Secret Fantasy(34)
Author: Carly Phillips

After Stuart’s betrayal, love had been the last thing she’d believed she’d wanted or thought she’d ever find. Her fantasy—once she realized she had one—was to get past the hurt and know she was desirable, not because of her family or political connections, but for just being her. But she had fallen in love instead. Fallen fast, deep and hard.

And now that she had, she refused to take a wait-and-see attitude with her life and her future. Perhaps her newfound determination to take charge had something to do with Stuart’s demand that she keep silent, and his absolute belief that she would comply. Or perhaps it had more to do with loving a special man who she refused to lose after this vacation was over. At least not for lack of trying.

So although she’d keep silent about Stuart, at least for now, she had every intention of telling Doug she loved him. With a little luck he felt the same and happily ever after wouldn’t be a farfetched notion for Juliette Stanton, Senator Stanton’s daughter.

DOUG LAY AWAKE long after Juliette had dozed off. He inhaled, taking in the fragrant scent of her hair and the musky reminder of all they’d shared. They’d skipped dinner out and called in for room service, then made love one more time. Although his body was temporarily sated, his heart wasn’t even close. How could it be when too much was uncertain?

He needed to know they had a future and the only way that could happen would be for him to come clean and hope she could find a way to understand and forgive. Considering she’d been hurt recently by a man who’d used her, Doug had his doubts. But he refused to lump himself in the same category as Stuart Barnes because Doug loved Juliette and had never set out to hurt her. He stifled a wry laugh. He was a master at using people for professional ends and if he lost his greatest desire now, it was probably no more than he deserved. Because, initially, he had set out to use her—no matter what his reasons or how good his intentions seemed at the time—just like her ex-fiancé.

She sighed, stirring in his arms. He brushed her tangled hair off her face and let her curl more snugly against him. He might not know what she ate for breakfast when she was late for work or how easily her living habits would gel with his, but he had no doubt they could make a long-term commitment work. And he was certain he wanted not just to have an affair or to live together but a till-death-do-us-part commitment like his parents shared.

His certainty was born of his past. He’d never experienced anything as all-encompassing or strong as what he felt for Juliette. And he couldn’t mistake the difference in his feelings for his past lovers and his current love.

Careful not to wake her, he eased himself out of bed. She shifted and resettled, snuggling against the pillow. And he pulled a resort pad out of the desk and began jotting down notes. Ways to protect Juliette, the eyewitness, from harm and ideas for his current story.

He wrapped things up, tucked his notes into his suitcase and crawled back into bed. To his delight, Juliette immediately rolled back into his arms. Minutes later, her breathing evened out. Slow and easy, he knew she was asleep.

“I love you,” he whispered, knowing he had the freedom and wanting to test the words out loud for the first time. They felt right and certainty filled him once more. He shut his eyes and let himself relax, his body slowly matching her rhythm.

Morning would come soon enough and with the break of dawn, his truths. And Juliette’s reaction.

But he woke up alone with a note propped against the clock, covering the digital numbers. At least she’d attempted to make sure he wouldn’t miss her message. He stretched, reaching for the white paper.

It’s my understanding most men don’t like a woman to spend the night.

Wanted to avoid an awkward morning after, so I went back to my room to shower and change.

Breakfast at my place? Door’s open.

Juliette.

P.S. Last night was incredible.

Incredible didn’t begin to describe it. Doug crumpled the paper in his hand.

He wasn’t most men. Not when it came to one specific woman, anyway. He’d not only wanted to wake up next to Juliette, he’d wanted to be the one to do the waking. In a sexy, sensual, arousing way meant to show her exactly how he felt—before he lay his truths and life in her hands.

But breakfast had its advantages, too and, being a writer, Doug was an inventive man. He could come up with all sorts of erotic ways to enjoy a meal that would leave Juliette with no doubt about his feelings. After a quick shower, he headed out the terrace door and around the back, to the path leading to a congregation of secluded cottages.

Doug had been a reporter for longer than he could remember. Ever since meeting Ted Houston, digging for a story had become a part of him. Watching people. Listening carefully for hidden meaning and innuendo. He knew how to follow at a discreet distance and because there were often other reporters on the same trail, Doug knew when he had company.

And that same uneasy feeling pricked at him now. Here on Merrilee’s secluded island, Doug wasn’t alone and he wasn’t talking about other guests of the resort. They wouldn’t be in hiding. He glanced around but already knew he’d see nothing out of the ordinary. He also knew the rustle of bushes he’d just heard wasn’t a bird or animal.

Instead of going directly to Juliette’s, Doug decided to test his theory. He circled back toward the pool, choosing a rarely used path that was overgrown with vines and greenery. Not a trail someone following him could take without being heard and, sure enough, when he’d made it halfway, the rustling noise began, then stopped suddenly, repeated itself and then silence descended. Whoever was behind him had begun to follow and stopped when the person realized Doug was on to him. A rank amateur to be sure.

Doug darted back to see if he could catch the interloper, but whoever it was had obviously anticipated Doug’s move and was nowhere to be found, giving him cause to rethink the amateur label. Whoever had followed him might have made more noise than a bull in a china shop, but had been quick enough to avoid capture. Silence now surrounded him, unbroken but for the chirping of birds and an occasional laugh from someone walking by.

But Doug never discounted gut instinct and if he needed proof, hadn’t Merrilee said she’d fit some people in at the end of the week who’d seemed more desperate than most? He hadn’t a clue who’d come down here, but he knew one thing for sure. All candidates led to Juliette. And none would appreciate finding her with the reporter who’d broken the original story and who had the potential to destroy them now. He needed to narrow down the list and fast.