Genuine Lies

looked around. “You don’t like him very much.”
    “I have nothing against him.” He took out one of his slim cigars while she rooted through the refrigerator. Relaxed again, he could slide into the simple appreciation of looking at long legs in brief shorts. “I’d say he does his job well enough, but then, Eve’s his major client and she’s not exactly a hard sell. He’s enamored of the finer things, and sometimes finds himself in awkward pinches because of his weakness for gambling.” He caught Julia’s look and shrugged. “It’s not what you’d call a secret, though he is discreet. He also favors the same bookie as my father does when he’s in the States.”
    Julia decided to let that lie until she had more time and had done more research. “I’m hoping to get an interview with your father. Eve seems fond of him still.”
    “It wasn’t a bitter divorce. My father often refers to their marriage as a short run in a bloody good play. Still, I don’t know how he’d feel about discussing the staging with you.”
    She diced green peppers. “I can be persuasive. Is he in London now?”
    “Yes, doing
King Lear.”
He took one of the thin slices of pepperoni before she could arrange it on top of the pizza.
    She nodded, hoping she wouldn’t have to make a transatlantic flight. “Anthony Kincade?”
    “I wouldn’t get too close.” Paul blew out smoke. “He’s a snake that bites. And it’s a well-known secret that he prefers young women.” He toasted Julia with the bottle. “Watch your step.”
    “It pays more to watch the other guy’s step.” She copped a piece of pepperoni herself. “How far do you think he’d go to keep portions of his private life from being revealed?”
    “Why?”
    She chose her phrasing carefully as she heaped on mozzarella. “He seemed very disturbed the other night. Even threatening.”
    He waited a beat. “It’s hard to give an answer where you’re asked half the question.”
    “You just answer the part you’re asked.” She slid the pizza in the oven, then hit the timer.
    “I don’t know him well enough to have an opinion.” Watching her, Paul tapped out his cigar. “Has he threatened you, Julia?”
    “No.”
    Eyes narrowed, he stepped closer. “Has anyone?” “Why should they?”
    He only shook his head. “Why are you biting your nails?”
    Guilty, she dropped her hand to her side. Before she could evade him, he took her by the shoulders. “What sort of things is Eve talking to you about? Who is she involving in this trek down memory lane? You won’t tell me,” he said softly. “And I doubt Eve will either.” But he’d find out, he thought. One way or another. “Will you come to me if there’s trouble?”
    That was the last thing she wanted to be tempted to do. “I’m not anticipating any trouble I can’t deal with.”
    “Let me put it another way.” His fingers moved down her arms, massaging gently. Then they tightened, pulling her against him as his mouth came to hers.
    He held her there, deepening the kiss before her brain could register the order to snap away. Her hands fisted at her sides, barely resisting the urge to grab on, to cling. Even while she struggled to hold something back, her mouth surrendered to the assault and answered his.
    There was heat and hunger, passion and promise. The backs of her eyes stung as her emotions scrambled out of hiding to revel in the chance for freedom. God, she wanted to be needed like this. How could she have forgotten?
    More shaken than he cared to admit, he slid his lips from hers to nuzzle her throat. Incredibly soft. Enticingly firm.Added to the texture, the flavor, the scent, was that quick and faint tremor he found outrageously arousing.
    He thought about her too often. Since that first taste he had craved more. She was the only woman he was afraid he would beg for.
    “Julia.” He murmured her name as he brushed his lips over hers again. Softer now, persuasive. “I want you to come to me. I want you to let me touch you, to show you what it could be like.”
    She knew what it could be like. She would give herself. Content with his conquest, he would walk away whistling and leave her shattered. Not again. Never again. But his body felt so tempting against her. If she could convince herself she could be as tough as he, as immune to hurts and disappointments, then perhaps she could take her pleasure and walk away whole.
    “It’s too soon.” It didn’t seem to matter that her