Chapter Five

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.