by Lisa Jackson
But he heard her on the stairs, shuddered as her door clicked open and closed again, and wished to God he’d never set eyes on her!
The Regina plowed through the Strait of Juan de Fuca to moor in Victoria the next morning. Valerie told herself to forget the past night, but the moment she saw Hale, she knew their meeting the night before wouldn’t soon be forgotten. His gaze shifted away from hers, and the corners of his mouth were pulled downward.
Valerie pretended interest in the view, but she knew the instant his gaze returned with a sizzling intensity that cut her to the bone. Her fingers whitened around the railing, but she kept her gaze glued to the sea as The Regina slowed in the harbor.
Sailboats, cabin cruisers and every other boat imaginable vied for position in the marina. Tall masts and rigging swayed in the breeze, and the boats rocked with the lapping water. White hulls sparkled in the morning light.
Beyond the array of vessels, the waterfront of Victoria, a walkway and street were bustling with morning activity. Already tourists strolled near the water, and cars and buses buzzed past. Beyond the street, Valerie saw a wide expanse of manicured lawn and shrubbery in full bloom—the grounds of a copper-domed building that looked like a cross between an English castle and a Muslim mosque. High overhead, white birds—probably pigeons and sea gulls—circled against a flawless blue sky, and a red-and-white Canadian flag snapped in the wind.
“This is one of my favorite cities,” Beth proclaimed as she joined Hale and Valerie on deck. “So much culture! So much life!” With a smile, she stared at the view and tucked a few strands of white hair under a wide-brimmed hat, then pushed a pair of sunglasses onto her nose. “I can’t wait to go shopping. All those interesting shops and English pubs. And high tea—be sure to take high tea.”
“Oh, we will,” Hale agreed easily, to Valerie’s surprise. After last night, she’d expected him to keep his distance. “As a matter of fact, we’ll take breakfast ashore.”
“What a marvelous idea! I think we will, too. I’ll give Hans the word not to bother this morning.” She disappeared down the stairs, leaving Hale and Valerie alone.
“Come on,” Hale suggested, grabbing her hand, “let’s leave now, before we get stuck with Regina and Stewart again.”
Valerie linked her fingers with his and cocked her head to glance up at him. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“No, as a matter of fact it’s probably one of the worst I’ve had in a while.”
“Worse than a phony engagement?”
He groaned. “Even I’m beginning to regret that!” But his eyes crinkled at the corners, and he whispered, “It’s working, isn’t it?”
“You tell me.”
He squeezed her hand. “Too well, I’m afraid.” Together they strolled along the docks, then wended their way through the narrow streets, where horse-drawn carriages competed with cars and trucks. Bookstores, china shops, art galleries and authentic English pubs were clustered together in brick squares where baskets of flowers hung from old-fashioned lampposts.
Hale and Valerie ate Belgian waffles and cheese blintzes in a tiny café overlooking the square. He didn’t mention their chance moonlight meeting on the deck, and neither did she, though when she caught him staring at her over the rim of his cup, his eyes were penetrating and dark.
He’s trying to pretend last night didn’t exist, too, she realized. But it will always be there.
Her stomach began to churn, and she shoved the remains of her breakfast aside. Twirling the cup nervously in her hands, she said, “What do you want to see next?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“The gardens? Museum? Shops?”
“You choose,” he suggested, then grabbed one of her hands with his own. “But first, tell me about Luke.”
“There’s nothing to tell.”
He didn’t believe her. His eyes as much as called her a liar. “There must have been something.”
“Once, maybe,” she said with a shrug. Withdrawing her hand, she cradled her coffee and settled back in her chair. “I met him in college. He was brilliant, but more into surfing than school. He didn’t have to work at studying much. The first year we were together everything was fine, but after that . . .” She stared into her cup, as if she could find some answers to questions that had flitted through her mind for two years. “He decided he had to find himself. So he gave up everything—a scholarship to grad school, his Porsche, his surfboard and me—to trek around Montana.”
“What’s in Montana?”
“I wish I knew. Or maybe I don’t.”
“Another woman?”
She swallowed against a knot in her throat. “I don’t know,” she admitted, sipping from her now-cold cup. “He was pretty vague. He knew some guy who had a cabin in the mountains and he thought he’d spend the summer there. That was two years ago, and I haven’t heard from him since.”
“You loved him?”
She’d asked herself that same question a thousand times. “I thought I did.”
“And now?”
“Now I’ve convinced myself it couldn’t have been love. Otherwise it wouldn’t have ended.”
Hale’s lips twitched. “You—a romantic? I never would have guessed. I thought you were a pragmatist.”
“I am . . . usually.”
“But you think real love endures forever.”
“Don’t you?”
She expected him to say that real love didn’t exist. Instead he frowned. “I don’t know.” His gaze touched hers for a magical split second. “I just don’t know.”
The waiter came with the check, and as they left, Valerie linked her arm through his and pushed all thoughts of Luke and their dead-end relationship aside. No, she’d never really loved Luke, and now it didn’t matter. Luke was part of her past. Hale, she hoped, was her future.
Hale insisted upon a carriage ride, signaling a driver in a black top hat and paying the fare. They climbed into the back of the open spring buggy, and at the crack of a whip, the horse, a heavy-haunched gray gelding, clopped noisily, slowly down the street.
Slinging his arm around Valerie’s shoulders, Hale held her close as the driver-cum-tour guide pointed out spots of interest. The sky was vibrant and blue, the air filled with the scent of blossoms, sea and horse. Feeling the romance of their adventure together, Valerie sighed contentedly and snuggled close to Hale.
“Happy?” he asked, stroking her hair.
“Mmm.”
She could hear the steady beat of his heart over the sharp click of metal horseshoes as they rode through an ornate gate guarded by two hand-carved lions.
Nestled in Hale’s arms, Valerie watched the bustle of the city and wished the day would never end.
They had high tea in a fabulous glass-encased structure that was alive with lush indoor gardens. The building smelled of rich soil and exotic plants, and the sound of birds twittering reverberated against the panes.
Valerie and Hale sat at a small table, sipped tea and munched on finger sandwiches. Hale was charming and relaxed, his gray eyes warm, his smile contagious.
“Beth was right, this is a beautiful city,” Valerie finally said as conversation waned.
“Maybe we should spend the night.”
She nearly choked on a swallow of tea. “Here—together?”
He glanced around the room at the glossy vines and trees. “Not here—I thought you’d prefer a quaint Victorian inn.”
“I think we’d better stay on the yacht.”
“In separate cabins?”
She raised her chin an inch. “What are you suggesting?” Though she tried to sound indignant, her voice betrayed her and she could feel her eyes sparkling.
Setting his cup down, he stared straight into her eyes. “We’ve ignored what happened last night long enough, don’t you think?”
“I thought you wanted to forget about it.”
“I tried. It’s impossible.”
She couldn’t argue that point. She sipp
ed from her cup again and discovered that her hands were shaking. “I’m not interested in an affair,” she said bluntly, her cheeks burning. “I told you that at the beginning.”
“I know, Valerie,” he said softly. “And I wasn’t, either. At least, I didn’t think so. But you’ve made me change my mind.”
She shoved back her chair, its legs scraping on the floor. “I think we’d better go—”
He caught her wrist. “You can deny it all you want, you know, but there’s something between us—something more than friendship.”
“I don’t think we’re friends.”
“But we could be lovers.”
Dear God, was that her heart pounding so loudly? “What we are is business associates. Nothing more.”
“You’re kidding yourself.”
“I don’t think so.” Rather than continue the argument, which was quickly escalating into one of their volatile battles, Valerie strode outside and started walking toward the marina.
Hale caught up with her, matching her furious strides with his own. “Don’t try to make me believe you don’t know what’s happening,” he said, “because you felt it, too.”
A lie formed on her tongue, but he shook his head, holding one finger to her lips and shushing her as they walked.
“And don’t expect me to believe that you were only acting last night. We were alone and you responded, and whether you want to believe it or not, Valerie”—he took one long stride and planted himself in front of her—“we’re falling in love!”
Love? She stopped short. Was he serious? Love? “I think you’re confusing love with lust.”
“Not me. I know both.”
“Do you? And who were you in love with? Leigh what’s-her-name?”
He laughed then, throwing back his head at the thought. “No, not Leigh. And her name’s Carmichael. She’d be devastated that you didn’t know who she was.”
“Sorry—” She tried to brush past him, but he caught her shoulders, holding her squarely in front of him on the sidewalk while other pedestrians had to file around them. “This looks ridiculous,” she ground out.
“Leigh never meant anything to me.”
“She was your lover.”
Hale sighed. “That was a long time ago.”
“Not according to Regina.”
“Since when do you believe her?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Don’t worry about Leigh. She’s out of my life. Come on.” As if the conversation had ever existed, as if they’d never said one cross word, he grabbed her hand, dashed across the street and started walking.
“Where are we going?”
“To an authentic English pub.”
“We just ate.”
He flashed her his lazy grin. “I know, but we’ve only got so much time and I’d like to take you on in a game of darts.”
“Darts?” Was he out of his mind? But she didn’t argue, and after wandering through a couple of antique stores and a candy shop, he guided her to a small, dark pub where they served fish-and-chips, kidney pie and dark ale.
Valerie relaxed, ate as much batter-dipped cod as she could stand, then surprised Hale by beating him once at darts. In the next two games, she lost.
By the time they headed back to The Regina, the sky was dark, the air cool. Lights blazed in the surrounding buildings as they walked along the waterfront.
Hale draped his arm around her shoulder, and she didn’t object. This day had been too perfect, she didn’t want to spoil it, and his hand on her arm, so possessive and warm, felt right.
Moonlight ribboned across the dark water near the marina and the sea breeze lifted Valerie’s hair. She glanced at Hale, and her heart tripped at the sight of his strong profile. Dear Lord, how she loved him. She’d known him less than two weeks, and he was the one man with whom she couldn’t fall in love. Nonetheless she had. Despite all her vows and self-made promises, she’d fallen for him.
Inside, the boat was still and quiet—and warm from the hot summer’s day. The Stowells weren’t yet aboard, and apparently the captain and crew had gone ashore to sample the nightlife. She and Hale were alone. Completely alone on the gently rocking boat. They both knew it, though neither mentioned the obvious.
“It’s late,” she said.
“What about a nightcap?”
“I don’t think so.” The last thing she needed was a drink! Staring into Hale’s erotic gray eyes, seeing the taut angle of his jaw, the sheen of perspiration on his skin, the cords of his neck, the muscles of his back moving fluidly as he strode about the salon, she decided she had to be careful. “I’d better say good-night.”
“We don’t have to, you know.”
“Of course we do.”
“This could go on and on forever.”
He was so close, his breath fanned her face. The heat from his body radiated to hers. “I don’t think so.”
“Always the proper lady, eh?” With one finger he traced the curve of her jaw, then inched up her chin to touch her lips.
“Proper? No. A lady? Sometimes. But I try my best to be a smart woman.” Valerie’s insides quivered, but she forced herself to stand perfectly still. She couldn’t let him know what a powerful effect he had on her—already he guessed how she felt.
His finger trailed down her neck to rest at the tiny circle of bones at her throat. He outlined them slowly, watching in fascination the trembling pulse encased within. “Let go, Valerie,” he suggested, wrapping his strong arms around her. “For once in your life, trust your instincts.”
Lowering his head, he brushed his lips slowly over hers. Her blood caught fire, heating her from the inside out as his lips grew harder, more insistent.
She tried to fight the overpowering urge to surrender, but her eyes closed and she leaned against him, opening her lips to the sweet, wet embrace of his tongue, feeling his hands tangle in her hair.
Her head lolled back, and she moaned as Hale kissed the curve of her throat, and lower as he trailed his tongue against her skin to skim the neckline of her dress and ignite fires of desire on the skin beneath.
Her breasts ached, and willful thoughts invaded her mind. What would it hurt? He said he loved you, didn’t he? Believe him—trust him. For once in your life, Valerie, take some happiness.
When he lifted her off of her feet, she didn’t protest, but clung to him, her hair spilling over his arm, her eyes watching his face beneath lowered lids. He kissed her at the door to their cabins, and she returned his kiss with ardor, running her fingers over the coarse hair at his nape.
She closed her ears to the nagging doubts crowding her mind, thought only of the feel of his lips and hands, the warmth seeping through her.
“Will you stay with me?” he murmured against her ear, and his very breath fanned the flames of already-rampant desire.
She could barely breathe as he kissed her and carried her into his cabin. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew she was making an irrevocable mistake, but she couldn’t stop returning his kisses. She loved him. And that was all that mattered.
He splayed his hands across her back, and the smell of him was everywhere as he laid her across the bed, falling gently over her and stroking her rib cage with the flat of his hand.
“Valerie, sweet, sweet Valerie,” he rasped, his breath short and swift. Placing one hand between her breasts, he felt the pounding of her heart. “Let me love you.”
He moved his hand then, cupping a breast through the soft cotton fabric. Her nipple hardened, and she sucked in a swift breath, realizing just what was happening. The heat swelling deep inside was burning with a want she knew only he could fill.
He moved, stroking her breast before she gasped for quick gulps of air and rolled away. “N-no,” she cried, choking on the horrid word. Her body begged for more of his sweet, gentle touch, but she forced herself to think beyond this one glorious night.
“I love you.”
Weakening, she saw desire burning bright in his eyes and knew that lust was
talking. “P-please, don’t—”
“Marry me, Valerie.”
Marriage? “Don’t say . . . You don’t have to—”
“This isn’t an obligation!” he ground out, his teeth flashing in the darkness as she scrambled to her feet.
Anger and confusion clouded his eyes, and she remembered the last time she’d been in this position, when her boss at Liddell had forced his hard, heaving body on hers and begged her to let him make love to her. Fortunately she’d escaped—and she’d wanted to. But this was worse. She longed to stay with him—her body screamed to join with his.
Stupidly she reached forward, touching the curve of his jaw.
He groaned, then gently shoved her hand aside. “You’d better leave now,” he said, clenching his teeth. “No—don’t,” he said when she took a step forward. “I’m warning you, Valerie. I can only take so much.”
“But—”
“Just leave! And lock the damned door.”
Her chest so tight she couldn’t speak, she turned and strode to her room. She closed the door separating them, but didn’t throw the bolt. If he came to her, she wouldn’t stop him. She couldn’t. She loved him too much.
She flung herself on the bed, trying to reason, trying to tell herself that loving him was the biggest mistake of her life.
Think, Valerie! she told herself. And she did. All night long. And what she decided during those long, dark hours was that she should take a chance. A man like Hale Donovan came along once in a lifetime, and she should trust him. Not tonight, but maybe tomorrow, and if things turned out as she’d hoped, for the rest of her life.
He’d asked her to marry him, hadn’t he? Tomorrow she intended to find out if the offer still held.
She loved him, and that was that. Now she had the chance to be his bride.
Thoughts of love and marriage, of bearing Hale Donovan’s children, flitted through her mind as she dozed fitfully. Yes, she loved him, and yes, she could trust him.
As the gray streaks of dawn filtered through her small window, she dozed, smiling to herself.
Yes, she’d accept Hale’s marriage proposal. Yes, she’d throw off the chains of this charade. And yes, she’d make love to him. Everything would be perfect, she thought, finally drifting into a trouble-free sleep.