.”

“Exactly how am I supposed to do that?”

“Simple. Just tell him.”

“You don’t understand. Telling a man that I’m in love with him isn’t exactly me, you know that.”

“Yes, and I also know that you’ve been in love with J.T. since New York ten months ago. And chances are he fell in love with you at the same time. Tell him.” Patricia insisted.

“I’m still debating that issue.”

“And what conclusions have you come to if any?”

“That’s why I called you. I need your help.”

“You don’t need my help Juliet, do what’s in your heart.” Patricia said.

 “You don’t understand, this wasn’t how it was supposed to be. We made a deal. We were only supposed to pretend. What am I supposed to do now?”

“How about talking to him, tell him how you feel.”

“Is that the only idea you can come up with?”

“Juliet call him, talk to him.”

“He wants to meet with me tonight, to talk.”

“Perfect. Tell him that you love him tonight.”

“This wasn’t part of the deal,” Juliet lamented.

“It never is.” Patricia smiled looking up seeing her husband open her office door and walk inside. He cross the room and gently pulled her up from her chair.

“What do I say?” Juliet asked.

“That’s the easiest part,” she smiled and paused looking into her husband’s eyes, “I love you.” Patricia said to her husband. Pierce kissed her hands and mouthed the words back to her. Patricia blushed. She would never get tired of hearing those words from him.

Juliet sighed heavily. “I’ll call you later.”

Juliet hung up and stood at the barre. She looked at herself in the mirror. It was getting late. The decision to go to the celebration party J.T. planned weighted heavily on her mind. She needed to end this now, before she got too late. Who was she kidding, it was already too late. The moment they met, it was too late for her. She looked up at her soft brown eyes. Love at first sight, thanks a lot.

She picked up her purse and grabbed the address J.T. had e-mailed over. She was supposed to meet him at the party, she was fine with that. The last thing she needed was to have J.T. drive her home again. She was barely able to resist him last night.

This whole thing had gotten out of hand. She knew from the start in New York that she had gotten too emotionally involved. There was no way she could continue to play this part. Love had trapped her and there was no way out. She grabbed her keys and walked out the door.

Following the detailed directions she drove just a mile or so from her own house. Checking the address she pulled into the driveway and parked as instructed. Admiral’s Way. She got out of the car and glanced around the quiet neighborhood.

The three-story riverfront townhouse was beautiful, stately and majestic. Built directly across the street from the Potomac River, it had an idea view of the waterway as it overlooked the harbor side.

Juliet paused for a moment to look across the street. A small tourist cruise ship was passing by and several of the people waved at her from the top deck. She waved back then waiting as it silently drifted away. She turned and walked back across the street to the house. She rang the bell.

“J.T.?”

“Welcome.” He stepped back, took her hand and guided her into the house.

“This is home now?”

“Yes, for the time being at least. It actually belongs to my brother-in-law. He recently moved to Philadelphia. I’m just staying here until I find something in the area. Although,” he looked around casually, “this place is pretty phenomenal. I just might consider making him an offer now that he and my sister have permanently moved to Philadelphia.”

Juliet looked around nodding, “Not bad, what’s he do?”

“He owns a few antique shops.”

“This is gorgeous,” she picked up a beautiful gold inlaid vase, “business must be good.”

“It’s very good.”

“So, you don’t live in New York, you don’t live here, where do you live?”

“Actually I did live in New York for about six years. I had an apartment on the Upper East Side. I just sold it.”

“If you had an apartment why’d you go to the hotel that night?”

“I got stuck in traffic. There was an accident and my car was jammed in without any expectation of being freed any time soon. Traffic wasn’t moving and I wasn’t walking forty blocks to my apartment, so a hotel room seemed like a good idea at the time.”

She nodded. “So where exactly is home for you?”

“I have a place in Virginia Beach.”

“On the beach?” she asked, he nodded yes. “You’re beach bum, I love it?” She laughed. “I knew it, I knew there had to be someplace in your life where you were totally free to be yourself.”

“Is that Old Town for you?”

“Yeah, that’s home for me, it’s where I grew up.”

“Come on, I’ll give you an abbreviated tour.” The first stop was the lower level. A two-stall garage, mini gym, laundry and game rooms were loaded with every imaginable activity.

The next level up was the main entrance with a large foyer, glamorously adorned living room and eat-in kitchen. Rich dark mahogany and deep green and blue hues extended from the vestibule through to the formal dining room and full kitchen which were all professionally decorated and accented with the finest antiques.

Above that floor were two spacious bedrooms complete with Jacuzzi bathrooms attached to each and a small library and home office. And the top floor was an elegant master bedroom with attached balcony, and alcove seating area.

The home was beautiful. They went back to the second floor. J.T. checked diner in the kitchen and Juliet stood and marveled at the scenic view from the living room balcony. To the left was King Street and its festive atmosphere, to the right was serene majesty of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and straight ahead the Potomac River lay before her. She could have stood at the spot the rest of her life. It was perfect. Her with J.T., she was in her own personal heaven, she was in love.

Her heart slammed against her chest as the realization continued to dawn on her. She was in love. For the first time in her life this was the real thing and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it. So what, she was in love, she’d get over it eventually.

J.T. came out and stood behind her slowly running his hands up and down her arms then he encircled her nuzzling her neck. They stood in silence looking out at the dark star studded sky. “Did you ever wonder how we ended up like we did?” he asked.

“In a hotel room together?”

“No.”

“A dancer?” she asked.

“No,” J.T. paused. “Alone, looking for someone special to share our lives with, someone to love,” he looked down at her tenderly.

She turned to him. “What makes you think that’s what I’m looking for?”

“Aren’t you? Aren’t we all?”

“My mother was in love until the day she died, still heartbroken over my father.”

“But you see yourself differently, don’t you?”

“Yes. I’m nothing like my mother I don’t mind being alone. It’s what I’m good at.

“How can you not mind being alone, not having someone to wake up to every morning, someone to share your joys and troubles, someone to have children with and grow old with?”

Juliet looked away. “You mean someone to cook and clean and take care of the babies while he’s out in the world on the career track. If that’s what you’re looking for, why didn’t you just let Mamma Lou do her matchmaking thing?”

“I don’t need Mamma Lou to match me up with someone.”

“Why not, you seem to want all that domestic stuff. I’m sure she can find you someone suitable if you ask her.”

J.T. smirked at her insinuation. “First of all, I’m a very good cook, I have a cleaning service, raising my children is a
we
thing done together, and as for being out in the world on the career track, the world of computers is a remarkable one. You can be in Asia, in London, in San Francisco or at home in bed with your wife and still be completely connected to the office.”

“You make it sound so simple.”

“It is if you want it to be, do you?” A sudden chill shot through Juliet. She shivered. “Are you chilly?” J.T. asked.

“No,” she choked out then cleared her throat. “I’m fine,” she looked away quickly. “It’s so beautiful here.”

They stood in silence and looked out on the blackness of the night sky each pondering their conversation. “Come on let’s eat, dinner’s ready,” J.T. said as he took her hand.