LikeTheresNoTomorrow by Caitlyn Willows Read Free Book Online Page A

moment, all things considered, but she couldn’t refute the
girls’ instincts. They clearly adored him. Jim Roderick was a keeper. Either
the Universe was being cruel by having them meet now when there was so little
time, or blessing her with everything she’d ever wanted exactly when she needed
it most. She’d go for the latter and savor every second.
    “Amazing.” He spread his overburdened arms wide.
    Julia knew he meant the property, but she still couldn’t
help thinking, Yes, he is .
    “It’s like a little oasis.”
    “My great-grandparents worked hard to make it that way. For
a while this was the place to go for miners and settlers in this area. I was
honored that it came to me.”
    No one else wanted the work involved in keeping the old
place up. Julia treasured the adobe outbuildings and the frame house was built
to last. Two seven-plus earthquakes proved that. It needed upkeep, love and
someone to save the orchard and garden. With her gone…
    Julia refused to think about it. “Why don’t you and the
girls go explore a little while I get breakfast?” She slipped the grocery bags
from his arms.
    His face lit up more, if that was possible. “Come on,
girls.”
    The four debated their options, looking from the door to him
and back again, then took off running to catch up. Her heart filled to
bursting. Tears rushed her. Julia flicked them away and hurried inside to start
cooking.
    The call of her cell phone shattered her bliss the second
she put the bags on the kitchen counter. Julia tried to tell herself it was her
parents or brothers. In her heart she knew. This was the call she’d been
waiting for, the one she’d been dreading. Reluctantly, she answered.
    Despair weighed her down when she heard the news. Tomorrow
morning, zero six.
    “Yes sir. Got it.” Julia ended the call more quickly than
she’d answered. It was what it was. Nothing would change that. She was going to
enjoy every second she had until then.
    She’d just put the finishing touches on their omelets when
Jim and the girls burst through the door. The pups slid to their bellies in
front of their water bowls. Jim dumped a load of zucchini and yellow squash
from his arms onto the counter. He looked like a kid in a candy store.
    “I leave early tomorrow morning.”
    It killed her to see the joy leave his face. He closed his
eyes for a second. When he opened them again they looked glassy, as if he’d
fought tears.
    He folded his arms around her, or she’d done so to him.
Whatever. They were in one another’s arms and that was all that mattered.
    “We’ll make the most of it,” she said. “Every second.”
    “We’ll get your harvest in. Don’t worry.” Jim kissed her
temple, her cheek, her neck.
    “With you…” She swallowed the emotion clogging her throat.
“I don’t worry about anything.” Julia cupped the back of his head and kissed
him deep, slow, hard until each breath they took shook through them.
    One impatient bark pulled them apart with a laugh.
    “Yes, Sasha, we know you’re hungry.” The little Lhasa
trotted to her place by the kitchen table and sat.
    “Come on, Red.” Jim gave Julia a love pat. “Time’s wasting.”
    “Again with the butt smack? What are you trying to tell me?”
she asked, laughing.
    He snagged her waist and anchored her close. “So many things
I can’t process the words wanting to pour out of my mouth.”
    Her heart raced in time with his. They stood there staring
into each other’s eyes, precious seconds ticking by.
    “I’ll take care of it, Julia. All of it. Your girls, your
home and gardens. Everything will be just as you left it when you come home.
I’ll keep you tethered to this world while you’re gone.”
    Why? formed on her lips. Julia left it unsaid. The
answer was so simple, so complicated, so deliciously wonderful, so…crazy. Why
not? she asked herself.
    “Then we do have a busy day ahead. You’re going to need to
meet my family.”
    “Then let’s get to