“We’re headed out,” Petula told the crew, not consulting with Julian first.
In this particular case, he could suck it up.
“I’ll follow you back to our parents’ place to get Julian’s rental car,” Spence asserted. “Just to make sure nobody follows you.”
“Good call,” Petula approved.
She didn’t take offense at the offer.
Petula wasn’t trained to be situationally aware like these guys were. Someone could be right on her tail without her knowing.
The whole transferfrom Julian’s truck to his rental car didn’t take long. They would have spent even less time doing the swap-out, but Ellen Sothard insisted on loading them up with all the food she’d stress-cooked over the course of the afternoon.
By the time they got back to Julian’s house, Petula was almost as exhausted as Julian, and the food certainly came in handy at that juncture to fill their empty stomachs before they both hit the mattress and succumbed to sleep.
Sunday was spent pretty much lollingaround the house.
Petula wasn’t ready to let Julian out of her sight. Not yet. He’d told her he was more than fine, but she relished this rare chance to coddle him.
When she finally brought up the idea that maybe he should give his “following Petula” shift the next day to one of her other watchers, he was having none of it.
“Uh, uh.I’llbe the one tailing you tomorrow,” he told her in no uncertain terms.
Then to distract her, he attempted to make her laugh. “After all, ‘tis but a flesh wound,” he said in his best, high-pitched, Black Knight voice.
“Hah, hah,” she responded, but did let an actual giggle slip free.
Julian was just so damned cute.
The day went by far too quickly, and by the time they were ready for bed, Petula was seriously considering calling in sick the next day.
Julian talked her out of it.
“The more normal we keep things, the better,” he told her. “We don’t want Jefferson—or Bradly if that’s who is following you—snooping around Diver Downeast. Whichever one of them is after you, they’ve now proven they’re dangerous. And the way they’ve just ramped things up, means they might be getting desperate. We don’t want them storming our shop and taking Sheila or anyone else hostage to flush you out.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Petula said, putting her hand to her throat. “You’re right. I need to stick to my routine.”
Julian grumbled, pulling her close and wrapping his arms around her as he spoke into her hair. “I don’t like the idea that we’re dangling you out there like bait, but I swear I won’t let you out of my sight. And if even the smallest thing seems off, I’ll call in reinforcements. Wewillcatch whoever is doing this. I promise.”
“As long as you don’t get shot again,” Petula huffed. “I almost lost my mind when I heard that.”
“Come here,” Julian said, letting go of her and backing slowly up to the bed with a seductive look on his face.
Oh really?
In deference to his injury, they’d kissed and cuddled, but Petula had denied Julian any “strenuous” activities up until now. The current heat in his eyes, however, was suggesting that he refused to be denied any longer.
“What do you have in mind?” she questioned with a smirk.
“Oh, a little of this, a little of that,” he prevaricated with an answering grin. “I’m sure we’ll figure something out.” He stood a little straighter. “Just let me get the curtains.”
Petula held out a palm-forward hand, stopping him in his tracks.
“You know what?” she posited, feeling like she’d turned some kind of a corner, knowing that Julian had been in danger. “Let’s kill the lights but leave the curtains open tonight.”
“You…? We…?” Julian swallowed hard.
It was cute to see him flustered, and Petula figured she might as well keep him off kilter.
