Chapter Ten
Vaguely aware of her cell phone ringing, Julia roused from a deep sleep. Eyes still closed, she felt for it on her nightstand and answered the call without looking at the caller ID. “Hello?” Her voice was nothing but a gravelly whisper.
“Good morning, sunshine.” Dane’s jovial tone came over the line. “Did I wake you?”
“Yes,” she said, rolling onto her back. She opened one eye to glance at the clock; it was 9:00 A.M. “It’s Monday. Why are you calling?”
“Jeez, you’re a grouch in the morning, huh?” He paused before adding, “I mean, I wouldn’t know. You don’t like to stay the night.”
She didn’t need the little reminder. But she couldn’t help it, the corners of her mouth quirked up. She was glad he wasn’t there to see it. “You woke me up. I haven’t had coffee yet. I’d keep away from me until I do.”
“Not a morning person, I take it,” Dane said.
“No. I’m a night owl. Always have been.” She yawned. “So, Boss, what can I do for you?”
He let out a wicked laugh at that. “Oh, I can think of plenty of things.”
A shiver ran over her skin. His sensual voice, playful and sexy in her ear, affected her more than she could believe. “I’m sure you could.”
“You know it. But that’s not why I’m calling,” he said. “You have any plans tomorrow afternoon?”
She thought for a few seconds. “No, not really. Why?”
“I was wondering if you’d spend the day with me.”
Her eyes opened wide. She was fully awake now, even without coffee. “What?”
“What ‘what.’ You heard me,” he teased. “I asked you to spend the afternoon with me.”
“Yes. But . . . why?” she asked warily.
He laughed. “So I can kidnap and torture you in the basement of my father’s mansion, of course. God, Red, you’re always so suspicious.”
“I am,” she said. “So, why?”
“I’m coming out to Long Island for the day. Gonna take a ride out on the boat all afternoon and relax, then I’m meeting my sister and brother for dinner at seven.” He paused. “I just thought it might be something nice to do, if you were available to join me for the boat ride. No strings, Julia.”
Her mouth went dry at his earnest tone. She was pretty hard on him sometimes. He continued to be nice to her regardless, had even seemed to accept that this was who she was. Maybe he just liked a challenge. But it was time to give him some niceness back. With genuine warmth, she said, “That’s nice of you. I haven’t been on a boat in years . . . sure, I’d like to come. Thank you for asking.”
He was quiet for a moment, and she figured she must have shocked him with her pleasant answer. “You’re welcome. Glad you’ll join me. So . . . you live in Blue Harbor, right?”
“Yup.” She knew he knew that. “My street address should be on the paychecks you sign.”
He chuckled. “Right. Okay. I’ll pick you up around ten-thirty. We’ll have lunch on the boat, just hang out. I’ll have you home around five, six at the latest. Sound good?”
“Sure.” She rolled over onto her side to look out her window. Blue skies and hazy sunshine. “What am I wearing?”
“Casual. Whatever you’ll be comfortable in on a boat. Shorts, sundress, whatever. Maybe sensible shoes, though, not those high wedge sandals you usually like to wear.” His tone turned mischievous. “Which is a shame, since I love when you wear stilettos. Hmm. No panties would be nice. . . .”
She laughed. “You’re incorrigible.”
“I am!” he said proudly. “Lots of sunscreen, O Pale Redhead. The sun can be really strong, especially when it reflects off the water. And bring a swimsuit.”
“Umm. Okay.”
“Why the hesitation?” he asked. “I’ve seen you very naked, in varying interesting positions. Don’t tell me you’re shy to wear a bikini in front of me.”
“I’m not shy,” she said. “I don’t own a bikini, so you’re out of luck there. And . . . well, I can’t swim. So if you’re thinking of tossing me overboard, know that I’ll sink like a stone.”
“Really?” Dane said, surprised. “Huh. Well, okay. I won’t toss you overboard, then. And I guess that means skinny-dipping in the Sound is out. You’ve foiled my best plan, but I guess the heads up was a good thing. If my headliner drowned off my boat, that’d be really bad publicity.”
She laughed again. “Okay, Charming. See you tomorrow.”
“Great. It’ll be fun. See you.”
She ended the call and stared out the window. Flurries of excitement circled in her belly. And she was smiling. Like, the goofy smile of someone smitten. Ugh.
“Get a grip,” she scolded herself, and launched out of bed, energized and ready to start her day. Coffee first, though. She had her priorities in order.
Deciding to treat herself, she threw on a blue cotton sundress and flip-flops and went a few blocks into the center of town, to the local coffee shop. She preferred frequenting that store over Starbucks; always a supporter of the little guy. The barista, who knew her, smiled when she walked in and made her an iced mocha latte, her usual. Julia also got a plump, delicious-looking blueberry muffin, and sat at one of the four tiny tables by the window to enjoy her breakfast.
Just after she’d taken her first bite, a young blond woman entered, holding the hand of a precious blond toddler. He couldn’t have been more than two years old. Julia’s enthusiasm for the day dried up and disappeared as she watched the little boy coo and babble at his mother. He tried to run toward the shelf of handmade mugs, but the woman scooped him up into her arms, smacked a kiss on his round, rosy cheek, and placed her order with the barista.
Julia’s heart ached. The pain and longing suffused her bones.
“Mama!” the boy squeaked, and wrapped his little arms around the woman’s neck. He blew raspberries onto her skin, and the woman and barista laughed together.
Tears stung Julia’s eyes. She grabbed her things and rushed out of the shop.
As the town car drove through the small town of Blue Harbor, Dane stretched out in the backseat and looked out the window, enjoying the scenery. He’d always liked Blue Harbor. It was one of those cozy little North Shore communities tucked into the land but right on the Long Island Sound, with picturesque shops, cottages, and homes. It felt, to him, like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting—it had that kind of quaint, small-town charm.
When they got to the center of town, the charm of it enveloped him. Window boxes on storefronts and hanging buckets on lampposts spilled over with colorful flowers. A few people strolled slowly along the sidewalk—nothing like the rushing, vigorous strides of millions of Manhattanites. What had once been many old, weathered cottages in the center of town had been restored and turned into restaurants, boutiques, and galleries. It didn’t surprise Dane that Julia would choose to live here. It was an enchanting village, slightly artsy, and scenic; but more than that, it was also quiet. The biggest things that happened here were the Art Show and Craft Fair in the spring, the Seafood Fest in the summer, and the Harvest Festival in October. The rest of the time, most of the time, it was so quiet it was almost sleepy. For someone so guarded, who cherished privacy and kept to herself, Dane could understand the appeal of Blue Harbor for Julia.
When the driver pulled up to a large, charming three-story Victorian just past the town center, he was surprised to see Julia sitting on the top step of the wide wraparound porch, waiting for him. He surveyed the well-kept house—pale yellow paint, accented by white shutters and the white railing that lined the veranda, the neatly kept lawn and colorful flowers—and deduced that someone had taken great care to renovate the house. As the car stopped and he got out, she gave a small smile and rose from her rocking chair. From behind his sunglasses, Dane took her in and warmed inside. She looked so damn pretty. Dressed in a long tank-style maxi dress, a swirling mixture of all shades of blue, her hair down and blowing lightly in the breeze, she was delectable.
“Hi, Red.” He smiled wide as he went up the steps to greet her. “You look gorgeous. Those blues are great on you.”
“Thanks.” She lifted the hem of the dress from her ankles to better show him her feet. “Followed your advice.” She was wearing navy Converse. The funky sneakers made him smile wide.
“Jesus, those are cute.” With a quick yank, he tugged her in for a kiss. He sipped from her lips, slow and easy. But her soft mouth opened under his, responding instantly, and it pulled him under. He deepened the kiss, letting his tongue tangle with hers. Every time he touched her, that spark was there, shooting warmth and want throughout his body.
“For someone who claims he doesn’t have a shoe fetish,” she remarked wryly, “you seem to react to my shoes a lot.”
He cocked his head and considered that. “You have a point. . . .” Flashing a grin, he shrugged. “I think it’s just where you’re concerned, though. Never been, like, a thing before. I wouldn’t get too worried about it.”
“You don’t worry me.”
“Didn’t think so. You’re tough stuff.” He glanced around and said, “This house is nice. Looks good for how old it must be.”
“It’s over eighty years old,” she said. “My landlord bought it and put a lot of money into the renovations. He and his wife live on the ground floor. Their twenty-three-year-old daughter now rents the apartment on the top floor. I have the middle.”
“How’d you find it?”
“Through a friend of Stephen’s, Randi’s husband. I was lucky. It’s a nice place, I feel safe here, and I’m just beyond the center of town. I walk in every day.” She smiled and pulled away, leaning over to grab a large yellow canvas bag. “Ready to go if you are.”
“You’re not going to invite me up to your apartment?” he asked in a light tone.
She blinked. “Um . . . I wasn’t planning on it. I mean, I’m here, I have my things.” There was an awkward pause. “Did you want to go up there? Need to use the bathroom?”
Why it irked him that she didn’t seem to want him in her apartment, he couldn’t say. But it did. He swatted it out of his head and said, “No, I’m good. Let’s go.”
“Well, this sure is different,” Julia said as the driver took them to the marina. “Seeing each other in the light of day.”
“And neither of us is flaming into ash as we’re hit by the sunlight,” Dane joked. “That’s a good sign.”
“I don’t know,” she said playfully. “You have a few vampire tendencies.”
His brows raised and a slow smile spread across his face. “Such as?”
“You love to nibble on my neck,” she said, getting hot just thinking about it. “And sometimes, you bite. . . .”
“It’s not my fault you’re so delicious.” He leaned across the backseat and slipped an arm around her waist to pull her closer. With his free hand, he pushed her hair out of the way for access to the nape of her neck. As soon as his open mouth touched her skin, a shudder ran through her. She felt him smile against her skin as he murmured, “Mmm. Love that sweet spot.”
“Where are we going, anyway?” she asked breathlessly.
“Kingston Point Marina,” he said, the words muffled as he scraped his teeth along her neck.
Her breath caught from the feel of him. “I’ve never been in Kingston Point before.” She felt . . . swoony. She hated that she felt swoony, even as her head fell back against the seat and her eyes closed.
“You’re not missing much,” he said, nibbling and licking now. She squirmed a little and felt heat spread through her like wildfire. “Bunch of pretentious snobs in that town.” His hand slid over her breast, cupped it gently, and stroked his thumb over her nipple, drawing a feathery sigh from her. Then his hand dropped to her knee. “That’s a long dress. Lot of fabric to hike up later. Gonna make me work for it a little, huh?”
She grinned. His deep, smooth voice was seductive, and what he was doing to her neck should be illegal. Her hand tangled in his hair as she said, “Didn’t want my dress blowing up in the wind, giving anyone a show.”
He laughed softly at that. “Smart thinking. Too bad, though.” He bit down with gentle heat on her skin and she drew a sharp intake of breath. “You’re wet now, aren’t you. Tell me.”
God, when he spoke to her like that... “Yes,” she whispered. “You bastard.”
He laughed again, but wickedly this time. “You’re a lusty woman, Red. I like that about you.” His hand slid up the outside of her leg, over the dress. She twisted to get closer to him. “I should take you right here, right now,” he half-whispered, half-growled.
“Don’t you have any self-control?” she said, even as she wished he would follow his own suggestion.
“When it comes to you? Not much.” His fingers traveled over her hip to squeeze her ass as he took her mouth with a slow, sumptuous kiss. She almost melted in his arms. But the car turned and the ride became slightly bumpy. She broke the kiss to look out the window and saw they were traveling up a gravelly path, the entrance to the marina. “We’re here. Stop.”
“Don’t wanna stop,” he grinned, kissing her again.
“I don’t either, but . . .” She pushed him away gently. “Don’t want gossip, Boss. Remember?”
His hands ran up and down her bare arms as he looked into her eyes. “And how am I supposed to hide this raging hard-on I have right now?”
She giggled. “You’re resourceful. You’ll think of something.”
He flashed that killer grin and pulled away from her as the car slowed to a stop in front of the dock house. She watched as he ran his hands over his face and took a few deep breaths. “Okay. Think I can walk now.”
She laughed again, she couldn’t help it. As she pulled her big, dark sunglasses out of her bag, she said, “Hey. Dane.”
He looked at her curiously. “Yeah?”
“Just so you know . . . wearing sneakers wasn’t the only suggestion of yours I took.” She gave him the most provocative smile in her arsenal.
He stared at her for a few seconds . . . then it hit him. His blue eyes flew wide. “You’re not wearing any panties, are you,” he choked out.
“Nope,” she chirped, and stepped out of the car.
“Damn.” He got out on his side and shot her a look across the hood of the car as he growled, “You’re evil. I’ve said it before: you’re a vile, wicked temptress. How am I supposed to think about anything else now?”
She simply smiled again. He groaned and dropped his forehead to the hood in forfeit.
Ten minutes later, Dane reached for Julia’s hand when they walked onto the slip. “The boat is down at the far end,” he said casually.
She looked around with interest as they walked. Sunlight glistened off the calm blue water. The sound of seagulls screeching as they flew overhead traveled on the light breeze. The boats that bobbed up and down on the Sound varied in size, from small speedboats to midsize sailboats to a few proud yachts. She also snuck looks at her date for the day. Dane wore a simple pale blue T-shirt and khaki shorts, but he still managed to make it look . . . well, wealthy. Dane Harrison could be the poster boy for casual, affluent sophistication. And easy charm. And raw sex appeal. And shameless seduction. She thought back to the steamy car ride over and felt a delicious flutter in her stomach.
He led her to the farthest dock at the very end of the pier. “Here we go.”
Julia almost swallowed her tongue. The majestic, imposing yacht before them was the largest one in the marina. “You said we were going on a boat,” she said.
He gave her a look. “Um . . . what do you think this is?”
“This isn’t a boat.” She swiveled around and pointed back at one of the midsize sailboats. “That is a boat. This”—she whirled back to point at the yacht in front of them—“This—is a huge freaking mother of a ship!”
“It’s a yacht,” he said plainly, looking at her like she’d lost her mind.
“A big, fancy yacht like this is not just a boat,” she said, staring up at the gleaming white vessel.
Dane’s mouth quirked. “It’s not mine, you know,” he said. “It’s my father’s. He lets me borrow it once in a while. I’ll be sure to tell him you were impressed.”
She gaped at him. He laughed and stepped in closer, hands circling her waist.
“Julia,” he said, looking into her eyes. His voice lowered. “My family has a lot of money. You knew that.”
“You said a boat,” she stammered weakly. She felt foolish. She didn’t know why.
He smiled, kissed her, and said, “Come on board. It’s a gorgeous day. Let’s go enjoy it.”
Julia couldn’t get over the magnificence of the Harrison yacht. She’d never been on a boat like this in her life. The spacious cabins, carpeted dining room, polished brass and wood everywhere she looked, and enough room on board for a crowd of people. That someone like her was on a ship like this was crazy. She felt like she’d stepped into a movie or something.
“You like it?” Dane asked when he was done giving her a quick tour.
“It’s unreal,” she said. “Color me impressed.”
He chuckled and led her out to the back deck. “This is my favorite spot on the boat. I sit out here, stare at the water, let my mind wander . . . sometimes I just fall asleep, it’s so relaxing.”
“You like being on the water,” she said, more of an assessment than a question.
“Yeah. Always have.” He put his sunglasses back on, she glanced at his profile, and thought he looked unbearably sexy. A soft breeze ruffled his dark curls as they leaned against the railing. “Maybe it’s because I grew up here,” he mused. “The main house is right on the Sound—like, it’s practically part of our backyard. Went sailing and to the beach a lot as kids. . . .” He rubbed his scruffy jaw as he considered. “Or maybe it’s a Long Island thing. I think, living so close to either the Sound or the ocean, it just becomes part of you in a way. Part of your life. Don’t you? You grew up on the Island too, right?”
She nodded. She’d never heard him like this, and it intrigued her.
“Or, maybe it’s just me.” He shrugged and turned to her. “What about you? You can’t swim. Does that mean you don’t like the water at all?”
“I like looking at it,” she clarified. “Being near the Sound, on a beach, by a lake, that’s all fine. Just don’t drop me in it.”
He smiled broadly and said, “Promise I won’t. Even when you frustrate me.”
Her brows arched. “Does that happen often?”
“What, you frustrating me? All the time.” He winked, then looked up to the upper deck. “Ahoy there, Captain!”
“Hey, Dane, how’ve you been?” A cheerful-looking man in his sixties raised a hand in greeting. Julia thought his crisp white uniform looked pretty high-status.
“Just fine, Ray,” Dane said, “just fine. You?”
“It’s been a good summer so far. Can’t complain.” The captain nodded at Julia. “Afternoon, ma’am.”
“Hi,” she said, smiling.
“We’re ready to go when you are, sir,” Captain Ray said.
“Then let’s do it,” Dane replied with enthusiasm.
“Aye, sir.” The captain straightened and added, “Enjoy the rest of your birthday. The chef made something special; your sister arranged it.”
Julia’s head turned sharply to stare at Dane. It was his birthday? What the hell? She’d had no idea.
“Ah, that Tess,” Dane said, grinning up at the captain. “She’s a clever one. Thank him for me in advance. I look forward to it.”
“Lunch will be served at one, if that suits you.”
Dane gently grasped Julia’s wrist and turned it to glance at her watch. “That sounds fine.”
“Then I’ll get us going.” The captain gave a jaunty salute and walked back to the helm.
Dane turned back to her as he said, “It’s almost noon. You can wait an hour for lunch, right?”
“Sure,” she said softly. His birthday. Goddamn.
His head cocked slightly to the side as he studied her, the way he did when he was trying to figure something out. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. Like . . . I have something in my teeth. Or you’re confused. Or I have two heads. You tell me.”
“I didn’t know today was your birthday,” she said. Keep it light.
He shrugged. “I had mentioned to you that it was around this time. It’s not a big deal. Thirty-six. So what?”
“That’s right. I had forgotten. So . . . you asked me to spend your birthday with you.” Something warm and fuzzy was threatening to envelop her insides. “That’s . . . kind of . . . well, special for some people. Why’d you want to spend today with me?”
“Maybe I wanted to make sure I’d have mind-blowing sex on my birthday,” he smirked, clearly teasing.
“Jackass,” she quipped, smiling despite herself.
He reached up and tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear as he said quietly, “Maybe I like being with you, and wanted to spend some time with you. Outside of the hotel for once. How about that?”
She kept staring at him. The boat moved away from the dock and slowly headed out onto the water.
He smiled and murmured, “No strings, Julia. I promise.” His fingers trailed down to caress her cheek. “I just enjoy you. So why not enjoy you today and make a day of it?”
Something was churning inside her. Half warning, half . . . ugh, something akin to tenderness. Keep it light, dammit, she told herself. But she couldn’t help it. She was flattered. Touched. He wanted to be with her outside the hotel. Outside of bed.
She couldn’t let herself think about that too much.
She inched closer and linked her arms around his neck. He smiled and slipped his arms around her waist. Looking deeply into his sparkling blue eyes, she moved in like she was going to kiss him, but dodged at the last second and ran her mouth along his unshaven jaw, up to his ear. “I’ll make it a birthday you won’t forget,” she whispered in the most enticing tone she could muster, and she knew damn well it was pretty sexy. She dragged her tongue around the edge of his ear and bit the lobe, bringing a soft groan from him as she added, “I promise.”