Someone Like You by Victoria Bylin

Author:Victoria Bylin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC042040;FIC027020;FIC027000
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2016-03-15T04:00:00+00:00

nineteen

Julia made a beeline for Zeke’s SUV, her portfolio heavy on her shoulder and her thoughts racing.

Zeke caught up to her halfway down the driveway, opened the passenger door for her, then climbed into the driver’s side and backed out to the street. “Considering how much this place loves gossip, I’d rather not have my car in your driveway on a Saturday night. Let’s go to my house.”

“That sounds good.” Her lungs were about to burst with the need to unburden herself. “I’m so sorry about Hunter. I led him here. I even introduced him to Ginger.”

“Forget it.”

“But—”

She started to argue, but he surprised her by pulling to the side of the road and cupping her face with his hand.

“I don’t care about him, Jules. I really don’t.”

“But—”

“I do care about you.” His warm fingers trailed down her face, releasing her. “He’s Max’s dad, and he came to see his son. There’s no reason for you to feel guilty about any of this, okay?”

She tried to nod but couldn’t.

“No guilt,” he repeated. “None.”

“But—” She choked up.

Zeke’s mouth lifted into the hint of a grin. “Let’s leave the ‘buts’ to Ladybug.”

Julia didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or groan, so she did all three.

Zeke gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, put the vehicle in gear, and pulled back onto the road. “I don’t want to dwell on Hunter, but I’d like to know how he and Ginger teamed up.”

She told him about the conversation in the lobby, including Hunter’s smirk in the elevator. “I didn’t hear about Maury’s possible visit until I arrived at the house and Ginger thanked me for introducing her to Hunter. It was awful. He made it sound like we were still together, but I set her straight.”

Zeke drove slowly, his eyes on the road as they passed the sign for Golden Point. So much still needed to be done for Tiff’s wedding, and now Hunter was a distraction. “So tell me about Applegate.”

“He and Hunter’s father are old friends. Hunter even calls him Uncle Maury.” So had she during the engagement. “I hate to say this, but he’s a nice man. I liked him a lot.”

“So he’s not a total shark.”

“No.”

“What do you know about his business?”

“He started in the nineties by flipping houses. Houses turned into apartment buildings, and single buildings turned into entire blocks. Most of the areas were on the verge of becoming slums. Maury would buy the buildings, level them, and put in new units from scratch.”

“Apartments?”

“And condos.”

Zeke turned onto the street that led to his house. “Caliente Springs doesn’t fit that model, but the redevelopment angle makes me worry.”

Julia tried to think like Maury. “Do you think he’d put in an outlet mall?”

“I doubt it. We’re too far from the 101, and I don’t think he’d buy a golf course just to bulldoze it.”

“Maybe I can find out more tomorrow.” She hated what she needed to tell Zeke next. “Hunter’s going to church with us.”

“George told me.” His jaw tightened, but his voice stayed level.

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