Read Online From Glowing Embers by Emilie Richards - Free Book Online Page A

she had no idea how farcical her questions were. He ignored them. “Did you really think you needed protection on the plane? What did you think I was going to do?”
    “I didn’t want to talk to you
then
, and I don’t want to talk to you
now
.”
    “It’s unlike you to avoid things.” He watched her expression grow more veiled. His grew angrier. “Or maybe it’s not. You’re the one who took off ten years ago, aren’t you? You’re the one who disappeared without a word.”
    “And you were so heartbroken that you remarried immediately and sired another child.” Julianna turned to the carousel and lifted a navy-blue garment bag, then a small suitcase. She straightened. “Or did you father the child while you were waiting for the divorce to become final? How old is she? Eight? Nine?”
    Gray grasped her shoulder and spun her around. “Damn it, Julie Ann, that child isn’t mine. And I’m not married to her mother. I just happen to be escorting her.”
    She could feel his fingers digging into her shoulder, and something just as painful digging deep inside her. She didn’t know what to say.
    “Did you really think I’d jump into another marriage after everything that happened?” he asked, loosening his grip a little.
    “It doesn’t matter.”
    Gray felt some of his anger leave him. She might say it didn’t matter, but he could see she was lying to both of them. It mattered very much. “Ellie was my child, too. I didn’t have anything to give anyone after we lost her.”
    She stiffened. “I don’t want to talk about that.”
    “What do you want to talk about then? The weather? We’re about to get a hurricane, Julie... anna. And I may be one of the few people in the world who knows what that’s doing to you. You don’t have to put up a front with me. I know what you’re feeling.”
    “You only think you do.” She lifted her chin a little, and her eyes were defiant. “I told you I’ve changed. You don’t know me anymore.”
    “You don’t have to pretend.” His hand no longer gripped her shoulder but lay there to comfort her.
    She shook it off. “Neither do you. You don’t have to pretend you care what I’m feeling. Those days are long gone. Why don’t you just say what you’ve come to say and get it over with? Give me the condensed version, Gray, and then get the hell out of my life!”
    “Is this fellow bothering you again?”
    Gray had been so involved with Julianna that he hadn’t noticed Dillon’s approach. He didn’t take his eyes off her face when he snapped, “Get lost, Aussie.”
    Julianna edged a shoulder between the two men. “It’s all right, Dillon. He was just about to leave.”
    “Not fast enough!”
    “Please.” She put her hand on Dillon’s arm.
    “There aren’t any rooms anywhere on the island,” Dillon said, his eyes still on Gray. “But the Travelodge not far from here will let us camp out in the lobby. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing for it.”
    “That’ll be fine.”
    Gray stepped toward her. “I’ve got a suite at the Prince Kuhio for tonight, Julianna. Come with me. You can have a shower and a comfortable bed, and we can have that talk.”
    “You must be kidding.” Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Do you really think I want to spend a night in a hotel room with you?”
    She seemed to see how angry she’d made him, because he witnessed a flash of regret cross her features. It came too late.
    “And just what do you think would happen?” he asked in a low voice. “Do you think I came all this way to seduce you? Now that you’re all grown-up, are you so sure you’re irresistible?”
    Dillon took a step forward, but Julianna held him back. “I’m not coming with you.”
    Gray rarely lost his temper. Now he felt it slipping out of his control. “Yes, you are,” he told her. His eyes challenged Dillon’s.
    “Have you forgotten?” she asked angrily. “I’m not your wife anymore. I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to. You