Read Online Forbidden Boy by Hailey Abbott - Free Book Online Page B

study all rolled up into one, you know?” Julianne nodded slowly, only half-processing what he was saying.
    “So what are you doing here?” Remi asked. Julianne tried to avoid his eyes, which were still—much as she hated to admit it—warm and syrupy.
    “Bill Cullen, the contractor, set me up with the job,”
    Julianne explained. “He saw one of my sculpture pieces in the Chamber of Commerce and called and asked if I’d be interested in trying this. Plus, I like to be outside, work with my hands, and try new things. Like you said, it’s sort of a combination of business and pleasure.” The moment the words were out of her mouth, Julianne kicked herself. Business and pleasure? she repeated to her-self. Did I really just say that out loud?
    Remi nodded appreciatively, oblivious to Julianne’s discomfort. He wiped his hands on the sides of his pants before responding. “I want you to know, I can be totally professional. I promise not to make this weird.”
    Julianne’s blue eyes widened with disbelief and her jaw muscles tightened.
    “Excuse me?” she managed to choke out, trying desperately to figure out how things could possibly get any weirder. She pushed up the sleeves of her T-shirt, like she was getting ready for a fight. The whole construction site, which had felt so magical and full of possibility just half an hour ago, seemed to be shrinking, closing in on her.
    “I said that I want you to know that I can be totally professional,” Remi repeated sweetly. “And that I promise not to make this weird.”
    Julianne’s head was swimming. She couldn’t believe he was here at this construction site, when his parents were clearly the antithesis of everything the eco-house represented. Even more, she couldn’t believe the effect he was having on her. This was never going to work. It was too confusing, too messy. But she wasn’t about to walk away from this fabulous job without a fight. That would mean leaving the crew short a person and relegat-ing herself to a summer spent indoors selling surf wax or ice cream.
    “Julianne? Are you okay?” Remi asked gently, peering at her across the desk.
    Please let him disappear, please let him magically disappear, Julianne silently begged. She squeezed her eyes shut tight, but when she opened them back up, Remi was still there. And looking at him made her weak in the knees.
    “I think you should leave,” she blurted out. “Or I should leave. Someone should leave.”
    Remi’s eyes widened in surprise. “Um, okay. I can go back outside, but it would help if you could tell me why I’m going?” He said it like Julianne had presented him with a riddle and, if he solved it, there’d be some sort of prize.
    “I believe in what everyone’s doing here, and I want to be a part of it,” she said shakily.
    “Okay,” Remi said again slowly. “So far, it sounds like we’re both on the same page.”
    “I don’t think we are,” Julianne said, more definitively than she felt. “At least, I know I’m not on the same page as your parents.”
    “What?” Remi crinkled his brow, genuinely befud-dled. “What do my parents have to do with this job? You don’t even know my parents.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me that you’re Remi Moore ?”
    Julianne shot at him, eyes blazing. Her voice was a lethal combination of pure sugar and pure steel.
    “Why didn’t I tell you my last name?” Remi tried to keep up with Julianne, but he looked like a lost puppy.
    Julianne tried not to get distracted by how adorable he was when he was confused. Just stay angry, she told herself. Now we’re getting somewhere.
    “I didn’t realize I hadn’t told you my last name. I guess it never came up. I can try again. Hi, I’m Remi Moore. Nice to meet you.” Remi smiled at Julianne, waiting for her response.
    Julianne just shook her head from side to side, mute.
    “Okay,” Remi said, trying again. “Remi is short for Remington, but no one other than my folks ever uses the full name.