Chapter 13

 

It was late by the time they made it back to the hotel. When Joe threw the door of the suite open, he found Ed pointing a gun at him. The relief on the older man’s face was palpable.

“Am I glad to see you.” He put the gun away. “We tried calling.”

Joe scanned the room behind him. “Lost my phone.”

Patricia came rushing up and wrapped Joe in a hug. “Are you hurt?” She held him at arm’s length and looked him over. The same way his mother had done when he was a kid.

“A bit beaten up, but good.” He stepped around her. “Julia?”

Callum strode into the room behind him, followed closely by the rest of the team.

“Um, Joe?” Patricia asked nervously, backing away from the newcomers.

“My team.” As far as Joe was concerned, that was enough introduction. “Where is Julia?” The demand cut through the chaos around him. Silence fell, all eyes on him.

Patricia stirred first. “She’s fine, Joe. She’s fine. She went into our room earlier, saying she needed some peace to think.” Her face softened. “She’s been very worried about you.”

Joe was already striding towards one of the twin rooms. “She’s staying in my room from now on,” he called over his shoulder, uncaring as to what anybody thought about his declaration. All he could think about was getting to Julia.

As the volume rose behind him, Joe let himself into Julia’s room. One small lamp let off a yellow glow beside a pristine bed. The other bed had a suitcase on top of it, with clothes scattered over the surface. It didn’t take a genius to figure out which bed belonged to Julia.

Joe scanned the room. Somewhere small, that was where she’d be, if she was feeling insecure. The bathroom door was ajar, and he covered the distance to it. No Julia. That left the closet. He opened the door, saw the light from her ever-present iPad and felt something settle inside of him.

“Hey, you.” He crouched in front of the open door.

Julia was sitting on the floor, staring at her iPad and hugging her knees. “Joe?” Her eyes went wide. The iPad fell to the floor.

“Hey, baby.” He smiled at her, burying his need to grab her and hold her, in case he spooked her.

“Joe!” She launched herself at him, making him land on his backside.

Julia straddled his legs and wrapped her arms tight around him. She pressed her face in the crook of his neck, and he felt the wetness of her tears. He held her fast against him as a deep peace flooded his body.

“It’s okay, baby. I’m okay.”

Her sobs were quiet, as though she was afraid to be heard. Joe scooted them back until he was leaning against the end of the bed. The soft light wrapped around them like a blanket and everything felt right with the world. Joe was vaguely aware of the murmur of voices outside the bedroom door, but all that mattered was the woman in his arms. He cooed nonsense to her as she cried, soothing her with his touch, breathing her in and letting the warmth of her body ease his lingering tension. He let her cry it out even though he knew there were people outside waiting to talk to them. None of that was as important as Julia. Nothing was as important as Julia ever.

“I thought you’d been killed.” Her words were a trembling breath against his throat.

He stroked up her back until he clasped her head. “I’m hard to kill.”

“You scared me,” she whispered.

“I know. I’m sorry.” He pressed her closer to him, merging their heat.

“You can’t die.” It was a desperate declaration. Joe stilled, his instincts hearing something in her words that his brain told him was simply wishful thinking.

“Why’s that?” he murmured.

It felt as though his heart was pounding hard enough to hear.

“Because you’re Joe.”

He would have been disappointed, but he heard something more in her voice, something she wasn’t saying. Something he had to hear her say.

“Is that it? That’s the only reason?” He kept his tone soft, a gentle tease.

She seemed to burrow into him and whispered, “No, it’s because you’re my Joe.”

Joe wasn’t sure he would have believed he’d heard it, if he hadn’t felt the words against his skin. A surge of pure, unadulterated possession almost overwhelmed him. He wanted to roll them to the floor and show her just how much he belonged to her. He wanted to mark her as his, so that everyone would know. It took all of his will to control his urges. Instead, he gently coaxed Julia to look at him.

He fought a smug smile when she kept her hands flat on his shoulders. She even looked him in the eyes. Shyly, but without fear. Joe gently cupped her cheek. He used his thumb to wipe away the last of her tears.

“I am, you know,” he said softly. “I am completely yours.”

“Joe?” Her fingers curled in his shirt. Confusion, hope, need, fear—it was all there in her eyes.

“Always.” He rubbed his thumb across her full bottom lip. “Always yours.”

“Joe.” She seemed to melt under his touch. Surrendering. Accepting. Hoping.

“Come here.” His hand on her hip pressed her towards him.

Her eyes went wide but she didn’t resist.

“Need you,” he whispered against her lips. “Kiss me.”

Her eyes fluttered shut and she pressed her soft, soft lips against his. The kiss was heaven. An intoxicating merging of heart, body and soul. Her sweet fragrance filled his mind. Her warm curves pressed against him. The gentle, seeking touch of her lips and tongue made him want to roar. She was perfect. She was home.

 

 

Julia was lost in Joe’s kiss. Each touch of his lips against hers proved he was real. He was alive. He was there. With her. His kiss was a soft, slow seduction. A sensual tangling of lips and tongues that made everything else fade to insignificance. Being with Joe, breathing him in, getting lost in his confident touch, made Julia feel safe. Needed. Wanted.

And oh how she wanted him too. His lips were firm but satin soft. His musky scent was intoxicating. Addictive. Julia knew she would never get enough of it. Strong muscles flexed under her fingertips, reminding her of the strength Joe possessed. Not only physically, but in every way possible. He was an immovable force that persistently and consistently pressed towards his goal.

She wanted to luxuriate in his strength. To wallow in it. She wanted to crawl so deep inside of him that no one would ever get to her. She wanted Joe surrounding her, a barrier to the world, an anchor for her continuously spinning mind.

Joe slowed the kiss down, leaving Julia breathless and longing. He rested his forehead against hers.

“The natives are getting restless.” His voice was husky as he stroked up and down the length of her back.

Julia felt like she was floating and Joe was the ocean. She flicked out her tongue to taste him against her lips, and he moaned.

“You’re killing me. You’re not ready for what I want, and if we don’t go deal with the team, they’ll come in here to get us.”

The word slowly penetrated her daze. “Team?”

He leaned back and smiled at her. Somehow that smile felt as though it was unique, one he kept solely for her.

“Half the office flew out to rescue us.”

She blinked hard as the fog lifted from her mind, and her cheeks began to burn for an entirely different reason.

“My work colleagues are out there while we’re in here kissing?” Her voice became increasingly hysterical as the words rushed out.

“It’s okay. Nobody cares what we’re doing in here.”

“Oh my goodness.” Julia shot to her feet. “This is so unprofessional.”

“Babe.” Joe followed her. “You aren’t working. This is a personal trip. You can’t be unprofessional on a personal trip.”

He tried to hide it, but Julia caught his wince when he straightened.

“You’re hurt!”

“It’s nothing. I’m fine.” Joe was gentle as he tried to stop her from lifting his shirt.

“That’s blood.” Julia was outraged.

She’d thought the stain on his shirt was dirt, but it was blood. His blood. Joe was bleeding. She fought past his attempts to discourage her and pulled his shirt up and over his head.

“Joe!” She traced the gash on his waist. A knife wound. Someone had tried to stab him and skimmed him instead. It was shallow, but bleeding again. The horror of it hit her. He was bleeding because she’d climbed all over him.

“It’s nothing. I’ve had worse.” He covered her hand with his, pressing it flat against his side. His hot flesh seared her, but she didn’t let herself think about the fact Joe was standing half-naked in front of her.

“That does not reassure me, Joe Barone.” She knocked his hand out of the way to examine him. There were cuts and bruises everywhere. How could she have missed them? “I shouldn’t have thrown myself at you like that. You’re hurt. I was selfish.”

“Hey.” Joe cupped her cheek. “You can throw yourself at me anytime. Trust me, it isn’t selfish when I want it too.”

“You’re impossible.” She grabbed his hand and led him to the door. “We need to find a good first-aid kit. I only have a little one in my bag, and it won’t be enough for your injuries. We have to get those wounds cleaned and treated.”

He followed behind her, holding her hand, as though he was afraid to release her in case she disappeared on him. He didn’t seem to care that she was bossing him around. In fact, he seemed oddly pleased about it.

“There’s a kit in my room,” he said.

“Of course there is.”

She opened the door to the living area and stopped dead. In her urgency to get Joe fixed up, she’d forgotten about the team. It felt like the room was packed, and every set of eyes was on them.

Joe reached for her waist, and she felt his heat at her back an instant before his body touched hers. Julia’s eyes lowered to focus on the floor and she took a step back, pressing herself against Joe—her safe haven. The silence was heavy, and Julia desperately wished she was back inside the closet.

“I see you’ve all met,” Joe said, walking her into the room.

“I see you two have done a whole lot more than meet.” Ryan gave them a cheeky grin.

Julia’s face must have been luminous, because the burn in her cheeks was painful. Danger! Danger! Abort! Abort! There was silence as Julia willed herself to become invisible.

“Come on.” Joe stepped in front of Julia, still holding her hand. “Let’s get that medical kit.”

He strode across the living room towards his bedroom.

“Hey, Julia, glad to see you’re alive,” Elle said as they passed.

Julia dared to look up at the woman who was becoming her friend. “I’m pleased you’re here.” There was no amusement or judgment in Elle’s eyes.

Elle nodded, making her blue bunches bob. “Eduardo gave me the laptop you lifted from the shop.” She said Ed’s name with a flirtatious lilt that made Julia smile. “He’d already worked through the Spanish and pointed out places to start searching for our buyer. It makes my job easier. I’m running a search on IP locations right now. Hopefully we’ll get a name on the mummy buyer.” She paused. “That sounds wrong. As in, really wrong.”

“I know.” Julia’s smile widened.

“No way!” Ryan’s voice cut through the room. “I just realised who you are. It didn’t click until I saw you with your gran.”

Julia felt every muscle in her body solidify. The atmosphere in the room was suddenly thicker.

“I think that’s a conversation for another time,” Patricia said in a tone that demanded she was obeyed.

Unfortunately, she was talking to Ryan, and the only thing he would stop for was food.

“You’re Julia Collins,” Ryan said, with no small amount of awe.

“It’s the altitude sickness. Yes, she’s Julia Collins. We work with her,” Elle said slowly.

“And you’re Patricia Matthews.” Ryan pointed at Julia’s gran.

“Seriously,” Elle said to their boss, “he needs help.”

“I should have put it together.” Ryan smacked his forehead. “But you’re nothing like your sister.”

“Ryan.” Joe’s voice was a warning rumble.

Ryan was unaffected. He was far too excited by his revelations. “Do you know who your girlfriend is?”

At any other time, Julia would have freaked out at being called Joe’s girlfriend. Not this time. This time, she couldn’t speak at all. Her throat was solid. There was a reason she kept her past hidden. And she couldn’t open her mouth to tell Ryan not to reveal her secrets. She couldn’t do anything but stand there and wait.

“You’re dating acting royalty, dude,” Ryan told Joe. “Julia’s mum is Libby Collins, as in three-time Oscar winner Libby Collins. Her sister is Belinda Collins. I can’t remember how many Oscars she’s been up for, but I’m pretty sure one of them was just for being hot. Daniel Collins, her young brother, does those superhero movies.” Ryan looked at Julia. “If he needs a coach to help with the action scenes, I’m available. Then there’s her dad; he’s a director. He has an Oscar as well, or is it two?”

“Two.” Patricia looked about ready to rip Ryan’s head off.

Ryan didn’t care. He was beaming widely now. “And Julia. Our Julia was a child star. She had her own TV show and everything. People were always going on about her voice. She was some singing genius or something.” He frowned at Julia. “And then you disappeared. People thought you were dead, and all your family ever said was that show business wasn’t for you and you’re happy doing other stuff.”

Julia waited, prepared for someone to mock her for going from child star to office manager. It didn’t come.

“You about done?” Joe’s voice was pure menace.

“No,” the dense man said, oblivious to the rage emanating from Joe. “Why the big secret, Julia?”

Julia looked around at the astonished faces of the people who were closest to her. She didn’t need to be a mind reader to know what they were thinking. She’d heard it all before. You were famous? You want to run an office instead of performing? What’s wrong with you? Why couldn’t you cope with fame when everyone else in your family can?

“This is why,” Julia whispered to the silent room.

Joe tugged her hand. “I need medical attention.”

“Five minutes,” Callum called after them. “We need a debrief. In the meantime, I’m going to have a private word with my dumb-as-dirt employee.”

“What’d I do?” Ryan said.

But the damage had already been done. Everyone would think Julia was an even bigger freak than they’d thought she was before Ryan had outed her and her family.

And there was no denying they were right. She was a freak. A freak who was incapable of living a normal life. She cast a glance at Joe. And that included normal relationships too.

“I need to…” She cast around for an excuse for leaving him to sort himself out. “I should show Elle what I’ve pulled up before the meeting starts. You can sort yourself out, can’t you?”

She’d already disentangled her hand from his and was backing away from him.

Joe studied her for a moment. “We’ll get back to this later.” It sounded like a promise. Or a threat.

Julia didn’t care which. Keeping her head down, she skirted the edge of the room back to her bedroom, where she’d left her iPad on the closet floor.

With her iPad in her hand and her messenger bag across her body, she felt more able to face her team. This was who she was. Not the child star everyone remembered, but the full-grown woman who needed her security blankets to make it through the day. She closed her eyes as the memory of the years she’d spent acting washed over her. The times spent emptying her stomach before each performance. The nights spent awake and worrying about the next morning. The fear of going out in public, where there would be cameras shoved in her face. It was a lot for any child to cope with, but for one who was naturally shy, well, it had destroyed what little confidence she did have.

It hadn’t been her parents’ fault. They hadn’t pushed her. She’d wanted so badly to be the same as the rest of the family. And she’d failed spectacularly. But that was then. She wasn’t that person anymore. She would never be that person. She would always be the freak who could barely cope around other people. The freak who was better off alone.

With a deep breath, she went out to face her team, prepared to run and hide if the questions started again. When she came back into the room, everyone was glaring at Ryan and he was rubbing his jaw. But there weren’t any questions about her past.