Love Never Dies Read Online Free Page A

all he’s not interested and second, remember what happened when I dated Tim Stevens? I certainly don’t want a repeat of that situation, so I’ll pick my own boyfriends thank you very much.”
    Tim Stevens had been one of Paul’s best friends since high school and currently served as a manager of one of the Rite-On Drugstores downtown. He was well–to-do, tall, and slightly balding. He came across as one of the sweetest men Julia had ever met; sweetest and most boring, until he’d started groping her in his fancy car and wouldn’t take no for an answer. To her, Tim was like some sort of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde character; sweet to her family and a monster to her.
    Julia had gone out with him many times at the encouragement of both her brother and parents , who’d been acquainted with his family for years. After one particularly hideous evening where she’d actually been forced to punch him the mouth to get him to back off, Julia vowed she’d never date anyone her parents or brother set her up with again, no matter how well-meaning they were. She realized how a man appears to his buddies and her parents, isn’t always a guarantee he’ll treat a woman with respect.
    Now, because she was attracted to Seth herself and her father spoke so highly of him, Julia felt doubly on guard. It irked her that the young architect always ignored her, which compelled Julia to say something nasty about him.
    “He seems very egotistical and stuck up; not my type at all.”
    Her father observed her shrewdly and set down his knife and fork while Helen Morris made a show of adding more seasoning salt to her baked potato. “I wasn’t asking you to go out with him Julia. I just thought that maybe you were friends or something since he’s obviously so interested in your routine. It was my mistake sweetie, thinking there might be something more there. I promise I won’t bring him up again,” he stated, and moved on to other subjects.
    Later, however, when she had time to think about it, her father ’s words disturbed her. Just why did Seth avoid her every time he saw her, but later pump her parents with questions about her life? Could he be interested in her after all? She made up her mind then and there to figure out what made Seth tick, if it killed her.
    The Tuesday before the Thanksgiving holiday Julia knocked on her brother’s door and he opened it with a wide grin before appearing sheepish.
    “Oh hi Sis,” he said awkwardly. “You are, um, coming for a visit?”
    “Well yes. I thought I’d pop in for a few minutes if you don’t mind. I want to talk to you about Thanksgiving dinner at Mom and Dad’s and what you’re supposed to bring. Are you busy or something?”
    “No, not at all,” said her brother and let her in. He seemed tense and out of sorts and as she followed him into the beautiful living room Julia observed Tim Stevens sitting upon the couch. He flashed his wide toothy grin and Julia felt her heart sink.
    “Long time no see,” chirped Tim. “Just where have you been keeping yourself Julia? I’ve missed your beautiful face Sweetheart.”
    Paul beamed as Julia winced. She’d never informed her brother about Tim’s inappropriate advances so Paul smiled delightedly, still hoping Tim and Julia would make the perfect match.
    “Been working ,” said Julia evasively. “How’s everything going at Rite-On Drugstore?”
    “Great. We’re opening another store real soon in Montecito. I may have to go over there and train the new manager. It’s quite a position of responsibility you know,” he boasted.
    “I can imagine.”
    Tim’s eyes focused upon the front of her peach blouse and Julia squirmed. “Anyway, maybe you’d like to check out the new store sometime? It’s near the golf course and because of the large retirement community we cater to retirees. We have a larger than usual pharmacy, as well as lots of additional foodstuffs just to help the seniors in case they don’t want to run to the market