His heart beat rapidly in his chest and he knew he was a goner. Hell, he should have known the minute he’d unburdened himself about his childhood. But with this one smile-meant for him alone-Doug knew he was falling for this woman fast and hard.

He hadn’t lied when he’d told Merrilee he believed in happily ever after. He just hadn’t thought any woman could inspire those kind of thoughts in him. Least of all Juliette Stanton, the woman he needed for selfish reasons. He shook his head. Life had a way of throwing him the toughest curves.

He needed the information Juliette possessed too badly to walk away and he was mired too deep in lies to admit the truth outright and rely on her good nature for the answers. The guilt he’d been feeling since arriving at the island grew and settled in the pit of his stomach.

But so did his certainty that she was in possession of information he needed. Juliette had just admitted she’d come down here to sort out something related to her father. He wondered if Senator Stanton was involved with his protégé in illegal dealings and, though Doug would never dismiss the notion without evidence, he doubted it was true. His earlier information had never mentioned the senator and his record and reputation were above repute.

Which led Doug back to Juliette and her relationship with Stuart Barnes. Earlier this morning she’d questioned Doug about being engaged. She’d mentioned that by getting caught up in the swing of things, a person could end up nearly married. Without a doubt, she’d been talking about herself as well as about him.

So Juliette, of all people, would understand putting a parent first. Unfortunately she wouldn’t appreciate being the one sacrificed for the cause. He thought of his father in ICU-the IV and other tubes poking and prodding him, and the smile on his weary face when Doug had left to hunt down this story-and he knew one thing for sure. He didn’t have a choice.

HOW DID HE KNOW? Juliette stood in front of the closet door that doubled as a full-length mirror, taking in the denim jeans, the white, oxford-type shirt with a tank top beneath, and the pair of simple black boots. All perfectly sized, all comfortable and easy. She wondered again how Doug could possibly know how badly she needed these ordinary clothes that symbolized an ordinary life.

She hadn’t worn such a basic outfit since college and didn’t have a pair of blue jeans in her wardrobe now. Ever conscious of public scrutiny, especially since she’d begun dating Stuart, she’d never left the house looking less than conservative and dressed up.

When the doorbell rang, she ran, intending to greet Doug with a huge hug of thanks. But as she twined her arms around his neck and his hands reached out to grasp her waist, simple gratitude became something more. Something primal and elemental, wild and free.

She tilted her head back, intending to just look at him, but the result put their bodies in intimate contact. His firm chest, covered by a denim shirt, pressed against hers, heightening the ache in her sensitive breasts. His belt buckle pushed into her stomach but that pressure was nothing compared to the hard outline of his erection snuggling against her femininity, a place where pressure built and desire found a home.

He sucked in a startled breath but didn’t break their physical connection. “To what do I owe such an enthusiastic greeting?” he asked.

For a woman already on the edge, his grin was nothing short of devastating. “You anticipated my needs.”

“How do you know that when you don’t even know what I’ve got planned for tonight?”

“The jeans would have been enough.”

He held on to her hand and twirled her out in front of him, letting out a whistle of approval. “Nice fit.”

She felt the burn rise to her cheeks. He must have seen it because he stroked her heated skin with one roughened fingertip. “Never heard a catcall before?”

“Oh, I’ve heard them. I’ve just never had one directed at me.”

His eyes darkened in appreciation. “Then the men in Chicago must be blind. Don’t tell me a beautiful woman like you has never had a serious relationship.”

She let out a sigh. Suddenly her recent past and the all’s-well pretense here on the island became too heavy a burden. She wanted to share the truth. With Doug. “I probably came closer to getting married than you did.”

His eyes narrowed. His interest was apparent but, by his furrowed eyebrows, so was his concern. “How close?” The words seemed reluctantly drawn from him. As if a part of him wanted to hear while another rebelled against it.

“Close enough to be wearing a wedding dress,” she admitted softly.

Doug exhaled hard. He hadn’t expected to get so much out of her so soon and hated the deception that caused her to open up to him now. He was using her fantasy and everything he knew she needed from a man to get information to help his cause-and yet there was nothing he’d done for her, nothing he would do, that was faked or phony. She was beautiful inside and out and irresistibly desirable too. He wanted nothing more than for her to believe it as well.

Even if she never gave him another piece of information about herself, her life or, damn him, her ex-fiancé, Doug would still be on this island fulfilling Juliette Stanton’s fantasy. He just couldn’t deny the benefits he might reap as a result.

“What kind of fool got that close to forever and let you get away?”

“The kind that has aspirations higher than he deserves.” She shook her head and those loose curls spread over her shoulders. With a frustrated groan, she lifted the heavy mass of hair and pulled it back into a high ponytail, drawing his attention to her chiseled profile, defined cheekbones and full lips. “So what do you have planned for tonight?”

Her change of subject was obvious and Doug knew he had to accept the parameters. After all, she’d trusted him with so much more than he’d imagined possible after just one day.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a red bandanna. “Does this give you a clue?”

She eyed the sheath of fabric with curiosity. “Not a one.”

“I’m disappointed. Put the clothes together with the bandanna…”

She laughed. “Still nothing.”

He shook his head. “Looks like you’re going to have to humor me.” He folded the scarf into a rectangular shape. “And trust me.” Walking around her, he came up behind her and blindfolded her with the bandanna. “Now it’s a real surprise.”

Her hands reached upward and he playfully slapped them down.

“It’s dark,” she complained.

“That’s the point. Hold my hand.” Grasping her soft fingers in his, he walked her forward then helped her into the electric car he had waiting. He reached around to fasten her seat belt and caught a hint of her enticing, arousing scent. His body stiffened in response and he prayed for restraint. Then he placed her hands safely on the dashboard to steady her. “You okay?”

Her lips turned upward in a smile. “Dying of curiosity, but fine.”

“Good. Anticipation’s half the fun.” He swung himself into the seat beside her. “Now hang on.” He put the car in gear and drove them around the back of the resort and headed toward a secluded path, to the place Merrilee’s staff had told him about earlier.

“We’re here.” He stopped the cart and shut off the motor.

Her nose crinkled upward and he realized she’d caught a whiff of their environment. “Any clue yet?”

“It smells like…” Before she could finish, he whipped off the bandanna, freeing her vision.

She blinked into the setting sunlight, adjusting to the shift in conditions before focusing on her surroundings.

“Horses! It smells like horse poop.” She laughed. “This place is a stable! How amazing!” Grabbing on to the metal bar, she hauled herself out of the cart and jumped onto the ground. “I have always wanted to ride. When I was a little girl, I begged my father for a horse. He laughed and bought me a puppy instead. He was back and forth to Washington, D.C. too often to saddle himself or us with the responsibility of ponies, but I never stopped wanting one.” Sheer joy edged her voice.

In her excitement, she hadn’t even realized she’d connected her father to Washington, D.C. and opened the subject up for questioning. Doug knew. But any mention of her father would destroy the moment and he was too enthralled watching her happiness to burst her enthusiasm. And again, emotions won out over professional necessity. Doug stifled a curse, knowing this woman had him tied in knots in a way he’d never before experienced.

“I didn’t know they had horses here.”

“There isn’t much Merrilee’s missing.”

She turned to face him. “So what’s the plan?”

“An evening ride on the beach.”

Her eyes opened wide and filled with gratitude. “I can’t think of anything better.”

Looking at her, neither could he. The stable hand privately warned Doug about an incoming tropical storm, common for this time of year, and the gray sky in the distance backed the claim. Doug promised to return early or take advantage of the shelter points set up along the route. The smart thing would be to give Juliette a brief ride and return quickly-but nothing about his reaction to Juliette, including his feelings, was smart. Still he’d been warned and the choice was his.

After touring the stables, they took off. The farther from the resort they traveled, the more pristine the beach, the whiter the sand and the farther they got from civilization. Because Doug had ridden before and the horse chosen for Juliette was gentle and easy, they’d gone out on their own, following the trail set by the staff. The ocean was choppy thanks to the incoming weather system and he kept the horses back from the tide.

Though Doug had planned this trip for Juliette, he was blown away by the beauty surrounding him and he wasn’t just talking about the crashing waves, the endless deep blue water or even the dolphin he saw breaking through the surf. He was floored by Juliette’s childlike reaction to the little things in life-like blue jeans and a horseback ride. And again, it was that innocence, in stark contrast to his jaded life, that beckoned to him.

He had much to learn from her, he realized, and glancing around he knew he was seeing the world for the first time-because her perspective was rubbing off on him. Changing him.

Thanks to the sound of the ocean and the noise made by the horses, they couldn’t do more than drink in the serenity and relax to the steady beat of the hooves, and Doug was grateful. He couldn’t speak if he wanted to. The lump in his throat was too great.

Dinner, some pointed questions and a quick return home-he reminded himself that was his plan. One that would minimize the risk to his heart, which he suspected was too far gone already. Finally they reached their destination on the other side of the island, and he transferred the horses to a stable hand.

“Where are we?” Juliette asked.

In response, he held out his hand and led her beyond the stables. Like much of Florida, this part of the island was decorated with pastel-colored stucco buildings, making the rougher city boy in him feel out of his element. He walked her toward a yellow house with lush tropical gardens he’d seen in the pictures this afternoon.

A birdbath with running water flowed freely out front. “This place is owned by a couple who used to work in a New York City restaurant and got tired of the pace. They hooked up with Merrilee, moved down here and they now cater to private parties,” he explained.

“So it’s just us?” He heard the hitch in her voice and understood the emotion because it obviously matched the feelings rioting inside him. His heart beat louder in his chest whenever she was near. The two of them alone was either a prelude to disaster or a trip to heaven in the making.

“I could call out the cavalry if you’d rather not be alone,” he said lightly.

“There’s no place else I’d rather be,” Juliette said. And her body agreed.

She’d dreamed of riding a horse as a child, but never had she envisioned the adult feelings the powerful beast could stir. Sitting on the horse, her concentration on both the romantic scenery surrounding her and the incredible man by her side, she’d discovered the pounding surf had nothing on the pulse beating between her legs. The ride had taken on aphrodisiacal qualities and its effect hadn’t lessened since she’d climbed down and into Doug’s waiting arms.

Still strung tight from the vibration of riding the horse and thinking about Doug at the same time, she tingled in anticipation of them spending the evening alone. And two hours later, full from a lobster dinner and light-headed from a glass of wine, she still felt the same way. There hadn’t been a lull in the conversation and they’d covered a broad range of topics, likes and dislikes, much like a first date.