Leverage (Part II)(16)
It was really difficult to hold onto his charm when he wanted to snarl but he deserved an Oscar for his performance. “Is that so? Well, tough luck for him. I’m not out of the picture yet. Plus, she’s carrying my baby,” he let that information slide from his lips with a shrug and Lilah’s mouth dropped open.
“I didn’t know she was pregnant. She never said a word,” Lilah said, then added, “Well, congratulations.”
His chest swelled with an unknown emotion and he had to choke it down. “Thanks. We’re still adjusting to the news. Big life changes, you know?”
“The biggest,” she agreed. “My husband and I had twins. Big life change, times two. But it’s really the best thing that could’ve ever happened for us both.”
He liked this Lilah woman. There was something guileless and sweet about her, yet she was strong, too. Most women would’ve caved under his charm but she’d stuck to her guns. Did he find it odd that she was so willing to share her own personal details with a stranger? A little but then, a sweep of her person revealed more about her personality than a lengthy conversation. Everything about her was breezy and light, artistic, even. “So, can you help a poor guy out or what?” he asked.
“I think so. You’re in luck. The bungalow right next door to Julianna’s is available but it’s a little pricey.”
He tossed down a black AmEx card and she smiled, scooping up the card. “That’ll work.” She paused to verify his identity against his driver’s license. “And how many days will you be staying with us, Mr. Kincaid?”
“As many as it takes.”
“Gotta love a man dedicated to a cause,” she murmured and swiped his card. Within minutes the transaction was finished and Boston was walking to his new room with his key card tucked into his shorts with a satisfied smile. He couldn’t wait to see Julianna’s face when she realized she’d been found.
This time, little bird, you won’t be flying off without me. Ever again.
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Julianna returned to her room after a great afternoon with Miles and yawned as she headed for the fridge to get a bottled water. The humidity was still sucking all her energy but she was beginning to acclimate to the island weather. She surveyed her golden skin, pleased to see the tan starting to show, but almost against her will, thoughts of Boston intruded. A man with Boston’s appetite likely wouldn’t spend his nights alone. Who was warming his bed when she wasn’t? What did she care? A pet didn’t get the privilege of fidelity and Boston had never offered it so why was she even thinking about that? Discomfited by her own train of thoughts, she took a good swallow of the water and headed for the shower, needing to rinse off the sand and sweat after a day spent at Cinnamon Beach. She untied her bikini and tossed it to the bed to walk naked to the open air shower. Larimar was, hands down, the most amazing place she’d ever seen. Her room was the stuff of Hollywood dreams. And Boston’s money was paying for it. She stepped into the spray and gasped as cool water rained down, sluicing her heated body and rinsing away the island’s humid touch. Running her fingers down her belly, she wondered if she were carrying a boy or a girl. Boston would spoil a girl rotten but would be so over-protective that the poor girl would never be allowed to step foot outside of the property. And a boy? A subtle frown pulled her brows. Would Boston train his son to be as ruthless as he? She didn’t like that idea. She didn’t want her son to grow up believing that people could be bought and were as replaceable as used up light bulbs. A father was supposed to guide his children, to teach them right from wrong. How could Boston do that when he didn’t seem to care about the importance of a moral compass? Careful with those stones in your glass house.
Hadn’t she traded her virtue for money? Maybe she wasn’t equipped to guide and teach a child about right and wrong either. What a pair they were. A sigh escaped and she shut off the water, stepping into an oversized white towel and tucking it around herself. She quickly dried and slipped a tube top over her breasts and wrapped a colorful sarong around her hips that she’d picked up at one of the island boutiques and prepared to fix something to eat when a knock at the door startled her. It was probably Miles, she reasoned. He’d mentioned something about dinner but she’d declined, needing a little rest. Another knock sounded and she sighed. He was persistent, she’d give him that. “Coming,” she called out, pausing to double check that she was sufficiently covered before opening the door. But it wasn’t Miles. Boston — sinfully beautiful, with a body that made her forget her own name —stood on the other side wearing a cold smile and eyes filled with wicked, dark promise and the spit dried in her mouth as she stared. “What are you doing here?” she managed with a squeak and he stepped forward, causing her to stumble back, her heart hammering in her chest. How did he find her? And why did a tiny part of her leap with joy that he had?#p#分页标题#e#