“Juliette?”

Leo’s gravelly voice startled me, and I snapped my eyes open, dropping the book at the same time. It tumbled to the floor and hit my foot. I scrunched up my face in pain. It was a bloody heavy book.

“Leo.” I picked up the book from the floor and replaced it on the coffee table. I closed my eyes and steeled myself against my body’s natural attraction to him. When I opened them, I realised it hadn’t helped. He was wearing faded, ripped jeans and a white t-shirt, showcasing his incredible body. If anything, he looked like he was more muscular than the last time I’d seen him. A light stubble on his face beckoned for my touch. He looked incredible, and it was physically painful to keep my distance.

“You look really good, Juliette. How are you?”

“What are you doing here?” I croaked, barely able to put words together.

“Your mother called and said she wanted to see me about something important. I thought it might be about you, but I didn’t realise you’d be here.” A genuine smile lit up his handsome face.

I pulled myself ungracefully to my feet and stood before him, staring into his beautiful, soulful eyes. I had missed this man every second I’d been away, but I’d grown up too. I was stronger and ready to trust him with my heart again. Gingerly, I reached my hand up and gently cupped his face. I closed my eyes and sighed when he leaned into it slightly.

“Fuck it.” Leo grabbed me and the next thing I knew I’d been scooped up into his arms and his lips crashed against mine. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him back in a frenzied daze of pent-up lust and emotion. With our foreheads touching, he whispered against my lips, “I missed you so damn much.”

A loud sound of a throat being cleared ended our reunion.

“Sorry to interrupt,” the suddenly very friendly receptionist said, directly to Leo.

Leo put me down but kept hold of my hand as we awaited further instructions.

“Mrs Fontaine is in the garden,” she continued, a blush rising across her cheeks. “She’s been expecting both of you.” She ogled Leo like she was starving and he was a juicy steak. “Go through those doors and Jackson will escort you.”

“Thank you,” I said sarcastically, knowing she had forgotten I was even there.

Jackson led us through multiple sets of doors, some of which required him to use his security pass to gain entry. My eyes darted around trying to take in everything, but I struggled to focus on anything with Leo next to me. I hadn’t seen him or my mother in two months, but I’d at least been able to mentally prepare myself to see my mother.

A large wooden door with a security glass panel opened to a paved courtyard where a few tables and chairs were being used for chess games and reading. Some of the residents looked up and smiled while others just ignored our intrusion. I paused briefly.

“I’m here, Jules.” Leo’s voice was gentle and reassuring. His physical strength matched the emotional fortitude I wanted but no longer needed.

“I’m fine.” I meant it.

“I know.” I looked into his eyes and saw only tenderness. “It’s really good to see you.”

My body yearned for his touch and I squeezed my eyes shut, enjoying the feel of my hand in his—skin against skin.

A gentle slope of beautifully tended gardens, dotted with fruit trees, led to a small lake. In the middle of the lake was a small island covered in long grasses and a few small trees. If I were there for any other reason, I would’ve enjoyed the idyllic scenery.

“She’s having some lunch with another resident just beyond the orange grove.” Jackson pointed towards an orchard. “I’ll be in the courtyard when you’re ready to leave.”

“Thank you,” we both said in unison.

My feet felt heavy and I couldn’t bring myself to move. I looked to the sky and watched a few clouds drift slowly in the warm, gentle breeze.

“Come on.” Leo tugged gently on my hand. “Let’s get this over with and then we have a lot of catching up to do.”

I couldn’t help inhaling deeply as we walked towards the orchard. The citrus scent was overwhelming.

Beyond the orchard, I could see two women sitting on a pair of Adirondack chairs, facing the lake with their backs to us. They both turned as we approached and stood to greet us.

Leo stopped dead. I didn’t recognise the slender brunette woman standing by my mum’s side. To me, she seemed friendly, helpful even as she kept a protective hold of my mum’s arm. Tension rolled off Leo’s body in tidal waves, and my hand felt like it was in a death grip. I glanced at him to see what was wrong and followed his gaze to the stranger. He looked panicked, and a sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead.

“What’s wrong?” I murmured from the corner of my mouth. “Who is she?”

“Darling.” My mother surged forward. “Thank you for coming.”

She hugged me, and I was forced out of Leo’s grasp. I returned her embrace half-heartedly, still concerned by the crackling tension in the air.

“Who’s your friend, Mum?” I whispered, pulling out of the awkward, lukewarm hug.

Leo’s next two words answered my question.

“Hello, Mother.”

To be continued in the next book in the series, releasing 2016.

Acknowledgements

Adriana Leiker, Beth Flynn, Brittainy McCane, Eli Peters, Gill Melling, Jess Milliken, Lynette Kelly, Lyndsey Aaron, Nicole Sands, Pam Lilley, Sunshine Lykos and Tesrin Afzal. I love you ladies!! Thank you so much for believing in me and for being incredible friends and loyal supporters, not only to me, but to so many of my fellow authors with your promoting and blogging. I really hope I do you proud and want you to know how much I appreciate all you do.

Adriana. What can I say to my book bestie and all round beautiful friend? You made me believe in myself when I was crippled by self-doubt and you make me laugh. I love our quick chats that last for hours! Thank you. Seriously.

Pam, Gill, Lynette, Brittainy and Jess. I loved you before I met you in London, but now you’re stuck with me forever. Thank you, Pam for setting up a readers group for me knowing I would never do it for myself. Thank you, Brittainy not only for your friendship, but for bringing lovely Lyndsey into my readers group and for being such a generous author supporter on Sisterhood of the Travelling Book Blog.

Eli and Tesrin. Thank you both for being phenomenal beta readers. I haven’t known you very long, but very quickly knew we’d be friends for life. Collision benefitted immensely from your constructive critique and ongoing support. Eli, you’re the greatest wing woman a girl could hope for and I wish your blog, Page Turning Addiction, the greatest success. Tesrin, your teasers are incredible and I’m humbled by the time you take creating them on top of your busy life and the work you do on Wicked Women Book Blog.

Beth. You rocked my world with your incredible books and again with your immediate kindness and love. It’s yet another reason I’m grateful to Adriana for insisting I read Nine Minutes. I admire you as an author and love you as a friend. It was because of you that Nicole Sands and many other Niner friends including Eli and Tesrin came into my life and for that I feel blessed.

Sunshine. You are one of the kindest, most open-hearted and generous people I’ve met in the book community and I’m honoured to call you my friend. Thank you for all you do for me and for authors in general with the gorgeous Charity Pearce at Saucy Books.

Tara Hanrahan. Thank you for once again proof reading for me. You have eagle eyes and caught a few things that would’ve driven me crazy. See you at Opera Bar!

GJ Walker-Smith. Here is my something true. I love your books because they are brilliant, but even more so because they led me to you. We’ll be friends for life and beyond. It’s true. You know it and I know it. Thank you for your continued support of my writing and for the friendship I treasure.