Romero and Julian

By Brynn Paulin

Stay away from him!

 

Wesley Romero and Micah Julian have heard the same warnings their entire lives, but when lightning-fast attraction strikes them one night, they can't deny the connection that binds them. Their families may be engaged in a long-standing feud, but Wes and Micah want to solve their differences in a more civilized manner—in bed and in each other's embrace, where arm-to-arm combat has never been so good.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Supernova Indie Publishing Services LLC
• Release date: Dec 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9781623443610

Book preview

Romero and Julian

By Brynn Paulin

Supernova Indie Publishing Services, LLC

Powered by Your Imagination

Romero and Julian

by

Brynn Paulin

Stay away from them!

Wesley Romero and Micah Julian have heard the warnings their entire lives, but when lightning-fast attraction strikes them one night, they can’t deny the connection that binds them. Their families may be engaged in a long-standing feud, but Wes and Micah want to solve their differences in a more civilized manner—in bed and in each other’s embrace, where arm-to-arm combat has never been so good.

Copyright

© 2021, Brynn Paulin

Romero and Julian

Cover Art by Supernova Indie Publishing Services, LLC

Formatting by Supernova Indie Publishing Services, LLC

Electronic Format ISBN: 978-1-62344-361-0

Published by: Supernova Indie Publishing Services, LLC

Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.

Thank You!

Thank you for your purchase of Romero and Julian.

I hope you enjoy the story and will consider leaving a review or telling a friend about the book.

I love hearing from readers! To keep in touch and follow my news, please visit me on my website at www.brynnpaulin.com.

Dedication

My man’s as true as steel.

Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Sc. IV

William Shakespeare

To all those who believe in love at first sight.

May your lives be the ultimate love story,

filled with Happily Ever After.

And to Shakespeare.

I know why you killed them.

While I still disagree,

after dealing with these characters,

it’s all so much clearer now.

Chapter One

One punch and Wesley Romero was going down hard. The back of his head smacked the lawn, but he rolled, avoiding Tai Julian’s kick. Damn it, it looked like he was wearing steel-toed boots, too. Leaping to his feet, Wesley scrambled up and ducked a blow just as a Verona police car screamed around the corner and his friend, Ben Marcus ran across the street and grabbed Tai before the man could punch Wesley again.

Favoring his ribs, Wesley hunched over trying to breathe while two cops hurried from their cruiser.

What’s going on here? one of the cops demanded.

He’s trespassing, Tai spat.

I came over here to ask you to turn down the music so my parents can sleep. Wes looked at the cop. He attacked me.

Fuck, he didn’t even live here anymore, and he was still getting dragged into this crap. He’d just come to dinner at his parents’ home, and they’d asked him to talk to the Julians before he left. Tai had gone on the offensive as soon as he’d seen Wesley. Thankfully, Ben, who’d been his close friend since childhood had joined them for the meal. If not, Tai would still be beating on Wesley while Wesley tried to dodge him. Not that he couldn’t hold his own, but he didn’t want to fight. He’d seen way too much of that the past few years.

I can’t believe we’re back over here again, the second cop muttered in disgust. The two of you. For the love of God, Romero just got back in town.

Wesley recognized him as Deputy Escalus. He’d broken up way too many squabbles between the Romeros and Julians over the years. Edward Julian, Tai’s father, and Robert Romero, Wesley’s father had fostered a long-standing feud of sorts since they’d been in college. It was a stupid thing really, especially now some thirty years later. Something about Wesley’s mom dating Robert after she’d broken things off with Edward. As an extension, Maisie Julian disliked Wesley’s mom for that very reason. Everything had just gotten more bitter with more wrongs piled upon one another during the following decades.

Both the Romeros and the Julians lived in Victorian-style homes that had been in their families since they’d been built eons ago, and neither group was willing to move.

Trust me, Wes grated, I’d rather be back in Iraq than walking into this enemy camp.

The two families moved in different circles, and though he was the same age as the oldest Julian son, both Julian boys had gone to private school while Wesley had gone to public.

I heard you were a SEAL, Deputy Escalus said while the other officer spoke with Tai.

I wasn’t a SEAL, just a combat engineer doing his job.

Just an engineer? Ben laughed. Fuck, man, you’re a Marine. You did stuff that would have had me pissing myself.

You don’t say. A Marine? Ooh Rah, the cop said, admiration shining in his eyes.

Wesley grinned and nodded. He was proud to be a Marine, even if he was a reservist who’d never expected to be called up to fight overseas. He glanced at his friend. Thanks, Ben.

Hell, yeah. Marine or no, I’m glad you’re out now, too. Three tours was too much.

Just doing my job. He was glad to be back to his civilian career, now, though. So, Deputy, do you think we can ask them to turn down the music?

The officer nodded, and the three of them headed for the backyard. The area was lit with Chinese lanterns, and tall, propane patio heaters warmed the area that otherwise would have been chilly. A large banner at one end of the yard proclaimed Congratulations Micah and Paris! in large block letters. Great. They were breaking up an engagement party.

He spotted Edward right away as he rounded the final corner, but it was the youngest Julian who held his gaze. Micah. Five years younger than Wesley’s twenty-eight, he was sleek where Wesley was thickly muscled, and golden-haired where Wesley’s was nearly coal-black. He wore a silk button-down that only served to emphasize his startling, pale beauty. A statuesque platinum blonde had her arms wrapped around one of his. Paris, no doubt.

Wow, she’s hot, Ben murmured. Lucky bastard.

The blonde woman wasn’t the one Wes found hot. His mouth went dry as Micah looked up, and his light brown eyes met Wesley’s stare. A startling bolt of electricity jolted through Wesley’s chest before Micah’s father stepped into his line of vision.

What do you want? he demanded.