After hanging up with Claud, I stepped back onto the terrace and have been standing here in silence since, watching the hottest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.
She’s curled up, sleeping peacefully.
Jules is unassuming but equally gorgeous, and I have a feeling she has no idea the power she has over me.
The last few times I’ve seen Jules, she was done up and dressed to the nines, but today, her face is void of makeup, showing off a small dusting of freckles and all her natural beauty.
My eyes have been glued to her, never wanting to look elsewhere.
The fucked-up thing of it all is there is only one word that comes to mind when I stand here and watch her.
Mine.
One single word that feels so right when I think it, yet I know I have no right to claim it.
Though, deep down, something’s telling me I might be wrong.
Why else would I bring her here without even a thought? We pulled up to my building, and the second we walked through the doors, it hit me like a ton of bricks.
Never once since the day Claudina was born has another woman stepped foot in this house.
My stomach clenches, and for the first time, my thoughts tonight go to Camila and her crazy idea of naming Claudina after a butterfly so she could be here in spirit.
I never believed in all that mumbo jumbo—I put it off as her being sick and out of it.
But now, with Jules…if this is what she was talking about, I’m fucked.
I can’t have Jules forever.
I can’t.
Shaking my head, I rid myself of any thoughts about going down that path—we’ve just met for fuck’s sake.
The sun’s setting and the wind picks up, so I grab a blanket, walk over to cover her as I sit, and pull her into my arms.
I tuck a piece of hair behind her ears and softly kiss her plush lips.
I wasn’t kidding before…I’m utterly addicted to her.
“Baby,” I whisper when she starts to stir.
We need to talk, but also, a part of me wants to Rapunzel her ass so she never leaves.
I stop mid-thought.
Yeah, I’m going to need to stop watching so many Disney movies with Claud.
Slowly, her eyes open. She flutters her dark, thick lashes until her big brown eyes stare at me in shock. “Did I fall asleep?” She croaks, and instead of moving, she snuggles into my side.
I squeeze my arms around her tightly and kiss the top of her head. “You did. You look tired. Are you okay?”
“I’ve been working a lot at the bakery. Long hours and early mornings are finally catching up to me I guess.” She pauses and chuckles to herself. “Which I’m sure you’re familiar with. Running your own company on top of caring for Claud.”
Claud.
There’s a shit ton we need to discuss, and it keeps piling up.
I think of her working at the bakery, standing on her leg for long hours. She hasn’t told me yet, but I found out about her accident when I was searching her background.
