Camille didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing, did nothing but hold onto the magnificent man in her arms. She didn’t want to acknowledge the magnetism building between them, but she had no choice. It was there dominating her mind, body and soul.
Julian pulled away and her heart reacted like it’d been electrocuted. She swallowed hard, trying to devour the lump lingering in her throat.
“How was your shopping trip?” he said smoothly, stoic faced.
The memory of her conversation with Madeleine shuddered through Camille. “Hm...your Madeleine is something else.”
“My Madeleine? She’s not my Madeleine.”
“She thinks she is.” Jealousy snuck up against Camille and she tried to divert the unwanted sensation.
“Is that so?” He smiled, like he saw right through her.
“She told me that I may be marrying you, but she’s going to be sleeping with you on the side.”
“She said those exact words?”
Camille couldn’t tell if he was astonished or pleased to know he’d have a warm body waiting any time he wanted.
“Precisely,” she said.
“Huh. Wow.” He tempered his shock with amusement. “Papa’s really pulling out all the stops to run you off.”
“Then I guess the joke’s on them.” A sensation of tired sadness passed over Camille. “Considering our arrangement...it’s really none of my business who you sleep with.”
A hint of regret clouded his eyes for just a second, and then it was gone. “But that’s our secret,” he said, and winked.
“Yes, it is.” She forced herself to look at Julian. “I’ll be discreet if you are.” She bargained in a teasing manner, the only way she knew to hide the reality of her discomfort.
“Really?” he said, half intrigued, half put-out. “And just who is on our radar?”
She stood and sashayed toward the shrubbery maze. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” She giggled and ran inside.
Julian followed her. “You’re serious, aren’t you?” he asked, as if he’d been snubbed. “There’s someone you want to sleep with?” He stopped her and backed her against the wall of shrubs.
They stood inches apart. Julian staring at Camille, her gaze glued to his. Their breaths increasing, mixing, intermingling. He looked her over seductively.
It left a tingling in the pit of her stomach that riveted out to her fingertips and toes, allowing her to break the visual connection. “I should go inside.” She slipped to the side and put some space between them. “It’s getting chilly out here.” Stepping away, she let her fears quicken her steps toward the hidden passage in the hedge.
Camille’s heartbeat amplified and coursed desire through her like an awakened river. Her head screamed no. Falling for Julian wasn’t smart. Her new husband intended to remain the bachelor about town and no marriage would alter that—least of all theirs.
But her heart had already said yes.
CHAPTER TEN
BY THE TIME ANDRE returned with Tasha, preparations for the wedding were well underway. The flowers had arrived. The rented chairs, tables and tents had been delivered and now a crew of hired workers were setting the scene for the reception behind the rose garden. Claudette and Camille had agreed it was the perfect place with a spacious area amid the roses for a makeshift dance floor. Of course, it was also the location of Claudette and Maurice’s wedding reception twenty years ago.
When the car arrived, bringing Andre and Tasha from the airport, Camille had been gazing out the west dining room’s wall of windows. She raced through the hall and down the stairs, stopping halfway when her best friend entered the house and paused just inside the entryway.
Thank god. Camille no longer felt alone.
“Tasha.” Camille trotted down the stairs and embraced Tasha as she reached the bottom step.
“Here she is,” Andre said with a grand gesture. “Safe and sound.”
“Yes, your new brother-in-law took a personal interest in my well-being.” She smiled at Andre and winked. The gushing was almost sickening.
Julian barged in from an opposite hallway. “Where have you been?” he asked Andre in particular, offering no smiles. No welcome home. No ‘thanks for the favor’.
“Tasha and I stopped over in London.” Andre’s flat tone offered no indication that an explanation was forthcoming.
Camille supposed it was his way of standing up to big brother.
Julian was silent for a moment. His frustration worked his bottom jaw and after a bit he made a conscious effort to stop. “Did you stop in Paris?” He remained focused on Andre.
“Yes, big brother, we did.” Andre winked at Tasha. “Marie promised the dresses will all be delivered this afternoon. A full two hours before the ceremony.”
“Two hours. Aren’t we pushing it a little?” Tasha asked, in a comical tone.
Boy, I’ll say. If this wedding was real, Camille would be nearing the breaking point.
“Well, we had to move up the wedding day.” Julian smirked. “We think Camille is pregnant,” Julian added, his tone drenched in sarcasm.
Camille smacked him.
He rolled his eyes and let them settle on Camille, his expression softening. “Why don’t you get your friend settled in and then you can show her around. There’s nothing much for you to do at this stage.”
“You want me to show her around?” Camille said in a casual, jesting way. “Who’s going to come find us when I get lost?”
Andre raised his hand. “I can do that.”
Tasha looked at him like he was a white knight. “Everybody loves a hero.”
Julian huffed and took a couple of steps away before turning back to Camille. “Chéri, I’ve got some things to attend to, but I’ll be back in plenty of time before the ceremony.”
Camille considered just what business he could have, but decided not to ask. Maybe he was going to pay Madeleine a visit, as most bridegrooms expected certain things to happen on their wedding day. Maybe Julian was arranging his wedding night bliss. It just wouldn’t be with the bride.
There was a little something unsettling about that notion, even though Camille knew precisely where she stood with Julian. She didn’t need to be reminded that they were in a business arrangement. Assuming it could turn into anything more wasn’t smart, and she’d just be setting herself up for heartbreak.
“Come on,” Camille grabbed Tasha’s hand. “Come with me. There’s an empty bedroom right beside mine.”