Warrior's Cross by Madeleine Urban, Abigail Roux Page B

wryly. No work tomorrow, no one to be presentable for, nowhere to go. He looked down at the huge lasagna and smiled. And he’d have food for days. Weeks, maybe.
    Without warning, the puppies started yapping hysterically and ran for the front door. Cameron looked after them in surprise. He hadn’t heard the bell ring or buzzed anyone into the building. Frowning, he glanced at the clock. Seven-thirty. With a soft harrumph he rounded the Warrior’s Cross 73

    bar to walk toward the door, carefully shooing the puppies away with his feet before peering through the peep-hole.
    He jerked back in surprise and allowed himself a moment to quietly panic before he pulled off the chain and opened the door.
    “Hello, Cameron,” Julian greeted in a soft voice. “May I come in?” he requested.
    Blinking several times, Cameron stared for a long moment before shaking himself and stepping back. He thought vaguely that he should ask how Julian had gotten into the building, but when Julian spoke, the thought totally disappeared from his head.
    “Thank you,” Julian murmured. When he stepped into the apartment, his dark clothing glistened slightly; it was soaked through and flecked with ice crystals.
    Cameron closed the door behind him after counting the puppies now flopping around Julian’s feet, and his eyes moved upward over Julian’s clinging clothing. “You’re all wet,” he observed stupidly. “I’ll get you a towel,” he added, blushing slightly as he turned to head toward the bathroom.
    “A towel won’t do me much good,” Julian answered with a wry smile as his hair dripped and rivulets of melted snow ran down his face, catching in his beard.
    Stopping, Cameron looked at him more closely and stifled a laugh.
    “What’d you do? Snow angels?”
    Julian gave him a self-deprecating smile and lowered his head to run his hand through his wet hair. “Well, I considered one, but at the time I still had a dry sock to consider,” he joked. “I was walking. I had to leave my car because of the blizzard. You were much closer than home,” he admitted, looking slightly abashed. “I’m sorry,” he offered.
    Cameron frowned. “Leave your car?” he repeated dubiously. On the well-snowplowed Chicago streets?
    Julian pursed his lips. “You really want to know?” he asked, repeating himself from the night before.
    “I think so,” Cameron answered before considering it.

    74
    Madeleine Urban & Abigail Roux

    “I hit an ice sheet,” Julian said right away. “The car was pretty much done for the night after that.”
    Cameron cocked his head and looked Julian up and down, not seeing any injuries. “Are you okay?” he asked as worry flared.
    “I’m not hurt,” Julian assured him quickly. “I may be sore tomorrow,” he added as he pointed to his chest and rubbed it. “Safety belt,” he explained.
    Still concerned, Cameron nodded toward the bathroom. “There’s towels in the basket if you want to shower. You must be freezing. It’s like ten degrees outside even without the wind.”
    Julian nodded and watched Cameron with a curious expression.
    “Do you mind?” he asked seriously. “I can call for a ride and go.”
    “Of course I don’t mind!” Cameron said in surprise. “I wouldn’t turn you out soaking wet.” He pointed at the bathroom. “Go,” he said firmly.
    Julian’s lips twitched in amusement, and he nodded obediently as he began to loosen his tie. “Yes, sir,” he drawled in a soft, low voice.
    Cameron raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, watching in interest. Every time they spoke, a little more of Julian’s personality seemed to creep forth. It was anything but cold and foreboding. There was actually humor buried under there somewhere.
    Julian removed his coat as Cameron watched, hanging it carefully on the coatrack beside the door. He turned and considered Cameron’s gaze. “Did you want to help me?” he asked in amusement.
    Reaching out to touch Julian’s hand, Cameron could tell he