Love Beyond Words (City Lights: San Francisco Book 1) by Emma Scott Read Free Book Online Page A

story-teller.”
    Natalie was prepared to let the matter drop. Without juicy details, her friends lost interest. But she eyed the pair, snickering between themselves and sharing confident, knowing looks. Natalie crossed her arms over her chest.
    “And he practically saved my life.”
    This had the desired effect. Again, cocktails were set down with a clatter, and the pair rounded on her again. She told them about the two men who had made advances toward her and how Julian had threatened them until they left.
    “Jesus,” Liberty breathed. “Nat, those guys could have been bad news. I mean, like the worst.”
    “I know.” Natalie shuddered. “But Julian was so smart about it.”
    “My hero!” Marshall exclaimed. “You should have banged his brains out in gratitude.”
    Natalie’s face turned scarlet. As a quick diversion, she told them of his nightly writing routine. “And if he hadn’t been there that night, I don’t want to think what might have happened.”
    Liberty twirled a swizzle stick around her glass thoughtfully. “So, let me get this straight: he comes in every night for, like months, writes in some little book, and you guys have chatted and whatnot…and that’s it. Have you gone out with him? Outside the café, I mean?”
    “No,” Natalie said. “We…”
    “He’s weird,” Liberty declared and sat back in her chair with finality.
    “He’s not weird…”
    “Maybe he’s gay!” Marshall exclaimed. “Can I have him?”
    The smug surety in Liberty’s face withered a bit. “You always think everyone is gay until proven otherwise.”
    “I’m just using the opposite paradigm you straight people set a million years ago.”
    “Which is?”
    “Assuming no one is gay until proven otherwise.”
    “How regressive of you.”
    Natalie retreated into silence as her friends continued their bickering, her static love affair defeated by their own. They didn’t bring up Julian again and neither did she. After an awkward cab ride home, Natalie stepped out and said her goodnights. Marshall walked her to the white iron gate in front of her place.
    “Never let it never be said that I am not as gallant as Sir Julian.”
    Natalie kissed him on the cheek. “Never.”
    “And I’m happy for you,” he said in a rare, quiet tone. “If you’re happy then I’m happy.”
    “I am,” Natalie said.
    “Good,” Marshall said. “But when you do bang his brains out, I had better be the first to know.” He cocked his head. “Wait. That came out wrong.”
    Natalie laughed and gave him a playful shove.
    Liberty stuck her head out the taxi window. “The meter is running, not that you care. I’m not spending a dime over ten bucks, Mr. Moneybags.”
    “She’s a delicate little flower, isn’t she?” Marshall winked. “Mustn’t keep her waiting.”
    Natalie watched him hop back into the cab and wave good-bye to her from inside its darkened confines. “Too late.”
    #
    Julian was absent from Niko’s for three excruciatingly long days, finally returning on Monday night. Natalie watched him approach with apprehension. Their last encounter had ended strangely and he’d left so abruptly. She vowed not to talk about Mendón with such fanaticism again; it was clearly off-putting. If Julian’s an author too, maybe he’s got one of those fragile writer egos. The notion didn’t seem to fit, but then Natalie realized she didn’t know him well enough to say for sure.
    A few minutes after ten, when the café was empty, Julian set down his pen, stretched his fingers, and went up to the counter. “I would like it if you joined me again.” He wore that inexplicably shy smile. “Unless you have to work or…”
              “No, no.” Natalie endeavored to keep her voice in a normal octave range. “I mean, no, I don’t have work to do now. I could…uh, join you.”
    Once again she picked out a pastry and once again he paid for it, carried it to the table for her, and pulled out her chair, not