Finding Julia. Desiree Holt

      She visualized him, imagined him in his office, his big body loose in a desk chair, shirt sleeves rolled back as they’d been Tuesday night. The vision of his face nearly undid her.

      “Well, I guess we’ve taken care of the pleasantries.” Now she was laughing, and suddenly she felt easy, relaxed. He was like a balm to her tightly strung nerves.

      “I hope not,” he told her. “I’m hoping this entire conversation will be pleasant.” He paused. “We signed the contract this morning. Everyone agrees it’s exactly what we need and you’ve hit on the mood we want to project.”

      “Oh, Luke, how wonderful.” She wanted to leap from the chair and dance. This was their biggest contract yet. “We’ll do a great job for you.”

      “I expect you to. I’ve seen what you’ve done before and I have a lot of faith in your work.”

      “If you could fax the contract to us, we’ll sign it and get it right back to you. Then we can get started fleshing out the outline right away.”

      “It’s on the way right now. But will you be able to get much done with the Christmas holidays coming up?”

      “Oh, yes. Claire and I will work on it this afternoon and tomorrow. Then I’ll call you with some specifics. But we’ll kick into high gear after New Year’s.”

      “Can you get away for a couple of days next week?” He cleared his throat. “I’d like you to see the plant and meet the folks who work there, plus see the samples of the new line. With March as our first target date, I don’t want to waste any time.”

      Get away? Was he kidding? How about right now?

      “I think I can make arrangements.” Her stomach twisted when she thought of Charles discovering she was once again leaving town. But she’d see Luke again. Oh, God. She’d have to call her attorney and have him force Charles to sign the papers right away.

      “Fine. See if you can work it out to be here next Tuesday and stay until Thursday. Call me when you’ve made your arrangements.” He was silent again. “I miss you, Julia.”

      “I miss you, too,” she whispered, so softly she wasn’t sure he could even hear her.

      But then he answered. “Good.” He paused. “How is…everything else?”

      The divorce.

      “I’m calling my attorney as soon as I hang up. Charles has sidestepped this long enough. I want those papers signed now.”

      “Will you be okay in the meantime?”

      “Yes. I can handle things.” She smiled to herself. “And next week, I’ll see you.”

      He clicked off and she sat at her desk, the receiver still in her hand, her heart beating a little faster.

      “And exactly what kind of business arrangement did you say this was?”

      Julia hadn’t even heard Claire open the door, much less enter the tiny office.

      “They bought the package,” she said, grinning hugely. “We got the contract.”

      “I know.” Claire leaned in the doorway. “I came to tell you the paperwork came through on the fax, but I guess you already know.”

      “Yes.” She opened her day planner and began turning pages. “We need to block out some time together today and tomorrow to go over the outline. They’d like me to come out there again next week.”

      Claire dropped into the chair in front of the desk. “By ‘they,’ I assume you mean Luke Buchanan?”

      “Well, yes. I mean, he is the executive vice president and the one who would give it the thumbs up.”

      Claire looked at her for a long time before she spoke again. “We’ve been friends for what seems like forever, Julia. I love you more than if we were sisters. I don’t know what went on in suburban Massachusetts, but you can’t hide much from me.”

      “Claire, I…”

      “No. Let me finish. You know what I think about Charles. What I’ve always thought about him. You have to get him to sign the final papers before he smells something and screws it all up. The faster the divorce is final, the better off you’ll be. And I guarantee you it will be better for the children.”

      Claire was right about their friendship. They’d bonded as college roommates and were attendants at each other’s weddings. Claire and her husband were the twins’ godparents. And she’d been Julia’s rock of support, her confessor, and her comforter through the whole nasty mess. Many days, Julia wasn’t sure she would have survived without her friend. Charles was never one of Claire’s favorite people and was always aware she detested him for the way he treated Julia.

      “I’m calling my attorney right now. Charles still hasn’t signed the divorce papers and I’m tired of playing this game.”

      Claire raised an eyebrow. “What in God’s name is it for this time?”

      Julia shrugged. “He thinks he can talk me into calling off the whole thing.”

      Claire’s eyes widened. “Is he crazy?”

      Julia sighed heavily. “I think so. Probably. I just want this done. Finally. I’m calling Harry Whitaker right now.”

      “Be careful, sweetheart.” Claire’s voice carried a warning tone.

      “About what? What can he do? He’s not going to shoot me.”

      “Texas law says a man can get a divorce on the grounds of adultery. If there’s anything going on between you and Luke Buchanan, and Charles finds out, technically you’re still married to him and he can tear up the whole agreement. He can divorce you on his terms.”

      Julia picked up the phone. “Harry needs to put some muscle into this thing.”

      “I’m running out of patience, too,” Harry told her when he answered the phone. “I’ll see if we can’t get this finished in the next day or two.”

      “I want it over with, Harry,” she told him.

      “As good as done,” he assured her.

      But even after she hung up, an uneasy feeling wiggled through her system.

      * * * *

      The next day, she called Luke to tell him she was set for the trip.

      “I’m making plans to arrive Tuesday morning. I’ll call you back as soon as I make the reservations.”

      “The company will take care of those, Julia.” His voice was firm. “I’ll have my secretary arrange things today.”

      “I’ll handle it,” she protested. “We’re going to be making money on this.”

      “Don’t worry. We can afford it. Besides, I was the one who asked you to make this extra trip. And I’ll pick you up at the airport myself.”

      “Won’t people wonder if you do?” She fidgeted. “I don’t want to put you in an uncomfortable position.”

      “Not to worry. I’ve already mentioned I’d be taking you to the plant to look around. It’s much more convenient to leave directly from Boston than to come here first, so they’d expect me to meet you. Relax. We’re all business.”

      But she could hear the smile in his voice.

      “Uh huh. If you say so.” She smiled herself. “Okay. I’ll see you next week.”

      She hung up the phone, elated, and leaned back in her chair, her eyes far away, and the smile still on her face. How was it possible to feel this way about a man after spending less than twenty-four hours with him? Was she deluding herself? Was Luke just fascinated with her—an equally improbable idea—and she the one making too much of it? She mentally