I swear its true.
In the end, it didnt matter. Because Julia wanted to get naked for Harrison, and she wanted Harrison to get naked, too. She wanted to press her skin against his and hold on tight for as long as she could possibly get away with it.
He pushed the dress from her shoulders, and it slunk to the floor. Her bra and underwear were simple, white against her tanned skin. He gazed down along the line of her body.
Youre so beautiful, he breathed.
Shed always thought of herself as ordinary, but she liked the desire she saw reflected in his steel eyes.
Her fingers went to the buttons on his shirt. He was back in Western dress-a crisp, white shirt and a pair of gray slacks. She pushed the smooth button through the hole, remembering the play of muscles on his broad chest, even as she revealed them one more time.
When she got to the bottom, she tugged the shirttails from his waistband, separating the fabric and running her fingers over his warm, taut skin. She leaned forward to kiss his pecs, leaving a damp, shining circle.
He cupped her chin and tipped it up, his lips hot and mobile where they came down on her mouth. She fought the distraction, dislodging the button of his slacks.
One of his hands went to her back, unfastening her bra, the fabric slipping away even as his hand slid down below the waistband of her panties to knead her soft bottom.
Then he slipped off the panties and stepped out of his slacks. He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the big bed, depositing her on a billowy, satin comforter.
He dropped to his knees, his strong hands sliding over her body, across her belly, over her thighs to her knees and her feet. He repositioned himself, gazing at the pattern on her left foot.
H.W.A.B.R.W. he muttered.
She curled up on her elbow. I dont think my foots that big.
He ran his fingertip along the arch. It doesnt really matter. I cant read Arabic. Ahmed translates for me.
Now theres a flaw in the game plan.
His finger stopped on the tip of her ankle. This might be a letter. He cocked his head. Or maybe a flower. He kissed the ankle. A lily? A poppy? Or maybe a scroll?
Julia smiled down at the top of his dark head, feeling calm for the first time in days. Im thinking this is going to take a while.
In response, he promptly kissed her calf, then the curve of her knee, her thigh, her hip, then the crest of her breast.
Sparks sizzled through her body, and she gasped in a breath. Wow.
He pulled back. Is this too fast?
You got something in between?
He slipped onto the bed next to her and gathered her in his arms. I can see this is going to be quite the challenge.
Im a fickle woman.
Fickle is fine. Theres nothing worse than predictability.
She slipped a thigh across his hip, holding him closer still. I have tried very, very hard to keep your life exciting.
And I appreciate the effort.
She smiled into his eyes. But suddenly she was overcome with the enormity of leaving him tomorrow.
They both slowly sobered, their breathing synchronized. The overhead fan whirred off the seconds, and his thumb drew circles on her palm.
Do you feel married? she asked him.
It took him a minute to respond. A little bit.
She nodded. Me, too. Then she paused. Its funny. I didnt expect it. There was no dress, no ring, and they could have been reciting the Declaration of Independence for all I could tell.
They werent, he said, his voice low with conviction.
Then he unexpectedly rose from the bed.
She was suddenly cold, almost frightened. Harrison?
But he came back quickly, something shiny in his hand.
She blinked it into focus and realized it was a diamond ring.
Her stomach contracted in a rush of emotion.
Its an heirloom, but well need it tomorrow, he said, reaching for her hand.
She watched him slide it over the knuckle of her ring finger, where the large, empress diamond sparkled against the henna pattern.
I wish you hadnt done that, she said, feeling almost weepy.
I dont want any glitches going through Immigration, he responded. A bride without a ring may raise questions.
She nodded.
That was very logical of him, and she was being silly in letting it get to her. This was still a marriage of convenience, and a very temporary one at that. Harrison belonged to Brittany, not to Julia.
Is there something wrong? he asked, peering into her eyes.
She shook her head and forced a smile.
He stretched back out on the bed, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her into the cradle of his body. She all but melted into his strength as his kisses found the crook of her neck.
She turned to face him, offering up her mouth. They melded together as their lovemaking took on a sense of urgency.
Deep in sleep, Julia whimpered in Harrisons arms.
She twitched against him and thrashed her head to one side of the pillow.
Shh, he whispered in her ear, smoothing her hair, trying to soothe away her nightmare. Youre dreaming.
She whimpered louder.
Julia, he tried. Wake up, sweetheart.
Her foot kicked and she struggled to cry out.
He spoke louder. Julia.
She stilled. Her eyes blinked open in the dim light.
You were having a dream, he repeated.
In response, she turned and clung to him, burying her face in his shoulder, muffling her voice.
Hey, he said softly.
We were in the helicopter again, she hiccuped. You were falling. And Muwaffaq was laughing and laughing.
She drew a shuddering breath, and Harrison realized she was more rattled by the experience than hed thought.
Everything was in slow motion, she continued. I reached for you. I could see the patterns on my hands. They were codes. And I knew, I just knew, if I could only read Arabic, I could save you. But I couldnt read Arabic, and you were falling
Harrison hugged her tight, his heart aching, her body feeling fragile in his arms. Shed been through so much, and she obviously hadnt had enough time to recover. And he still felt the need to protect her. It wasnt some kind of an on-off switch.
How could he send her away all alone?
Youre safe, he reassured her. Nothing can happen here. I have security all over the stable.
She nodded, but she was still shaking.
She nodded, but she was still shaking.
And Ill take you home, he said, making up his mind.
Hed planned to buy her a first-class ticket to Lexington. But hed take his own plane instead.
She drew a breath. You sure the passport thing will work?
It will work, he said, drawing back to reassure her with his eyes. Besides, Im coming with you to make sure.
You mean to the airport?
He rested his head on his own pillow so they were eye to eye. To Lexington.
She didnt say anything, simply blinked at him quizzically.
I want to talk to the Prestons, he lied.
While he did want to talk to the Prestons, there was no need to do it in person. His telephones were working just fine.
Truth was, he simply wanted to stay with Julia. He had no intention of examining the reasons why. He was just going with his instincts.
Hed get her safely back to Lexington, then hed come back to Dubai and find out who the hell had attacked them in the desert, and why the police were interested in her. The subject wasnt closed, not by a long shot. But he was getting her out of harms way before he stirred up anything else.
After a pause, she said, Im really glad youre alive.
He smiled at her. So am I.
Who do you think they are?
Nobody who can get to you now.
Ive been thinking about it, she said. Why are they scared of me?
An excellent question. One Harrison had been pondering himself. Maybe Muwaffaq poisoned Millions to Spare, and he knew you could identify him.
But why did he poison Millions to Spare? And how did he get the police to help him?
The same way I got the police to help me. Money.
He bribed them?
Harrison didnt believe for a second that Muwaffaq had the power or wherewithal to bribe the entire police force. It could be that simple, he told Julia.
Im glad hes gone, she said. Id rather he was in prison, she hastily added. But Im glad hes gone.
Im glad hes gone, too, said Harrison. And he didnt particularly care that the man was dead. Muwaffaq had likely murdered his horse. And it had been him or them, simple as that. Harrison would do it again if Julia was in danger.
Nothing like this ever happens in Kentucky.
He smoothed her hair back from her face, giving himself an excuse to touch her.
Tell me about Kentucky, he said, hoping to turn her mind to happier topics.
Its green, she responded, relaxing into her pillow. And it smells fresh all year long. Theres a creek off my deck, with trails along both banks. If I didnt travel so much, Id get a dog. Hed love the outdoors, and wed walk for miles and miles.
What kind of a dog?
A Dalmatian. Or maybe a Labrador. Something with lots of stamina. Id throw sticks in the water and Herman would retrieve them.
Herman?
It was my grandfathers name.
Oh, in that case, great name.
What about you? Do you like dogs?
We have two golden retrievers at the house in Windsor.
Windsor?
Its a borough just outside London. We have a lovely, little country estate there. Its perfect for dogs and horses.
What are their names?
Alpha and Epsilon.
You dont think thats a little pretentious?
Maybe compared to Herman.
She nudged him with her elbow. Dont you be messing with Herman. Hell be sleeping with me long after youre gone.
Maybe, but I suspect Im a better kisser.
She made a show of considering that statement. Ill have to get back to you on that.
So, aside from kissing dogs- he kept the conversation going -what else do you do in Lexington?
Tennis.
Really?
She nodded. There are courts in the park down the street, and a group of us in the condo development that like to play.
Weve got some nice courts in Windsor.
On the little estate?
Was it his imagination, or was there a thread of disdain in that question?
Yes, on the estate. Do you have something against private tennis courts?
They take up a lot of space.
We have a lot of space.
I dont. But Im thinking of putting in a gazebo some day.
We have a nice gazebo. He couldnt stop himself from hoping shed decide to come for a visit.
Is there anything you dont have in Windsor?
He could think of one thing. Her. But he wasnt about to say that out loud. We dont have an orchard.