The Tycoon's Resistant Lover Read Free

astounded that he took every insult with amusement. Jessica definitely had a special relationship with this man and once again, Julianna tamped down the jealousy she felt at the other woman. Just a friend, she reminded herself.
    Jessica waved that aside. “You’re being ridiculous, James. No one fawned over anyone.”
    He looked at her with concern. “You really don’t know how many men were in love with you, do you?”
    She blushed and rolled her eyes. “You’re exaggerating. Tell me about the house you’re building in Aruba. Last time we were talking you said that you were having problems with the pool. Have you been able to resolve that issue?”
    Julianna let the conversation whirl around her. Even Edward laughed and talked about various problems he’d had during a recent renovation, but Julianna wasn’t able to participate as much as a polite guest should. She kept trying to move away from the man, feeling too closed in and overheated. But it seemed as if he moved right along with her each time she inched away. She didn’t see him move, but the air was continuously filled with his spicy male scent and she couldn’t even turn her head away to break that intoxicating scent from filling her lungs.
    Beth stepped into the room to announce that dinner was ready and Jessica smiled her thanks.
    “I’d like a word with you,” Edward said to Jessica, putting a hand out to stop her from moving out of the room.
    James stood up quickly and looked down at Julianna. “I would be honored to escort you into dinner,” he said as he looked down at Julianna’s startled expression. He took her hand in his, lifting her up and almost pulling her into his arms. She thought he was going to wrap his arm around her waist, but he simply tucked her hand into his arm and escorted her out of the room.
    “I know the way, sir,” she said stiffly as he led her out of the room on his arm.
    When they were out of the living room and alone in the hallway, she tried to pull her hand out of his grasp, but he held her firmly, looking down at her curiously. “Do I make you nervous, Julianna?” he asked softly so the housekeeper wouldn’t overhear.
    “Absolutely not!” she gasped and tried to put some space between them but he held her too closely. And the fact was, he didn’t just make her nervous. He terrified her. These feelings coursing through her body were scary, different and unnamed. She didn’t like feeling like this. She preferred the organized, scheduled life she had with Edward while James made her feel completely off balance and chaotic.
    “What if I told you that you make me nervous?” he countered. “In fact, I think I’m completely terrified of you.”
    She turned her head away, embarrassed that he could see what she was feeling so easily. “I’d say that you are a liar, but since you’re not nervous, and you can’t say that about me, I won’t be so rude as to say something like that to a stranger.”
    He smiled, not insulted at all by her words. “But we’re not strangers. We’ve been sitting next to each other for the past hour.”
    Her chin went up defensively and she glared at him. “You were sitting too close, by the way.”
    He laughed down at her mutinous expression. “Ah, but your lovely perfume was just too much of an allure to hold back.” He leaned down and winked at her. “If you don’t want a man to notice you, then why did you put so much effort into looking beautiful?”
    She took a step back, as far as his hand would allow since he was still holding her hand captive on his arm. “I wasn’t trying to entice you! I didn’t even know you would be here.”
    His eyes moved over her pale, lovely features slowly at that point. “I know you weren’t trying to entice Edward. So I guess I have to assume you’re just naturally beautiful.”
    She looked up at him, her mouth slightly open with surprise as he looked down at her. They stopped in the middle of the hallway and Julianna tried to think