C.J. Urban - Julie Townsend 01 - Hidden Intent Read Online Free PDF Page B

somewhere?”
    Skye hesitated a moment. “Yeah, I guess that’s possible. But after this long, you’d be hard pressed to find whoever did it.”
    Julie didn’t reply, but stared intensely into her coffee cup.
    Skye shifted uncomfortably in his seat on the couch. “I’m sorry, Julie. I shouldn’t have sprung this on you so suddenly.”
    “No, it’s okay. I mean, I don’t like it. I don’t like the thought of someone being murdered in the house I’m now living in. But I’d rather know than not know.”
    “I do like talking with you,” Skye admitted. “And I wanted an excuse to come over here. But maybe that wasn’t the best excuse.”
    Julie shook herself. She wanted to change the mood. “Well, it’s nice to learn that I’m in the presence of the next famous inventor.”
    Skye smiled, and then stood up. “Thanks. And thanks for the coffee. I should probably get going, though.”
    “You’re welcome. I’m glad you came by. Minus the murder in my house part.”
    She stood too, and the two walked toward the entryway, standing still a moment. Skye opened his mouth as if to ask a question, but then stopped and smiled at Julie, taking a deep breath.
    The words finally tumbled out of his mouth. “Would you like to go out with me sometime?”
    Julie fumbled for her own words as Skye looked down at her, deep into her eyes. She felt her face flush. “That would be nice. I was kind of hoping you would ask me. I’d love to.”
    “Great. How does Friday night, eight o’clock sound?”
    “Sounds good. The only thing is, I’m going to need a sitter for Sam, and I don’t know anyone I can trust.”
    “My mom can probably watch him, if that works for you.”
    “Oh, good.” Julie felt Gloria to be a nice enough woman. “I bet Sam would like it too.”
    Skye hesitated. Her face, her eyes, those lips. He settled for taking her hand. “Perfect. I’ll see you Friday, then.”
    Julie watched him walk out to his truck before closing the door. She crossed the living room to her recliner. She could tell he’d wanted to kiss her, but she was glad he hadn’t…yet. She wanted to enjoy the blissful feeling of being desired. She hadn’t been on a date since before her parents had died, and a part of her worried that she might be a little rusty in the romance department. “Like riding a bicycle,” she mused to herself. “Just take it slow, Julie.”
    The silence in the house was suddenly interrupted by a strange thump from upstairs. Julie sat forward so quickly she nearly fell out of the recliner.
    Willing herself to stay calm, she called, “Sammy, did you make that noise?”
    Sam suddenly came tearing downstairs, frightened. “What was that?” He asked, taking his big sister’s hand.
    You’re the oldest. Don’t show him you’re spooked. Out loud, she said, “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.”
    There came another thump from upstairs, and this time Julie felt she had every right to be a little frightened, herself. “I’m going to go check things out up there,” she told Sam, “you stay down here. Okay?”
    “No. I don’t want to stay by myself.”
    “Look. You can stay right here at the bottom of the stairs. I’ll just be up there a minute or two. Can you count for me? So I can hear you?”
    Sam started counting one-Mississippi, two-Mississippi while Julie climbed, head high for his sake, up the stairs. She would not let herself sneak; it would only scare him, even though she felt like creeping as quietly as she could.
    But the closer she got to the top landing, the more shallow her breathing became, and the more frayed her nerves felt. She gripped the handrails for support and finally stepped up into the hallway. She flipped on the light and heard yet another soft thump. It was coming from the only vacant bedroom.
    Hands shaking now, she moved silently toward the door, running her hand along the wall. She reached the empty bedroom door and gripped the knob tightly, reminding herself again