though she felt his gaze boring into the top of her head.
“I’m not going to hurt you tonight,” he said abruptly. “You asked for my protection and I’m giving it to you. For now.”
But the day would come when he’d turn on her. She couldn’t bear to think about it. She had to leave him. Now. She’d just have to come up with another plan to save Carina. Hysteria swirled around her in a dizzying haze barely held in check. She was trapped. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.
“What’s next on the agenda?” she asked, doing her best to mask her agitation.
He jerked his head toward the bedroom. Her brain skipped like a scratched record. He wanted to go in the bedroom with her? The idea fired her imagination in shocking ways.
He remarked, “You need to relax and get a good night’s sleep. Your nerves are frazzled, and you’re not thinking clearly.”
No kidding. For a second there, she’d thought he meant something else entirely. She’d actually hoped he meant something else.
She went into the bedroom with its stone fireplace, picture windows and huge bed. Four normal-size adults could sleep in the thing. She jumped as she sensed a movement behind her.
“Sorry,” he murmured. “Didn’t mean to startle you. I just need some clothes.” He opened his suitcase, pulled out a sweat suit and headed for the door.
“Where are you going to sleep?” she asked.
“On the couch in the living room.”
She frowned. “It’s not nearly long enough for you. I’ll take the couch. You stay here.”
“Not a chance. Nobody’s getting past me out there. You’re safe tonight. Get some sleep.”
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been truly safe. Even before she escaped her father’s clutches, she’d never felt secure. His enemies, including agents of the various governments he’d flouted, were always waiting to strike. Like the man standing before her now.
“Julia? Are you all right?”
She jerked her attention back to him. He stood so close she could feel the heat radiating off him. No, she wasn’t all right! “I’m fine,” she managed to force out.
His eyes flashed their disbelief, but he merely stepped back politely and said, “Sweet dreams.” His deep voice sent a shiver down her spine. Her cheeks burned.
Startled by the power of her reaction to him, she nodded wordlessly in return. The door closed quietly. She turned away from the knotty-pine panel. Shedding her clothes quickly, she dropped her nightgown over her head. The silk caressed her skin the same sensuous way she imagined his fingers would have if things had been different. She crawled beneath the fluffy down comforter, and its flannel duvet cradled her in gentle warmth.
Restless, she rolled over and stared at the ceiling. Regret pierced her. In another time and place, she’d have loved nothing more than to spend the night with James Dutcher. But it wasn’t meant to be. Their worlds had collided before, ending any chance they might have had now before it even began.
She’d catch a nap for a couple of hours, and then she’d leave. As tempting as it was to let him take care of her, she dared not stay with him. He was too smart. He’d figure out what she was really up to, and when he did, she and Carina were as good as dead.
It was dark and silent when she woke up. The mountain outside the window was a black silhouette against the night sky. The bedside clock said it was 3:20 a.m. Perfect.
She climbed out of bed and, shivering, pulled on clothes. She grabbed Dutch’s car keys from the bureau and her purse, which contained a few toiletries and her all important cash. Having met him again, having seen his intention to kill her, she simply couldn’t stay. She had no right to put Carina’s life further at risk. Her little sister had suffered enough. Julia would find some other way to save her.
Carrying her shoes, Julia eased the bedroom door open and tiptoed to the living room in her socks. A red glow came from the
“I’m not going to hurt you tonight,” he said abruptly. “You asked for my protection and I’m giving it to you. For now.”
But the day would come when he’d turn on her. She couldn’t bear to think about it. She had to leave him. Now. She’d just have to come up with another plan to save Carina. Hysteria swirled around her in a dizzying haze barely held in check. She was trapped. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.
“What’s next on the agenda?” she asked, doing her best to mask her agitation.
He jerked his head toward the bedroom. Her brain skipped like a scratched record. He wanted to go in the bedroom with her? The idea fired her imagination in shocking ways.
He remarked, “You need to relax and get a good night’s sleep. Your nerves are frazzled, and you’re not thinking clearly.”
No kidding. For a second there, she’d thought he meant something else entirely. She’d actually hoped he meant something else.
She went into the bedroom with its stone fireplace, picture windows and huge bed. Four normal-size adults could sleep in the thing. She jumped as she sensed a movement behind her.
“Sorry,” he murmured. “Didn’t mean to startle you. I just need some clothes.” He opened his suitcase, pulled out a sweat suit and headed for the door.
“Where are you going to sleep?” she asked.
“On the couch in the living room.”
She frowned. “It’s not nearly long enough for you. I’ll take the couch. You stay here.”
“Not a chance. Nobody’s getting past me out there. You’re safe tonight. Get some sleep.”
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been truly safe. Even before she escaped her father’s clutches, she’d never felt secure. His enemies, including agents of the various governments he’d flouted, were always waiting to strike. Like the man standing before her now.
“Julia? Are you all right?”
She jerked her attention back to him. He stood so close she could feel the heat radiating off him. No, she wasn’t all right! “I’m fine,” she managed to force out.
His eyes flashed their disbelief, but he merely stepped back politely and said, “Sweet dreams.” His deep voice sent a shiver down her spine. Her cheeks burned.
Startled by the power of her reaction to him, she nodded wordlessly in return. The door closed quietly. She turned away from the knotty-pine panel. Shedding her clothes quickly, she dropped her nightgown over her head. The silk caressed her skin the same sensuous way she imagined his fingers would have if things had been different. She crawled beneath the fluffy down comforter, and its flannel duvet cradled her in gentle warmth.
Restless, she rolled over and stared at the ceiling. Regret pierced her. In another time and place, she’d have loved nothing more than to spend the night with James Dutcher. But it wasn’t meant to be. Their worlds had collided before, ending any chance they might have had now before it even began.
She’d catch a nap for a couple of hours, and then she’d leave. As tempting as it was to let him take care of her, she dared not stay with him. He was too smart. He’d figure out what she was really up to, and when he did, she and Carina were as good as dead.
It was dark and silent when she woke up. The mountain outside the window was a black silhouette against the night sky. The bedside clock said it was 3:20 a.m. Perfect.
She climbed out of bed and, shivering, pulled on clothes. She grabbed Dutch’s car keys from the bureau and her purse, which contained a few toiletries and her all important cash. Having met him again, having seen his intention to kill her, she simply couldn’t stay. She had no right to put Carina’s life further at risk. Her little sister had suffered enough. Julia would find some other way to save her.
Carrying her shoes, Julia eased the bedroom door open and tiptoed to the living room in her socks. A red glow came from the
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