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“Because Daniel Andreas was in such a good mood after a night of romance with his wife that he stopped by the resort's jewelry store and picked up a bauble for her. Since certain people are undoubtedly aware of that purchase already, you should be seen wearing the bracelet. Preferably without a look of revulsion on your face.”
“It isn't revulsion. The bracelet is certainly pretty. It just isn't…”
“It isn't you, I know.” He caught her right hand in his left and wrapped the bracelet around her wrist. “Is it really necessary for me to remind you again that while you are here, you aren't you?”
Looking down at the bracelet he had fastened so easily around her wrist, she frowned. She didn't like the eerie feeling that she was slowly turning into someone else. Sure, she had wanted to make some changes in her life, but this was more drastic than she'd had in mind.
“So what are my orders for today?” she asked in resignation.
Maybe she had deliberately tried to annoy him—maybe because it made her so uncomfortable for him to stand so close to her, sliding diamonds onto her wrist. She should have predicted that he wouldn't be fazed by her sarcasm.
“You're staying at a luxurious oceanside resort. Take advantage of it. Lie by the pool. Walk on the beach. Shop in the boutiques. Spend the day in the spa. Have a massage and facial and manicure and pedicure. Or…” he reached up to brush his fingertips across her choppy hair “…visit one of the salons.”
Embarrassed, she pushed his hand away. So she hadn't had time to make a hair appointment lately. She had resorted to hacking at it occasionally herself, just to keep it out of her eyes. Still, she didn't think it looked all that bad. “Maybe I'll just stay here in the suite and watch the soaps on TV.”
“Actually I think it would be best if you go out—at least for a little while. Be seen, flash your bracelet, act as though you're accustomed to being treated like a VIP.”
“I thought I was supposed to be all depressed and stuff.”
He smiled briefly at her wording but answered seriously. “You have been depressed, but you're responding well to my devoted attentions.”
“Dancing and diamonds, for example.”
“For example,” he agreed.
“And while I'm flitting about the resort, basking in the afterglow of your attentions, what will you be doing?”
“I have business to conduct with our host.”
“And you aren't going to tell me what that business is?”
He brushed a
kiss across her temple. “Nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about.”
“I want a divorce,” she said in disgust.
That made him laugh and step back. “You'll have an annulment as soon as I can safely arrange it.”
“Good.”
“You must be hungry. Are you ready for breakfast?”
She shrugged. “I could eat.”
He motioned toward the door. “There's a breakfast buffet in the restaurant downstairs. It looked pretty good when I walked past.”
She looked wistfully toward the little dining table in their suite, but she suspected Daniel had a reason for wanting to go out. As she had noted before, Daniel seemed to have a reason for everything he did.
Saying the breakfast buffet looked “pretty good” had been an understatement. B.J. had never seen so much food spread in one place—outside a Walker family pot-luck, anyway.
Watching the scantily clad woman in front of her place a single strawberry and a half slice of whole-wheat toast on a tiny plate, B.J. shook her head and reached for a serving spoon. Her own plate was satisfyingly full when she carried it to their table a few moments later.
She hesitated only briefly when she saw that Daniel was already seated—and that he had been joined by Judson Drake. Her appetite decreasing significantly, she slipped into her chair and set her plate in front of her, giving Drake a perfunctory nod of greeting.
“Good morning, Mrs. Andreas.” Drake had risen when she arrived and he took his seat again after she was seated.
“Mr. Drake.”
