Whoa. At my words, her flush deepened. Holy shit, was she avoidingmeby working from home? Had she known we were neighbors? When did she figure that out? And was she avoiding me because she didn’t like me or because she was embarrassed by her aunt? So many questions.
“Um, it seems that you’re the only person Lou has strong-armed to get to agree to being a client for me…”
“So far,” I pointed out.
She considered that, shrugging her shoulders. “I guess you’re right. Give her time.” She looked down, then back up as her warm brown eyes met mine. “Did you know last night that you lived behind me?” Her voice had an air of vulnerability that I had a strong desire to protect. “I promise I didn’t then, but I did find out this morning.” I could tell she was worried about it, which I wanted to think more about, but first wanted to reassure her.
“No, I didn’t know last night.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket. “In the spirit of total honestly, I did get this text from your aunt about an hour ago and that’s when I found out.” I passed her my cell.
Jules took it, her brow furrowed as she looked down to see Lou’s text, then my reply. Her eyes shot up to mine with an expression of horror on her face.
“Oh my goodness, Noah, I’m so sorry.” She sank down on the couch a cushion away from me, placing my phone between us. “I wish I could say I was surprised, but that would be a lie.”
I smiled, quite frankly charmed by the woman. There was something about her that made me want to reassure her, shield her. From whom? The world? No idea. Lou was a lot, but she was harmless. Jules felt younger than me and the same age at once. I couldn’t puzzle it out, but I knew I’d like to be around her more.As a friend, I reminded myself.
“Jules, it’s okay. While I don’t know Lou well, her reputation proceeds her. And I’d love you to file my taxes for me. I’m sure I could do them as I have in the past, but I’ve left it to the last minute. And I’ll be honest, mine aren’t terribly complicated, but the time of year snuck up on me and I’m currently swamped at work. You getting it squared away would be a relief.” I watched her face as I spoke and noted how her forehead smoothed out. “However, I also recognize that it is nine days until tax day, so am I putting you in a bind?”
The relief was evident on Jules’s face. “Oh no, that’s fine. You said yours would be pretty standard, correct? I have time to get that done, no problem.”
Without another word, I grabbed the stack of folders I had on the cushion next to me, flipped through them until I found the documents, then passed it to Jules. “I think this is everything you’ll need.”
Jules accepted the folder, then opened it to look over the contents. I could practically see her making checkboxes in her head. Hmm, I wasn’t aware I had a thing for competency, or was it just that this woman was attractive to me in all ways? If I was being real, the fact that it was so easy to read her—that what yousaw was what you got—that was the most attractive. I abhorred the games that some women played. That was probably why I didn’t have many relationships in college. And when it came down to it, that’s how Ivy and I ended up together. Iknewher, had known her for years. Ivy was not one to bullshit either.
“Be honest,” I began, making Jules look from the papers to me. “Are you sure I haven’t earned a spot on your shit list by handing off my taxes this late? I don’t typically live my life trying to make more work for others.”
To my absolute delight, she let out a gorgeous, unfettered laugh. “No worries, Noah. I wouldn’t have said yes if I didn’t have time. Starting here two weeks ago gave me the benefit that I’m picking up the slack in the office for others but have no actual clients of my own. I can easily finish this for you in time.” She returned to flipping through my papers.
I cleared my throat, getting those brown eyes aimed at me again. “In that case, are you just being neighborly and coming to take care of me and my tax needs, or do you want to stay for a minute?”
Jules tipped her head like she was considering my words. “Stay and do what?”
Oh, Jules. I watched as her skin flamed again. Yep, I saw how that could be taken in the wrong way, but I was keeping this PG and getting us back in a comfortable zone for her. “Let’s just get to know each other better. You know, as neighbors?”
“Okay.” Jules still looked hesitant, but she scooted back on the couch and folded her legs pretzel-style.
“So how are you liking Highland Falls?” Softball question there—hopefully that would be helpful.
“Oh, um, I really like it.” She paused, clearly trying to decide whether to keep her thoughts short and close to the vest or just to spill. I was voting for letting it all out, so I stayed silent, giving her the time she needed. “I loved Chicago. I lived in Lakeview,and it was a fabulous neighborhood, but I like the slower pace here.” She brushed her hands down her leggings. “So far my life is more balanced.”
I nodded. Ivy and I grew up in Madison, which wasn’t near the size of Chicago, but the pulse of a city just made you want to speed up. “I hear you. I think you know I was in Africa before landing here?”
She gave me a nod to let me know the gossip in town had at least given her that.
“Living there wasn’t like being surrounded by eight million or more of my closest friends, but it was a job that never seemed to be done. You know? Like I was never off the clock.”
“That would be hard,” Jules murmured. “I hope Highland Falls is helping you find that balance too.”
Before I could get my next get-to-know-Jules question out or follow up on that comment, a noise from her yard had us both turning.
“Oh, there you two are! Don’t let me disturb you.” Lou stood in Jules’s backyard, twenty feet or so from us, with a cat-that-ate-the-canary expression on her face.
“Oh, I should go check in with Lou.” Jules scrambled up, my folder in hand. “Thanks so much for this, Noah. Talk soon.”
I couldn’t even get one word out to slow her down—the woman was off my porch and hotfooting her way through my yard to hers and through her back door, pulling Lou along with her.
Hmm. My plan for getting to know Jules would have to resume later.
Chapter 7
