True Love's Deception (book 3) (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (9 page)

A soft knock came on the door, startling her. But it wasn’t the door that opened into the hallway. It was the door leading into Andrew’s room. Climbing out of bed, she quickly pulled a wrapper around her shift.

“Yes?”

“Juliana?” Andrew’s voice whispered. “Are you indisposed?”

“Of course.
I’m taking a nap.”

When the door opened in spite of what she said, she gasped and clutched the wrapper higher around her neck. Andrew walked through the doorway, grinning from ear-to-ear. He didn’t even seem bothered that she was in her underclothes.

“Andrew!” She stepped back. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all, my dear.
We need to talk and since this is the only way we can do it privately, you’ll just have to allow me into your room once in a while.”

Inwardly, she growled. Unfortunately, he was correct. Meeting in private was the only way.
“Very well.
What is it that you wish to speak with me about?”

He moved to a heavily cushioned chair by her bed and flopped down. “How did I do today? If you have any complaints, I would like to hear them now.” He grinned.

She couldn’t stop the smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. He already knew he’d done a remarkable acting job. “I was very pleased.” She walked to her bed and sat on the edge, facing him. “The only thing I need to discuss with you is...um...” How could she politely tell him to quit being so cuddly and loving?

“Yes?” he urged.

“Well, most married couples do not show their affection so openly. In fact, you rarely see married couples even touch, except of course, if they are dancing.” She hesitated, but only briefly. “You are doing everything so well, and I am very pleased that my family accepts you, but...but...”

He leaned forward, his arms resting on his knees while his fingers dangled. “But you don’t want me touching you so personal in public, right?”

She sighed.
“Precisely.”

“Only behind closed doors, like the other married couples.”

She started to nod, but quickly realized what he’d said.
“Absolutely not.
I don’t want you touching me at all.” She lifted her voice.

He arched an eyebrow. “But I think you do. In fact, if last night was any indication of how you
don’t
like to be touched—”

“Mr. Dean,” she snapped, raising to her feet and planting her hands on her hips. Heat rushed to her face and burned her cheeks. “I do not think we need to bring that up.”

He stood and faced her. “But, Juliana, I think differently. If you don’t want me to touch you, why did you fall so easily into my arms last night and allow me to kiss you?”

Another wave of heat consumed her face. “I—I was vulnerable last night, and you—you took advantage of that.”

He took a step closer. “You cannot tell me you didn’t enjoy one moment of it, because I know differently.”

“Then I must have fooled you because a real woman does not like to be pawed at.”

Taking another step forward, he seized her shoulders, bringing her body up against his. “Although ye were raised a gentle bred woman,
ye’re
far from proper, me dear. Ye proved that
durin
’ our first
meetin
’ when ye ogled me while I was in the pond.”

She gasped and struggled to lift her hand to slap him, but he had her limbs pinned between their bodies. Curse him for noticing her weakness and mentioning it. And curse him for forgetting his speech and letting it slip back to the Scottish brogue she liked so well.

Since she couldn’t hurt him physically, she’d do it with her words. “And you, sir, are not a gentleman. Have you forgotten you are just a servant...a mere stable hand? It doesn’t matter what clothes you wear, you will always be lower than I, and not good enough to be in my company.”

His gaze turned cold and his blue eyes pierced right through her. Her heart twisted. She shouldn’t have said that. But when her temper was sparked, she couldn’t stop herself. What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she act like a proper lady, especially when arguing with another person? As always, she didn’t think before speaking.

“Do ye expect me tae act like
yer
lovin
’ husband in front of
yer
family and no’ have the privilege of
touchin
’
ya
?”

“Of course.”

“Then
ye’re
correct. I’m no’ a gentleman because I’d no’ be able tae act like that and receive
nothin
’ in return.”

“I’m paying you quite well, Mr. Dean.”

“I’m no’
referrin
’ tae money. I’m
talkin
’ about a little affection. I have
feelin’s
ya
know, and if I’m constantly
playin
’ the
lovin
’ husband, then I’d better get some
lovin
’ back.”

Her heartbeat pounded in an irregular rhythm, and it had nothing to do with fright. His gaze darkened, and although lines of anger still marked his forehead, his eyes were telling her something else. The look was very similar to the one he gave her last night...before the kiss.

She lifted her chin in defiance. “Not from me, you’re not.”

“We’ll see about that.”

He yanked her closer as his mouth swooped down and covered hers. She struggled to free from his overpowering hold, but he did not relent. He circled her waist with one hand while the other cupped her head to his.

His lips moved back and forth over hers, and the more she struggled, the more he tightened his arms of steel. He lifted her in his arms and took two steps to the bed. As he laid her down, he covered her with his body. Warmth from his body blended into hers, and the strokes from his hands sent tingles skipping over her skin.

Heat coursed through her faster, and she didn’t want it to end. Yet she should stop it. After all, she
was
a lady no matter how much he argued the point. Although they pretended to be married, he couldn’t treat her like they really were.

She pushed at his shoulders, and turned her head.
“Andrew, no.
Please don’t. You’re hurting me.”

He lifted his head and gazed into her eyes. Anger no longer marked his face. Instead, his mouth turned down in a frown. His chest rose and fell quickly, as did hers, but he didn’t move.
Just continued to stare.

He squeezed his eyes closed.
“Oh, Juliana.”
He dropped his face to her neck. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

His breath fanned her skin and sent trickles of delight over her. She shouldn’t be enjoying this at all, but deep inside, she wanted a man’s loving touch. She yearned to be treated like a desirable woman.

She brushed her hand across his cheek until he turned his face to look at her. “Andrew,” she whispered. “It was my fault. If I hadn’t let my temper get away with me—”

“No. Don’t blame yourself. I just got caught up in the moment. Acting like a loving husband is something I’m not used to doing. You’re an attractive woman. I can’t help but want to act upon my feelings.”

His anger must be gone, because so was his accent. She was almost disappointed.

“You...think I’m pretty?”

The corner of his mouth lifted in a grin. “Pretty isn’t the word, my dear. You’re a vision of beauty.” He swiped his finger across her cheek. “I find myself watching you more than I should.”

She sucked in a ragged breath. “Why do you think you should not watch me?”

“Because you are my employer.
If you recall correctly, I work for you.”

She smiled. “Yes.” She moved a lock of his hair off his forehead, but it sprang back into place. His smoldering eyes took her breath away...as did his inviting lips. She hadn’t enjoyed the way he kissed her just now—so demanding and rough—but she couldn’t forget about the kiss they’d shared last night.

“Juliana?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know what it does to me when you look at my mouth like that?”

Her heartbeat skipped in double time. “No.”

Leaning on his elbows, he loomed over her. His gaze locked on her lips. “Do you not remember what I told you in my room last night at the inn?”

She nodded slowly. “You said when I look at a man like that it makes them want to kiss me.”

“Precisely,” he whispered as he brushed his lips across hers. “Is that what you want?”

Heaven help her, she did. “I—I don’t know.”

He rubbed his mouth over her cheeks, toward her ear. “I promise not to be harsh this time. I promise to show you tenderness like you’ve never experienced before.”

All she wanted to do was close her eyes and allow him to show her what he’d suggested. But she couldn’t. Having these kinds of feelings for him wasn’t right. Andrew was
not
her husband, and never would be!

“Juliana, tell me what you want.”

She opened her mouth to answer him truthfully, to ignore the doubts and warnings in her head and let him actually be a husband to her, but a knock came upon her door mere seconds before it opened. Andrew tightened his arms around her, and they both swung their heads toward the intruder.

“Juliana—” Madeline stood in the doorway, eyes wide and mouth agape. She sucked in a breath and her hand flew to her throat. “Oh, I’m sorry.”

Andrew rolled away from Juliana as she sat on the edge of the bed.

Madeline’s face flamed. “I—I didn’t know—”

She turned to leave, so Juliana scrambled off the bed to stop her. “No,
Maddie
. Don’t leave.”

Maddie
turned, her eyes narrowed in confusion. Juliana could have laughed. This situation was most embarrassing, but she was very relieved something had stopped her from continuing on with Andrew. Heaven knows what would have happened.

She chuckled. “I just wondered what you needed,
Maddie
?”

Her sister chewed on her bottom lip as she stepped back into the room. “I...um...I came to inform you dinner will be served in one hour.”

Juliana hurried to her and clasped her hand. “Wonderful. Would you like to help me choose a gown?”

If her sister’s eyes opened any wider, Juliana was certain they’d pop right out of
Maddie’s
skull. But truth be told, Juliana had never been this polite to her sister. The old Juliana would have ripped into her sister from the intrusion and left her in a sobbing fit of vapors.

Maddie
shifted her gaze from Juliana to Andrew, who remained sitting on the bed. “Well...uh...”

Andrew cleared his throat and stood. “Ladies, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll retire to my room to change for dinner as well.”

Juliana sighed. Once again, he pulled off a splendid performance like a true gentleman. Too bad she couldn’t act like a proper lady.

After Andrew closed the adjoining door, Juliana shut her eyes and said a silent prayer.
If
Maddie
hadn’t arrived at that time...

Juliana quickly moved to her closet and opened the double doors to look through her collection of gowns. She couldn’t act too strangely in front of her sister.
Maddie
could never suspect the truth. “Which one should I wear tonight?”

“Well, since tonight won’t be anything formal, you could wear almost anything.”
Maddie
stepped beside her and moved a few dresses aside.
“Oh, how about this lovely lavender frock?”