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There are touristswhen they see any foric in the airover the streets of the French Quarter

Julian slides his hand inwith my ohen he suddenly pulls host tour Julian’s questioning gaze lands on me, and I nod enthusiastically

We’re booked and ready We don’t wait long and, with three other couples, we’re led down small cobbled streets with stories that send shivers down s we venture between are dark, foreboding, and the feeling of being watched takes ahold of me

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end when Julian leans in and whispers, “Are you afraid yet?” I look up to see hi ti I can’t putto push away any doubts that see up

“It’s definitely eerie,” I tell hi until, suddenly, I’m pulled away from the crowd and I’m pinned between Julian and the cool brick wall “What are you doing?”

“I’irl,” he tells me before his mouth steals ht ahead of us, since he’s asked ht

Even though his tongue duels with rip aze locks on mine and, in the dark, I notice the trepidation in his eyes I can’t tell if it’s ’s on his mind All I can do is hope he tells me what it is

I’ to know each other so well And deep down, I tell ut has never been wrongChapter 20JulianTaking Nea to dinner with Eli and Kate has ing in the back of my mind that they may not like her, but it makes no sense I’ve found her to be soravitate toward her I think it’s ot a call thisthat I need to talk to her about, but I want to do the dinner first before I fuck this all up

When we arrive, I pull into the drive and kill the engine

“I’m nervous I know I’ve met them before, but I just feel anxious What if they don’t like s her hands in her lap, and I can tell she’s really worried about Eli and Kate liking her They’re my friends, but when they see how happy she makes me, I know they’ll only love her asdeeper under her spell I haven’t told her how I feel yet, but deep down, I know that this girl will tenderly hold ave it to her

“They will like you, Nea Don’t worry about it,” I tell her Leaning in, I cup her face inher closer to pressI need and crave daily Even though I’ve only known her for a couple of weeks, this feels like so much more

The door slides open when I buzz the bell, and Kate sood to see you” She turns her attention to Nea and pulls her in for a hug as she says, “It’s so nice of you to co to work”

“Thank you for having htly because her shoulders seeh the entrance and into the living rooaze trails over the furnishings and architecture with a grin on her face

Just then, Eli saunters in, shakes“Good to see you both Kate’s been prepping dinner all afternoon, so I hope you’re hungry,” he tells us

“Man, I could eat for three right now,” I tell hihs out loud She’s knownI say is ever a shock to her anyht she wouldn’t acceptso well