Sweet Surrender, Baby Surprise (12 page)

She scowled. “Oh, this should be good.”

“I don't offer this sort of strategy to everyone, you know.”

“Just get on with it.” She tapped her foot. “They're waiting for us.”

“Let them wait,” he said, then lowered his voice. “I've known Dave Saunders for years. I went to college with him and I've done business deals with his firm. If
he has two drinks, he starts taking his clothes off and dancing. The guy's got a gut on him that won't quit, and he's a bad dancer. Overbite, little fist pumps, the whole deal.”

She smothered a laugh. “Stop it.”

“I'm serious here. Just do me a favor—the next time he dismisses your opinion or makes you feel less than amazing, I want you to picture him in his baggy underwear, doing the hully gully. It's not pretty. Will you promise me you'll do that?”

“I hope it never comes to that,” she said solemnly as she tried to suppress another giggle.

“I hope not, too. But this is a tried-and-true business strategy. You'll thank me for it later.”

She gazed at him, then gave him a quick hug. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” He jerked his head toward the trustees. “Go give 'em hell.”

Taking a deep breath, she said, “I suppose you're going to want to check out the maze after this.”

His eyebrows shot up. “You know I am.”

She cocked her head to look up at him. “And I bet you'd never get lost in a maze, would you?”

“Not a chance.”

“I didn't think so.” She paused, then her eyes glittered with determination. “So he's got the overbite going and everything?”

“Oh, yeah.”

With a quick nod, she said, “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“Like I said, I've got your back.”

Cameron watched as she composed herself, then turned and rejoined the trustees. She had once told
him that she refused to play the poor little rich girl, but Cameron hadn't known the half of it. She'd come from one of the richest families in the state, but she'd grown up lonely and starved for affection, living on a massive estate with no one to talk to but the hired help.

And she'd had to deal with snot-nosed lawyers like these guys her whole life. Men who thought they knew more than she did about everything. But they couldn't be more wrong.

As Julia showed the trustees where she planned to plant the half-acre vegetable garden and the spot she thought would be perfect for a barn and petting zoo, Cameron realized he was going to have a good time watching her prove just how wrong they could be.

 

It had been several weeks since the meeting with the trustees. Julia had turned the museum plans over to a project management company, and while she still kept an eye on things at Glen Haven Farm, she was finally able to return to her early-morning baking schedule. The nanny showed up every morning in time for Julia and Cameron to go off to work. Some days, Cameron worked in his office at home, and on those days, Julia came home early and gave the nanny the afternoon off.

One afternoon, Julia arrived to find the house empty. It was sunny and warm, so she followed her instincts and walked through the kitchen to the sliding door that led out to the patio. Sure enough, her two men were in the pool.

Cameron was holding on to Jake who was wrapped securely in a bright yellow life jacket decorated with cartoon characters.

“Ready?” Cameron asked.

“Da-da-da-da!” Jake blubbered excitedly.

“One, two, three,” Cameron shouted, then bounced Jake on the water, causing a wave to form and splash against his daddy. Jake shrieked with laughter.

Julia laughed, too. The wave was tiny, but Cameron pretended to be drenched in water to make Jake laugh. Her two men looked so adorable together, her heart was in danger of melting.

Was it possible to be more in love than she already was?

“Oh, no,” she whispered. Her knees were suddenly weak, so she backed up and slid into the nearest patio chair. Her eyes began to tear up. It was just the bright sunlight, she thought. There was no way she could possibly be in love with Cameron Duke.

Oh, of course, she
loved
him. That was inevitable. But she couldn't be
in love
with him. That would ruin everything.

Dear God, how could she be so stupid? Staring at Cameron playing with Jake in the pool, she had to admit to herself that it wasn't all that hard.

“Don't be ridiculous,” she retorted aloud. That was lust, pure and simple, and nothing more. The man was capable of turning her on with a wink of his eye. Didn't mean she was in love with him.

Hadn't she worked all this out at the wedding? All they had was a marriage of convenience. Falling in love was
not
convenient. It wasn't part of the plan.

So why was her heart beating so fast? Why were her knees so weak? Maybe she was coming down with the flu. Anything but the alternative.

Jake's little screams of delight kept her anchored as her mind spun out of control. She needed to reel it back
in, now. Because it couldn't work. Cameron would never reciprocate her feelings, so why would she endanger their relationship by insisting that he do just that?

She wouldn't. Even if it meant lying through her teeth, she would never admit that she was in love with her husband. And didn't that sound absurd?

“I'm going to make lemonade,” she said, waving to Cameron and Jake before going inside. As she cut lemons and began to squeeze out the juice, she watched through the window as Jake giggled at Cameron's antics. He really was the best father, she thought.

She recalled the diamond necklace Cameron had given her while they were still at the hotel, to thank her for agreeing to marry him. Then the night they'd moved into his house, he'd slipped a matching diamond bracelet on her wrist.

Was it dangerous to read anything into the fact that he gave her lovely gifts whenever wonderful things happened in his life? It had already occurred to her that this wasn't about the jewelry. It had to be something more than just a gesture. His gifts always seemed to come from a warm, loving place within him. Within his heart. Was it Cameron's way of telling her he loved her?

“Oh, there you go again,” she said irately, pounding half a lemon onto the juicer and squeezing it to within an inch of its life. “Snap out of it.”

Cameron Duke took care of what was his. She was his wife; Jake was his son. Cameron would do whatever it took to keep them healthy and happy. He would protect them with his life and make them feel as if they were the most important people in the world. Which made
him all the more special to her. If that meant she was a sap, so be it.

Julia sighed as she added sugar and stirred it into the mixture of water and juice. Was it any wonder that she'd fallen in love with the man? Now she would just have to keep that realization hidden deep within her heart so that Cameron would never learn the truth. Because Cameron Duke would never allow love to be a part of his plan.

“I
t looks like they're going to catch on fire,” Julia said in a worried tone.

Cameron and his brothers stood around the barbecue grill cooking sausages, burgers and steaks. They didn't seem to notice the billowing clouds of smoke that enveloped them as they laughed and talked and drank beer.

“But they never do, honey,” Sally said dryly as she placed folded cloth napkins and plates on the patio table. “It's a male ritual. Don't try to make sense of it.”

“Don't be too concerned, Julia,” Trish said, stopping to give her new sister-in-law's shoulder a comforting pat before continuing to add utensils and glassware to each place setting. “You won't have to worry about Jake joining them in the manly smoke, at least for another year or two.”

Julia shuddered and stroked Jake's head, then sprinkled a handful of Cheerios onto the tray of his bouncy chair. They had been living with Cameron for two months now, and Cameron had decided to celebrate the milestone with their first official family barbecue.

The late spring day was sunny and warm, so they'd all spent quality time in the pool before starting dinner. Everyone had dried off and changed into shorts, shirts and flip-flops. Sally, with her blond hair pulled back in a neat ponytail, sipped Julia's homemade sangria.

Julia had baked hot dog and hamburger buns that morning and now she placed the large, plastic-wrapped cookie sheet on the sunny side table near the grill.

Sally shook her head at the sheet full of buns. “Now I know you're a baker, but it still amazes me that you baked these yourself just for us.”

“Of course I did,” Julia said. “They're so easy.” She glanced back at the buns on the table. “I'm hoping the sunshine will warm them instead of sticking them in the oven. What do you think?”

“I think that's a stroke of genius,” Trish said. She finished with the utensils and picked up her glass of fizzy water. “I would beg you for the recipe, but why? My new sister-in-law owns a bakery.”

They all laughed. “I'll bake them for you personally anytime you want.”

“Don't tempt me,” Trish said.

Julia headed for the sliding glass door leading to the kitchen. “Anyone for more sangria?”

“I'd love a glass,” Sally said.

“None for me, thanks,” Trish said easily. “It's not good for the baby.”

Sally leaned over the table to straighten a fork,
but froze in mid-move. She turned and stared at her daughter-in-law. “No.”

“Yes,” Trish said, her laugh filled with joy.

“Oh.” The older woman's eyes misted as she clasped her hand over her mouth in shock and wonder.

Julia felt her own eyes dampen, as well. “You're having a baby?”

Trish nodded, still grinning.

Sally grabbed Trish in a warm hug. “Oh, I'm so happy.”

“That's wonderful,” Julia said, and laughed as she joined in the hug fest. In that instant, her heart was so full of love for these two women and the baby yet to be born. She couldn't begin to describe how grateful she was to be a part of this family and this thrilling moment.

Sally covered her face and began to cry in earnest. “I'm just overwhelmed. And overjoyed. I never thought…and then Julia and Jake came into our lives, and now Trish, and a baby, and… Oh, will you look at me, carrying on?”

“It's wonderful,” Julia said, sniffling.

Trish and Julia linked arms with their mother-in-law and they all put their heads together.

“This is the most fantastic day ever,” Sally whispered, then her eyes lit up. “And little Jake will have a cousin to grow up with.”

Julia sniffed as tears began to flow again. “Oh, great. Now you've got me going again.”

Sally patted both of their cheeks. “You girls are both such a gift.”

Seconds later, Cameron walked over and saw Julia sniffle and wipe her eyes. He peered at her, then noticed
his mother was crying, too. Alarmed, he grabbed Julia's arm. “What's wrong? You're all crying. What happened? Is it Jake?”

“No, no,” Julia said quickly, then laughed. “It's good news. It's Trish. She's going to have a baby.”

He broke out into a grin, turned and pulled Trish close for a big hug. He kissed her right on the lips and said, “That's great news, honey.”

“Thanks, Cameron,” she said, smiling.

He jogged back to the grill and punched his brother in the arm. Then he gave him a brisk hug.

“What's up?” Brandon asked.

“They're having a baby,” Cameron explained.

Brandon choked on his beer, and Cameron thumped his back. When he'd recovered fully, Brandon grabbed Adam in a bear hug. “Congratulations, man.”

Adam laughed. “Thanks.”

The three brothers clicked their beer bottles together in a toast just as Sally rushed over to give Adam a ferocious hug.

“Lots of hugs going on around here,” Cameron said.

Sally turned and said, “I just can't help it.” Then she hugged Adam again. “Oh, sweetie. I'm so happy for you.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Adam said, unable to conceal his grin of masculine satisfaction.

“Glad he's not shooting blanks?” Brandon said wryly.

“Oh, you,” Sally said, and smacked his arm lightly. “Just wait till it's your turn.”

“Whoa. Threats?” Brandon gave her an incredulous
look. “Sorry, Mom, but you'll be waiting a long time for that day.”

“We'll see about that,” Sally muttered, then gave him a pointed look before turning back to join the girls.

Brandon's shoulders shook violently and he glanced at his brothers. “Did anyone else feel that sudden chill?”

“Yeah, I saw that look she gave you,” Cameron said, his lips twisted in a wry grin. “I'd say you're screwed.”

Brandon glared from one brother to the other. “Whatever happened to our sacred vows? We made a pact. Blood brothers forever, remember?”

“We're still blood brothers,” Adam said amiably, then took a long sip of beer. “Always will be.”

“Yeah, but come on,” Brandon groused. “First, there's your marriage. I could almost handle that. But then Cameron went and did it. That blew my mind, I've gotta tell you. And now, more kids?”

“Stuff happens,” Cameron said by way of explanation. What else could he say? He couldn't figure it out, either.

Brandon shook his head. “And now I'll have Mom on my case, bellyaching for me to do the same. And that's never going to happen.”

“You think not?” Adam said.

“Never,” Brandon said decisively, and pointed his beer bottle at both of them. “I understand you two are feeble-minded amateurs when it comes to women, but I'm a professional. I've got standards to uphold.”

Adam threw back his head and howled with laughter. “Standards. That's a good one, bro.”

“Yeah.” Cameron patted Brandon's back. He understood standards. They were a lot like rules. Sometimes
both were meant to be broken. “Lots of luck with those standards.”

“You guys are killing me,” Brandon muttered, then slugged down the rest of his beer. “Getting so you can't trust anyone anymore.”

 

“Why don't you just tell him how you feel?” Karolyn asked as she filled the refrigerated display case with more freshly wrapped sandwiches from the Cupcake kitchen.

“I don't know what you're talking about,” Julia said. She grabbed a large tub from the busboy tray behind the checkout counter. “Lynnie took a break so I'm going to bus the tables out front.”

“You're avoiding the conversation,” Karolyn whispered.

“Yes,” she admitted. “But I'm working, too.”

Karolyn rolled her eyes and went back to tucking and folding the small, white boxes used by customers to carry home their bakery goods. The word Cupcake was embossed in navy blue on the top, under the outline of a fluffy cupcake.

The white box and the navy-blue ribbon tie had become an iconic symbol in Dunsmuir Bay. When mothers arrived home carrying a Cupcake box, children turned into angels. When the boss showed up at the office with a Cupcake box, it was better than getting a promotion.

Julia stacked empty latte cups, pastry plates and utensils in the tub, then wiped down the tables. She greeted three of her customers who always met here for lattes and a snack after their morning workout, then answered a question about the sandwich special of the day.

Glancing around the café area, she assured herself
that everything was clean and tidy. She was proud of what she'd created here. Even before her customers walked inside, they could smell the mouth-watering aroma of baked bread, puff pastry and sweet chocolate chip cookies all the way down the street.

Julia returned the filled tub to the busboy tray behind the counter just as Lynnie finished her break.

“Julia,” Karolyn called from the kitchen. “Can you come back and check on the cheese bread?”

Julia made sure Lynnie was ready to work and checked that her young assistant's apron was tied securely to cover the tacky saying on her T-shirt before walking into the kitchen. Karolyn grabbed her arm and pulled her all the way to the back door leading to the tiny, fenced-in patio.

“Now, sit,” Karolyn said.

Julia glanced around at the colorful flower boxes and miniature potted lemon trees that decorated the space. “No cheese-bread emergency?”

“No.”

With a slow, heavy exhalation, Julia sat at the small table they'd set up for staff meetings and coffee breaks. “All right. What do you want?”

Karolyn pulled another chair around to get closer. She grabbed Julia's hand and squeezed it. “I'm worried about you.”

“I'm perfectly fine,” Julia countered breezily. “Business is booming. I'm married to a gorgeous man who is a terrific father. We have a wonderful life. Cameron loves Jake, and it's so sweet to see them together. He treats me like a princess. He's sexy and attentive and warm, and I'm…I'm happy.”

“Honey,” Karolyn said, shaking her hand to get her
attention. “Don't you think he deserves to know you're in love with him?”

“Oh, God.” Julia dropped her chin to her chest in defeat. “I never should've told you why we really got married.”

“I'm your best friend. Who else can you share your deepest, darkest, dumbest secrets with?”

“True,” she mumbled. “But why do you think I'm in love with him?”

“It's only written all over your face.
All
the time,” Karolyn said. “Even Lynnie made a comment the other day, and you know she doesn't notice anything unless it's dressed in black leather and pierced in twenty-seven places.”

Julia laughed, then sobered immediately. “What, exactly, did Lynnie notice?”

“That you're humming all the time, that your eyes have taken on a dreamy glow, that you leave early now. You never used to leave early.” Karolyn leaned close and whispered, “She thinks you're in deep.”

“Of course I leave early,” Julia said, pouting at the idea that she was so transparent, even her employees were starting to notice. “I have a baby at home.”

“That never stopped you from working all hours before.” Karolyn grinned. “And you still have a devoted nanny who will stay all night with Jake if you need her to.”

“Oh, God, even Lynnie noticed.” Julia laid her head on the table. “That's pitiful.”

“Sad but true,” Karolyn said.

“What am I going to do?”

“You're going to go home and tell him you love him,”
Karolyn instructed. “And if he's got any guts at all, he'll tell you the same.”

Julia stared forlornly at her friend. “He doesn't love me, Karolyn.”

Karolyn laughed. “Oh, Julia.”

Julia blinked. “It's not funny.”

“Honey, he's so in love with you, it's ridiculous.”

“No, he's not.”

“I saw him at the wedding. He was smitten then, and it's even worse now.”

Julia pursed her lips in discontent. “He wants me, I know that. But
want
isn't love.”

Karolyn sighed. “Every time he walks into the bakery, the air becomes charged with electricity between you two.”

Julia shook her head. “That's just lust.”

“You can ignore the signs, and he might deny it to kingdom come, but take my word for it, Cameron Duke is a man who's in love with his wife.”

 

The following Friday, Sally babysat Jake so that Julia and Cameron could attend a hotel-owners conference at Monarch Dunes.

Unlike her last visit when she had Jake with her, plus her own conference to attend, plus a wedding to organize, Julia was able to relax. Cameron made sure of it by arranging for her to spend the time being pampered at the hotel spa while he attended meetings. Julia couldn't remember the last time she'd spent a day in such luxury, with a mani-pedi, a facial and a massage. By the time she dressed for the owners' annual charity ball that evening, she felt completely fluffed and refreshed.

She blew her hair out straight so she could wear it
up in a sleek, smooth style, instead of her usual loose waves. After stepping into the strapless burgundy gown Trish had helped her shop for, she fastened the gleaming diamond necklace around her neck and slipped on the matching bracelet. She'd brought her mother's diamond studs to wear in her ears.

Checking herself in the mirror one last time, Julia took a deep breath and walked out to the living room. There she saw Cameron, dressed in the elegant tuxedo he'd worn at their wedding, pop open the champagne and fill two glasses with bubbly gold liquid.

“That looks wonderful,” she said. Whether she was referring to the frothy champagne or her husband, she couldn't say, but both were true.

He turned to hand her the glass, then stopped. And stared. The fiery intensity she saw in his eyes left shivers on her skin and heated up her insides.