Forbidden Boy by Abbott, Hailey (the false prince series txt) 📕

stolen time was worth all the sneaking around. More than once, Remi had driven over to Palisades Design and waited in the back by the oil paints so he and Julianne could see each other while she picked up supplies to finish her mother’s painting. Those few minutes alone, not hiding from anyone or anything, completely justified all the times they felt like sketchy stalkers hiding in the bushes outside of a celebrity’s house.

At work, both Julianne and Remi tried to keep a low profile. Partially because the teasing could get embarrassing, but mainly because they didn’t want the guys to have to lie to Bill—no matter how many times the crew offered to keep an eye out on their behalf. Julianne spent a lot of time in the courtyard working on the mural, or laying down tiles or solar panels. Remi tried to keep himself constantly busy elsewhere, doing daily check-ins with Bill and seeing if any of the guys had overflow projects they needed help with. Remi also had a special project of his own that he was planning for the house, and he spent his lunch breaks holed up in the trailer with a pencil and graph paper, planning it out.

Julianne did have to admit, though, now that she was scared of getting caught, she was a million times more productive at work. She had never been more focused in her life.

But now they sat staring at the ocean. The sunset had melted into evening, but the water was still shining just as beautifully as ever. Every so often, the quiet on the beach was punctuated by a burst of laughter or a happy sigh and Julianne felt like she could stay here forever.

Then her moment of bliss was interrupted by the sharp beep of her cell phone ringing. She dug into the pocket of her shorts, pulled out the phone, and looked at the display. It was Lucy.

“Hello?”

“Jules? Where are you? You were supposed to meet us an hour ago!” Lucy didn’t sound annoyed, just a little worried.

“Oh, damn! Luce, I totally lost track of time. I am so sorry!” Julianne jumped up from the ground and brushed a dusting of sand off of her legs.

“Don’t worry about it. I figured you were probably painting and spaced out for a while. You’re still coming out, though, right?” Lucy asked.

“Totally. Of course! I’ll be there as soon as I can. Tell the guys I’m sorry!” Julianne felt awful. She had been so excited about sneaking off with Remi before meeting her friends that she had forgotten about the actual meeting her friends part.

“No worries, Jules. We’ll see you soon,” Lucy chirped.

Julianne clicked her phone shut and looked over at Remi, who was shaking his head knowingly. “I knew we forgot something.” He laughed. “I’m supposed to meet some of the guys from the site in fifteen minutes for night soccer.”

Julianne shook her head as she shook off her flip-flops. “Remington Moore, why do you have to be so distracting?” she teased.

Remi chuckled. “I could say the same for you, lady.

Hey, do you need a ride to meet your friends? I’m parked over at a shopping center down the road.”

“That would be great. Only …” Julianne blushed.

“Only what?” Remi asked, his eyes crinkling.

“Only, could you maybe drop me off a few blocks away and I’ll walk the rest of the way myself?” Julianne looked down, a little embarrassed that Remi had made such a sweet offer and she wasn’t able to entirely take him up on it.

“No problem. I used to make my parents do that when they would drop me off at school when I was a kid.” Remi laughed his warm laugh, and Julianne’s whole body relaxed. She could listen to him laugh forever. He slipped his hand around hers and led her to the car.

Hours later, Julianne was walking down the beach near her house on the way back from hanging out with Lucy, Mitch, and Hunter. The night had been a blast—

Frisbee on the beach, checking out a band at the Fishtail—and her late entrance hadn’t put the smallest crimp in the fun. Despite her awesome mood, she couldn’t help but stop and stare as she passed Remi’s house. She knew he wasn’t home—his soccer game hadn’t started until after she met up with her friends, and those guys could play all night—but it didn’t look like anyone else was home either. Julianne thought it was odd. For a massive glass compound, there were very rarely people visible in the windows. She wondered if anyone was ever home over there, other than Remi, or if Mr. and Mrs. Moore were holed up someplace else while the house was being enlarged. The thought made Julianne instantly annoyed. As much as she didn’t blame Remi, she still couldn’t forgive his parents for what they were doing with their gigantic McMansion. And to think that they were going through all of this trouble—with the lawyers and the papers and the near daily pressure of offers and threats levied at the Kahns to sell their land—

and they weren’t even living there? It was a worse thought than she could stand. Shrugging the tension out of her shoulders and allowing the good mood her night out had put her into return, Julianne turned her eyes away from the Moores’ house and walked the rest of the way home in the warm summer air.

She slipped quietly through the back door, making as little noise as possible. She wasn’t being sneaky this time; she just didn’t want to wake anyone. As she crept to the landing on her way up to her room, she noticed that a ribbon of light was escaping from under Chloe’s door. She climbed the stairs and paused for a moment outside of her sister’s room. If Chloe were asleep after all, she would pop her head in and turn out the light for her. As Julianne stood there, she could hear Chloe’s teary, panicked voice on