Leverage (Part II)(12)
Julianna smiled at Lilah’s story, liking the willowy blond even more. “Well, I love it here. It’s so peaceful. And the water is so beautiful.”
“I agree,” Lilah said with a dreamy smile. “Best place on the planet as far as I’m concerned but then, I’m biased.”
Julianna’s gaze strayed to the twins and she couldn’t help but ask, “Were they a surprise? I mean, having twins?”
“Not exactly, because I’m a twin, too, but they were definitely a happy surprise to me and my husband.”
Of course she was married. Very happily judging by the silly smile on her sweet, tanned face. What would it be like if she were married to the father of her baby? Like a normal person? Not someone who had sold her virginity for an unholy amount of money and then gotten pregnant by accident? Yeah, not the sweet story Lilah probably had with her husband. She swallowed a self-pitying sigh and pasted a bright smile on her mouth for Lilah’s benefit. There was no sense in dumping her sob story on her nice host. “Well, your kids are adorable,” Julianna murmured and excused herself to grab a plate of fruit.
“Is everything okay?” Lilah asked, noting her sudden change. “I’m a great listener.”
“That seems to be everyone’s thing here,” Julianna said, risking a small shy smile, not sure if she should share such personal details with a near stranger. “No, I’m okay. Just going through something right now. I don’t want to bore you or make you uncomfortable.”
“Not possible if you knew my family better.”
She laughed. “Well, I’m not sure I’m ready to talk about it yet.”
“No problem. I’m here if you change your mind.”
“Thanks. I think I’ll just take my breakfast on the patio to watch the waves.”
“Excellent choice. Very soothing. Enjoy!”
And then Lilah joined her children for breakfast, leaving Julianna feeling very sad that her situation was so vastly different than any normal person and wondering how she was going to parent a child under such circumstances.
She supposed she had nine months to figure it out.
#
Miles emerged from the water after his early morning swim and realized someone was sitting on Larimar’s patio enjoying breakfast. As he walked closer, shaking off the water as he went, he recognized Julianna and hesitated when his pulse jumped a little. Larimar was owned by the Bell family and operated by the three sisters, Lora, Lindy, and Lilah, along with their various husbands and he happened to be friends with all three, which was why he was renting one of the resort’s bungalows. Damn, why did it have to be her? He had two choices, stop and head in the opposite direction or keep going and walk right up to her and say hello. Of course, he knew what he should do but that option didn’t appeal to the distinctly male perspective checking out how lovely she appeared in the morning sun. Before he could make his choice, fate took matters into it’s own hands and Julianna glanced up and startled when she saw him coming toward her. Well, time to be neighborly. “Good morning,” he said with a crooked grin to cover the sudden butterflies erupting in his gut at her sweet, uncertain smile. “Now what are the odds that you and I are both staying at Larimar? Are you stalking me or am I stalking you?” he joked and his insides warmed at her amused chuckle. “Seriously though, funny coincidence, huh?”
“Very funny,” she agreed with question in her eyes. “Do you really live here?”
Miles shook his head, tossing droplets of water, as he tried to shake the water from his ear. “Actually, yeah, when I moved to St. John a few months ago from Los Angeles, my friend Lindy — one of the Bell sisters who own the resort — told me this was the best place to stay on the island and I just, sort of, never get around to finding another place to stay.”
“Wouldn’t a rental house be better than a resort? That’s got to be expensive,” she said.
He bent down to whisper as if sharing in confidence, “I get the ‘friends of the owner’ discount, and frankly, I didn’t know how long I was going to be staying so I didn’t want to sign on for a year-lease on a rental, so this works for me. Besides, have you tried Celly’s cooking? Best home-cooked island food around. If I didn’t have the ocean to get some cardio in, I’d end up sporting a spare tire.”#p#分页标题#e#
He caught her quick appraisal of his washboard abs and smothered a grin of masculine pride when her cheeks pinked just a little, betraying that she’d liked what she saw. What the hell was he doing? Was he actually flirting with a patient? Not cool, Miles. Check yourself before you wreck yourself, man. “Have you had breakfast yet?” she asked, cutting off his escape plan before he could put it into play. The poor woman was pregnant and alone. What would it hurt to enjoy a little fresh fruit and conversation?