The following Friday, Sally babysat Jake so that Julia and Cameron could attend a hotel-owners conference at Monarch Dunes.
Unlike her last visit when she had Jake with her, plus her own conference to attend, plus a wedding to organize, Julia was able to relax. Cameron made sure of it by arranging for her to spend the time being pampered at the hotel spa while he attended meetings. Julia couldn’t remember the last time she’d spent a day in such luxury, with a mani-pedi, a facial and a massage. By the time she dressed for the owners’ annual charity ball that evening, she felt completely fluffed and refreshed.
She blew her hair out straight so she could wear it up in a sleek, smooth style, instead of her usual loose waves. After stepping into the strapless burgundy gown Trish had helped her shop for, she fastened the gleaming diamond necklace around her neck and slipped on the matching bracelet. She’d brought her mother’s diamond studs to wear in her ears.
Checking herself in the mirror one last time, Julia took a deep breath and walked out to the living room. There she saw Cameron, dressed in the elegant tuxedo he’d worn at their wedding, pop open the champagne and fill two glasses with bubbly gold liquid.
“That looks wonderful,” she said. Whether she was referring to the frothy champagne or her husband, she couldn’t say, but both were true.
He turned to hand her the glass, then stopped. And stared. The fiery intensity she saw in his eyes left shivers on her skin and heated up her insides.
“Wow,” he said on an exhalation.
She smiled, delighted by his reaction. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you,” he murmured, and touched his glass to hers. “Let’s pass on the party and stay here.”
“Aren’t you the host of this thing?”
He grimaced. “Okay, we’ll stay half an hour.”
“Just long enough to dance one slow dance,” she said, and sipped her champagne.
“We can do that right here,” he said, taking her in his arms and swaying in place. After a moment, he chuckled. “You’d never know it from this, but I was actually forced to attend cotillion at an early age.”
She gasped. “So was I.”
“And we both survived,” he said, grinning at her.
She laid her head on his shoulder. After a moment she whispered, “Mmm, you’re a very good dancer.”
“It’s easy, with you in my arms,” he said, as he planted slow kisses along her neck. “I didn’t think you could possibly be more beautiful, but tonight you are.”
Julia looked up at him, at his eyes smoldering with need, and felt her heart tremble. If she told him she’d fallen in love with him, what would he do? Would he be shocked? Angry that she’d broken the rules? Could he admit the same back to her? Staring at him now, Julia wondered if it was only wishful thinking, or could she really see her feelings reflected in his eyes?
“We’d better go now or we’ll never leave the room,” Cameron said gruffly. “And don’t get too friendly with anyone at the party. We’ll be in and out of there in thirty minutes.”
As they moved through the party, greeting friends and business competitors, Cameron kept Julia’s hand gripped in his. She was so stunning, every man in the room had their eyes on her. No way would he let her loose in this crowd of sharks.
“There’s the man of the hour,” someone said.
Cameron turned and grinned at his old friend Byron Mirabelle, owner of the prestigious Pinnacle Hotels chain. The two men exchanged hearty handshakes and Cameron introduced him to Julia. “Byron specializes in small, luxury hotels in the mountain states of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.”
“Got one going up near Park City, Utah, next year,” the older man said proudly.
“That’s fantastic,” Cameron said. To Julia, he added, “Byron was one of my first mentors in the business.”
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Julia said.
“And you’re just the lady I’ve been wanting to meet,” Byron said, and pointed his finger at Julia in accusation.
“Me?”
“Yes, you,” Byron said jovially. “You’re the reason my wife won’t stay anywhere else but the Duke resorts when we’re in California.”
“But I’m…” Julia shot Cameron a look of puzzlement, then stared at Byron. “Why?”
Byron slipped his arm through hers. “Because of those chocolate croissants you make for the Dukes. We can’t get them anywhere else.”
“Oh, that’s so sweet.” Julia laughed as she patted his arm.
Byron leaned closer. “Personally, I’m partial to your apple fritters. My goodness, I could eat them all day long.” He frowned and slapped his gut a few times. “I think it shows.”
“I like those best, too,” she confided.
As Cameron watched his stunning wife interact with his friend, he felt a wave of tenderness so overwhelming he almost stumbled backward. Suddenly, his chest felt so full of emotion, he could hardly breathe.
What the hell was that?
Was he having a heart attack? He didn’t think so. He wasn’t in pain. Quite the opposite, in fact. He felt warm, fulfilled, happy. Bizarre.
Hell, he didn’t know what was going on, but he knew he needed to move.
He left Julia and Byron chatting while he walked to the bar and ordered a shot of good Scotch. As he sipped the drink, he decided the best thing to do right now was to get Julia and slip out of here, take her back to the room and make love. And tomorrow, he couldn’t wait to drive home and see Jake. He didn’t know when it had happened, but he’d become a family man, and Julia and Jake had become the most important part of his life.
Cameron felt someone touch his shoulder and he turned.
“Hello, Cameron.”
His back went rigid. “Martina.”
“Don’t you look handsome,” she said, her voice as sultry as he remembered. She wore a black-lace dress that barely covered her impressive cleavage, which she used to great advantage by leaning close to him as she batted her eyes. “I was hoping I’d see you here tonight.”
Cameron gazed at her with detachment. He had loved Martina once, or so he’d thought. Now, he looked at her and felt…nothing.
“So, where’s Andrew?” he asked. And more important, where the hell was Julia? He peered over the heads of the crowd, trying to see where his wife and Byron had disappeared to.
Martina’s lips curled in a pout. “Andrew’s not coming. It’s just as well. I’ve missed you, Cameron. How have you been?”
“Couldn’t be better,” he said tersely.
“Oh, I’m glad.” She walked her fingers up the lapel of his tuxedo. “To be honest, I was hoping I’d find you here alone. Maybe you and I could go somewhere and…and talk, or perhaps…”
“Or perhaps what?” he said, and carefully removed her hand from his jacket. “Perhaps cheat on your husband? Make him jealous? I don’t think so.”
“Oh, Cameron, don’t be bitter,” she said, and gripped his arm. “I-I can’t pretend anymore. Andrew and I are divorcing.”
“Sorry to hear it.” He didn’t look at her, but instead continued to scan the room, searching for Julia.
“I think you should know,” Martina said in a low voice. “The reason we broke up is I…I’ve never gotten over you, Cameron. I want you back.”
He choked on a laugh. “That’s rich.”
“There you are,” Julia said brightly, touching his shoulder. “Byron’s such a doll. Oh, hello.”
With some relief, Cameron turned and wrapped his arm around his lovely wife. “Martina, this is my wife, Julia.”
“Your…what?” Martina opened her mouth, then shut it. A wise choice.
“Hello, Martina,” Julia said graciously, though Cameron could feel the tension in her body. She had to have seen the other woman hanging on to him.
