Foolish Games(32)

“Aside from our brief introduction, I didn’t get a chance to talk to her the other day at the wedding,” she went on. “Living here will give her the opportunity to get to know Owen better, too. He has only one grandmother to spoil him rotten.” Her voice was wistful as she climbed out of the car.

Will reached in and grabbed the baby carrier. He’d never thought to ask about Julianne’s parents. “Your mother is no longer living?”

“No.”

When she didn’t offer up any more information, Will pressed on. “And your dad?”

“Alive and well. He’s still with the State Department. He’s the ambassador to New Zealand. His current wife always wanted to live there, apparently.” She grabbed the diaper bag and headed up to the covered walkway.

Will sensed the distance in her voice. From her demeanor, he could tell she wasn’t close to her father. He got the impression she and her brother weren’t close, either. But she had devoted friends. Carly had tears in her eyes when they’d left the hospital earlier that day, promising to visit in a few weeks when her husband’s young brother got out of school. Her business manager, Sebastian, had already taken off for London, but not before making sure Will knew the consequences for hurting Julianne in any way. Will had to respect the man’s resolve, even if he didn’t feel the least bit threatened.

The priest, Nicky, was another story. Clearly, he and Julianne shared more than just a friendship; Will needed only to replay the scene of their encounter last summer as evidence of that. But Nicky seemed happy, almost relieved, that Julianne had married Will. And yet Julianne still clung to the priest like a lifeline. Will’s threat to divulge her little outburst from the hotel that night had been the thing that cinched her agreement to their fake marriage. The whole relationship didn’t add up. What worried Will more was that he even cared.

“Oh. My. God!”

Will stepped up onto the covered walkway next to where Julianne stood looking out at the magnificent vista the house overlooked.

“Incredible, isn’t it?” he asked. Waves from the Atlantic Ocean slapped against the barricade fifty yards from the verandah of the two-story home. A long wooden pier stretched over the dunes to the beach beyond. Boats bounced farther out to sea as a lighthouse kept watch from its perch down the peninsula. “My mother always dreamed of having a house on the ocean. This view is one of the reasons she’ll never leave here.”

“This isn’t on the ocean,” Julianne breathed, her voice panicked. “This is in the ocean.”

Thanks to his quick reflexes, Will managed to wrap his free hand around Julianne just as her face went white and her eyes rolled back in her head.





Ten





Julianne leaned her head against the cool granite countertop, her eyes closed tightly in an effort to keep the room from spinning. Owen was beginning to fuss and she didn’t have time for a nervous breakdown.

“Has she eaten anything at all today?” Annabeth’s voice sounded as if she were under water. Not a good sign.

“I have no idea.” Will’s voice was clearer; she could easily make out the sound of his disgust. And closer, she could feel the heat radiating off his body from where he stood beside her. “Here, drink this.”

Julianne cracked open an eyelid. A tall glass of orange juice sat on the counter. It would be easy to reach for it and drink it, but her arms felt like cement. She hadn’t eaten more than a banana today, but it wasn’t the lack of food that was causing her faintness, it was the familiar panic attack she felt whenever she got near an ocean. Of course, she’d never actually fainted before this. Annabeth might be right, Julianne would be better able to handle the situation on a full stomach.

Owen began his catlike wailing, his I’m hungry cry, and Julianne’s body moved instinctively off the bar stool she was perched on. Will grabbed her immediately.

“Oh, no you don’t,” he ordered, pushing her back down and placing the glass in her hand. “Drink this. Mom and I can take care of Owen.”

Annabeth had already scooped Owen out of the car carrier and was carrying him around the warm great room adjacent to the kitchen. As Julianne’s mind began to clear, she took in the room’s stunning décor. High ceilings and floor-length windows took advantage of the view. The furniture was light wood, upholstered in seafoam green. Ceiling fans whirred softly overhead. The far wall was lined with bookcases with a small fireplace tucked among them. The room was flawlessly accessorized, every knickknack placed properly for display. Everything was so perfect the room looked like a magazine spread.