Foolish Games (19 page)

“Come on.” He grabbed the monitor and towed her toward the door.

“Where are we going?” Panic gripped her at the thought of going out in the storm.

“We’re going to exorcise your fear of storms, Princess.”

Her feet were rooted to the floor and she shook her head from side to side. No way was she moving from the safety of this room. And she’d prefer Will stay with her, thank you very much.

He pulled her in closer, leaning his forehead against hers. The heat of his body began to relax her tense limbs.

“I just trusted you with a secret only my agent knows. Trust me on this, will you, Julianne? I promise you’ll enjoy it. Every. Single. Moment,” he breathed.

Like a lamb to slaughter, she followed him out of the relative safety of her bedroom toward the front of the house, where the surf bombarded the coast and the storm waged war over their heads. His bedroom door was ajar and she dragged her feet as the sounds outside became louder.

“It’s okay,” he reassured her. “I’m right here.”

He led her into his bedroom, where the drapes were wide open, revealing the ocean as lightning lit up the night sky. She trembled.

“Shh.” He kissed her temple. “It’s just a storm. You can do this. You’ve done it before.
We’ve
done it before.”

Stepping back, he peeled the sweatshirt over his head, revealing his bare chest. As always, the sight made her mouth go dry. He lifted her hand and gently placed it over his heart, the pectoral muscle jumping when her fingers made contact. She swayed on her feet and he pulled her in closer.

“That’s right.” He urged her nearer. “Forget the storm and lose yourself in me. Just like that night on Sea Island.”

Her lips found the warm skin of his chest and she dragged her tongue over his flat nipple. He ground his hips into hers as he unzipped her sundress and slid it down to her hips.

“Last time you needed me.” His breath fanned her ear. “Tonight I need you, Princess.” Her knees buckled as he pressed an openmouthed kiss just below her ear.

She let her lips wander lower as her hands found the snap to his shorts. Unzipping them, she pushed his boxers and the shorts down over his hips. Her mouth stopped at his happy trail before her hands followed his shorts to his knees. Wearing only her bra and panties, she sat back on her heels before him as he stepped out of his shorts and underwear. His eyes blazed down at her as she took her time enjoying the view.

Rising to her knees, she trailed her fingers along his hard thighs before taking him in her mouth. With a hiss, he arched his back and fisted his fingers in her hair. Her name fell reverently from his lips as she pleasured him.

Suddenly, she was on her back on the big bed, her legs dangling off the side. Will towered over her, a sheen of perspiration glistening on his chest. Julianne crooked a finger at him, but he shook his head.

“Unh-uh.” He nudged her legs open wider and settled his hips between them before leaning down to capture one of her breasts in his mouth. Her body bucked off the mattress.

“Hold on, Princess.” He moved to the other nipple and she moaned his name. She felt him smile against her skin as he rained kisses down her belly.

Kneeling before her, he hooked her legs over his shoulders and Julianne whimpered. This time he laughed as his tongue trailed along her inner thigh. He blew a breath over her sensitive skin and she squirmed again.

“Stubborn woman, I told you to hold on.” And then his mouth found her sweet spot and Julianne fisted her hands in the sheets to keep from flying off the bed. Will tortured her, bringing her to the edge twice before finally letting her fall free, her climax a blinding display of bright lights. She let out a silent scream before she went limp.

On his feet again, Will rolled her over and pushed her onto her knees. He entered her in one hard thrust, nearly causing her to climax again. Wrapping his arms around her body, he leaned over her, his breath sawing in her ear as he pumped into her.

“The next time you’re in a storm, Princess,” he panted, “think of this. Think of how good this feels. I guarantee you’ll never be frightened again.”

He reached a finger around to play with the sensitive nub, and she squeezed him tighter inside her. She came in a rush. With a harsh cry, Will was right behind her.

They lay on the bed trying to catch their breath for several moments, his body still cocooning hers. The storm outside seemed to have subsided long before the one in the bedroom. A soft rain now fell in the night, nearly muting the sounds of the sea. Will gently slid Julianne beneath the covers before turning out the lights and joining her. She snuggled against his warm body as he wrapped his arms around her.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“Mmm,” was all he said.

She trailed a finger over his shoulder. “As exorcisms go, that one was pretty good. But it may take a couple more attempts to make sure I’m fully recovered.”

Julianne heard the smile in his voice. “You think? Well then, you keep checking the weather forecast because I’m your man.”

She burrowed in closer, satisfied that Will was exactly that.

“You’ve got a little over ninety thousand left after the sale.
Nigel and I are good for at least another hundred. That means you need only to raise another sixty or so more to cover the start-up costs. Several of your creditors from JV Designs would be interested, despite the fact you’re going to manufacture over
there
.”

Julianne chuckled at Sebastian’s words. He was excited about the prospect of helping create a new design company, but the thought of having to relocate to the United States was killing him.

“Suck it up, Sebastian. It’s only temporary. If this takes off, you and Nigel can hop back across the pond and handle the European end of things. But right now, I need to keep things close to home.”

“Home, is it?” Sebastian’s voice on the other end of the phone dripped with sarcasm. “And here I thought Italy was home.”

She peered out the bay window in the kitchen, searching the shoreline for Will. He’d taken Owen out with him on his daily jog along the beach. Despite his attempts to acclimate her to the ocean and exorcise her fears, Julianne still suffered tremors at the thought of them both being swept away. She wouldn’t be able to draw a thing until they got back. So she’d called Sebastian instead to discuss financing her latest venture.

“Home is wherever Owen is.”
And Will
, she added silently.

He hadn’t told her he loved her, not in words at least. But she felt his constant protectiveness, since the first night they’d met. And his trust. Each day, he was sharing more and more about his past. Whether it was visiting his childhood haunts or taking her to meet Mrs. Elderhaus, his first-grade teacher, this morning, Will was opening up. He didn’t trust many people with his innermost thoughts, but he was sharing them with her. She knew that by letting her in, he was showing her he loved her, even if he couldn’t say it yet.

“And I really don’t want you and Nigel investing everything you have in this. I can borrow against my grandmother’s trust fund again. I just need to get Stephen’s approval since he’s the trustee.”

“Jules,” Sebastian drawled. “Nigel and I
want
to be partners with you. You’re the bomb. Mums all over the world will be clamoring for your baby knickers. And you needn’t worry about our finances. Nigel and I have money tucked away for our retirement. Now if you’re really worried about us, you’d reconsider setting up shop in rustic North Carolina.”

Julianne spread her notes out on the kitchen table. “No way. It’s perfect here. There are four closed textile mills within a fifty-mile radius and scores of people looking for work. The company would give the local economy a big boost. Annabeth and her friend Patricia are virtual goddesses at all the ins and outs of owning a small business. We’re going to look at potential sites tomorrow.”

“Good God! Women on a mission! Heaven help the men of that little hamlet. What does your muscle man say about all of this?”

She checked outside again. Still no sign of Will. “I haven’t told him yet. He seems to have the impression that I fly by the seat of my pants.”

Sebastian snorted.

“I want to prove to him that I don’t.” She ignored him. “I’ve successfully run a business in the past, and I can do it again. This past year has just been a cosmic glitch, a pregnant pause, pun intended. But I’m back now.”

“That’s our girl. You can bring home the bacon and fry it up in the pan.”

They agreed to talk again after she’d toured the mill sites. Sebastian and Nigel planned to arrive in the States the following week so they could meet with potential suppliers. Julianne danced across the kitchen, exuberant about how everything was coming together. In a few weeks, she’d have her career back. Owen was healthy and thriving. And there was Will. Her body heated at the thought of him.

She picked up her phone to call Stephen when the red jog stroller appeared on the horizon, a shirtless Will running behind it: muscles rippling, his nylon gym shorts blowing with each stride he took. The wind whipped his hair. The sight was magnificent.

Best of all, he was jogging toward the house. Toward her. Julianne ended the call mid-dial and tossed her phone on the desk. Ignoring the tremors, she stepped out onto the verandah and took a few tentative steps across the lawn toward the dunes that separated the house from the shore.

Will pushed the stroller along the pier leading over the dunes. He stopped in the middle and turned the stroller around so Owen faced her. The baby chortled when he saw Julianne, his chubby legs pumping up and down. Will knelt beside him.

“That’s right, Owen. Tell Mommy she can do it. Tell her we’ll protect her.” He was speaking to the baby, but his eyes never left her face.

Will pushed his sunglasses up on his head, and she could see the encouragement beaming within those eyes.

Julianne pondered the quiet ocean at Will’s back as she chewed her bottom lip. The shore was still twenty yards or more beyond the dunes. If she joined them on the deck, the ocean couldn’t exactly reach out and grab her. She was being ridiculous just standing there on the grass. Before she could think about it further, she sprinted across the lawn and up onto the pier. Will greeted her with open arms, twirling her around by the waist, before pulling her in for a lusty kiss. Owen squealed in delight, his fisted hands punching the air.

“Soon, Cheerio, we’ll take Mommy swimming with us,” Will promised.

Julianne bit her lip as she buried her face in Will’s bare neck to avoid looking at the ocean behind them. In Will’s arms she felt invincible, but for now, this was as brave as she wanted to be. She’d think about swimming later.
Much later
.

 • • • 

Julianne was seated at the small desk in the kitchen sketching when Will sneaked up behind her, bending down to kiss her neck. She shoved the drawings into her folder. “You’d better be careful, Brody, my husband is upstairs and he might hear us. Oww!” She yelped as he bit the tender skin.

“What are you drawing?” he asked as he made his way over to the fridge and pulled out a bottled water.

She hesitated a moment, unsure whether to reveal her plans now or wait until everything was finalized. Deciding to stick to her original plan, she turned to face him. Will leaned against the counter, his hair still damp from his shower. He was dressed in shorts and a Yale T-shirt, ready to help Gavin coach a Little League game.

“Just some ideas I have for Owen’s clothes,” she hedged. “What time is the game?”

Will looked at her quizzically for a moment, as if he knew there was more she wasn’t telling him. She held his gaze.

“I need to be at the field in a few minutes,” he finally answered.

Julianne ambled over to where he stood and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Well, as much as I hate to let you wander around town alone looking so fine, I have to wait until your mom gets off work to babysit Owen before I can join you. Don’t forget, you promised me a beer at Pier Pressure after the game. I’m a lightweight, so you’ll definitely get lucky later.” She stretched up on her toes and kissed the side of his mouth, running her tongue along his lower lip.

He pulled back slightly to better study her. “Julianne, you sure everything’s okay?”

With both hands, she cupped his chin. “Better than okay. I’m drawing again, but things are still evolving. Please don’t take it personally. Please?”

Their eyes held for a moment before he nodded. He kissed her on the forehead.

“Owen’s asleep, so you should have some quiet time to work before my mother gets here. I’ll see you at the ball field later.” He grabbed his gym bag and headed out the door.

Julianne wrapped her arms around herself. It wasn’t like she was hiding anything from Will. She just didn’t feel comfortable involving him in this part of the process because it meant raising money. Their relationship was still tenuous and they were still establishing trust with each other. She didn’t want him to get the wrong idea and think she was only with him for his money. With a sigh, she looked at the clock: four forty. If she hurried, she could still catch Stephen before he left his office.

After nearly ten minutes on hold, her brother picked up the phone. “Julianne, how are you? Is the baby okay?”

She sighed. “Owen’s fine, Stephen. I didn’t mean to panic you by calling. I just thought I’d save you the trouble of calling me today.”

“I thought we’d gotten past this.”

“We have. Look, Stephen, I called because I’m putting together a business plan for a new line I’m designing. You were concerned when I sold JV Designs, so I just wanted to give you a heads-up that I am thinking about my future.”

Stephen was silent on the other end of the phone.

“I’m launching a line of baby clothes,” she blurted out. “We’ll start out as an online or catalog company first, but Sebastian has a lead on potential retailers who might be interested.”

“Well, Julianne, that sounds great. I hadn’t realized you were ready to get back into the business so soon. Just a month ago you sounded as though you didn’t know what you would do. This is certainly a vast improvement. How are you going to pay for it?”

It was just like her brother to cut directly to the chase.

“I have money left from the sale, and Sebastian and Nigel are investing. But I need to borrow from Grandmother Marchione’s trust again.”

Their paternal grandmother had left money for each of her grandchildren to do with what they chose. With the exception of Julianne. It seemed her grandmother had not approved of her son’s second wife, Julianne’s artist mother. So she’d insisted that Julianne not receive her funds until she was thirty—still two years away—in hopes that by that time she would be less inclined to waste the money on the bohemian artist’s lifestyle her mother had pursued. Ironically, Julianne’s career in fashion would not have been possible had her brother not suggested she borrow against the trust in the first place. She’d paid the fund back, with interest. Her grandmother had likely somersaulted in her grave.

“The fund wouldn’t be as big today were it not for the interest I contributed, Stephen.”

“I realize that. And of course you can borrow the money. I’ll never understand why Grandmother chose to punish you for how your hippie mother lived her life. She shouldn’t have put such severe stipulations on your trust fund. I certainly don’t need to be the gatekeeper to your inheritance.”

Julianne sank down in the chair at her little desk in the kitchen, relief and agitation rolling through her at the same time. It was no use arguing with her brother about her mother. Like their grandmother, Stephen had never been fond of his stepmother. Fortunately, he never took it out on Julianne. He had made her jump through hoops to borrow the money originally, but she’d proved herself a competent businesswoman, so she hoped he’d be more lenient this time.

She began doodling Stephen’s name with devil horns on her folder. “So can we just use the same terms we did eight years ago? I’d like to get the cash as soon as possible.”

“How much do you need?”

“The whole seventy-five thousand if possible.” She drew a star with
$75,000
written inside it.

Stephen blew out a breath. “I’ll see what I can do. But it may be next week before I can get it to you. And the terms will be adjusted to reflect today’s rates. You’ll need to sign your agreement to that.”

Julianne finally relaxed in the chair. She knew he could make it more difficult for her, but it still irked her to have to ask her brother for the money. It was hers, after all. “Next week will be fine. Thank you, Stephen.”

“Too bad your marriage isn’t real. Will is a rich man who could loan you the money. Although, given what he’s facing right now, you’re probably better off that the marriage is going to end in a few weeks,” her brother added.

She shot to her feet. “Ohmigod, Stephen! Be serious! This whole Bountygate scandal is ridiculous! Will hasn’t done anything wrong. He didn’t even know why they gave him the money!”

Silence greeted her on the other end of the phone line. Julianne’s heart leaped to her throat. She shouldn’t be discussing this with her brother. Granted, he wasn’t a sports reporter, but Stephen didn’t need to know Will’s secrets.

“Julianne . . .”

She cut her brother off before he could say more. “Stephen, please don’t ask me any more about this. The sports media has blown this all up, but it’s really nothing. Will is a good man. He’s Owen’s father. We need to stand behind him in this. He’s part of the family now. If you could just take care of the trust fund for me, I’d appreciate it.”

The sound of Stephen furiously tapping his pen on the desk traveled over the phone. “Sure. I’ll have the money to you next week.”

It wasn’t until after they’d hung up that she realized Stephen hadn’t said anything about supporting Will. She doodled on her folder again. If the truth ever came out, her brother was going to owe her a huge apology for doubting Will. She was looking forward to that day.

“Hi there!” Annabeth strolled through the kitchen door, setting her bag down on the table.

“You’re early.” Julianne jumped to her feet and clapped her hands. “Perfect! I have news.”

Annabeth laughed. “I hope it involves food, because I’m starving.”

Julianne pulled a salad out of the fridge and began adding grilled chicken to it. “It was too hot to cook anything heavy,” she explained. “There’s fruit here, too.”

“Mmm.” Annabeth poured herself a glass of wine. “Will isn’t the best at expressing his appreciation, but I am.” She saluted Julianne with her wineglass. “Thank you for pampering the babysitter.”

Julianne blushed. If Will’s mother only knew her son had been appreciating her against the island in the kitchen just hours before, she’d be shocked. Placing the salad on the table, she ushered Annabeth to sit down and pulled out a chair to sit beside her.

“I have news about the new company.” Julianne had shared her plans with Annabeth last week when her mother-in-law and her friend Patricia discovered her sketches. Both women persuaded her to proceed with the line and to locate her company in their economically depressed hometown. “I have the start-up funds, so we can move to the next phase.”