Jules' POV
“Are you going to just stand there and stare at me?”
His voice yanked me back from my shameless staring. Heat crawled up my cheeks. Busted, plain and simple. But come on, the guy was sculpted by the gods themselves. How could you not sneak a peek?
"Yeah," I mumbled, twisting a stray strand of hair around my finger as I perched on the worn couch by the barn window. For the first time in forever, I was actually grateful for Grandma's rules
"all access rule," I finished lamely, glancing at Adam where he stood unpacking.
He chuckled, the sound warm and rich. A hand ruffled his dark, chocolate curls, making them seem even more enticing. "The what?" he asked, a playful glint in his eyes. It hit me then - he truly had no clue. Didn't even bother skimming the terms and conditions before booking a room in the middle of nowhere Montana?
"All access," I explained, deciding to be the bigger person. "Grandma's a people person. Always has been. Loves playing hostess, even more than baking those killer chocolate chip cookies of hers. That's why she rents out this place. The all access rule basically means anyone can go anywhere on the farm. Everything's a free-for-all, except the bathroom when someone's inside, obviously."
"So, no privacy?" he raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement dancing in his gaze.
"Nope," I grinned, a tiny bit of defiance bubbling in my chest.
"Looks like you're exercising that rule with a vengeance, huh?" he said with a sigh, pulling clothes out of his bag and stuffing them haphazardly into a drawer.
"Yep," I admitted, unable to deny the truth.
I want to be close to you
"But you're not exactly known for being a people person," he pointed out, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
"Hey, I never said that," I countered, a blush warming my cheeks. He was sharp, that much was clear. And oddly enough, I kind of liked it.
"Then why the third degree?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of a flicker of humor.
"Curiosity," I declared, trying to sound casual.
"Curious about me Julie Rose?" he asked, a slight challenge in his voice.
My breath hitched. Did he just call me by my name? It sounded different coming from him, it sounded softer somehow, like it didn't hold the shame it always did
"It's just Jules," I mumbled, my voice barely a whisper.
A comfortable silence settled between us as he finished unpacking. Then, his eyes met mine again. "Speaking of that all access rule," he said, a playful glint returning to his eyes. "Does it apply to the main house too?"
"Yeah," I mumbled, forcing my gaze down at my lap. My cheeks were burning, and my heart hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs.
"So," he drawled, his voice dripping with amusement, "does that mean I can just waltz into your room anytime I want? Knowing you, it's probably a pink explosion in there."
The air caught tight in my chest. There was no mistaking it. Adam was definitely flirting. My mouth tried to form words, but they were like stubborn geese refusing to budge. I needed something, anything, to look at besides those warm brown eyes that seemed to see right through me. I shot up from the couch and did a little sweep of the loft, like I hadn't seen every nook and cranny of the place a thousand times already. Finally, my gaze landed on the book he'd pulled out of his bag when he first came in.
Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri.
A smile tugged at my lips. Now that was something we could both understand. Books were my happy place, and that particular one held a special spot in my heart. I walked past him, slow as molasses, and could practically feel his stare following me like a cat stalking a canary. Butterflies fluttered wild in my stomach, but I forced myself to reach for the book. Our fingers brushed for a fleeting moment, sending a spark up my arm. Looking straight at him, I raised an eyebrow.
"You read?" I managed to say, my voice a little calmer than I thought it'd be. I'm surprised it came out at all.
"Yeah," he said, a slow smile spreading across his face. It was like the sun peeked out from behind a cloud, and for a second, I couldn't breathe. This was a game, I could feel it, a careful dance where neither of us knew the steps. Was he teasing me, seeing if I was just a pretty face?
"The Divine Comedy," I said, tapping the worn cover. "It's a good one. I really like it." This was my turn to see what he was made of. Would he share anything back, or keep me guessing?
"You read?" he asked, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. That little bit of shock stung a little.
"Of course I do," I countered, a playful edge in my voice. "Did you think I spend all my time with the animals? Or what? you thought the little firm girl could hardly read and hasn't picked up a book to read for fun in her whole life? "
He laughed, a rich sound that warmed me from the inside out. "No, Jules," he admitted. "The firm girl who reads Dante? I must say that threw me off a bit. You're quite the...enigma."
"So, I'm confused?" I teased, stepping a little closer, drawn in by a force I couldn't explain.
Before I could say another word, he closed the distance between us. His face was inches from mine, his eyes dark and mysterious. His breath tickled my cheek, sending shivers down my spine. "I think you're a mystery, Jules," he murmured, his voice low and thrilling. "And one I'm determined to unravel." The air crackled with unspoken energy, and I couldn't help but lean in a little closer, eager to see where this unexpected turn would take us.
Jules Pov:The world spun as Adam's words echoed in my head.He never loved meTears welled, blurring my vision as my body trembled in denial. This couldn't be real."You don't mean that, Adam," I pleaded, my voice cracking. "We can fix this. We just need to talk."A cold fury replaced the warmth that used to be in his eyes. "There's nothing to fix, Jules. I never loved you. You were a game, a way to escape my own life." His grip tightened on my shoulders, his anger a physical thing pushing against me."No," I gasped,"We have so many memories, so many moments , laughs... We can't throw it all away." My voice rose in desperation, clinging to the wreckage of our love.Memories flickered through my mind – stolen kisses under fireworks, whispered promises on starlit nights, the way his hand fit perfectly in mine.How could none of it have meant anything to him?"Memories?" He spat the word, his face contorted. "All I remember is your constant need. You suffocate me, Jules. You pretend to
Adam's PovI sighed, looking out the window at the rain splashing down on the city. Autumn leaves swirled outside, their vibrant colors reminding me of Jules, my beautiful wife. We'd only been married a month, and she was my everything. I missed her. But I had to tie up a few loose ends in the city before I could make it back to her. It's been two days and I feel like a addict needing his fix.You're in everything I see Jules"Impatient, aren't we?" A smirk played on Henry's lips, and I clenched my fists to control my anger. Henry Shepherd wasn't a friend; he was a farmhand on the run from the law. The nerve of him trying to steal Jules from me! Thankfully, she saw him for what he was, and I won her heart.I fiddled with my gold wedding band, trying to calm my racing heart. I didn't want to strangle Henry right then and there."Get to the point, Henry," I growled. "Spill it, or I'll have to tell the police about your little… sideline hustles." I couldn't resist a smirk as I saw him fl
Jules PovThe red clock on the car dashboard blinked angrily, almost midnight. I pulled the car over on the side of the road, a few miles away from my grandma's farm. Tears welled up in my eyes, making the headlights blurry. I couldn't handle Nana's questions – they would just poke and prod at the fresh wound in my heart.Instead, my body moved on its own, like a machine. I got out of the car and walked towards the big open field in the middle of the farm. It felt like it was calling me, this place where Adam and I first kissed. Back then, everything felt happy and perfect.Now, the silence was deafening, like a heavy blanket wrapped around me. I plopped down on the cool grass, staring at the angry red marks on my arm, leftover from a fight I barely remembered. My stomach, even though it wasn't round yet, felt heavy with a different kind of weight. I was pregnant. There was a baby growing inside me.A laugh, humorless and sad, escaped my lips. "Oh my gosh," I whispered, the words lost
~~~~~~~ ONE YEAR AGO~~~~~Jules PovUgh, another farm day. I stared out the window, watching the dust motes dance in the afternoon sun. Nothing ever happened here, except maybe the occasional cow giving birth (which, frankly, wasn't that exciting after the third time). I yearned to be hunched over my laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard as my story unfolded, I love writing. But Nana always insisted I keep her company while she cooked. Most of the time, it was nice. The smell of her apple pie simmering in the oven, mixed with the warm, yeasty scent of bread rising, always made my stomach rumble. And Nana's stories about her wild youth in the city before she settled down on the farm were the best. But lately, her forgetfulness had been acting up more and more. Sometimes, she wouldn't even remember who I was. Thankfully, that wasn't happening today.Suddenly, a loud rumble shattered the afternoon quiet. I whipped around to see a fancy, chrome car pull up by the rickety old cow fenc