Secret Fantasy(17)
Author: Carly Phillips

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-fiancé, 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…”

She laughed. “Still nothing.”

He shook his head. “Looks like you’re going to have to humor me.” He folded the scarf into a rectangular shape. “And trust me.” Walking around her, he came up behind her and blindfolded her with the bandanna. “Now it’s a real surprise.”

Her hands reached upward and he playfully slapped them down.

“It’s dark,” she complained.

“That’s the point. Hold my hand.” Grasping her soft fingers in his, he walked her forward then helped her into the electric car he had waiting. He reached around to fasten her seat belt and caught a hint of her enticing, arousing scent. His body stiffened in response and he prayed for restraint. Then he placed her hands safely on the dashboard to steady her. “You okay?”

Her lips turned upward in a smile. “Dying of curiosity, but fine.”

“Good. Anticipation’s half the fun.” He swung himself into the seat beside her. “Now hang on.” He put the car in gear and drove them around the back of the resort and headed toward a secluded path, to the place Merrilee’s staff had told him about earlier.

“We’re here.” He stopped the cart and shut off the motor.

Her nose crinkled upward and he realized she’d caught a whiff of their environment. “Any clue yet?”

“It smells like…” Before she could finish, he whipped off the bandanna, freeing her vision.

She blinked into the setting sunlight, adjusting to the shift in conditions before focusing on her surroundings.

“Horses! It smells like horse poop.” She laughed. “This place is a stable! How amazing!” Grabbing on to the metal bar, she hauled herself out of the cart and jumped onto the ground. “I have always wanted to ride. When I was a little girl, I begged my father for a horse. He laughed and bought me a puppy instead. He was back and forth to Washington, D.C. too often to saddle himself or us with the responsibility of ponies, but I never stopped wanting one.” Sheer joy edged her voice.

In her excitement, she hadn’t even realized she’d connected her father to Washington, D.C. and opened the subject up for questioning. Doug knew. But any mention of her father would destroy the moment and he was too enthralled watching her happiness to burst her enthusiasm. And again, emotions won out over professional necessity. Doug stifled a curse, knowing this woman had him tied in knots in a way he’d never before experienced.

“I didn’t know they had horses here.”

“There isn’t much Merrilee’s missing.”

She turned to face him. “So what’s the plan?”

“An evening ride on the beach.”

Her eyes opened wide and filled with gratitude. “I can’t think of anything better.”

Looking at her, neither could he. The stable hand privately warned Doug about an incoming tropical storm, common for this time of year, and the gray sky in the distance backed the claim. Doug promised to return early or take advantage of the shelter points set up along the route. The smart thing would be to give Juliette a brief ride and return quickly—but nothing about his reaction to Juliette, including his feelings, was smart. Still he’d been warned and the choice was his.

After touring the stables, they took off. The farther from the resort they traveled, the more pristine the beach, the whiter the sand and the farther they got from civilization. Because Doug had ridden before and the horse chosen for Juliette was gentle and easy, they’d gone out on their own, following the trail set by the staff. The ocean was choppy thanks to the incoming weather system and he kept the horses back from the tide.

Though Doug had planned this trip for Juliette, he was blown away by the beauty surrounding him and he wasn’t just talking about the crashing waves, the endless deep blue water or even the dolphin he saw breaking through the surf. He was floored by Juliette’s childlike reaction to the little things in life—like blue jeans and a horseback ride. And again, it was that innocence, in stark contrast to his jaded life, that beckoned to him.

He had much to learn from her, he realized, and glancing around he knew he was seeing the world for the first time—because her perspective was rubbing off on him. Changing him.

Thanks to the sound of the ocean and the noise made by the horses, they couldn’t do more than drink in the serenity and relax to the steady beat of the hooves, and Doug was grateful. He couldn’t speak if he wanted to. The lump in his throat was too great.