Sommersgate House (Ghosts and Reincarnation #2)(67)
Author: Kristen Ashley

When Julia turned to take her seat, she stopped and stared. Lizzie immediately began forking huge pieces of fish into her mouth.

Yes, Douglas thought, a surprising ally.

Julia stiffly took the seat to his right, not looking at anyone and also not eating much of her meal.

Douglas found that he liked the food, although it was not a nice steak, it was, at least, filling, in a greasy way. He also liked the company. Julia fell easily into the role of hostess, going out of her way to include Nick and the children in the discussion and making Nick at ease.

Not that Nick wasn’t already at ease, in fact, Nick was enjoying himself tremendously. He was also enjoying the children, telling jokes that made them laugh. Julia eventually allowed her stiffness to recede and laughed along with them.

Douglas watched this scene with a sense of fascination, thinking, soon, this scenario, strange to him and something he’d never experienced before, was to be his life. Every night, sitting and talking with the children, laughing, eating. Afterwards there would be… whatever it was that families did after supper.

Then it would be Julia and him, alone, in his bedroom. Julia, perhaps, pulling a brush through her hair and striding around in nothing but her dressing gown.

Later, Julia in his bed, wearing nothing at all.

Something stirred deep within him, something he’d never felt, not once in his entire life. Something that was both alarming and soothing. Something, for his sanity, he firmly set aside.

The kids finished and Douglas allowed them to leave the table, taking all the plates and cutlery to put in the dishwasher. Julia went with them but came back carrying two more cans of bitter and another can of cider for herself.

“You got a job or do you look after the kids?” Nick asked as he popped open his bitter, ignoring the glass and drinking it straight from the can.

Julia had reseated herself, informally folding one leg underneath her on the chair and leaning forward to put her elbow on the table.

She poured her cider while she spoke. “I’m volunteering at a charity in Bristol.”

“Yeah? You like it?” Nick asked, genuinely interested.

Douglas watched, now captivated, as Nick’s simple question turned on a switch in Julia and she lit up. Forgetting to be stiff and aloof, she started to talk.

“I was a little worried, starting something new. I was at my old job in The States for over a decade, but it’s better than I expected, far better…” Her eyes were alight, passion in her words as she carried on.

Douglas sat back and watched her silently while she poured out information that normally would have had Nick nodding in his chair. Instead, her fervour was catching and even Nick found himself making up questions to keep her talking.

And Douglas was struck by two things. First, she was very clever, knowledgeable and accomplished and second, her work wasn’t just work, it was a calling and she loved it. There was something extraordinary in that, he’d never met anyone who had truly found their passion.

She seemed to realise she was monopolising the conversation and her eyes slid to her empty cider glass. “I’ll shut up now. I’ve got to be boring you.”

“Not at all,” Douglas assured her quietly, her gaze flew to him and he had the unflattering impression that she’d forgotten he was even there.

“Okay,” she whispered, making a decision and rising. “I’ve got to get the kids to bed. It’s past Ruby’s bedtime and she’s a bear in the morning if she doesn’t have her full night’s sleep. Nick, lovely of you to stay.” She nodded to a smiling Nick and then she quickly exited the room.

Again, both Nick and Douglas watched her leave and, finally, Nick asked, “Once I’m in your Gate House, can I come to dinner every night?”

Douglas turned to his friend. “No.”

Nick chuckled, taking no offense. “Didn’t ‘spect so. Wouldn’t want to share her myself.”

Nick left shortly after and Douglas went in search of Julia. She was in the lounge, drawing the draperies.

He stood watching her, liking the way she took care of his home, liking more the way she took care of his friend and even more the way she took care of the children but mostly the way, last night, she took care of him.

When she turned and saw him, she jumped.

“Don’t do that,” she snapped, but her voice was breathy.

“What?” he asked.

“Sneak up on me,” she explained.

“I didn’t sneak up on you,” he told her truthfully.

“You glide around like a cat, it’s bizarre. No man of your size should be so quiet.” She walked from the room, sliding by him, giving him as wide a berth as possible and went into the dining room.

Douglas followed her.

“We need to talk,” he told her as she gathered all the glasses from the table and turned to go to the kitchen.

“It’s late, you need your rest.” She walked away, thinking that was that and leaving him where he was. He heard distant rumbles in the kitchen as she tidied.

He thought of his options, made a quick assessment of them and then walked to her room. He turned on the lights and eased himself into the chair in the turret. He was shattered but determined to have this talk, even if Julia was just as determined to avoid it.

She came in not five minutes later and jumped again when she saw him.

“What are you doing here?” Again the breathy snap, this time with wide eyes.

“As I said, we need to talk.”

She studied him.

He waited.

“Douglas,” she finally said, her tone now beyond weary, “I didn’t get enough sleep last night. I’m exhausted, you need to recuperate, let’s talk later, okay?”

“No,” he replied.

She crossed her arms on her chest, regarded him for another moment and then gave in with ill-grace. “Well then, say what you have to say.”

He opened his mouth to begin but she interrupted.

“No, I think I want to go first.”

He closed his mouth and lifted a brow.

“I think…” she started and stopped. “No, that isn’t right. I thank you for…” she stopped again and then looked away, emitting a frustrated noise that Douglas decided was bloody adorable then she started again. “Your attention and your stated intentions are very nice and I appreciate them. I… I’m honoured,” she stammered.

He watched her, not saying a word and not finding her adorable any longer mainly because he did not like that she considered his intention to marry her “very nice”.