Julian (Beautiful Mine #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

“I was perfectly fine acting like nothing happened last night. I don’t know why you have to be this way.”
    I forced myself to look right at her, and the vision of her pretty face and soft features in the faint light of my room was like pouring salt into an open wound. I’d never wanted something so badly in my life, and the fact that I couldn’t have her drove me insane.
    “I can’t do that,” I said through gritted teeth. “It’s all I can think about.”
    She sauntered up to the bed, tucking a loose strand of dark hair behind her ear and sitting down next to me. “Look. I genuinely care about you. I want to work for your family for years to come. I’m not going anywhere, okay?”
    Her voice was soft and sweet, but not reassuring enough for me. “You’re just saying that.”
    “I’m assuming I’m the first girl your age that you’ve spent this much time with,” she said, treading lightly. “I’m sure you’re confused about how you feel toward me. We were lying in bed last night in the dark. The stars were lit above us. We’d just spent the entire day together. It was romantic, I’ll admit. I can see how it happened. I just don’t want to jeopardize anything, okay? I want to be around for as long as I can.”
    “I guess,” I said, my eyes falling to the floor, releasing her gaze.
    The faint shudder of the front door opening and closing below us brought us out of the conversation, and Evie ran to the window to see who was here.
    “Your parents are back early,” she said. I could hear a hint of disappointment in her voice, whether or not she realized it.
    “Hi, there,” my mother said as she quietly made her presence known in my doorway a few minutes later. Her black Chanel bag dripped from her shoulder, the chain digging into the fur lapel of her jacket. “Obviously, you can see we’re back early. Your father closed on the deal the first day we were there. He’s just that good.”
    “Did you get to do anything fun while you were there?” Evie asked.
    Caroline studied our faces. “We did see a show, but I was anxious to get back and see how my baby was doing.”
    She rushed to my side in a forced attempt to pretend like she actually gave two shits about me.
    “I’ll leave you two alone,” Evie offered. I quickly shot her a look, but she wasn’t looking my way. I didn’t want her to leave. I’d have taken those awkward minutes with Evie over being alone with my mother anytime.
    “Actually, Evie, why don’t you take the rest of the day off?” Caroline offered. “You’ve been working so hard this week. Please, take some time for yourself.”
    “Thanks so much!” Evie said. A little part of me died when I saw the excitement written all over her face.
    “Why do you seem so sad, Julian?” my mother asked the second Evie left the room. “Did this week go all right?”
    “I don’t want to talk about it,” I snipped, turning away from her.
    “Are you not feeling well?” she asked, placing her cold palm against my warm forehead. I wanted to tell her to cut the crap. No one was watching. She didn’t need to pretend like she cared anymore.
    “No, that’s not it.”
    “Do you miss Eleanor?”
    “Not really.”
    “Are things not working with Evie? Should we find someone else?”
    “No,” I said, snapping my face in her direction. “Evie is great. Don’t get rid of her. I’m just tired. I want to take a nap.”
    My mother hesitated before standing up, studying me as if I wasn’t the same son she’d left just a few days ago. “Okay. I’ll leave you be.”

 
     
     
     

 
     
    EVIE
    I traipsed in my room to grab my bag and found an envelope full of cash lying on my bed. Five crisp one-hundred dollar bills, all for a few days’ worth of work. I picked up my phone and immediately dialed my best friend and partner in crime, Carys Harrison.
    “Hey, let’s go out tonight!” I said. “My treat.”
    “Two words: hell yes,” Carys said. “You don’t have to ask me