The thought of him brought a harsh longing that raked at her chest and burned the backs of her eyes.
“Hi, Jules. What are you looking for, babe?” Serenity’s voice, as always, rang warm and loving.
Julianne glanced over her shoulder at the slender blonde. Guilt curled her fingers, but she fought to keep her voice light and natural, fought to present a calm façade. “Your mint green blouse. I’m in a mint green mood today.”
“Sorry, doll. It’s at the dry cleaners. Cambria has one about the same color. Or grab anything else you want. What time do you have to be at work?”
“Nine.” Julianne snatched a blue blouse. “Guess I’d better get moving.” She threw Serenity a smile that trembled at the corners of her mouth, and escaped into the hall. How long could she keep this up?
How long before Melisande lost patience with her for not finding the necklace? How long before Serenity or one of the others figured out something was wrong and started demanding answers she couldn’t give, endangering them all?
At least Zeeland wasn’t here. As badly as she wished he was still in her life, at least she didn’t have to worry about him being harmed by Melisande, too.
He hadn’t been in her life for ten years. Not since that horrible, humiliating night.
She’d come to Alexandria, Virginia, twenty-one years ago as an orphaned nine-year-old. Serenity had taken on the task of mothering her, but it was Zeeland who’d taken on the role of protector and best friend. He’d helped her recover from her grief and find the strength within herself to move past it.
But as she’d gotten older, her feelings for him had changed. Grown. He’d become her first crush, and eventually, her first love.
Ten years ago, at the age of twenty, she’d made the terrible mistake of telling him she wanted him to be the one to take her virginity.
He’d been horrified.
Even now, her skin turned cold and clammy at the memory of that night. Of the look of disgust that had contorted his handsome face.
He’d ordered her away from him, and she’d fled to her room. The next morning, he was gone. He’d left for the British enclaves without ever saying good-bye. Without ever contacting her again. Others heard from him, but she never did.
The pain of that night had dulled. But as hard as she tried, she couldn’t stop missing him. She couldn’t stop the aching need for his strength by her side.
Julianne returned to her room long enough to dress for work, chills skating over her flesh as they did whenever she entered her room.
Her bedroom, the one place that should be her refuge, had become the place she feared the most. It was here that Melisande came to her. Every few days, she appeared. And it had been three days since her last awful visit.
Ready for work, Julianne escaped her room. As she descended the stairs, she heard Grayson’s voice roar through the house as he strode into view.
“I have news!” Broad-shouldered with sandy brown hair, Grayson had the physique of a bear and the easy good nature of a poorly behaved Great Dane.
“A little louder, Gray,” Cambria called from the kitchen. “They might not have heard you down in South Carolina.”
Grayson ignored the teasing admonition. “Zeeland’s coming home!”
Julianne froze on the bottom step, grabbing for the railing.
Half a dozen voices exclaimed in pleasure and joy.
“When?” Serenity’s excited voice called from close behind Julianne.
Julianne pulled herself to one side, her limbs stiff with shock, as she let Serenity pass.
“Tomorrow,” Grayson replied. “He just called.”
Tomorrow. Julianne uncurled her fingers from the rail and forced her feet forward. Stumbling into the foyer, she grabbed a set of car keys from the bowl and escaped into the sunshine. Shit, shit, shit. For ten long years, though she’d dreaded the confrontation, she’d desperately longed to see Zeeland again.
But not now. Not now.
No one had ever known her as well as Zeeland had. No one had ever seen her as clearly.
And never had she had so much to hide.
Chapter Two
A rap sounded at the door the next afternoon, the sound Julianne had been dreading. Tension raced up her spine.
“The guys just called,” Cambria called through the door. “Zeeland’s plane was on time. They’ll be here in about fifteen minutes.”
Julianne’s pulse threatened to run away from her. “Thanks, Cam. I’ll meet you downstairs.” As she heard Cambria’s steps retreat down the hall, she buried her face in her hands.
Zeeland is coming home.
Her skin flushed with old, bitter humiliation, butterflies fluttered excitedly in her stomach, and a harsh longing wrapped itself round and round her heart until the pressure was almost too much to bear.