“I’m a doctor. Nothing phazes me. Besides,” he admitted with a slow grin that melted her insides in a way that made her momentarily forget about Boston, “My offer is not entirely altruistic…I confess, I’m thinking of you in a bikini…in a not-so-doctorly-way and even if I can’t touch…I will definitely enjoy looking.”
At that she laughed outright. “Well, seeing as my bikini days might be numbered, I will take you up on that offer even knowing that you’re just interested in my body.”
He sobered and helped her up with a gentle hand. “I wish I were just interested in your body. It would make things simpler on my end. The truth is…I’m interested in a whole lot more than I should be and I’ll leave it at that.”
“I’m pregnant with another man’s child,” she said.
“I know. And it doesn’t matter. Like I said, there’s something about you that’s special and if your guy was too dumb to hold on, then that’s his loss and my gain.”
Oh damn. That was a good line. Why was he so damn handsome? And Boston’s polar opposite?
She smiled through her private heartache and asked, “You’re sure you want me tagging along?”
“I can’t imagine anyone I’d rather have by my side.”
And then, just like that, it was settled. She supposed the best way to forget about someone was to insert someone else in their place.
-5-
Boston’s plan had been to stride into Larimar, collect his wayward baby mama and deposit her on a plane before the day was out and he’d deal with the aftermath once he was back on his home turf but the minute he saw her again, glowing in the Caribbean sun, laughing and talking to a blonde surfer-type guy, dressed in a tiny bikini that celebrated every feminine curve, his plan was shot to shit.
You’re losing her.
He stared hungrily at the woman who’d dominated his every waking thought and haunted his dreams and pure jealousy saturated his brain until he saw red.
Who was this jackoff? How dare he trespass on his property. Boston’s mind hummed with vengeful promise, savagely delighting in all the ways he’d make the guy pay for daring to touch Julianna’s silken skin and God damn, if the guy didn’t stop openly admiring her feminine curves, Boston would gladly plant his foot up his fucking ass. But even as his fists clenched and murder sang in his veins, something else stopped him from possibly making a bad situation worse. Julianna wasn’t looking at the surfer guy in the same way that she looked at him. Maybe he was being arrogant — wouldn’t be the first time and certainly wouldn’t be the last — but he knew in his bones that Julianna felt something for him, even if she didn’t want to.
He’d have to remind her of all the reasons her heart sped up and her pupils dilated when he entered the room.
And that would take some finesse.
So his vengeance would have to wait. He rolled his head on his shoulders and blew out the tension cording his neck. There was too much to lose to allow emotion to fuck things up. His dad used to tell him, “Don’t make a permanent decision based on a temporary emotion, son,” and that advice was ringing in his head so he tried to simmer down long enough to think clearly again. She was safe and that was the important part. He did an about face and headed for the reception desk where a pretty, willowy blonde sat behind the counter. As he approached, she asked with a sweet smile, “Welcome to Larimar. My name is Lilah. Do you have a reservation?”
“Hello, Lilah. Great place you have here. I don’t have a reservation but I’m hoping you can help me with that,” he answered with his most charming grin.
“I’m sure we can try,” Lilah said. “What kind of accommodations are you looking for?”
“Well, here’s the situation and it’s a little embarrassing…my fiancée booked the room and then we had a spat because I was being an ass and now I’m just trying to get back into her good graces. Do you think you can help me with that?”
“I’m a sucker for a good love story,” Lilah admitted with a tiny, conspiratorial smile but then said with a chagrined expression, “But if you’re not on the room list then I can’t give you a key because what if you’re an incredibly good-looking stalker and not her fiancée at all?”
“Fair point,” he agreed. So the blond was smart and cute. Just his luck. “How about this…a room close to hers perhaps? I’d take any help you could give me. I really screwed up and it’s hard to grovel from afar.”
“Sounds like you really landed in the doghouse,” she said, biting her lip, wavering. “Who is your fiancée?”
“Julianna Holly,” he answered and her eyes widened with recognition. “You know her?” he surmised.
“You’re Julianna’s guy? Oh man, Miles is going to be so bummed. He really has his eye set on her.”
It was really difficult to hold onto his charm when he wanted to snarl but he deserved an Oscar for his performance. “Is that so? Well, tough luck for him. I’m not out of the picture yet. Plus, she’s carrying my baby,” he let that information slide from his lips with a shrug and Lilah’s mouth dropped open.
“I didn’t know she was pregnant. She never said a word,” Lilah said, then added, “Well, congratulations.”
His chest swelled with an unknown emotion and he had to choke it down. “Thanks. We’re still adjusting to the news. Big life changes, you know?”
“The biggest,” she agreed. “My husband and I had twins. Big life change, times two. But it’s really the best thing that could’ve ever happened for us both.”
He liked this Lilah woman. There was something guileless and sweet about her, yet she was strong, too. Most women would’ve caved under his charm but she’d stuck to her guns. Did he find it odd that she was so willing to share her own personal details with a stranger? A little but then, a sweep of her person revealed more about her personality than a lengthy conversation. Everything about her was breezy and light, artistic, even. “So, can you help a poor guy out or what?” he asked.
“I think so. You’re in luck. The bungalow right next door to Julianna’s is available but it’s a little pricey.”
He tossed down a black AmEx card and she smiled, scooping up the
card. “That’ll work.” She paused to verify his identity against his driver’s license. “And how many days will you be staying with us, Mr. Kincaid?”
“As many as it takes.”
“Gotta love a man dedicated to a cause,” she murmured and swiped his card. Within minutes the transaction was finished and Boston was walking to his new room with his key card tucked into his shorts with a satisfied smile. He couldn’t wait to see Julianna’s face when she realized she’d been found.
This time, little bird, you won’t be flying off without me. Ever again.
#
Julianna returned to her room after a great afternoon with Miles and yawned as she headed for the fridge to get a bottled water. The humidity was still sucking all her energy but she was beginning to acclimate to the island weather. She surveyed her golden skin, pleased to see the tan starting to show, but almost against her will, thoughts of Boston intruded. A man with Boston’s appetite likely wouldn’t spend his nights alone. Who was warming his bed when she wasn’t? What did she care? A pet didn’t get the privilege of fidelity and Boston had never offered it so why was she even thinking about that? Discomfited by her own train of thoughts, she took a good swallow of the water and headed for the shower, needing to rinse off the sand and sweat after a day spent at Cinnamon Beach. She untied her bikini and tossed it to the bed to walk naked to the open air shower. Larimar was, hands down, the most amazing place she’d ever seen. Her room was the stuff of Hollywood dreams. And Boston’s money was paying for it. She stepped into the spray and gasped as cool water rained down, sluicing her heated body and rinsing away the island’s humid touch. Running her fingers down her belly, she wondered if she were carrying a boy or a girl. Boston would spoil a girl rotten but would be so over-protective that the poor girl would never be allowed to step foot outside of the property. And a boy? A subtle frown pulled her brows. Would Boston train his son to be as ruthless as he? She didn’t like that idea. She didn’t want her son to grow up believing that people could be bought and were as replaceable as used up light bulbs. A father was supposed to guide his children, to teach them right from wrong. How could Boston do that when he didn’t seem to care about the importance of a moral compass? Careful with those stones in your glass house.