Everyone Has Something To Hide

Chapter Nineteen

"My mom is a bad woman," Juliane laughs, sitting in the passenger side of Link's truck.

"What makes you say that?"

"Because, her pushing this when she knows I'm married," Juliane chuckles.

"Juliane, I would never want you to do something that you weren't comfortable with or weren't ready for, you know that right?"

"I know that," she nods. "I talked to Trevor today."

"Oh, did something happen?"

"He's just so obsessed with finding the person that broke into our house."

"Do you think finding him would take things back to the way they were for you two?"

"I told him it's not going to bring her back."

"Juliane, I'd be a real dumbass not to know that you obviously love him. What I am asking is, do you want him to find the person that did this? Do you think it would help you? Because I've told you before that I just want you to be happy, and if you think this will give him closure and save your marriage if he finds this person, I want to know," he says, pulling up to his place. "I just want to know what you want."

"I mean obviously I want to know who hurt her and who broke into my house but I think it's a lost cause at this point. I don't know, I'm so confused."

"Okay," he nods taking a deep breath. "Enough of that, let's go eat," he smiles as they climb out of the truck and head into the house. "I'm going to take a really quick shower, if you don't mind."

"Okay," she nods. "It's your house."

"Help yourself. There's beer, wine, whatever you want. I won't be too long," he says, walking away. Bella walks over and climbs on the couch with Juliane, accepting the scratches.

Link comes back downstairs a few minutes later, clean, with some shorts and a t-shirt on. "Alright, let's make some food," he says, walking into the kitchen to start on dinner. She watches him move around the kitchen, pulling the already made patties out of the drive and beginning to grill them on a grill pan on the stove. He takes the salad out of the fridge as the burgers cook, getting the toppings all together. She slides on the barstool, watching him move in one fluid motion.

"You're thinking about something," Juliane says softly.

"That's the trouble with people that do what I do. I always have to think."

"Well what are you thinking about?"

"The best way I could do about finding this guy for you without violating international law."

"What do you mean?"

"I told you that I just want you to be happy. I really care about you Juliane, and if I can do this for you and if being with Trevor again will make you happier then I will, make it happen but I am technically a foreign spy, so I have to be a little careful."

"Did I say I wanted to be with him?" she asks softly.

"No, I guess you didn't," he answers, never breaking eye contact. "Are you saying that you are thinking about getting a divorce?"

"I'm saying that I don't know what I'm going to do," she say, never breaking eye contact either.

She watches as he walks over to her, slowly sliding her chair over so she's facing him -- he stands next to the counter and kissing her softly. "Juliane I'm falling for you, hard, and I'm not used to not having control over my mind like this, so I need you to tell me what you want me to do," he says softly, pressing his forehead against hers. "Do you want me to find this person for you or do you want me to leave it alone?"

"Don't. Nothing is going to change even if you do find the person."

He slides his arms around her and picking her up, carrying her over to the couch.

"What are you doing?" she smiles. "Your food is going to burn."

"I don't care, we can get pizza. You're sad. It's my job to make you feel better."

Juliane laughs but continues to lay there, looking over his features.

See, now that is much better," he says, sliding a strand of hair behind her ear. He leans in and kisses her softly before picking her up and carrying her upstairs.