find so exciting. She realized now she found it annoying.
"Don't be silly, David."
"I'm serious, Juliana. What's going on between the two of you? Are you sleeping with him in exchange for his help? Is that the deal? Because if so, I won't let you do it and that's final. God knows I'll take all the help I can get up to a point. But I sure as hell won't let you sell yourself to Sawyer as payment for saving Flame Valley"
Juliana opened her mouth to order him out of her kitchen but before the words could be uttered, Travis interrupted from the doorway. His voice was cold and hard.
"Leave her alone, Kirkwood. Juliana doesn't need your protection. The deal she and I have made is a private one, and you don't have any need to know the details."
"He's right," Juliana said briskly. "The arrangement is strictly between Travis and myself. We're both satisfied with the details so you need not concern yourself. Here, take these extra napkins out to Elly.
We'll need them for the next round of noodles."
"But, Juliana.. „"
"Go. Shoo. Get out of my kitchen. The noodles are getting cold. And stop worrying about me, David.
You know perfectly well I can take care of myself. I always have."
"I know, but I'm not sure I like the setup here."
"You may not like it but you'll go along with it, won't you?" Travis asked softly. "Because it's the only chance you've got to save the resort."
David met his eyes for a few seconds and then, without another word, walked back into the living room with the napkins.
Travis turned back to Juliana. "You do realize that's how everyone's going to interpret this crazy deal we've made? Your folks, your Uncle Tony, David and Elly, they'll all come to the conclusion you're sleeping with me in exchange for my help."
"But you and I know the truth, don't we? This is a business arrangement. Nothing more."
"Oh, sure. Right. A business arrangement. Get real, Juliana."
"Look at it this way," Juliana said as she shoved a plate of noodles into his hands. "Since we know that the business side of this deal is just that, strictly business, we're free to continue working on our relationship without worrying about each other's motives." She. started briskly for the door, heedless of the shock in Travis's eyes.
"Juliana. Damn it, come back here. What did you mean by that?"
Juliana ignored him, sailing into the living room with a warm smile for David and Elly. "Everyone ready for another round of noodles? Don't be shy. I've got plenty of hot sauce."
* * *
Travis closed in on Juliana the instant the Kirkwoods' Mercedes pulled out of the lot.
"About our relationship," he began darkly.
Juliana had been feeling very confident earlier, but now that she was alone with Travis she wasn't quite so sure of herself. So she compensated by acting more sure of herself than ever. It was an old habit. When people assumed you could take care of yourself, you learned to do it. "What about it?"
she asked as she began picking up napkins and plates.
Travis paced toward her very deliberately. "The last time I inquired into the subject, you had sworn off sleeping with me until I had made a commitment to marry you. As I recall, I was given one month to come to my senses. Then you said very specifically that all we had was a business arrangement.
Now you're talking about a relationship. Are you changing the rules on me again, Juliana?"
"You want the truth? All right, I'll give you the truth. We're going to be seeing a lot of each other from now on, and I've been in love with you since the day I met you. To be perfectly blunt, I don't think I'll be able to resist you for much longer. Not if you put your mind to seducing me, that is." She picked up an empty tray and carried it into the kitchen,
"What the hell does that mean?" Travis stormed into the kitchen behind her and caught her in his arms as she set down her burden. "Tell me exactly what it means. No more cute games, Juliana."
"It means just what it sounds like. Are you going to
"Don't be silly, David."
"I'm serious, Juliana. What's going on between the two of you? Are you sleeping with him in exchange for his help? Is that the deal? Because if so, I won't let you do it and that's final. God knows I'll take all the help I can get up to a point. But I sure as hell won't let you sell yourself to Sawyer as payment for saving Flame Valley"
Juliana opened her mouth to order him out of her kitchen but before the words could be uttered, Travis interrupted from the doorway. His voice was cold and hard.
"Leave her alone, Kirkwood. Juliana doesn't need your protection. The deal she and I have made is a private one, and you don't have any need to know the details."
"He's right," Juliana said briskly. "The arrangement is strictly between Travis and myself. We're both satisfied with the details so you need not concern yourself. Here, take these extra napkins out to Elly.
We'll need them for the next round of noodles."
"But, Juliana.. „"
"Go. Shoo. Get out of my kitchen. The noodles are getting cold. And stop worrying about me, David.
You know perfectly well I can take care of myself. I always have."
"I know, but I'm not sure I like the setup here."
"You may not like it but you'll go along with it, won't you?" Travis asked softly. "Because it's the only chance you've got to save the resort."
David met his eyes for a few seconds and then, without another word, walked back into the living room with the napkins.
Travis turned back to Juliana. "You do realize that's how everyone's going to interpret this crazy deal we've made? Your folks, your Uncle Tony, David and Elly, they'll all come to the conclusion you're sleeping with me in exchange for my help."
"But you and I know the truth, don't we? This is a business arrangement. Nothing more."
"Oh, sure. Right. A business arrangement. Get real, Juliana."
"Look at it this way," Juliana said as she shoved a plate of noodles into his hands. "Since we know that the business side of this deal is just that, strictly business, we're free to continue working on our relationship without worrying about each other's motives." She. started briskly for the door, heedless of the shock in Travis's eyes.
"Juliana. Damn it, come back here. What did you mean by that?"
Juliana ignored him, sailing into the living room with a warm smile for David and Elly. "Everyone ready for another round of noodles? Don't be shy. I've got plenty of hot sauce."
* * *
Travis closed in on Juliana the instant the Kirkwoods' Mercedes pulled out of the lot.
"About our relationship," he began darkly.
Juliana had been feeling very confident earlier, but now that she was alone with Travis she wasn't quite so sure of herself. So she compensated by acting more sure of herself than ever. It was an old habit. When people assumed you could take care of yourself, you learned to do it. "What about it?"
she asked as she began picking up napkins and plates.
Travis paced toward her very deliberately. "The last time I inquired into the subject, you had sworn off sleeping with me until I had made a commitment to marry you. As I recall, I was given one month to come to my senses. Then you said very specifically that all we had was a business arrangement.
Now you're talking about a relationship. Are you changing the rules on me again, Juliana?"
"You want the truth? All right, I'll give you the truth. We're going to be seeing a lot of each other from now on, and I've been in love with you since the day I met you. To be perfectly blunt, I don't think I'll be able to resist you for much longer. Not if you put your mind to seducing me, that is." She picked up an empty tray and carried it into the kitchen,
"What the hell does that mean?" Travis stormed into the kitchen behind her and caught her in his arms as she set down her burden. "Tell me exactly what it means. No more cute games, Juliana."
"It means just what it sounds like. Are you going to
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