Millions To Spare

Chapter Fifteen

Julia had always been intimidated by the Prestons’ sprawling brick house. But having experienced the palace at Cadair, she now realized Melanie’s mother, Jenna, had made the large house homey, even intimate with her old-world decorating touches. Where Cadair was cavernous as a museum, the Preston house was filled with cushions, pottery and horse pictures.

As they often did, some of the family members had gathered in the large room behind the west veranda. The outside lights showed a windswept, leaf-strewn deck with light rain falling. But inside it was warm, and the wide-screen television broadcasted a Formula Gold night race out of California.

Julia knew that Melanie’s grandfather, Hugh Preston, was a friend and fan of racer Demetri Lucas, so the family tried to watch Formula Gold as often as possible.

“Mom, Dad, Grandpa?” sang Melanie. “Look who’s home?”

Jenna glanced up from where she was chopping vegetables, while Thomas, Jenna’s husband, and Hugh looked up from the race.

Jenna’s smile beamed as she dried her hands on a towel and came around the breakfast bar. “So wonderful to have you home, Julia.”

She gave Julia a quick hug.

“And this is Harrison Rochester,” Melanie continued with the introductions.

Both men came to their feet to shake hands with Harrison and welcome Julia back.

At the same time, Robbie appeared and joined the conversation.

Jenna muted the race, while Thomas offered Kentucky sipping whiskey all around.

There was plenty of comfortable seating, and Julia ended up on a love seat next to Harrison.

“What’s on your hands?” asked Melanie as Thomas handed Julia a drink.

Julia momentarily froze.

“A Middle Eastern tradition,” Harrison put in smoothly. “While we were at Khandi Oasis, some of the women wanted to decorate Julia’s hands.”

“It’s henna,” Julia put in. “It’ll wear off in a couple of weeks.”

“It’s pretty,” Jenna offered.

“Thank you,” said Julia. “I like it, too.”

She caught Harrison’s gaze and had to struggle to keep her features even.

“Can you explain what happened to your horse?” asked Hugh in his usual booming voice.

Harrison set down his drink on the table beside him. “Not yet,” he admitted. “I’ll be back in Dubai in a few days, and I plan to launch an extensive investigation. But I wanted to get Julia out of the country first.”

“Any problems getting out?” asked Melanie.

“We were worried sick,” said Jenna from where she sat next to Thomas on a longer couch. “Imagine, people chasing you like that.”

They’d had to share the fact that both the police and criminals were after Julia, since it could impact on Leopold’s Legacy’s investigation.

“It went surprisingly smoothly,” said Harrison. “Any news here on Leopold’s Legacy?”

“We’re struggling with the registry records,” said Robbie. “A pivotal employee, Ross Ingliss, has suddenly quit, and that’s caused increased technical complications.”

“I assume you’ll check on other Apollo’s Ice foals?” asked Harrison.

“Just as soon as humanly possible,” put in Thomas.

“There’s the checkered flag,” called Hugh, raising his glass to the screen. “Not a win, but he’s in the top five again.”

Melanie’s oldest brother, Andrew, joined them. “Bad news,” he said, taking in the crowd of people, then he noticed Harrison.

Harrison came to his feet and held out his hand to Andrew. “Harrison Rochester.”

“Andrew Preston,” Andrew returned with a shake. “Probably a good thing you’re here.”

“What happened?” asked Hugh.

Andrew eased himself into one of the remaining seats. “We’ve been banned from racing by the International Thoroughbred Racing Federation.”

“In all countries?” asked Melanie.

“How can they do that?” Robbie demanded.

Julia’s heart sank. She knew Melanie and Robbie were counting on international races for Something to Talk About. They were planning a trip to their cousin’s stable in Australia to give the horse an opportunity to race.

Andrew looked to Harrison. “The negative publicity surrounding Leopold’s Legacy now stretches as far as Dubai.”

“They know about Millions to Spare?” asked Thomas.

“I had to disclose it,” said Andrew.

Hugh nodded his concurrence. “We have done nothing wrong,” he declared. “We will be exonerated.”

“But how long will it take?” asked Melanie.

“It will take as long as it takes,” said Jenna, her voice calm and steady. She looked to her husband. “We’ll make it through somehow.”

Thomas squeezed her hand, and a look passed between them-one that said they were two people who had weathered storms before and understood each other in a way no one else ever could.

Julia couldn’t help glancing at Harrison. They’d weathered their own storms. And there were things about their time together in Dubai that the world would never discover.

Harrison finished his drink and stood. “I should head back into the city,” he announced, causing Julia’s stomach to contract.

Was this it? Was it all over?

“How can you say that?” asked Jenna, rising from her seat. “Dinner will be ready in half an hour.”

“I don’t want to impose,” said Harrison.

Julia couldn’t take her gaze off him. Was he getting back on his plane tonight? She hadn’t thought about that. She’d promised Melanie she would stay a day or two, but she’d assumed she’d have a chance to say goodbye to Harrison in private.

If he walked out now, all she’d get was a handshake and a polite nod along with everyone else.

“It’s no imposition at all,” Jenna insisted.

“I thought I should find a hotel room before it got too late,” he continued.

“Nonsense,” said Jenna with a dismissive wave of her hand. “You can stay in one of the guest cabins.”

“Julia’s in the magnolia cabin,” said Melanie. “But there are others to choose from. They’re very comfortable.”

Harrison glanced around at the expressions of the other family members. “If you’re sure,” he said.

“Of course we’re sure,” said Hugh. “Don’t know what it’s like over there in the Middle East, but around here we’re hospitable.”

“And I thank you for that,” Harrison said to Hugh, while Julia experienced a wave of relief.

“Can I get some help setting the table?” asked Jenna. “It’s our cook and housekeeper’s night off.”

Andrew and Melanie both got to their feet.

Julia stood, as well, but Jenna waved her back down. “You’re company tonight,” said Jenna.

“I wasn’t company last time I was here.”

“You’re tired from changing time zones,” said Melanie.

That much was true. Julia was definitely feeling tired and disoriented. Maybe that’s why the thought of Harrison leaving had been so painful.

After the Preston house and the surrounding staff cabins went dark and quiet, Harrison crossed the lawn and rapped on Julia’s door.

Soft light shone through the front curtains, and he heard footsteps patter on the floor inside. She opened the door, dressed in a navy T-shirt, a pair of casual, gray sweatpants and bare feet. Her hair was loose and her face was scrubbed free of makeup. But her blue eyes shone bright and beautiful, and he knew he was in way over his head.

“You should tell me to go away.”

“Go away,” she murmured.

“You don’t mean that.”

She didn’t answer. Instead she gave him a resigned smile and stepped out of the way, allowing him entrance to the small, cozy living room.

Her cabin was a mirror image of his next door. It had a combination living room and kitchen across the front, with two small bedrooms and a bathroom in the back. The larger bedroom was furnished with a double bed, colorful comforter and plump pillows, while the smaller one had steel bunks with rolled-up sleeping bags at the foot.

“I promised myself I wouldn’t do this,” Harrison told her honestly.

She was home. She was safe. And there was no more reason for him to hang around.

But his resolve had faltered. He simply couldn’t lie in bed fifty feet from her and not find his way to her side.

“Promised not to do what?” she asked.

He took in an opened horse magazine on the plaid couch and a steaming mug on the end table. It smelled like hot chocolate, and he suddenly wanted nothing more than to hole up here with her for as long as she’d let him.

“Harrison?” she prompted, and he realized she was waiting for his answer.

“Pretend this is real,” he admitted, moving closer to her. “Pretend we can be together, and the world outside the two of us doesn’t exist.”

She tipped her head, keeping eye contact as he grew closer. “I’m afraid it does.”

He reached out and took her hands. “That’s why I told myself to stay away. That’s why I’m leaving tomorrow, putting an ocean between us.”

“You have to go back to Brittany.”

“I know I do,” he acknowledged. “Being my wife is a terrible job. But Brittany knows what she’s getting into. She can help me. She can support our kids.”

Harrison realized the person he was trying to convince was himself. Because, over the past few hours, he’d been starting to think the unthinkable. Keeping Julia.

She tugged her hands away, a trace of hurt in her voice as she turned away. “Unlike me?”

“Is that what you want?” he dared ask.

“I only wanted to get out of Dubai.” Her tone was stronger now. “The last time I checked, that’s the only thing I signed up for.”

Her words hit him like a sledgehammer. Somehow, he’d built it up in his mind as being something more, much more.

“Of course,” he answered her back.

How conceited did he have to be to assume Julia would want him in her life? His money and title meant nothing to her. She was grateful for his help. That was it.

“I guess this is goodbye,” he told her.

She nodded without turning around.

“I’ll be on the jet early tomorrow.”

“I understand.”

“I’ll send you…” He couldn’t bring himself to say divorce papers. “I’ll send you whatever we need,” he told her instead. “I’ll take care of it.”

Her voice was small. “Thank you.”

He wished she’d turn around. He wanted to see her face one more time. Hell, he wanted to see all of her one more time, and hold her in his arms, and inhale the soft scent of her hair, hear the laughter in her voice. But that was impossible.

“Goodbye,” she whispered.

“Goodbye,” he echoed, reaching for the door handle.

When Julia woke up the next morning, her heart ached, and her throat was sore from choking back tears.

Somebody was knocking on the cabin door. So she rolled out of the warm four-poster and slipped her feet into a pair of knit slippers. Still dressed in the T-shirt and sweatpants she’d borrowed from Melanie last night, she padded across the hardwood floor.

She didn’t know whether or not to hope it was Harrison. She thought she’d done a credible job last night, refraining from cracking in front of him, even though he’d broken her heart and then stomped it to dust. Better to leave things that way.

Still, the thought of seeing him again…

But it was Melanie. Dressed in jeans, boots and a red wool jacket, she carried two travel mugs and a basket of muffins.

“Breakfast?” she asked.

Julia nodded and tried to force the kinks out of her sore body. “What time is it?”

“Nearly noon.”

Julia couldn’t believe she’d slept that long.

Her glance found its way past Melanie to the cabin where Harrison had slept last night. She wished she’d had it in her to give him a final thank-you and a proper goodbye, but she’d been teetering close to the edge of her emotional control. She’d fallen hard for him, and it was going to take some time for her to heal.

Melanie strolled into the cabin, and Julia locked out the chill. She cranked up the heater then joined Melanie in the living room. After taking her coffee and one of the blueberry muffins, she settled into an armchair and draped a knitted throw across her lap.

“It was ninety-five in Dubai,” she reminded Melanie.

Melanie curled up in the corner of the couch with her own mug of coffee. “So, go ahead, give me the details.”

Julia wasn’t sure she could share much more. She couldn’t tell anyone the details of Muwaffaq’s death, or her marriage. Which meant she couldn’t let anyone see she was upset.

“Not much more to tell,” said Julia, struggling to keep her emotions at bay.

“Ha!” countered Melanie. “Let’s start with what’s up between you and Harrison.”

Julia tensed. Anything but that. “What do you mean?”

“I saw the way he looked at you.”

“We’ve been through a lot together. What with the police, and the bad guys.”

“It’s more than just that.” Melanie waggled her eyebrows. “He obviously has the hots for you.”

Julia steeled herself for her next words, hating that she couldn’t tell Melanie the truth, but needing to shut this conversation down. “He’s gone home to propose to another woman.”

Melanie’s eyes narrowed. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“Sure, it does. They’re childhood friends, from the same social class-”

“You’re not going to get all ‘you rich are different’ on me again, are you?”

“I confess,” said Julia honestly, “I’ve come to better appreciate the value of wealth over the past week.”

“Good,” said Melanie, taking a sip of her coffee. “That’s something then. Learn anything else while you were away?”

“That the desert is really, really hot, and it is amazingly easy to bribe the police.”

“Hence, your new appreciation for the value of money.”

“Harrison bribed a lot of people for me.”

“Chivalrous,” said Melanie with a touch of sarcasm.

“Under the circumstances,” said Julia, an edge to her voice, “it was.”

Melanie grinned triumphantly. “See that? You got all defensive over him. You have got to tell me what happened between you two.”

Julia took a breath. She was suddenly tired, tired of lying, tired of putting on a good front, tired of suppressing her emotions. “We had a fling.”

“Aha!”

“You have to keep it quiet.”

Melanie nodded eagerly. “I’ll absolutely keep it quiet.”

“It’s important to Harrison. He really is going to propose to somebody.” Julia swallowed. “Her name is Brittany.”

Melanie waved a dismissive hand. “Brittany, schmittany. What happened between the two of you?”

“I don’t know,” she said, pulling her muffin into two sections. Something about confessing to Melanie had improved her appetite. “Adrenaline?”

“They say it’s an aphrodisiac.”

“Well, it’s something. Or maybe Harrison is something. But whatever it was, it hit us like a ton of bricks at the oasis.” Raw memories threatened to swamp her.

“I’m glad it wasn’t all danger and intrigue.”

Julia forced herself to smile, but it was growing more difficult. “Then back at his palace-” She blinked her burning eyes. “Well, that was-”

Melanie came to her feet, a worried expression on her face. “Julia?”

Oh, no. Julia could feel her chest tightening. She clenched her jaw and fought the rising emotions. But all she could see was Harrison in the palace bedroom, comforting her after her nightmare, kissing her, holding her, making her feel as though an insane world would really be all right after all.

“Julia?” Melanie asked again. “What the hell happened over there?”

Julia looked up at her friend.

Melanie’s shoulders slumped. “You fell for him.”

Julia nodded miserably.

How, oh, how could she have let that happen?

“And he’s gone back to propose to another woman?”

“Yes,” Julia squeaked out. “She’s a lovely woman. She has a title, and she looks like a movie star. And she’s nice.” A couple of tears escaped, and Julia swiped them away. “She’s genuinely nice. I don’t blame him for wanting her.”

“Do you want to go after him?” asked Melanie.

“No!” Julia frantically shook her head. “That would be a disaster.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do. I do. He’s a baron. He actually has the title ‘The Honorable’ in front of his name.”

“So what?”

“So what?”

“Yeah.” Melanie nodded.

“You don’t know what he said to me last night.”

Melanie waited.

“He said being his wife was a really hard job, and Brittany knew how to do it. She could help both him and their children.”

Melanie sat back down. “Oh.”

“So, you see. He’s gone back to his own world, and I can’t go after him.”

Melanie didn’t seem convinced. “Are you sure he didn’t mean-”

“It was pretty clear what he meant.”

Melanie slumped back on the couch. “What can I do to help?”

Julia gave a watery smile. “Thanks for listening.”

“There’s got to be more than that.”

“There isn’t. But thanks.” Julia set the muffin aside. “I think I’ll head home now. I hope you get Leopold’s Legacy figured out soon.”

“This sucks,” said Melanie.

“Life does sometimes,” said Julia, trying desperately to be tough and pragmatic. “But at least I’m not in a jail cell.”

She’d cling to that reality. Even if Harrison hadn’t fallen in love with her, he got her out of jail in Dubai, and he saved her life. She’d always be grateful for that.