Genuine Lies

Dangerous.
    “It’s not what I intend to have,” she said. She reached for the door handle and jerked twice before she managed to unlatch it. “You’ve made a mistake, Paul.” She streaked across the narrow patch of lawn and into the house.
    “There’s no doubt about that,” he murmured.
    Inside, Julia leaned against the door. She couldn’t go racing upstairs in this state. Taking quiet deep breaths to settle her jackhammering heart, she turned off the light CeeCee had left burning for her and started upstairs. A peek in the spare bedroom showed her that CeeCee was asleep. In the room opposite, she looked in on her son.
    That was enough to calm her, enough to assure her she had made the right choice in turning away. Needs, however tumultuous, would never be enough to make her risk what she built. There would be no Paul Winthrops in her life. No smooth lovers who excited, enticed, and walked away. She took a moment to tuck up Brandon’s covers and smooth them before going into her own room.
    The shaking started again, and she swore, tossing her purse toward the bed. It slipped off, spilling its contents. Though she was tempted to kick them around the room, she knelt and retrieved the compact, the comb, the slim wallet.
    And the folded paper.
    Odd, she thought. She didn’t remember putting any paperinside. Once she opened it, she was forced to use the bed as a brace in order to rise.
LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP.
    Leaving the scattered contents of her purse on the floor, she sat on the bed. What the hell was this? And what the hell was she going to do about it?

Julia saw Brandon off to school, grateful he was tucked inside the discreet black Volvo with Lyle behind the wheel. Brandon would be safe with him.
    Of course there was nothing to worry about. She’d told herself that over and over through the restless night. A couple of foolish anonymous notes couldn’t hurt her—and certainly couldn’t hurt Brandon. But she’d feel better once she’d gotten to the bottom of the whole business. Which was something she intended to do right away.
    Her thoughts veered to how odd she felt watching her little boy drive off to his own world of classrooms and playgrounds where her control didn’t reach.
    When the car was out of sight, she shut the door on the early morning chill. Julia could hear CeeCee cheerfully singing along with the radio as she tidied the kitchen. Happy sounds— the rattle of dishes and the young, enthusiastic voice competing with the spice of Janet Jackson’s. Julia didn’t like to admit they bolstered her for the simple reason they meant she wasn’t alone. She carried her half-empty cup into the kitchen for a refill of coffee.
    “That was a great breakfast, Ms. Summers.” Her hair scooped back in a bouncy pony tail, CeeCee wiped the counter with a damp cloth while her foot tapped the next top forty hit. “I just can’t imagine someone like you cooking and all.”
    Still sleepy-eyed, Julia tipped more coffee in her cup. “Someone like me?”
    “Well, famous and everything.”
    Julia grinned. It was comfortably easy to shrug off the vague weight of concern. “Almost famous. Or maybe famous by association after last night.”
    All big blue eyes and fresh-scrubbed face, CeeCee sighed. “Was it really great?”
    Two women in a sunny kitchen, and neither of them were talking about a star-studded benefit. But of a man.
    Julia thought of dancing with Paul, of waking up, unbearably stirred, with his mouth hot on hers. And yes, feeling that demand snap from him into her with a beat much more primal than any recorded music. “It was … different.”
    “Isn’t Mr. Winthrop just totally gorgeous? Every time I talk to him, my mouth gets dry and my palms get wet.” She closed her eyes as she rinsed the cloth clean. “Too wild.”
    “He’s the kind of man it’s difficult not to notice,” Julia said, her voice wry with her own understatement.
    “You’re telling me. Women go crazy for him. I don’t think he’s ever brought the same one here twice. Stud city, you know?”
    “Hmm.” Julia had her own opinion of a man who would flit so arbitrarily from woman to woman. “He seems devoted to Miss Benedict.”
    “Sure. I guess he’d do about anything for her—except settle down and give her the grandchildren she wants.” CeeCee tossed back her wispy bangs. “It’s funny to think of Miss B. as a grandma.”
    Funny
wasn’t the word that came to Julia’s mind. It was more