Dear God, how could she be so stupid? Staring at Cameron playing with Jake in the pool, she had to admit to herself that it wasn’t all that hard.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she retorted aloud. That was lust, pure and simple, and nothing more. The man was capable of turning her on with a wink of his eye. Didn’t mean she was in love with him.
Hadn’t she worked all this out at the wedding? All they had was a marriage of convenience. Falling in love was
So why was her heart beating so fast? Why were her knees so weak? Maybe she was coming down with the flu. Anything but the alternative.
Jake’s little screams of delight kept her anchored as her mind spun out of control. She needed to reel it back in, now. Because it couldn’t work. Cameron would never reciprocate her feelings, so why would she endanger their relationship by insisting that he do just that?
She wouldn’t. Even if it meant lying through her teeth, she would never admit that she was in love with her husband. And didn’t that sound absurd?
“I’m going to make lemonade,” she said, waving to Cameron and Jake before going inside. As she cut lemons and began to squeeze out the juice, she watched through the window as Jake giggled at Cameron’s antics. He really was the best father, she thought.
She recalled the diamond necklace Cameron had given her while they were still at the hotel, to thank her for agreeing to marry him. Then the night they’d moved into his house, he’d slipped a matching diamond bracelet on her wrist.
Was it dangerous to read anything into the fact that he gave her lovely gifts whenever wonderful things happened in his life? It had already occurred to her that this wasn’t about the jewelry. It had to be something more than just a gesture. His gifts always seemed to come from a warm, loving place within him. Within his heart. Was it Cameron’s way of telling her he loved her?
“Oh, there you go again,” she said irately, pounding half a lemon onto the juicer and squeezing it to within an inch of its life. “Snap out of it.”
Cameron Duke took care of what was his. She was his wife; Jake was his son. Cameron would do whatever it took to keep them healthy and happy. He would protect them with his life and make them feel as if they were the most important people in the world. Which made him all the more special to her. If that meant she was a sap, so be it.
Julia sighed as she added sugar and stirred it into the mixture of water and juice. Was it any wonder that she’d fallen in love with the man? Now she would just have to keep that realization hidden deep within her heart so that Cameron would never learn the truth. Because Cameron Duke would never allow love to be a part of his plan.
Nine
“It looks like they’re going to catch on fire,” Julia said in a worried tone.
Cameron and his brothers stood around the barbecue grill cooking sausages, burgers and steaks. They didn’t seem to notice the billowing clouds of smoke that enveloped them as they laughed and talked and drank beer.
“But they never do, honey,” Sally said dryly as she placed folded cloth napkins and plates on the patio table. “It’s a male ritual. Don’t try to make sense of it.”
“Don’t be too concerned, Julia,” Trish said, stopping to give her new sister-in-law’s shoulder a comforting pat before continuing to add utensils and glassware to each place setting. “You won’t have to worry about Jake joining them in the manly smoke, at least for another year or two.”
Julia shuddered and stroked Jake’s head, then sprinkled a handful of Cheerios onto the tray of his bouncy chair. They had been living with Cameron for two months now, and Cameron had decided to celebrate the milestone with their first official family barbecue.
The late spring day was sunny and warm, so they’d all spent quality time in the pool before starting dinner. Everyone had dried off and changed into shorts, shirts and flip-flops. Sally, with her blond hair pulled back in a neat ponytail, sipped Julia’s homemade sangria.
Julia had baked hot dog and hamburger buns that morning and now she placed the large, plastic-wrapped cookie sheet on the sunny side table near the grill.
Sally shook her head at the sheet full of buns. “Now I know you’re a baker, but it still amazes me that you baked these yourself just for us.”
“Of course I did,” Julia said. “They’re so easy.” She glanced back at the buns on the table. “I’m hoping the sunshine will warm them instead of sticking them in the oven. What do you think?”
“I think that’s a stroke of genius,” Trish said. She finished with the utensils and picked up her glass of fizzy water. “I would beg you for the recipe, but why? My new sister-in-law owns a bakery.”
They all laughed. “I’ll bake them for you personally anytime you want.”
“Don’t tempt me,” Trish said.
Julia headed for the sliding glass door leading to the kitchen. “Anyone for more sangria?”
“I’d love a glass,” Sally said.
“None for me, thanks,” Trish said easily. “It’s not good for the baby.”
Sally leaned over the table to straighten a fork, but froze in mid-move. She turned and stared at her daughter- in-law. “No.”
“Yes,” Trish said, her laugh filled with joy.
“Oh.” The older woman’s eyes misted as she clasped her hand over her mouth in shock and wonder.
Julia felt her own eyes dampen, as well. “You’re having a baby?”
Trish nodded, still grinning.
Sally grabbed Trish in a warm hug. “Oh, I’m so happy.”
“That’s wonderful,” Julia said, and laughed as she joined in the hug fest. In that instant, her heart was so full of love for these two women and the baby yet to be born. She couldn’t begin to describe how grateful she was to be a part of this family and this thrilling moment.
Sally covered her face and began to cry in earnest. “I’m just overwhelmed. And overjoyed. I never thought…and then Julia and Jake came into our lives, and now Trish, and a baby, and… Oh, will you look at me, carrying on?”
“It’s wonderful,” Julia said, sniffling.
Trish and Julia linked arms with their mother-in-law and they all put their heads together.
“This is the most fantastic day ever,” Sally whispered, then her eyes lit up. “And little Jake will have a cousin to grow up with.”
Julia sniffed as tears began to flow again. “Oh, great. Now you’ve got me going again.”
Sally patted both of their cheeks. “You girls are both such a gift.”
Seconds later, Cameron walked over and saw Julia sniffle and wipe her eyes. He peered at her, then noticed his mother was crying, too. Alarmed, he grabbed Julia’s arm. “What’s wrong? You’re all crying. What happened? Is it Jake?”
“No, no,” Julia said quickly, then laughed. “It’s good news. It’s Trish. She’s going to have a baby.”
He broke out into a grin, turned and pulled Trish close for a big hug. He kissed her right on the lips and said, “That’s great news, honey.”
“Thanks, Cameron,” she said, smiling.
He jogged back to the grill and punched his brother in the arm. Then he gave him a brisk hug.
“What’s up?” Brandon asked.
“They’re having a baby,” Cameron explained.
Brandon choked on his beer, and Cameron thumped his back. When he’d recovered fully, Brandon grabbed Adam in a bear hug. “Congratulations, man.”
Adam laughed. “Thanks.”
The three brothers clicked their beer bottles together in a toast just as Sally rushed over to give Adam a ferocious hug.
“Lots of hugs going on around here,” Cameron said.
