“Whatever you think you’re doing, stop it.” She marched over to him, fire burning in her gaze. That passionate look was the same one she had when he was inside of her, and damn it, did he miss it.
He moved closer and wrapped his hand around the nape of her neck. “No.”
The word hovered between them like a pending storm cloud. He could feel the weight of it in his soul like heavy rain drops.
Staring into her eyes, he thought he saw her shield drop for a mere fraction of a second, but then it was up again within a blink of an eye.
“Then you will be waiting forever.”
Julia pulled away and walked past him without saying another word. Henry sighed, if it took him forever to convince her of his love then it would be worth it. He knew how determined and stubborn Julia St. John could be, and he was determined to be just as relentless.
Standing alone in his friends’ parlor surrounded by paintings of the happy family and children’s toys, Henry knew that this was exactly what he wanted.
And he would have it—with her.
Although Gunter’s Tea Shop was the place to be seen among the upper echelon of society, Julia had no desire to be on display for other people’s pleasure. Alas, both Teddy and Emily wanted to visit the shop, and she could not deny them anything. Sitting at a small table in the back, she had thought they would be inconspicuous, but they were garnering a plethora of attention.
Julia ignored the curious stares and tried to focus on the children and the man sitting at the table with her instead of the whispers surrounding them. However, it did not escape her attention that they resembled a family. A mother, father, and two children, spending the day together, laughing and eating ices.
Although she was accustomed to being stared at by society, she did not appreciate the looks they were giving the children. She met the eye of a woman who was staring openly at Emily. Julia glared at the lady, prepared to inflict harm if she made any move toward the children. They had become the most important things in the world to Julia.
The revelation stunned her. She had always thought she was the most important person in the world. It was another sign that she was New Julia.
“Aunt Julia!” Emily said loudly.
“Yes, darling?” Julia smiled, noticing that both of the children’s mouths were covered with different flavors.
“You must try strawberry. I think it’s my favorite.” Emily nodded her head emphatically at her aunt.
Looking down at the assortment of ices taking up the small round table, she held back a giggle. Emily had convinced her uncle to purchase several flavors for them to try.
Taking her spoon, Julia dipped it into the glass bowl and took out a small amount of the pink-colored ice. She closed her eyes, enjoying the burst of flavor on her tongue, moaning appreciatively. When she opened her eyes, she met Henry’s intense stare.
His eyes were lit with passion, the intensity burning her from the inside out. Everything and everyone disappeared until there was no one else but them.
A coy smile played on her lips as her tongue slowly licked off the imaginary ice from her lips.
Henry let out a groan. She shouldn’t tease him, but she was enjoying the effect she had on him too much. He wanted her, and she reveled in that knowledge.
“Did you like it?” Teddy leaned forward, nearly falling out of the chair that was twice his size. Henry firmly grasped the boy’s shoulders and slid him back into place.
Once again, Henry surprised her with the way he cared for the children as if they were his own. The entire afternoon was having an unintended effect on her. She could feel the stone cage around her heart breaking, piece by piece.
“Y-yes, I liked it very much, but I still think chocolate is my favorite.” She answered her nephew but couldn’t tear her gaze from Henry.
He looked down at the empty chocolate container and gave her a boyish smirk, like the one that haunted her dreams. “No more chocolate for you. I believe someone ate it all.” He glanced at Teddy, who started giggling from the attention.
“It wasn’t me!” He shook his head emphatically, his mouth covered in chocolate.
Julia tapped her index finger to her chin and tilted her head back as if she was solving a great riddle. “Really? Perhaps it was a ghost?”
“Perhaps!” Emily piped up, always covering for Teddy except when they argued with each other.
“A chocolate-loving ghost. I should like to meet such a fellow.” Henry grinned at both children, before he looked up at Julia. His eyes twinkled with mischief.
She knew this Henry, this fun, carefree man. It would be easy to bring Old Julia back to love him with the careless passion she once did. But Old Julia was gone, and she was the older and wiser New Julia.
Looking down at the nearly empty glass bowls, Julia composed herself. The war waging between old and new Julia made her feel out of sorts. She wasn’t sure which one would win.
