Letters to Julian (A Cupid Inc Novella) Read Online Free PDF Page B

any harm in looking.
    He’d meant what he’d said, though. Never in his life had he met someone as beautiful both inside and out as Julian Haell. Ridley wouldn’t call the elf pale, and he certainly didn’t view his fair skin as a negative thing. Julian had the most beautiful, flawless ivory complexion, as though he’d stepped off the cover of an airbrushed magazine, and his skin was so very soft. Ridley still remembered how it had felt beneath his palms as Julian had whimpered and squirmed beneath him.
    Stop it!
    “Hey, are you listening to me?”
    “No,” Ridley answered honestly. “Apologies. What were you saying?”
    “I asked if you had plans for Friday.”
    Valentine’s Day . “Yes, I have plans.”
    “Liar,” Julian teased, and his eyes sparkled as he said it. “C’mon, Ridley! I scored two tickets to Kinky Boots . It’s won like six Tony Awards, so you know, it’s probably good or something.”
    He’d hoped to avoid this conversation, but better to nip this in the bud before Julian got the wrong idea. “Julian, about last week…”
    “What about it?”
    “It was a mistake. It shouldn’t have happened. I got carried away, and for that, I’m sorry.”
    Instead of some big emotional outburst, Julian cocked his head to the side and frowned. “I’m asking you to a play, not to the altar. I’m a big boy, Ridley. I’m perfectly capable of separating sex from emotions.”
    “I’m not.” With previous partners, it had never been an issue. As usual, though, everything felt different with Julian. For Ridley, it hadn’t been about sex for the sake of sex. It had meant something, something he wasn’t ready to feel. “I’m going to the bank.” Then he pushed away from the counter, grabbed his jacket, and left the store, never once looking at Julian for fear of what he might see in those deep, golden-brown eyes.
    * * * *
    “That went well.” Sighing, Julian gathered the trash from their breakfast and deposited it into the waste bin behind the counter. He’d been afraid something like this would happen, especially after Ridley’s hot and cold act from the previous week.
    “He’ll come around,” Bridget said as she entered the front room and patted Julian on the shoulder. “Just give him some time.”
    Julian would give th e man all the time in the world if he thought it would do any good. “Thanks, but he’s right. What happened was a mistake. We’re better as friends.” Maybe if he said it often enough, he’d even start believing it.
    “You’re an awful liar.” Digging into her apron, Bridget pulled out a small, white card and presented it to him with a flourish. “He cares about you, Julian. He just needs a little push.”
    “You think so?” Taking the card, mostly to humor her, he tapped it against his palm without reading it. “What makes you say that?”
    “We girls know these things. It’s intuition.”
    “Good enough for me. Now, what’s the card?”
    “Cupid Inc, of course.” She said it as though that should mean something to Julian, but he’d never heard of such a place. “Really,” she huffed as she rolled her eyes. “It’s a place for people like us. They’ll help you find a date for Valentine’s Day.” As she spoke, Bridget curled her upper lip to reveal long, pointed canines.
    “Yes, dear, we’re all very proud of your fangs. Now, put them away before you hurt yourself.” He tried to hand the card back, but gave up when the fiery little fox shifter growled at him. “It’s not happening, okay? I don’t want anyone else.” Holding his hand up, Julian shook his head when he saw Bridget’s eyes light up. “That’s not what I meant.”
    “Oh, I think it is, but you’re as bad as the boss. Seriously, what is it with boys? Why all the tiptoeing around the issue? You like him.” She held her right hand out, palm up. “He likes you.” She did the same with her left hand. “Now, get your shit together and just like each other.” Bridget clapped