Chapter 14 #2
“I love you, Jack.” He watched her dig deep for courage, for the grit to ask someone she’d rejected for another chance. He’d never loved her more than in that moment. Her breath broke from her lips. “Please. Choose me.”
His mouth stamped over hers. An emotional flood rose and churned through his body as her taste and touch swamped his senses.
He seized; plundered; released. His tongue plunged deep until she clutched frantically at his shoulders, ripping at his shirt in a desperate attempt to unclothe him.
The warning bell clanged somewhere distant and Jack focused on the sound in order to pull him out of sensual oblivion.
He lifted his head and admired the sleek sheen of her swollen lips, her raven-colored eyes dark with passion.
Then he gave the words back. “I love you. I needed to know I wasn’t second choice.
I don’t think I could have lived like that. ”
“I’m so sorry I hurt you,” she whispered. “I’ll never give you reason to distrust me again. I’ll always tell you the truth. I have to find Bryce to finally finish this so we can get on with our lives.”
The warning bell screeched. Unease slithered through his body so he released her. “I have to tell you something, Julianna. Something about Bryce.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore. I texted and left messages but he hasn’t answered yet. I need to find him. We’re supposed to meet for dinner tonight at seven. I have to cancel the flowers, and call up the people we invited and then—”
“Bryce is in jail. He’s being held on charges of attempted murder.”
Color drained her face and she swayed on her feet. He grabbed her around the waist for support. “What?”
“I know it’s a lot. I’ve been keeping some things from you, too. I need to tell you everything now.”
“What the hell is going on? Do you know each other? He couldn’t possibly have done something like that.”
“Bryce is my cousin. He followed me here from England when he found out my interest in you. He secured the whole meeting.”
Julianna shook her head hard. “No, you’re wrong. When I realized I couldn’t get the money, I placed an ad at a restricted website for women and men looking to marry. He answered my ad. He knew nothing about you.”
“Bryce hired a private investigator to go through your house. He reviewed all your files and activity on your computer. He was looking for something to use against me, and he found it in you.”
She took a step back and held up her hands in defense.
“That’s impossible.” She forced a laugh.
“This makes no sense. Bryce is a rich man who needed to marry to inherit the family business. Wait a minute…” She trailed off and studied him hard.
He allowed her the time to chase her thoughts.
“You left to get away from the family business. Bryce told me his cousin was trying to steal the business even though he wanted no part of it. You both belong to the same family?”
Jack nodded. “The company is Woodward Shipping based in England. I’m next in line to inherit, but I need to marry before the company can be transferred to me.
Bryce has been ruthless with his attempts to be the one who inherits.
I had no idea he was this obsessed, or so sick.
I found out he’s been securing prostitutes and beating them up, along with a bunch of other women along the way. ”
Jack let out a breath. “At first, I was so angry with you, I was about to sail back home and let you marry him. But when I found out he was dangerous, I couldn’t let that happen.
” Jack quickly relayed the story of his stakeout, the videotape, the police, and the arrest. “Whatever happens, he’s ruined and he’s never going to hurt you or any other woman again. ”
He reached out to touch her, but she turned away.
He allowed her the space and told himself to be patient.
This was a lot for Julianna to handle. She needed to accept that Bryce was a monster and Jack had deceived her.
Of course, he was positive she’d understand.
After all, she’d been the one to declare she only wanted to marry a man with money.
“If Bryce was your cousin, and you knew I was in trouble, why did you lie?”
“I was angry. You had clearly declared I wasn’t good enough for you because you only wanted a man with money. Imagine how I felt? I only realized what Bryce was up to that night I saw you at dinner. I had no idea he was the man you were seeing, or that he was even in town.”
She nodded slowly. His muscles eased a notch. “I see,” she said. “So, from the very first you lied to me. You were never a gardener or a handyman. Your family business is one of the biggest companies in the world. What were you doing here, Jack? Or is that your real name?”
He refused to wince and stood his ground.
“My real name is Jack Woodward. When my mother informed me I wouldn’t inherit the company unless I married, I decided to travel to see if I could find a woman who’d love me for myself.
Not my money or title or company. I decided to go undercover, pick up a few odd jobs, and be a normal guy.
I picked Newport because I wanted to sail and we have a satellite company here.
I could check in on things and give myself the time and space I needed to meet someone on my own terms.” His gaze raked over her figure.
“I wanted you the moment I saw you. I figured you were a stuck-up, cold socialite who only cared about money. Yet, each time I spoke with you, you got under my skin.”
“You were testing me.” She shuddered and wrapped her arms tight around her body. “I failed the test because I wanted a man with money. What were you doing with that other woman at dinner? Auditioning her for the role of your wife?”
He took slow steps toward her and closed the distance. “I knew you were meant to be mine. No other woman ever stood a chance. And now I can give you everything you’ve ever wanted.”
Her eyes widened. “Give me what? My reward?” Her face changed. Pure feminine temper burned from dark eyes, flew from her pores, and twisted her mouth. “Did you actually think you’d proudly announce you’re rich and make this whole charade go away?”
Jack pulled her against her chest and ignored the warning signs. “I can give you the Cliff House. You can keep your promise to your father, and we can have each other. Damnit, Julianna, we can have it all!”
Like a cat dropped in water, she literally spat and hissed.
“We have nothing! We have sex and lies. I fell in love with Jack Wolfe, a man who worked with his hands, and made me laugh, and gave me orgasms night after night. A man who quoted poetry and burned with righteous pride when I told him I needed money.”
“I’m the same man. The man I wanted to be when I came here. The real me.”
“I don’t know the real you, Jack.” The fight went out of her and she grew limp in his arms. “I don’t know anything anymore except I can’t be with you.
Did you really think you could make an entire existence disappear because you wanted it to happen?
Or I’d drop to my knees, grateful I’d get the money as a bonus prize because I passed your test? ”
The fragile thread holding his own temper frayed. “You’re not making any sense. You’re upset and overwhelmed and need some time.”
“Yes,” she said woodenly. “I need lots of time. Everything I believed in was a lie. You. Bryce. Dear God, I was going to marry a man tomorrow I thought was sweet and kind, and he’s in jail for doing these terrible things to women. For murder!” She shuddered. “I feel dirty, and stupid, and used.”
“You’re in shock. If I had any idea you were in danger, I would’ve told you the truth from the beginning.”
“Gee, thanks, that makes everything ok.”
“Julianna—”
“Go home, Jack. Go back to England where you belong and leave me alone.”
“Not without you.”
Her laugh held no humor. “There is no us. I won’t be your bride because the clock is ticking. I won’t give up my life for the promise of something that may not make me happy. You taught me that.”
“Maybe I need to remind you another way.”
His mouth took hers. She fought with fists and nails, teeth and feet, but he managed to drag her to the cabin and pin her to the bed.
He used his tongue to pleasure, while his hands ripped at her clothes, under her panties, and plunged into wet, pulsing heat.
She arched into his hand while she cursed him, yet beneath the rage was a sexual firestorm that seared flesh and pushed away all civil boundaries.
He rubbed her clit with his thumb and hit her g-spot with pounding fingers.
She clenched around him and climaxed, while he tore off her shorts, unbuckled his pants, and thrust into her.
She cried out his name as he drove into her, over and over, leaving her nothing left to hide or a shred of untruth between them.
They both peaked together and held on as the shock waves attacked mercilessly.
When Jack was finally able to lift his head, he looked into her face.
A face he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
Her skin glowed with pleasure, her eyes dreamily half-closed, swollen lips emitting breathless gasps as she returned to sanity. Their gazes locked, and he drowned deep in a pool of inky blackness, touched her soul, and was changed forever.
“I love you, Jack.” Her words were whisper soft in the dimly lit room. “But I can’t do this anymore. I need time to figure out what I want on my own terms now. And not on anyone else’s agenda.”
She got up from the bed, straightened her clothes, and walked away.
Jack let her. Once again, he had given her everything, and it still wasn’t enough. He watched her go without a word and wondered if his heart would ever be whole again.