Chapter Fifty Six

The dogs were more devastated, that was all that Aaron could think as he let them climb onto his lap, each seeking solace in the warmth of his body. He couldn't quite believe how devastated he was at Kitty's death. They'd spoken about it a lot on his last few visits, and he knew that having him and the dogs are her side was all that she wanted. Maybe it was the distance her family stayed at, maybe it was the distance in his own...he hadn't spoken to his mother in weeks.

But as he closed his eyes, settled back on the sofa, he knew it was more than that, he had started to open his heart to Julia. He couldn't deny it any longer, she was under his skin, in his breath, his dreams. He wanted more with her than he had with any other woman, and whilst it scared him, it almost excited him, it was time for his life to change. But she had talked again, about going home, and that had nearly broken him. As he sat holding Kitty's hand, he was sensing that he was about to lose not just her, but his other good friend too, Julia.

He'd offered to help her stay, told her that she was welcome in his home, in his life, and he'd even tapped Tom up for some immigration advice.

But she was going home. No thoughts of staying.

So he'd pushed her away. Instead of telling her, he'd wrapped up his heart and pushed her away, vulnerable, emotional Julia. What the fuck was he doing?

He glanced at his phone, he should call her back. But suddenly he was exhausted. So he slumped onto his side on the sofa, then waited as the dogs rearranged themselves, Coco on his shoulder, Cliffy tucked against his belly, and closed his eyes.

Lips woke him, soft, familiar champagne tasting lips. Groggy, he struggled to open his eyes, and wondered for a long moment if this was a dream, again. But when his eyelids finally did part, he met the bright, searching eyes that he'd come to love.

"Jules? What are you doing here?"

She smiled. She was squatting down so that their eyes were level, "running is my thing. Couldn't let you get away with that."

He smiled, "you did good today?"

She scowled, "so they say, but I'm not here to talk about that."

"Don't want to talk."

She gave a funny little shrug, then said, "fair. Squeeze up then?"

Julia had already moved Cliffy, and as he pushed deeper on to the sofa, she slid on next to him, pulling a throw over them, and with his arms around her, her legs around him, he found deep and peaceful sleep.

Julia woke to the smell of bacon, her very favourite breakfast item. Rolling onto her back, she realised she was still dressed, and on the sofa. The lounge clock said it was seven am, she left at eight most days.

Groaning, she closed her eyes for a moment, then thought back to the previous night. There was no way that she wasn't going to be there for Aaron in his darkest time, he'd done so much for her, but it wasn't even that fact, it was impulsive, she WANTED to be there for him, she needed to be. And even though he'd said very little, she knew that lying with him, holding each other....it had been what he needed too.

Slipping to her feet, she padded across the lounge to the open plan kitchen/diner, and he looked up from his place at the cooker.

"Sleep OK?"

She nodded, "for a sofa too small to accommodate us, I did great."

He grinned, "me too. Thanks."

Physically waving away that sentiment, she poured herself a cup of coffee, "you're my friend, Aaron, and I'm learning that friends support each other, not take all one way like I usually do."

As his eyes widened in surprise at that confession, Abi's face filled Julia's mind. She'd abused that friendship for so long...she needed to rectify that and be more of a support for her BFF in her hour of need – wedding planning.

The thought of heading back to London, to help Abi, to be there for her wasn't a warming thought. Instead, she felt a strange sense of loss.

"You OK?"

She'd drifted into an unusual place, and it took a long moment to drag herself back to the reality of it all. "Sorry?"

Nodding she sipped thoughtfully at her coffee, "just realising what a bitch I've been, to everyone."

"You're not."

Shrugging she scrunched up her face for a movement, "not sure about that. I've abandoned people, used them, taken what I've needed. You, I've done that a lot. But Abi..."

She dropped her head for a moment, "she's literally held me up for years, and I have abandoned her when she really needs my help. She's planning her dream wedding with her mother and your mother trying to dictate and contradict every step....I should be there."

"But your dreams are here. Your work, your own life. You can't give that up for her."

Sad, she offered a smile, "I know. I'm just feeling a little guilty. That's all."

"So go see her, take a couple of days off, fly back home."

She laughed, "I've missed more work than I should have with my breakdown."

"You're just shone for the VIPs, that'll earn you brownie points, so go do it."

It seemed easy when he said it, just up and fly back to see her best friend for a few days. But it wasn't that easy, even if she could get out of work.

"Have you forgotten that I'm staying here because I am broke, I can't afford rent let alone the luxury of a 'quick flight to London'."

"If that's all that's stopping you, then I am more than happy to sort the flight...I have a zillion air miles, I accrue them through work andnever have chance to use them. Tell me a date and I'll book it."

Reaching out, she took one of his hands, "I can't do that, I can't accept it. You have done far too much for me."

"You've done it all right back, I swear."

Julia refused to entertain the conversation again, but she'd only been at work for an hour when Abi called, screeching, "when are you coming home? It's amazing. I caaaaan't waaaiiiit!"

Damn Aaron Harding, he'd started something, and there was no way she could back out now. That damned man.

She'd not replied all day, Aaron KNEW that Abi would call her as soon as he'd planted the possibility of her friend coming home, and he knew that Julia would be livid. SO he'd braced himself all day, ready for the verbal barrage he knew was coming. Except it didn't.

He left the office at after seven still amazed that she hadn't called him out. One of the things he loved about their encounters was the backlash, the fact that she'd stand up to him, that she'd hold her own. So whilst he felt anxious going home, it also turned him on, more than a little bit.

When he opened the door to the apartment, he was met by the two Cs, yapping excitedly at his ankles. Kicking off his shoes and jacket, he strolled into the lounge, then froze. The large dining table was load with crystal glasses, the best crockery, a huge bouquet of fresh flowers sat in a vase in the centre. But it wasn't that, that stopped him in his tracks, stood, leaning one hip against the table was Julia, her loose hair wafting around her shoulders, his barbecuing apron wrapped around her, the words, Man Have Grill – Will Cook, above a picture of a caveman at a fire, displayed tightly across her breasts...her bare breasts, because it was quite obvious that she wore nothing else but it. A visual, sexual and bold display, so out of character, but also so typically her. Throwing caution to the wind.

"What's this for?" He asked breathlessly, suddenly unsure of where he was, what was happening.

She beamed, walking slowly, provocatively towards him, she reached for his tie and started to unknot it equally as slowly.

"Well, you made breakfast this morning..." she tossed the tie over her shoulder. "You also had a hell day yesterday, so I thought dinner might cheer you up..." Stretching up, she placed a quick kiss on his lips, "the rest is to thank you for the trip home, I would never have accepted...and I am grateful."

With that she turned and sauntered back to the kitchen, revealing that along with the apron she wore a pair of lacy knickers, high cut over her buttocks, and more sexy, more inviting that if she wore none at all. He was lost, he'd been prepared for her being angry, he was prepared for most things, but yet again this girl had him thrown on to his back foot, and he loved it.

"I thought you'd be angry," he'd found his voice by the time she returned with a beer for him.

Handing him the drink she shrugged, "I was, but then I thought about WHY you did it." Julia leaned against the work surface beside him, "and I know it's cos I wouldn't accept help, and...well, it's amazing, and special and I am really grateful for that. For all you've done for me."

Stretching out a hand, he flicked her hair back off one shoulder, "and this is my what, reward?"

She chuckled and it made him smile, "of sorts. Was trying to think of what would cheer you up....and I figured going out of my comfort zone was the way."

That made him laugh, "I like this non comfort zone....can we stay there until after dinner?"

She shook her head, instead handing him something pink, and gingham. Straightening it out he almost exploded with laughter to see a forties' style frilly apron that would tie around his waist and had a pink cupcake on the front.

"This is for me?" When she nodded, her bottom lip snagged naughtily between her teeth, he added, "just a waist high apron?"

Again she nodded, "I like looking at your chest."

"Ditto!" He exclaimed as he started to strip out of his trousers, he was heavily buying into this game.

"Maybe, but I couldn't risk anything splashing on these girls," she cupped her breasts provocatively over the apron, "so they're covered..."

As he groaned kicking off his socks, she returned to the kitchen, and he could have sworn her heard the word, "yet," tossed over her shoulder.

Torture, the whole meal was a delicious form of torture, sitting opposite the scantily clad Julia and eating one of his favourite meals, ribs of course, was the hardest thing. No actually the tent under his apron was the hardest thing in the room, he felt like his erection could cut glass. He knew she was feeling the same way, because despite the fact that she was more covered than him, her nipples were protruding through the thick cotton, and he couldn't wait to get his teeth around them.

"Dessert?" she asked, disturbing his daydream.

He shook his head, kicking back his chair, he reached for her and pulled her to her feet. "I'd toss you over my shoulder, but I'll never get up a spiral staircase like that. Instead, you've got a five second head start."

He knew she hated being chased, and with a squeal she ran off ahead of him.

Alex agreed rather easily with her request to take a few days holiday, and at lunchtime, she called Aaron.

She could hear the smile in his voice as he answered, and like him, she was thinking back to the previous night and all that had happened, the meal really had been the starter. She couldn't believe all the things she did, all the things she said. She blushed, and that made him laugh.

"You've suddenly gone very quiet, that's out of character!"

"Shut it, Harding, or I'll hang up."

He chuckled, "so you calling to say Alex said yes?"

She froze, "did you speak to him?"

"Not in the way you think..." as she made to protest, he quickly added, "I spoke to him months ago, when you arrived, it was at a charity thing...but he knows the way of the world. My company...we have sponsored events in the past. I would expect him to remember that."

When she fumed silently, he sighed, "don't roll your eyes, or make hand gestures at the phone. I looked out for you when you arrived. Get over it woman."

That should have angered her, but she was starting to not care about things like that, after all, he was helping her go home to see Abi.

"I wish you'd stop interfering," she offered, then added, "sometimes."

That made him laugh. "What dates did you agree?"

"Well, Abi is working late on Saturday, so if I fly about nine in the morning, I'll land about eight...she can pick me up at nine."

"Do you care which airline?"

Of course she didn't. She was just looking forward to a few days with her friend. And was ridiculously grateful to him.