Around the World in 80 Men Boxed Set 31-35 by Rebecca Ratliff Page B

briefly, then back to Morgan, “these walls are
closing in on you.” She also agreed, that she would feel the
same, and was grateful that Morgan had taken several hours a day to
work on the house. “Okay, get up!” Julianne pulled
Morgan's arm as she herself stood, and they walked back to the main
room. “Here's what we're going to do.” Julianne forced
Morgan to sit on the sofa once again as she took her place across the
room at her desk. “You can get back to work. But here's the
catch.” Morgan's head tilted, and waited. “I'll pick your
next client.” Morgan smiled, not caring what the reason had
been, and got up. “No, let me work, you rest.” That was
the last thing Morgan wanted to do, but she sat again anyway to make
Julianne happy. “But I'll do this under one condition.”
Morgan crossed her heart with a promise that she would agree with
anything. “No matter who I pick, or what I plan for you, you'll
do as I say and not argue. Deal?”
    “Thank
you! Yes! I promise!” Julianne smiled in return, still
believing that it was far too soon for Morgan to work again, and
opened her data base of clients. She studied the men, and turned to
Morgan.
    “Actually,
why don't you go downstairs and get us something to eat.” That,
Morgan laughed, would not be a problem. Julianne went back to work,
opening each client's file that she thought would be best suited for
Morgan under the circumstances.
    “Which
one of you would be best for my girl right now?” Julianne spoke
to the empty room, at least she thought, until a pair of large hands
landed on her shoulders. Julianne smiled, not even stopping, and
brought her hand over his. “Hello, Darling.” Felix kissed
the top of her head and gave her shoulders a squeeze.
    Felix
and Alrik had finished their business, and he had returned to be with
Julianne for the next two weeks. “I'll be done here shortly, I
think.” She opened more files, and read every detail of the men
in hopes of picking just the right one. He read over her shoulder and
asked what she was doing. Julianne looked toward the door to make
sure Morgan was gone, then told Felix everything. “To be
honest, though...,” she looked again at the door, “I
don't want to send her anywhere. She isn't ready, and I know it.”
Felix kissed her again, then sat in a chair next to the desk.
    “Then
get her ready.” Julianne looked into his eyes, loving the humor
that she saw in the light blue shine, and smiled. She had no idea
what he meant, but she was sure that he was about to tell her.

    *****

    “I'm
leaving tomorrow morning, so please make sure the painters know that
they have to use the back door. It'll be unlocked.” Morgan
stood in her kitchen as the sun began to set and ended the last of
her calls. She wanted the repairs and restorations done while she was
gone, and everyone was lined up for the next two weeks.
    She
had no idea how long it would be until she returned home, and she
didn't even know if she truly wanted to ever live there someday. But
what she did know was that restoring the home was the most important
thing to her right then, and that's what she held on to. She took one
last walk through the house, loving that it was at least clean for
the time being, and certainly appeared to be a home. “Home.”

    *****

    “Do
you have your light blue tank top?” Julianne helped Morgan
pack, and made several trips to the bathroom to make certain that
everything had been put in the suitcases. Morgan laughed, and assured
Julianne that everything was there.
    “I
told you, I left a lot of clothes at the house. I don't need to haul
all of that around anymore.” Morgan had shed one full case of
clothes that she didn't need, and was happy to be back to light
travel again. It also didn't help with the new additions of jeans
that Julianne had purchased, nor the dozen new tank tops from Angel
when he claimed to have found a mothafuckin' sale. “Honestly,
I'm good.” Morgan stopped Julianne and