Harlequin Desire January 2021--Box Set 1 of 2 by Maisey Yates (free biff chip and kipper ebooks .txt) 📕

“Call me Julian,” he said. “Trash this hotel suite if you like. I don’t care. But I insist you call me Julian.”

“In that case, Julian, I insist you call me Nina,” she said. “Call me Goldilocks one more time and I’ll throw you off this balcony.”

“I’d like to see you try.” He stretched lazily. “Nina is a pretty name.”

The unexpected compliment threw her off guard. She felt herself softening and couldn’t allow that. “We’re off topic, Julian. I’ll stay the night, but I’ll probably leave in the morning.”

“Tomorrow’s the Fourth,” he said. “Won’t that ruin your holiday?”

Her holiday was ruined. There was no use pretending that it wasn’t. “I’ll buy a hot dog at the airport. That should do it.”

“You’ll be missing the pool party,” he said. “Grace says it’s not to be missed.”

This day had been so draining, so bizarre, that she hadn’t even made it to the hotel pool. How sad was that?

Julian’s phone rang in his pocket. He reached for it and answered right away.

“I know, I know,” he said, laughing at whatever the caller had said. “Soon! Promise! But tomorrow won’t work. How about the day after that? Would you be up for it?”

Nina turned away, pretending as if she weren’t listening. The winds picked up and tossed her braid about like threadbare rope. Julian wrapped a hand around her elbow and steered her inside, still carrying on his conversation. “You don’t have to sell me on it. I want to come, and I miss your cooking.” He shut the door behind them. “All the flowers you want. Promise.”

Nina crossed the sitting room to her door. Julian’s conversation was taking an intimate turn, and it made her uncomfortable. But when he spoke up again, she knew he was addressing her.

“Have you eaten?”

She turned in time to see him pocketing his phone. “I’m not hungry.”

She had a couple protein bars and airline pretzels stashed in her purse. She’d make a meal out of it. More than anything, she wanted to lock herself in her room, fold out the bed and sleep for twelve hours straight. She wanted to say good-night and disappear behind a shut door, but a nagging feeling kept her rooted in place. She had something to get off her chest.

“Julian, I’m not a crazy person in real life.”

“Okay,” he said. “You just play one on TV?”

“Something like that.”

Nina might never be able to correct his first impression of her. Back in Hollywood, he’d likely entertain his friends with the story. “Did I tell you about the time I walked into a hotel room in Miami to find a woman taking a selfie on my bed?” And they’d all laugh.

He sat on the arm of a wing chair and leveled those golden-brown eyes on her. “Why did you do it?”

“You mean sneak into your room, climb on your bed and pose for a selfie?”

He nodded. “That sums it up.”

“Who wouldn’t? It’s a gorgeous room, don’t you think?”

“No. Not really,” he said. “Too many gold knickknacks for my taste.”

She agreed. There were way too many knickknacks, period. She wished she could leave it at that, but the truth was clawing at her throat. It would choke her if she didn’t speak up. Nina had to share the burden with someone. Julian was right there, watching her, waiting for more. She might as well tell him. “It was my mother’s dream to stay at this hotel. She’d go on and on about the Oasis. Her idols had all spent the night here—Elizabeth, Marilyn, Diana, Aretha… My mom had extravagant dreams.”

Nina had planned this trip to mark the one-year anniversary of her mother’s passing. She had wanted to do something to honor the late actress’s life, something other than showing up at her grave with flowers.

Julian’s gaze softened. “Want to switch rooms?”

“No,” Nina said firmly. She’d gone too far with this already. “And don’t argue with me. I’m too tired.”

“Want to come in and take that selfie?”

Nina smiled despite herself. “No, thanks.”

She opened the door to her room. The brass doorknob jammed, so the movement wasn’t as smooth as she would have liked. “Good night, Julian.”

He was still watching her with that same unwavering interest, as if she fascinated and confused him all at once. “Good night, Nina.”

She shut the door and collapsed against it. She was hungry and a little light-headed. That was all. However, the feeling stayed, even after she’d eaten, showered, detangled and braided her hair.

Nina pulled out the bed and sat up cross-legged. A minute later, she got up and poured herself a glass of water. Outside, it was raining still, and the wet windowpanes glistened in the moonlight. She picked up her phone from the charger and took it to bed with her. Earlier, she’d skipped past the more revealing photos of her roommate online. Now she believed they were worth a second look. She found a trove of glossy photos taken on location in Italy’s Amalfi Coast for a British Vogue editorial. Some of the photos were candid shots taken during breaks. Nina tapped on one to enlarge it. Wearing dark sunglasses and a towel flung around his neck, skin baked to a golden brown, Julian stood palling around with the crewmen. In another, he was stretched out on the hard, flat sand, one arm across his eyes shielding them from the sun. He looked thoroughly relaxed, not pressed for time, not pressed for anything. His long limbs looked heavy.

Nina hoped his skin tasted like salt.

CHAPTER FIVE

Julian’s car pulled up the drive to the Coconut Grove estate. Nestled among mature oaks was the modern home of Francisco Cortes. Julian asked his hotel-appointed driver to come back around in a couple of hours, then climbed the steps leading to the porch. A housekeeper greeted Julian at the door and led him to a back patio. The silver-haired man with the profile that ought to be minted on coins steered forward in