“I know,” she said softly, relishing the feel of his hard body pressed along hers. She shouldn’t enjoy this so much, Julie told herself. She shouldn’t get used to the feeling that it was she and Travis against the world. That the two of them were a team, united against all attackers.
Because to Travis, this team of theirs was temporary.
And when the game was over, she’d be nothing more than a memory for him.
Seven
F our days later, Julie’s divorce came through.
That same afternoon, Travis arranged for a quiet marriage ceremony in Judge Hernandez’s office. The service was brief and, thanks to the judge, safely away from the prying eyes of roving photographers.
With everything at last settled, Travis was anxious to get back to the winery. He had plenty of plans to put into motion and now that he was safely—legally— married, he wanted to get started. A car was called to pick them up at the hotel for the short trip to the airport, where a King jet was waiting.
Travis felt as though he were finally getting a tight grip on his universe again. He was back at the helm and now that he’d taken care of the problems facing them, everything else was sure to run smoothly. He and Julie were working well together—who would have guessed he’d find the most incredible sexual partner in his life by marrying an old friend?
Turning his head slightly, he looked at her and tried to see past the instant jolt of pure lust that slammed into him. She was beautiful, true. But was she all that she claimed? There remained a niggling doubt deep within him that perhaps Julie wasn’t as innocent as she professed to be. There’d just been too many things that had gone wrong since they’d married. Jean Claude. The photos of them on their balcony. The night they’d lost control and risked pregnancy.
He’d like to think that he could trust her. But the bottom line was, Julie had entered into this “marriage” for the same reasons he had. She was being paid well for participating and who was to say she hadn’t cut a side deal with Jean Claude to try to improve on the one she’d already made with Travis?
When she turned her head to look up at him and smile, Travis told himself he had nothing to worry about. But still, he’d be cautious. It didn’t pay to trust the wrong people.
He checked his watch and said, “If Rico doesn’t get his butt out here soon, we’re going to leave without saying goodbye.”
“Five minutes, Travis,” she said. “Relax.”
But that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
Still, he couldn’t help admiring the woman he’d married, from a purely objective perspective, of course. She was wearing white slacks, a pale yellow tank top with a peach-colored overshirt that hung open in front and white sandals on her feet. Sunlight washed through the lobby and seemed to practically glow as it gilded Julie. She looked fresh and beautiful and his body stirred hard and hot right there in the hotel lobby.
Damned if he could figure out just why she affected him as she did, but as long as they were married, he planned to make the most of it. Before he could reach out and cup her cheek, though, a voice sounded from behind him.
“Travis, I am sorry to see you go so soon.”
Turning, he held out one hand. “Rico, your timing, as always, sucks.”
His cousin laughed as if he knew exactly what Travis meant.
“But we appreciate the hospitality,” Travis said.
“Yes,” Julie added. “Thank you. Your hotel is just gorgeous and we had a—” she sent Travis a small smile “—wonderful time.”
They had, Travis mused, watching her luscious mouth curve. Except for the paparazzi and the delays in the divorce and the minor crisis of photos taken at a private moment ending up on the front page of national newspapers. But she was standing there smiling, her green eyes shining, as if they hadn’t had any trouble at all.
He was forced to admit that Julie had taken all of this mess in stride. Much better than any other woman he knew would have done. Hell, if it weren’t for her even keel and stubborn calm, he probably would have gone over the edge himself.
Not a happy thought, he told himself. He didn’t like the fact that he’d needed her to keep him calm. And thinking of that, why the hell had she been relatively calm about all of this? Was she really so damned easygoing? Or was it that she’d known ahead of time about all the problems that would arise because she’d been in on planning them from the start?
Hell, he hadn’t planned to seduce her on the damn balcony. But she’d looked so blasted edible, he hadn’t been able to help himself. Had she seduced him? Arranged for a photographer to catch them at an inopportune moment? But why? Hell, she’d been even more embarrassed and angry than he had. At least, he told himself, she’d seemed to be. And what about Jean Claude? How the devil had that little weasel managed to get onto the winery property on a day when Travis had had extra security measures in place? Had Julie helped him sneak past the guards?
And what about their first night of amazing—unprotected—sex? Why the hell hadn’t she been on the Pill? Had she actually been trying to get pregnant and hold him up for more cash?
“Travis?” Her voice prodded at him and her tone said she’d already called his name a couple of times. “Earth to Travis….”
“What?” He came up out of his thoughts with a dark scowl on his face and suspicion crawling through his system.
She shook her head as she watched him. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Fine.” The word was bitten off as he struggled to get past the misgivings still simmering inside him. “Why?”
“You must forgive him,” Rico said with a laugh. “A freshly wed man has many things on his mind.”
She looked as though she didn’t believe that excuse, but at the moment, Travis didn’t really care if she bought it or not. He just wanted to get moving. Get back to California and the winery. If Julie really were in cahoots with Jean Claude, Travis would discover the truth sooner once he was back on his own home turf.
“You are most welcome here anytime, Julie.” Rico’s accent flowed musically across his words as he took her hand, turned it over and kissed her knuckles.
Travis shot his new wife a look to see her reaction and damned if she didn’t look charmed.
“Oh, please,” Travis muttered, glaring at the other man.
“Forgive my cousin,” Rico said, smiling. “He has no appreciation for the finer things in life.”