Lydia and Julian returned to the table a few minutes later.
Vanessa Price immediately noticed the mark on Lydia’s lip and smiled knowingly. “Lydia, what happened to your mouth?”
At that, the others glanced her way.
Lydia looked calmly back at Vanessa, saying nothing.
Julian reached out, tilting Lydia’s chin toward him as if to inspect. His thumb brushed across her lip in a touch that was far too familiar. “It’s true,” he said lightly. “Honey, your lips are cracked. The air’s been so dry lately — remember to drink more water.”
Lydia frowned and pushed his hand away, shooting him a warning look.
Julian just smiled, as if it were harmless teasing between husband and wife, and then turned his gaze toward Adrian Cole, who met it evenly.
Lifting his glass, Julian said, “Mr. Cole, Ms. Price — I’m terribly sorry, but Lydia and I just got called away on something urgent. Let’s have dinner again soon; this one’s on me.” He downed his drink in one swallow.
The word “urgent” carried more weight than it should have.
—
An hour later, outside the University District Police Department.
Lydia sat in the car, lost in thought, until she saw Julian emerging from the building with two young women.
One of them was wearing his jacket over her shoulders, head bowed. The other followed close behind. Two uniformed officers walked them out, speaking briefly with Julian before shaking his hand.
As the group approached, Lydia got a better look at the girl in the jacket — delicate features, pale skin, and a face almost too pretty for her age.
So this must be the “new girl” Monica had mentioned.
Definitely not Julian’s usual type. This one was far too young, too innocent.
Was he changing tastes — or actually getting serious this time?
While Lydia pondered, they reached the car. Julian tapped on the passenger-side window. As the locks clicked open, he opened the back door for the girl.
“Thank you,” the girl murmured softly — Sophie Reed, as Lydia recalled the name — before slipping into the back seat.
Her roommate, Emily Ward, started toward the front passenger door, but Julian stopped her with a hand on the handle.
“You can sit in the back with Ms. Reed,” he said mildly.
Emily blinked, confused for a second, but then nodded and got into the back.
Once seated, she realized that the driver wasn’t Julian’s chauffeur, but a young woman — Lydia.
Julian got into the front seat beside her. Lydia turned to him briefly. “Where to?”
“Riverside University,” he replied.
She started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.
A few minutes into the drive, Emily couldn’t help asking, in her bright, naive tone, “Mr. Marks, is this lady your new driver?”
The question hung in the air. Lydia’s expression didn’t change; her eyes stayed fixed on the road.
Julian’s lips curved faintly. “My cousin,” he said smoothly.
“Your cousin?” Emily’s eyes widened. “Oh — I’m so sorry, ma’am! I didn’t know. I thought you were—”
Lydia finished for her, voice even. “The driver?” She paused. “Don’t worry about it. It wouldn’t be the first time.”
