Andrew and Melanie both got to their feet.
Julia stood, as well, but Jenna waved her back down. Youre company tonight, said Jenna.
I wasnt company last time I was here.
Youre tired from changing time zones, said Melanie.
That much was true. Julia was definitely feeling tired and disoriented. Maybe thats why the thought of Harrison leaving had been so painful.
After the Preston house and the surrounding staff cabins went dark and quiet, Harrison crossed the lawn and rapped on Julias door.
Soft light shone through the front curtains, and he heard footsteps patter on the floor inside. She opened the door, dressed in a navy T-shirt, a pair of casual, gray sweatpants and bare feet. Her hair was loose and her face was scrubbed free of makeup. But her blue eyes shone bright and beautiful, and he knew he was in way over his head.
You should tell me to go away.
Go away, she murmured.
You dont mean that.
She didnt answer. Instead she gave him a resigned smile and stepped out of the way, allowing him entrance to the small, cozy living room.
Her cabin was a mirror image of his next door. It had a combination living room and kitchen across the front, with two small bedrooms and a bathroom in the back. The larger bedroom was furnished with a double bed, colorful comforter and plump pillows, while the smaller one had steel bunks with rolled-up sleeping bags at the foot.
I promised myself I wouldnt do this, Harrison told her honestly.
She was home. She was safe. And there was no more reason for him to hang around.
But his resolve had faltered. He simply couldnt lie in bed fifty feet from her and not find his way to her side.
Promised not to do what? she asked.
He took in an opened horse magazine on the plaid couch and a steaming mug on the end table. It smelled like hot chocolate, and he suddenly wanted nothing more than to hole up here with her for as long as shed let him.
Harrison? she prompted, and he realized she was waiting for his answer.
Pretend this is real, he admitted, moving closer to her. Pretend we can be together, and the world outside the two of us doesnt exist.
She tipped her head, keeping eye contact as he grew closer. Im afraid it does.
He reached out and took her hands. Thats why I told myself to stay away. Thats why Im leaving tomorrow, putting an ocean between us.
You have to go back to Brittany.
I know I do, he acknowledged. Being my wife is a terrible job. But Brittany knows what shes getting into. She can help me. She can support our kids.
Harrison realized the person he was trying to convince was himself. Because, over the past few hours, hed been starting to think the unthinkable. Keeping Julia.
She tugged her hands away, a trace of hurt in her voice as she turned away. Unlike me?
Is that what you want? he dared ask.
I only wanted to get out of Dubai. Her tone was stronger now. The last time I checked, thats the only thing I signed up for.
Her words hit him like a sledgehammer. Somehow, hed built it up in his mind as being something more, much more.
Of course, he answered her back.
How conceited did he have to be to assume Julia would want him in her life? His money and title meant nothing to her. She was grateful for his help. That was it.
I guess this is goodbye, he told her.
She nodded without turning around.
Ill be on the jet early tomorrow.
I understand.
Ill send you He couldnt bring himself to say divorce papers. Ill send you whatever we need, he told her instead. Ill take care of it.
Her voice was small. Thank you.
He wished shed turn around. He wanted to see her face one more time. Hell, he wanted to see all of her one more time, and hold her in his arms, and inhale the soft scent of her hair, hear the laughter in her voice. But that was impossible.
Goodbye, she whispered.
Goodbye, he echoed, reaching for the door handle.
When Julia woke up the next morning, her heart ached, and her throat was sore from choking back tears.
Somebody was knocking on the cabin door. So she rolled out of the warm four-poster and slipped her feet into a pair of knit slippers. Still dressed in the T-shirt and sweatpants shed borrowed from Melanie last night, she padded across the hardwood floor.
She didnt know whether or not to hope it was Harrison. She thought shed done a credible job last night, refraining from cracking in front of him, even though hed broken her heart and then stomped it to dust. Better to leave things that way.
Still, the thought of seeing him again
But it was Melanie. Dressed in jeans, boots and a red wool jacket, she carried two travel mugs and a basket of muffins.
Breakfast? she asked.
Julia nodded and tried to force the kinks out of her sore body. What time is it?
Nearly noon.
Julia couldnt believe shed slept that long.
Her glance found its way past Melanie to the cabin where Harrison had slept last night. She wished shed had it in her to give him a final thank-you and a proper goodbye, but shed been teetering close to the edge of her emotional control. Shed fallen hard for him, and it was going to take some time for her to heal.
Melanie strolled into the cabin, and Julia locked out the chill. She cranked up the heater then joined Melanie in the living room. After taking her coffee and one of the blueberry muffins, she settled into an armchair and draped a knitted throw across her lap.
It was ninety-five in Dubai, she reminded Melanie.
Melanie curled up in the corner of the couch with her own mug of coffee. So, go ahead, give me the details.
Julia wasnt sure she could share much more. She couldnt tell anyone the details of Muwaffaqs death, or her marriage. Which meant she couldnt let anyone see she was upset.
Not much more to tell, said Julia, struggling to keep her emotions at bay.
Ha! countered Melanie. Lets start with whats up between you and Harrison.
Julia tensed. Anything but that. What do you mean?
I saw the way he looked at you.
Weve been through a lot together. What with the police, and the bad guys.
Its more than just that. Melanie waggled her eyebrows. He obviously has the hots for you.
Julia steeled herself for her next words, hating that she couldnt tell Melanie the truth, but needing to shut this conversation down. Hes gone home to propose to another woman.
Melanies eyes narrowed. That doesnt make sense.
Melanies eyes narrowed. That doesnt make sense.
Sure, it does. Theyre childhood friends, from the same social class-
Youre not going to get all you rich are different on me again, are you?
I confess, said Julia honestly, Ive come to better appreciate the value of wealth over the past week.
Good, said Melanie, taking a sip of her coffee. Thats something then. Learn anything else while you were away?
That the desert is really, really hot, and it is amazingly easy to bribe the police.
Hence, your new appreciation for the value of money.
Harrison bribed a lot of people for me.
Chivalrous, said Melanie with a touch of sarcasm.
Under the circumstances, said Julia, an edge to her voice, it was.
Melanie grinned triumphantly. See that? You got all defensive over him. You have got to tell me what happened between you two.
Julia took a breath. She was suddenly tired, tired of lying, tired of putting on a good front, tired of suppressing her emotions. We had a fling.
Aha!
You have to keep it quiet.
Melanie nodded eagerly. Ill absolutely keep it quiet.
Its important to Harrison. He really is going to propose to somebody. Julia swallowed. Her name is Brittany.
Melanie waved a dismissive hand. Brittany, schmittany. What happened between the two of you?
I dont know, she said, pulling her muffin into two sections. Something about confessing to Melanie had improved her appetite. Adrenaline?
They say its an aphrodisiac.
Well, its something. Or maybe Harrison is something. But whatever it was, it hit us like a ton of bricks at the oasis. Raw memories threatened to swamp her.
Im glad it wasnt all danger and intrigue.
Julia forced herself to smile, but it was growing more difficult. Then back at his palace- She blinked her burning eyes. Well, that was-
Melanie came to her feet, a worried expression on her face. Julia?
Oh, no. Julia could feel her chest tightening. She clenched her jaw and fought the rising emotions. But all she could see was Harrison in the palace bedroom, comforting her after her nightmare, kissing her, holding her, making her feel as though an insane world would really be all right after all.
Julia? Melanie asked again. What the hell happened over there?
Julia looked up at her friend.
Melanies shoulders slumped. You fell for him.
Julia nodded miserably.
How, oh, how could she have let that happen?
And hes gone back to propose to another woman?
Yes, Julia squeaked out. Shes a lovely woman. She has a title, and she looks like a movie star. And shes nice. A couple of tears escaped, and Julia swiped them away. Shes genuinely nice. I dont blame him for wanting her.
Do you want to go after him? asked Melanie.
No! Julia frantically shook her head. That would be a disaster.
You dont know that.
Yes, I do. I do. Hes a baron. He actually has the title The Honorable in front of his name.
So what?
So what?
Yeah. Melanie nodded.
You dont know what he said to me last night.
Melanie waited.
He said being his wife was a really hard job, and Brittany knew how to do it. She could help both him and their children.
Melanie sat back down. Oh.
So, you see. Hes gone back to his own world, and I cant go after him.
Melanie didnt seem convinced. Are you sure he didnt mean-
It was pretty clear what he meant.
Melanie slumped back on the couch. What can I do to help?
Julia gave a watery smile. Thanks for listening.
Theres got to be more than that.
There isnt. But thanks. Julia set the muffin aside. I think Ill head home now. I hope you get Leopolds Legacy figured out soon.
This sucks, said Melanie.
Life does sometimes, said Julia, trying desperately to be tough and pragmatic. But at least Im not in a jail cell.
Shed cling to that reality. Even if Harrison hadnt fallen in love with her, he got her out of jail in Dubai, and he saved her life. Shed always be grateful for that.
Chapter Sixteen
Harrison spent most of the trip across the Atlantic telling himself to buck up and be a man about it.
Sure, hed missed Julia last night. But it was obvious she was ready to walk away, and hed had no choice but to respect her wishes. Although every minute took him farther away from her, he tried to remind himself he was also heading toward something else, a course of action that would ultimately make the most sense.