Doug hefted himself out of the pool and made his way back to his room. He spent the day reading the paper on the terrace and generally making himself scarce while he digested his situation. His life. His feelings.

Feelings for Juliette. There was no denying her impact. Like a comet, she’d hurtled into his life and, if he never saw her again, he’d never forget the view or its effect on him. Without a doubt, she redeemed him, something he hadn’t realized he’d needed. But he’d been a one-track, career-minded nearly lost soul before meeting her. He hadn’t thought of anyone’s feelings when it came to a story. Except his father’s, Doug thought wryly. And the irony wasn’t lost on him. Ted Houston had a bigger heart than anyone Doug had ever met. It had taken Juliette to make Doug realize he wanted to be like his old man in more ways than being a journalist.

Juliette. She’d enabled him to forget all the trouble in his life, even if just for brief moments in time. She’d allowed him to feel more than guilt, pain and concern over his father’s health and his own personal agenda. More than mere arousal, although the stimulation was carnal and strong and wouldn’t abate anytime soon.

And she’d obviously made it her mission to seduce him. She believed if they slept together, he wouldn’t be doing so at her expense, but at her pleasure.

His heartbeat tripled and his pulse kicked into high gear. She was as persuasive as she was beautiful. In the pool, he hadn’t been able to keep his hands off her, despite his self-imposed promise. And for the first time since laying eyes on Juliette Stanton, he didn’t care one bit. Why? He slammed his hand against the bed in his room. Why? Could it be because he was falling in love with his Runaway Bride?

Doug jerked back, reeling as if he’d been hit over the head with a sledgehammer, though a sledgehammer would probably be more subtle. His past relationships had fallen so far short of love, he figured he wouldn’t know the emotion if it bit him. But here he was contemplating the possibility. A complication he’d never anticipated, but should have.

He couldn’t pin down the moment she’d become a part of his life. He’d been subconsciously studying her each time he’d seen a picture of Juliette and Stuart Barnes, or Juliette and her father, the senator. He’d admired her even then.

He’d been blindsided in Secret Fantasy’s lobby a few short days ago. And he’d been putting her feelings, emotions and needs before his own from the minute they’d been introduced. He rubbed a hand over his eyes. So was he falling in love? He had no idea, but he couldn’t deny his feelings were strong.

And he hadn’t a clue how to handle the emotions or what they meant for his personal or professional future.

A knock sounded at his terrace door. As if he’d summoned her, he turned to see Juliette. She stood by the closed screen, appearing fresh in her lemon-yellow, loose flowing skirt, camisole and blouse. She was obviously nervous, twisting her hands together, then clenching and unclenching her fists. She couldn’t hide her emotions and he loved…Doug coughed. He loved that about her.

He waved her inside. She walked in and slid the screen door shut behind her. “Hi.”

“Hi, yourself.” He rose from the bed, wondering if her timing had been heaven-sent. To force him to face his feelings before he could go into denial.

“Doug? What’s wrong? You’re looking at me like you’ve never seen me before.”

An apt description. She could read his thoughts too well. He needed to push those emotions to the back of his mind and concentrate on what Doug, the reporter, needed.

As if. There was no way he could maintain that promise to keep his distance any longer-because that promise had been made a lifetime ago. Before his earth-shattering revelation. And with each passing second, his certainty grew. He’d fallen in love with Juliette Stanton.

Had he been blindsided? Definitely, but he could list the reasons he’d fallen with ease. She was everything he’d never experienced in a woman and everything he desired. Fresh, unjaded, despite past hurt, and as open and honest as she could be under the circumstances. She knew how to reach out to him when he was in pain and just being around her eased his distress.

He remembered the time his father had attempted to encapsulate his relationship with Doug’s mother. Always a man good with language, sensible words had failed him. “Your mother has the screws that fit the holes in my head,” Ted Houston had said. Doug had merely stared at his father, baffled by the description he’d thought was crazy when he heard it. One he’d never truly understood, not even after going through several unsuccessful affairs of his own.

More snippets of that father-son conversation came back to him now. “She listens to me, son, and that’s rare in a woman, believe me. So if you find one that listens and understands, that’s more than half the battle.” Ted had laughed. “The other half doesn’t need mentioning. Your hormones’ll make their opinions known but your head and your heart will lead you in the right direction.”

His father was right. Doug’s hormones didn’t need mentioning. But he’d been following his heart from the minute he’d laid eyes on Juliette in the lobby, letting her set the pace, allowing her to ask the thought-provoking questions, putting her needs before his own. His head had taken over last night, forcing him out of her cottage and away from her bed before he did something they both might regret later.

He thought of his father’s words and how they related to Juliette. As he’d told her this morning, she’d listened to everything he said. Without passing judgment, she’d been there and she’d cared. He exhaled a slow groan. The tables had turned. Though he still needed information, still wanted to be able to look himself in the mirror, he already knew with certainty he could and would put Juliette first.

Because he loved her.

He extended his hand and led her inside. “Welcome. It’s not as big as the cottages, but it’ll do.”

She glanced around, taking in the dark wood furniture, hardwood floors, beige decor and smiled. “It’s so masculine. So you. Makes you wonder if Merrilee matches people with rooms as well as with their fantasies.”

He laughed, though he felt anything but light with his secrets, lies and omissions standing between himself and what he was coming to realize was his true fantasy-Juliette herself.

He didn’t ask himself where that put his story and professional future. He already knew he had no answers. “So what brings you to my end of the world?” he asked her instead.

She caught her lower lip between her teeth. “I need to talk to you.”

“Sounds ominous.”

“It isn’t really, but you need to bear with me.” She paced the room and he remained silent, giving her the time she seemed to need. Finally, she settled herself on his bed, knees curled beneath her. “I’d planned to do this the seductive way, but I’m finding I can’t.”

Her simple button-down shirt was opened to reveal a mere hint of lace, and yet it was supremely seductive to him. This woman could be covered from head to toe and he’d still get hot and bothered just looking at her. But she obviously had more on her mind than tempting him right now. “What is it?”

“What’s more intimate than sex?” she asked.

Hearing her say the word, he nearly choked right there. “I’m not sure. You tell me.”

“Truths. Secrets. Private revelations. Once two people reveal those, they’ve shared something deeper and more meaningful than a physical joining. You’ve already given me that intimate gift by sharing your past.”

He nodded, unable to speak. He’d told her a lot, but he hadn’t revealed all. Doug inhaled deep. “Go on.”

“I intend to reciprocate.” Her wide eyes bore into his. “And once I do, we’ll be on more even footing. I’ll have let you inside me, so to speak.” An incredible flush stained her cheeks a bright shade of red. “And you’ll know for certain you’ve put me first.”

How could he believe he’d completely put her first considering the lies and omissions that stood between them? That and his guilt. Neither of which he’d figured a way out of yet. And neither of which she knew anything about.

So, he resisted the urge to touch her. If he didn’t exercise restraint now, he’d take her right now on this bed and satisfy both of their fantasies at their personal expense. He needed to hear what she had to say first. Needed this intimate, emotional bonding she wanted to give him. And not for his story or career. What he’d do with those truths, he’d have to deal with later.

She inclined her head and a red curl eased over one shoulder, as she inched closer on the bed until she sat next to him, until her heady scent surrounded him and set his already raw nerves on fire. “And once you believe you’ve gotten your fantasy, then we can make love.”

“Juliette.” What he meant as a warning came out resembling a low growl.

She merely smiled. That sexy, I-know-it-all smile. Only she didn’t.

Sleeping with Juliette would be the answer to a dream, his and obviously hers, too. She wet her lips with her tongue and he followed the movement, recalling doing the same thing this morning, tasting her in excruciatingly slow detail.

And that’s how he’d make love to her, Doug decided. Excruciatingly slow, exquisitely tender. He wanted nothing more. But he curled his hands into tight fists, knowing he’d never be that free. Not until he’d admitted all. And he hadn’t figured out how to do that without losing her forever.

“I’ve got secrets that no one knows. Not another living, breathing soul except my sister, because there’s been no one I trust. Until now. I trust you. Because you’ve put me first. You’ve made me feel cherished and special.”