“Not really. I guess it’s time I find myself, huh.”

“You’re always welcome here.”

“Dad, thanks. But I don’t have any idea about being an architect, nor do I want to be one.”

“How’s my granddaughter?” That was safe territory, and he knew it.

“She’s beautiful. Julia’s a great mom, just like we always knew she would be.” Pride filled every word because it was true.

“How long are you going to stay there?”

I thought about The Outrigger, about an unlikely friendship starting with Cal, and my two-night escapade with Geena. “I’m not sure. I’m working at a bar on the beach just to save some money.”

“Okay. Well, I’ll let you know when I find out a hearing date. Until then, stay out of trouble and give your sister my love.”

Stay out of trouble. He said that to me all the time now. What did he think, that I liked trouble? When he said shit like that, it just proved to me that he didn’t think I had changed.

“Sure thing,” I muttered. “Talk to you later.” I disconnected the call, grabbed some fresh clothes and headed across the hall to shower. Julia and Carter were already at work. I was going to stop by the bar later to help Cal with the website, but I wasn’t working tonight. It was Geena’s last night in Florida, and I was planning to make it good.

She hadn’t said a word about keeping in touch or anything after she went back. Hell, for all I knew she had a boyfriend or someone at home. And yeah if she was a cheater that sucked, but not for me. I wasn’t in it for a relationship. I’d told her right from the get-go that I didn’t do strings so after tonight, she knew it was goodbye.

I smiled as I walked up to the door of Carter and Julia’s office. It was beautiful, lined with palm trees and a small but well-maintained stucco building. The simple but artistic sign with their names showed just how important this was to them. Her dream had come true in so many ways.

I might be out of prison, but prison wasn’t out of me. Sighing, I shook my head to rid the thoughts I didn’t want and opened the door. A small ding signaled my entrance. The quaint waiting room had a few chairs, a table, and a flat-screen television on the wall. Flowers sat in a vase on the table, and serene music played on the television. On the screen was the logo that was on the building outside.

A young girl smiled at me, watching me with interest as I made my way to her. “Hi. I’m Johnny. Is Julia in?”

She stared at me just a beat too long, and I almost smiled. Almost. I knew what I looked like. She was barely eighteen from the looks of her, and I looked like the Big Bad Wolf. She hit a button and put a phone to her ear.

“Julia? Johnny is here to see you.” She paused. “Of course. No problem.” She hung up the phone and turned to me. “Go on back. Do you want me to take you to her office?”

I looked around the office. It had to be no more than a thousand square feet total. “Uh, no that’s okay. I’ll find it. Thank you.”

I opened the door and walked down a small hallway, stopping at the door that said Julia McIntyre, Interior Designer. I was so proud of her. Even though I knew she was a world-class architect (and still worked with Carter on certain projects), I was glad she’d gone beyond that and decided to live her dream. If only I could figure out what mine was, maybe I could do the same.

Her office door flew open before I could even knock, and she threw herself into my arms. “Johnny! What a surprise! I’m so glad you came by!” I hugged her tight, the physical closeness of her still warming me from the inside out, just like it had her entire life. That girl just knew how to make me feel loved without even trying.

“I brought lunch,” I said, holding up a bag. “Is Carter here?”

“Yeah, he’s in the conference room with some clients. He’ll be out soon, though. So, did you meet Meg?”

“Meg?”

Julia grinned, taking the bag from me and putting it on her desk. It was then that I noticed Calia sleeping in what looked like a small crib next to Julia’s desk. I walked over to her, running my fingers along her smooth cheek. She didn’t even move.

“The receptionist.”

“The twelve-year old out there? Yeah, I saw her. So?”

Julia laughed. “She’s twenty.”

“Well, she looks much younger. You aren’t trying to set me up, are you?”

She shrugged. “Maybe. She’s a really sweet girl.”

“Jules.” I put my hands on her shoulders. “I’m too old to be seeing twenty-year olds, don’t you think?”

She shrugged again. “She’s mature.”

I laughed loudly, making Calia jump. I covered my mouth and she settled. “I’m not dating, Jules.”

“So you’re just sleeping around.”

I coughed. Carter must’ve told her about seeing Geena. Not that I cared about what I was doing, but it wasn’t something you wanted to talk to your little sister about, either. “Jules . . .”

She held up her hands. “Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know. I just want you to be careful, Johnny. I love you, you know.”

“I’m always careful, pipsqueak. And I love you, too.”

Our conversation halted as we heard Carter coming down the hallway with two other guys in tow. He said goodbye and then walked back to Julia’s office grinning.

“Did you get it?” Julia’s eyes sparkled. I loved seeing her so happy.

“Of course,” Carter said, picking her up and spinning her around. Setting her down, he kissed her softly before turning to me. “Hey, Johnny.”

I ignored the twist in my gut at the love so evident on their faces. “Hey, Carter. I brought lunch.”

Carter eyed me for a moment and then smiled. “Great. I’m starving. Let’s go into the other room so we don’t wake the princess.”

Julia left the door open as we walked down two doors to the conference room. I set out the sandwiches, potato chips, and drinks I’d bought at their favorite deli.

“How’s the new bar? I feel like I haven’t seen you at all.” I heard her talking to me, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of the small spots on her upper arms from my fingers. When I didn’t answer, she looked down. “I’m fine, Johnny.”

I forced my eyes away from her and down to my sandwich, the anger so immediate I felt my blood pressure rising quickly. We ate in silence for a few minutes while I forced myself to calm down.

“Please don’t stay with your friend from the bar,” Julia said finally. “I want you at our house, Johnny.”

I lifted my eyes and met Carter’s. “We both want you there.”

“I won’t come into your room anymore,” Julia offered.

“That’s the thing,” I said. “You shouldn’t have to be afraid in your own house.”

“I’m not afraid,” Julia defended. “I just want you to feel comfortable.”

I blew out a breath. I didn’t want to stay with Cal anyway. I mean, he was a nice guy, but I was a loner. I liked my own space. “Okay.”

Julia grinned. “Yeah!”

Carter smiled at me. “You’re our family, Johnny. We want to help you. There’s one condition I want to put out there.”

A condition? I narrowed my eyes on my brother-in-law. I loved him like he was my own brother, but if he was going to start telling me what I had to do, we were going to have issues.

Carter held up his hands in mock surrender at the look on my face. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“Let me be the judge of that.”

“I made you an appointment to see Dr. Mia, Carter’s mom’s friend.” Julia broke the news, crossing her arms in front of her chest in the determined stance she’d had since she was a little toddler. Julia always knew right where to push to make me do what she wanted, no matter the age.

“Julia.”

“Johnny.” Carter’s voice was firm, and I recognized this for what it was. He wasn’t angry with me for hurting his wife, my sister, but I was going to do something about it or they were going to have a problem. I could respect that about him. He was doing what any respectable husband would do, not that I would have a damn clue about that.