An Engagement in Seattle - Debbie Macomber [57]
“But Alek…”
“Alek is a suspect, like everyone else. I warn you, Jerry, don’t say a word to him. Not a single word.”
Her brother stared at her. “He’s your husband. You don’t even trust your own husband?”
“You’re right,” she admitted. “I don’t. You can thank Roger for that. I wouldn’t trust my own mother after the lesson Roger taught me. If you think I’m coldhearted, then fine. I’d rather have you think poorly of me than hand over the fate of this company to a man who could destroy us.”
Making love to his wife was probably the most fabulous sensation Alek had ever experienced. Perhaps it was because she’d withheld herself from him for so long that he treasured the prize so highly. Julia was open, honest and genuine.
Alek had never lost control of himself with another woman, but he had with Julia. She was fast becoming as necessary to him as the air he breathed. He wanted her, and that need was growing at an alarming rate.
Every time they were intimate, she gave him a little more of herself. A little more of her trust. A little more of her heart and soul.
He glanced at his watch and frowned. It was well past the time they’d agreed to meet. Knowing Julia, she’d probably got caught up in her work and let the time slip away from her.
He waited another ten minutes before calling her office. Her assistant answered.
“This is Alek. Has Julia left the office yet?”
“No.” Virginia sounded surprised. “She’s still here. Would you like me to connect you?”
“Please.” He waited a moment before Julia came on the line.
“Hello,” she said absently. Alek could picture her sitting behind her desk with her reading glasses at the end of her nose.
“Do you know what time it is?”
“Five-forty. Why?”
“We had an appointment, remember?” He lowered his voice. “I’ve got a deck of cards and—”
“A deck of cards?”
He wasn’t sure what he heard in her voice, but it wasn’t amusement. It troubled him, but he didn’t have time to analyze it just then. “Yes, I recently heard about this American card game that I want to play with you.”
“A card game?”
“Strip poker. Sounds like fun. I’ve got everything ready. How much longer are you going to be?”
“Oh, Alek, listen, I’m really sorry, but I could be at the office another hour or more. Everything from last week is piled up on my desk. I really shouldn’t leave.”
“I understand.” He didn’t like it, but he understood. “My game can wait, and it looks like I’ll have to, as well.” He was hoping for a little sympathy, or at least a sigh of regret, but he received neither.
Julia was keeping something from him. He heard it in her voice, felt it as clearly as if it were a tangible thing.
Julia didn’t arrive home until nearly nine. It would be too much to ask that Alek not be there waiting for her. She didn’t know how she was going to look him in the eye.
A headache had been building from the moment Jerry had left her office. Everything in her told her Alek would be the last person who’d sell them out. It would make it much easier to believe in him if she hadn’t so staunchly defended Roger to her father. She’d been wrong once and it had nearly cost her sanity.
Alek greeted her at the door. Without a word he drew her into his arms and hugged her. She was swallowed in his embrace, surrounded by his love, and she soaked it up, needing it so badly.
“Tell me what’s troubling you,” he said.
She had no choice but to sidestep the question. “What makes you think anything’s wrong?”
“I’m your husband. I know you,” he said, echoing his comment from that afternoon. But then he’d been teasing; now his statement sounded like the simple truth.
“I’ve got a terrible headache.”
He studied her as if he wasn’t sure he should believe her, although it was true enough. Her temples throbbed and she was exhausted. “Did you have dinner?” she asked, wanting to turn the subject away from herself.
“No, I waited for you. Are you ready?”
Her appetite was nil. “I’m not very hungry. If you don’t mind, I’d like a bath.” She left him without giving him a chance to respond.
The hot water was soothing and a full