Breaking the seal, she took out the card and flipped it open. Her giddy excitement sunk and then vanished as she scanned the note. She read it twice, wracking her brain to figure out who the sender was before she recalled the name. When it hit her, worry slammed into her as she read the short message yet again.
Julie. Will you let me share this champagne with you? We’ll find out soon. Until then, Jay.
Jay, the creepy guy from the wine store? He’d sent them to her, which meant he knew where she worked. She'd met him outside of town, had barely exchanged two sentences with him and only given him her first name. Yet before her was proof he'd followed her, or tracked her down, or God only knew what, to find her. The message in itself sent ice through her blood, leaving her cold and shaking. We’ll find out soon. What did had he meant by that?
Somehow she knew it was true. He intended to see her again. And since he’d gone to the trouble of finding out where she worked, she could only imagine what else he’d discovered. She was suddenly very happy Brendan had broken her lock, forcing her to stay with him.
A tingling prickled the back of her neck, making her scan the store. She knew it was her imagination. Knew the three of them were the only ones there, but the feeling of being watched didn’t abate.
“Julie, what's wrong?” She heard them from a distance as she tried to wrap her mind around the message. Had he followed her car? Ran her license plates? And to think she'd considered going out with him. She quelled the shiver of apprehension, imagining herself on the evening news, her body left lying in a ditch somewhere.
“Julie!” Laurie stood in front of her, gripping her shoulders and giving her a firm shake. “What's the matter?”
She looked into her sister’s eyes, but still couldn’t form a reply. Brendan would flip, she had no doubt. But she could control him–if he even had to know in the first place.
Her siblings, however, were another story. They’d overreact. Even more than she was at the moment. She thought of the past weekend. How the idea of her and Brendan together had caused her brothers to hunt him down.
Laurie gave another shake, dragging Julie back. She saw the worry and protectiveness inside Laurie’s eyes, and knew there was only one option. She had to lie.
“It’s nothing.” She strove for a smile, but found it harder to summon one than usual. For years, she’d perfected her shield, smiling through the pain, and no one had known her true feelings. But two weeks with Brendan, two weeks of smiles and laughter, and her mask no longer fit as well as it used to.
“It’s not ‘nothing.’ I saw panic on your face–” Her eyes dropped to the card clutched in Julie’s hand. “Give me that card.” Laurie reached for it, but Julie flung her hand behind her back. Growing up with four wolf siblings had taught her to be quick on her feet.
“It really is nothing. I’m just worried about what Brendan will think. They’re from an ex, that’s all. An ex I want nothing to do with. If either of you want the champagne it’s all yours.” Julie strolled behind the counter and chucked the flower into the garbage.
“Wow. Must’ve been some breakup,” Laurie murmured. Her eyes burned into Julie, telling her without words she didn’t believe her story.
Julie took a deep breath, knowing what she had to do. She’d wanted to keep her relationship with George a secret from her family. But if revealing some small details would help her keep her freedom, it was the lesser of two evils. Besides, she’d told Brendan the entire story a few nights ago. He’d helped her realize she hadn’t been the problem. George had cheated on her because he had issues, not the other way around.
“You could say that. It wasn’t a ‘breakup’ so much as an ‘Oh, I walked in on you having sex with the slut from your economics class’ realization.” She crumpled the card in her hand, tossing it in after the flowers, hoping her story would discourage more questions. She turned, ready to resume work, but swung back.
“Listen,” Julie began. “Do you think we could keep this between us? I don’t need Brendan getting all jealous or anything. I don’t know why George is contacting me again, but there’s no reason for Brendan to worry.”
“Lying to your mate isn’t a good way to start off.” Samantha’s voice was soft but strong. The word mate stood out. Brendan and she hadn’t discussed the subject since that night weeks ago. She’d gotten the impression he was trying to ease her into the idea before marking her, but she was more than ready. Still, she hadn’t uttered a word. How had her family figured it out?
“We’ve known for a while, Jules. The way he is with you. It’s obvious to any who care to look. He would’ve claimed you in high school if the boys hadn’t warned him off.”
“Can you read me that easily?” Julie blew out an exasperated breath. She used to be so good at shielding her emotions.
“You’ve been an open book lately.” Laurie laughed as Julie turned and stalked away in a huff.
Laurie’s laughter died as she watched Julie walk away. So that’s what had happened to the boy her sister had gushed over last Christmas. There was no doubt she told the truth about the breakup. Laurie didn’t, however, think his contacting her would bring such panic. She’d called Julie’s name three times and shook her twice to break the spell.
As her sister disappeared between two bookshelves, Laurie walked behind the counter and looked at the trash. The crumpled card stood on top.
“Maybe we shouldn’t.” Samantha glanced in the direction Julie had disappeared.
“If all that’s there is an apology from this George fellow, then I’ll drop it and won’t tell Brendan. But if it’s something more serious, we need to be prepared. She still doesn’t know someone broke the lock on her door, and I’m worried she’d hide it if something were wrong.”
Flattening the card on the table, Laurie read the short inscription.
Well, shit. She hoped Julie had told the truth, but this card wasn’t from a George. This was signed Jay. Laurie wracked her brain, but couldn’t recall anyone by that name.
The message itself seemed harmless, if a little creepy, but the way Julie had lied brought a new element into the equation. She’d kept the secret of her last boyfriend for months. Divulging that information now proved this note, whatever it meant, was worse.
Picking up the phone, she placed it between her shoulder and ear as she dialed. This situation required reinforcements. She handed Samantha the card as she listened to the ringing on the other end.
“Hello,” Ethan answered.
“We’ve got a problem. How soon can you all get here?”
“Problem? Is Samantha okay?” The panic in his voice was unsettling.
“Samantha?” Why was Ethan worried about Samantha? “She’s fine. She’s standing right next to me.”
“Good. We’re on our way. We’ve got more trouble than you know.”
“What is that noise?” In the background, Laurie heard snarls and growling. It sounded as if her brother stood smack dab in the middle of a dog fight.
“That would be Jason. We’ll be there soon, just watch the girls until we arrive. Both of them.” The line went dead.
Jason? She’d never heard him so worked up. As the Premier, he usually kept a cool head. Picking up the phone, she dialed Brendan, then Gwen, relaying the message. Something told her everyone should be present.