once more.
Juliette forced a laugh, not knowing if she’d been spared or not. “Organized events.” She shook her head. “They’re for the people who can’t stand to be idle.”
“And people who like crowds,” Doug muttered, seconds before ducking under the water for a quick escape.
Damned if Juliette hadn’t done it again. She’d gotten him to open a vein and pour out his soul, when
And he didn’t understand why. He’d never revealed his painful past to anyone before, especially to a woman and, Lord knew, Erin would have lain prostrate at his feet for such in-depth information. Doug had had no desire to share with Erin, his girlfriend of two years, yet one day with Juliette and she knew his deepest secrets. Doug wasn’t a fool and understood the kind of intimacy they’d just shared would go a long way toward gaining her trust and convincing her to open up in return.
He just wished his need for information on her ex-fiance was the only reason he’d bared himself first. Wished he wasn’t drawn to her compassionate nature and giving heart. Because he feared losing his own heart. And he hated the now constant guilt that accompanied his every move.
Doug resurfaced, shaking water off himself and grabbing back on to the raft. “Volleyball interest you?” he asked.
“I know you said you wanted to try some resort activities, but I’m going to pass on the beach volleyball bit.” She looked into his eyes and drew him in. “I prefer the company of one special person to a large group, myself.”
Doug didn’t miss her deliberate hint. And though beach volleyball was safer, he was too close to gaining her trust to push her away and risk losing her now. “I’ve got something special planned for us, remember?”
“Are you going to fill me in?”
He grinned. “Soon enough. For now all you need to do is head on back to your room. Everything you need for tonight will be waiting for you there.”
“If I’m not careful, I could get used to this kind of attention.”
“There’s no reason why you shouldn’t. A woman like you deserves the best.” He reached forward with his feet, entangling their legs together beneath the water, and was rewarded by her huge smile.
His heart beat rapidly in his chest and he knew he was a goner. Hell, he should have known the minute he’d unburdened himself about his childhood. But with this one smile-meant for him alone-Doug knew he was falling for this woman fast and hard.
He hadn’t lied when he’d told Merrilee he believed in happily ever after. He just hadn’t thought any woman could inspire those kind of thoughts in him. Least of all Juliette Stanton, the woman he needed for selfish reasons. He shook his head. Life had a way of throwing him the toughest curves.
He needed the information Juliette possessed too badly to walk away and he was mired too deep in lies to admit the truth outright and rely on her good nature for the answers. The guilt he’d been feeling since arriving at the island grew and settled in the pit of his stomach.
But so did his certainty that she was in possession of information he needed. Juliette had just admitted she’d come down here to sort out something related to her father. He wondered if Senator Stanton was involved with his protege in illegal dealings and, though Doug would never dismiss the notion without evidence, he doubted it was true. His earlier information had never mentioned the senator and his record and reputation were above repute.
Which led Doug back to Juliette and her relationship with Stuart Barnes. Earlier this morning she’d questioned Doug about being engaged. She’d mentioned that by getting caught up in the swing of things, a person could end up nearly married. Without a doubt, she’d been talking about herself as well as about him.
So Juliette, of all people, would understand putting a parent first. Unfortunately she wouldn’t appreciate being the one sacrificed for the cause. He thought of his father in ICU-the IV and other tubes poking and prodding him, and the smile on his weary face when Doug had left to hunt down this story-and he knew one thing for sure. He didn’t have a choice.
HOW DID HE KNOW? Juliette stood in front of the closet door that doubled as a full-length mirror, taking in the denim jeans, the white, oxford-type shirt with a tank top beneath, and the pair of simple black boots. All perfectly sized, all comfortable and easy. She wondered again how Doug could possibly know how badly she needed these ordinary clothes that symbolized an ordinary life.
She hadn’t worn such a basic outfit since college and didn’t have a pair of blue jeans in her wardrobe now. Ever conscious of public scrutiny, especially since she’d begun dating Stuart, she’d never left the house looking less than conservative and dressed up.
When the doorbell rang, she ran, intending to greet Doug with a huge hug of thanks. But as she twined her arms around his neck and his hands reached out to grasp her waist, simple gratitude became something more. Something primal and elemental, wild and free.
She tilted her head back, intending to just look at him, but the result put their bodies in intimate contact. His firm chest, covered by a denim shirt, pressed against hers, heightening the ache in her sensitive breasts. His belt buckle pushed into her stomach but that pressure was nothing compared to the hard outline of his erection snuggling against her femininity, a place where pressure built and desire found a home.
He sucked in a startled breath but didn’t break their physical connection. “To what do I owe such an enthusiastic greeting?” he asked.
For a woman already on the edge, his grin was nothing short of devastating. “You anticipated my needs.”
“How do you know that when you don’t even know what I’ve got planned for tonight?”
“The jeans would have been enough.”
He held on to her hand and twirled her out in front of him, letting out a whistle of approval. “Nice fit.”
She felt the burn rise to her cheeks. He must have seen it because he stroked her heated skin with one roughened fingertip. “Never heard a catcall before?”
“Oh, I’ve heard them. I’ve just never had one directed at me.”
His eyes darkened in appreciation. “Then the men in Chicago must be blind. Don’t tell me a beautiful woman like you has never had a serious relationship.”
She let out a sigh. Suddenly her recent past and the all’s-well pretense here on the island became too heavy a burden. She wanted to share the truth. With Doug. “I probably came closer to getting married than you did.”
His eyes narrowed. His interest was apparent but, by his furrowed eyebrows, so was his concern. “How close?” The words seemed reluctantly drawn from him. As if a part of him wanted to hear while another rebelled against it.
“Close enough to be wearing a wedding dress,” she admitted softly.
Doug exhaled hard. He hadn’t expected to get so much out of her so soon and hated the deception that caused her to open up to him now. He was using her fantasy and everything he knew she needed from a man to get information to help his cause-and yet there was nothing he’d done for her, nothing he would do, that was faked or phony. She was beautiful inside and out and irresistibly desirable too. He wanted nothing more than for her to believe it as well.
Even if she never gave him another piece of information about herself, her life or, damn him, her ex-fiance, Doug would still be on this island fulfilling Juliette Stanton’s fantasy. He just couldn’t deny the benefits he might reap as a result.
“What kind of fool got that close to forever and let you get away?”
“The kind that has aspirations higher than he deserves.” She shook her head and those loose curls spread over her shoulders. With a frustrated groan, she lifted the heavy mass of hair and pulled it back into a high ponytail, drawing his attention to her chiseled profile, defined cheekbones and full lips. “So what do you have planned for tonight?”
Her change of subject was obvious and Doug knew he had to accept the parameters. After all, she’d trusted him with so much more than he’d imagined possible after just one day.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a red bandanna. “Does this give you a clue?”
She eyed the sheath of fabric with curiosity. “Not a one.”
“I’m disappointed. Put the clothes together with the bandanna…”
