The Earl's Outrageous Lover Page 0,67
the only one I know of that can take a risky project and consistently make it profitable. Investors beg for the opportunity to do business with him even though many of them don’t understand the complexities of the project themselves. They just know about his track record and don’t care about the risks. James can overcome just about any challenge.” She took a sip of her wine, winking at his embarrassment.
“Tell me how many hearts you’ve broken since last we met,” he said as he took a sip of his own drink.
Jessica glanced over at Edward nervously before returning her eyes to James. “Alas, I’ve been a very good girl since we last met.”
James lifted an eyebrow in her direction. “Why do I find that hard to believe?”
She grinned right back at him, refusing to admit she’d done anything inappropriate. “Perhaps because you have a very suspicious mind?”
He threw back his head and laughed, then shook his head. “That’s true enough, but I also witnessed you in action. Those men in Belgium were fawning over you left and right and you didn’t even notice.”
Julianna was 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, Jessica,” 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