Chapter 93
Nora's POV
I stepped back immediately, turning toward the spring and pretending to examine the moss-covered rocks.
Annabel appeared on the trail, her expression brightening when she spotted Julian. Then her gaze landed on his damp hair, and she blinked in surprise.
"Did you... fall in?"
"Splashed by accident," Julian said curtly.
"I was looking for you," Annabel said, her gaze moving between Julian and me with a certain scrutinizing quality. "You disappeared after lunch. I thought you'd gone back to the center."
"We were taking a walk," Julian said, his tone distant.
Annabel's eyes turned to me, her smile still perfect but her gaze more assessing. "Hello, I'm Annabel Foster. I work in the Inspector General's office as a policy analyst. You're the reporter accompanying us, right?"
"Yes," I replied calmly, maintaining professional courtesy. "Nora Grey, NPR."
Annabel turned to Julian, her tone carrying a hint of familiarity. "Mr. Sterling, have you reviewed the afternoon schedule? I made some adjustments and wanted to confirm them with you first."
Julian's expression didn't change. "Ethan will handle it."
"But there are some details I think require your personal—"
"Let Ethan handle it," Julian repeated, his tone several degrees colder.
Annabel hesitated, her gaze flicking between us. Then she asked, voice light but pointed, "Is Nora your girlfriend?"
The question hung in the air.
My chest tightened. I kept my eyes on the spring, fingers curling into the fabric of my jacket.
"No," Julian said.
The word hit like a slap. I felt my throat constrict.
Then he continued, his voice steady and deliberate. "Not yet. I haven't managed to win her over. My girl is... difficult to please."
I froze.
Annabel's smile faltered, her composure cracking for just a second. "I see. Well... good luck with that."
Julian's tone was dismissive. "It's going to rain soon. You should head back."
She nodded stiffly and turned, her footsteps retreating down the trail.
The silence stretched between us. I didn't move, didn't look at him.
"That was blunt," I said finally.
"I don't believe in leaving room for misunderstanding."
I opened my mouth, then closed it. My heart was still racing from what he'd said—my girl.
"Well," I said.
He took a step closer. "Because I meant every word."
I swallowed hard, my pulse thundering in my ears.
Then, before I could second-guess myself, I crooked my finger at him. "Come here."
He raised an eyebrow, wary. "Are you going to splash me again?"
"Just come here."
He moved closer, stopping just in front of me. I reached up, grabbing the front of his jacket, and pulled him down.
I kissed him.
It was brief—just a press of my lips against his, soft and tentative. But the moment our mouths met, something inside me shifted.
The kiss lasted only two or three seconds—tentative, exploratory. My lips barely grazed his before I pulled back, heart hammering in my chest.
Julian went completely still. His eyes widened in surprise, his breath caught somewhere between shock and something I couldn't quite name.
Heat flooded my face. I stepped back, putting distance between us, forcing my voice into something casual. "What are you staring at? Can't I kiss you?"
His expression shifted. The surprise melted into something warmer, softer.
"You can do whatever you want."
He spoke with that particular timbre that made my heartbeat skip—sending a shiver down my spine.
I spun around sharply, pretending to examine the moss-covered rocks near the spring.
"Nora."
I heard him move closer. His hand caught my wrist—gently, giving me enough space to pull away. I didn't.
He turned me around to face him. He gazed at me, steady and intent. "Fair is fair," he said quietly. "Let me return the favor."
Before I could process what he meant, his hand slid to the back of my neck, fingers threading through my hair. His thumb traced the sensitive skin below my ear, and I felt my knees weaken.
Then he kissed me.
This was nothing like my tentative attempt. This was decisive, urgent, without the hesitation I'd shown. His mouth pressed against mine with a hunger that stole my breath, his other hand settling on my waist to pull me closer.
A small sound escaped from deep in my throat—surprise or surrender, I wasn't sure which. My hands found his shoulders.
He wasn't practiced at this. I could tell from the slight awkwardness, from the way his teeth caught my lower lip with a bit too much pressure. Pain flared sharp and bright, and I gasped.
Julian froze immediately. He pulled back, his eyes full of concern and something that looked like self-recrimination. "Did I hurt you?"
I touched my lip, felt the slight sting. "I didn't bite you that hard."
"I'm sorry." His thumb brushed across my lower lip with excruciating gentleness, his gaze fixed on the spot. "I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine." But my voice came out breathless, unsteady.
His eyes met mine again, and the heat in them made my stomach flip. For a long moment, neither of us moved. The only sounds were the bubbling spring and our ragged breathing.
Then I pushed against his chest, needing space to think. "We should head back."
"Should we?" He didn't release my waist.
"Yes." I slipped out of his embrace, putting several feet between us. My face felt like it was on fire. "Before someone else comes looking for you."
"Nora." There was a question in the way he said my name.
I turned to face him, crossing my arms. "What?"
"Does this mean you're my girlfriend now?"
My heart stuttered. I'd known the question was coming, but hearing it out loud still sent panic skittering through my chest. "No."
His face fell.
"Jobs have probation periods," I continued quickly, watching his expression. "How do I know you'll be qualified for the position?"
He blinked. Then a slow smile spread across his face. "So I'm... on probation?"
"Exactly." I lifted my chin, trying to look stern despite my racing heart. "Perform well, and we'll discuss making it permanent."
"I see." He took a step toward me, and I took a step back. His smile widened. "And what are the performance metrics for this probationary period?"