“Should we bring in a private investigator?”
“For what?”
“Tracking phones calls. See if he’s getting information from any of our employees. We could have him watched. What do you think?”
“I don’t know what to think. This is crazy. It’s like a nightmare happening all over again. How soon did Alek say the new product would be ready for marketing?”
“Soon. He’s been working a lot of hours.”
“I figure we should move ahead as quickly as possible, don’t you? I’ll see what I can do to schedule a meeting with the marketing folks. The sooner we can get our new paint on the store shelves, the better.”
“Okay. Let me know if you hear anything else,” Julia said.
“I will,” Jerry promised.
They said a few words of farewell and when she replaced the receiver, she sighed.
“What was that all about?” Alek asked.
Julia shook her head, not wanting to explain, because explaining would mean telling him about her relationship with Roger. That was something she wanted to avoid, at least for now.
“These lines,” he said, tracing his finger along the creases in her brow, “are because of Roger Stanhope, aren’t they?”
Julia nodded.
“That’s what I thought. Tell me about him, Julia. It’s time I knew.”
Nine
“Julia,” Alek urged when she didn’t immediately respond.
“Roger was just a man I once knew and trusted…several years ago. He proved he wasn’t trustworthy. Can we leave it at that?”
“You loved him?”
Admitting it hurt her pride. Mixed in with all the regrets and the guilt was shame. Her only crime had been loving a man who didn’t deserve it. A man who’d used her and shocked her with his betrayal, so much so that she’d refused to believe he was responsible for what had happened until her father had literally shoved the evidence at her. Even then she’d made excuses for him, unable to accept the truth. Her father had become so exasperated with her that he’d… Julia turned her thoughts from that fateful day when her life had become a living nightmare.
“Yes, I loved him,” she answered finally. “It was a mistake. A very bad one.” “What was your mistake?” Alek probed gently.
“It’s too complicated. But rest assured, I learned my lesson.”
“And what was that?”
“That…love sometimes hurts.”
Alek studied her for a moment, but what he was hoping to see, Julia could only speculate.
“Love doesn’t always bring pain,” he said. “My love will prove otherwise.” He kissed her with a compassion that brought tears to her eyes. She managed to blink them back and offer him a look of gratitude.
“Come,” he said softly, lifting her into his arms. “It’s time for bed.”
* * *
At dawn Alek was suddenly awake. Moonlight waltzed across the bedroom walls and the room was silent.
A chime rang the hour from the anniversary clock Julia kept on top of her bookcase. It was only 5:00 a.m. and he should be exhausted. But he was drained, sated, happy. His wife slept contentedly at his side, her slim body curled against his. He kissed her cheek, grateful Julia was married to him.
He’d wanted to ask her more about Stanhope, but he could see the raw anguish the man’s name brought to her eyes, and even satisfying his curiosity wasn’t worth causing her additional pain.
Alek knew very little of this man, but what he did know, he didn’t like. He’d seen the way Roger had reached for Julia, placing his hand on her arm as though he had a right to touch her, to make demands. Alek didn’t like the way the other man had looked at her, either, with a leer, as if he could have her with no more than a few persuasive words.
Alek hadn’t thought of himself as jealous, but the quiet rage he’d felt when he found Roger Stanhope pestering Julia couldn’t be denied.
The man was a weakling. Stanhope relied on his sleek good looks, his flashy smile and compelling personality instead of intelligence, honest work and business acumen.
Alek wasn’t fooled. Roger Stanhope was an enemy. Not only of Julia’s, but Jerry’s, as well. Julia hadn’t explained the telephone conversation she’d had with her brother, even when he’d asked.
Although she’d tried to make light of Jerry’s call, Alek had caught snatches of the conversation, enough to know she was worried. She’d been unable to disguise her distress. Stanhope wasn’t worth one iota of anxiety. As Julia’s husband, it was up to Alek to make sure that the man who’d betrayed her and her family wouldn’t be allowed to do so again.
* * *
Alek was gone when Julia woke and she instantly experienced a surge of disappointment. One look at the clock explained Alek’s absence. The last time she’d slept past ten had been as a teenager.
Nevertheless, she missed him. A slow smile spread over her lips. She’d married quite a man. Obviously he worked with as much energy and enthusiasm as he made love.
She climbed out of bed and threw on her robe. Since it was Saturday, and her week had been hellish, she intended to relax. There would be problems enough to deal with on Monday morning. The desire to rush into her office today was nonexistent.
She was knotting the belt on her pink silk robe as she wandered into the kitchen. Anna was there, busily whipping up something delicious, no doubt.
“Good morning, Anna.”
“Good morning.” Alek’s sister stopped what she was doing and brought Julia a cup of coffee.
Being waited on was a luxury that would soon spoil her. “I’ll take care of myself,” Julia told her, not unkindly. “You go back to whatever you’re doing.” She walked over to the counter and on closer examination saw that the contents of Anna’s bowl resembled cookie dough. A sample confirmed her guess. Oatmeal raisin, she thought.
“Yum.”
Anna grinned at the compliment. “Alek asked me to bake them this morning for your picnic.”
Julia paused halfway across the kitchen floor. “Our picnic?”
“Yes, he left a note asking me to pack a basket of food. He gave me a long list of everything he wants.”
“Where is he?” Julia asked, adding cream to her coffee. “Do you know?”
Anna shook her head as she resumed stirring the thick batter. “No. He had some errand. He doesn’t tell me much. I’m only his sister.”
“He doesn’t tell me much, either,” Julia added with a short laugh. “I’m only his wife.”
Anna giggled. “He should be back soon. He said you were very tired and wanted to be sure you slept as long as you needed. I’m very sorry about your grandmother.”
“Thank you—I’m sorry, too,” Julia said, breathing in deeply at the fresh stab of pain she felt at the mention of Ruth’s death. That pain would be with her for a long while. Losing her grandmother had left a wide, gaping hole in her heart. Alek’s love had helped her begin to heal, but she would always miss Ruth.
Sitting down at the table with the morning paper, Julia tried to focus her attention on the headlines. Soon the words blurred and ran together. The tears came as an unwelcome surprise, and she bent her head, hoping Anna wouldn’t notice.
The sound of the front door opening announced Alek’s return. Julia hurriedly wiped the tears from her cheeks and smiled up at him. She hadn’t fooled him, she realized, but it didn’t matter. He strolled over to her, his eyes full of love, and kissed her deeply.
Julia had trouble not losing herself in his kiss. It would have been so easy to let it lead to something more.…
Alek glanced impatiently over his shoulder at his sister. “I’ll give her the rest of the day off,” he whispered.
“Don’t be silly.”
The hunger in his eyes told her how serious he was. He raised her effortlessly from her chair, sat down and held her in his lap.
“You slept late?” he questioned, smoothing the hair away from her face.
“Very late. You should’ve gotten
me up.”
“I was tempted. Tomorrow I will have no qualms about waking you.”
“Really?” she asked, loving him so much it felt as if she could hardly contain it. She saw Anna watching them and could tell that Alek’s sister was pleased at their closeness. “We’re going on a picnic?”
“Yes,” Alek said, his face brightening.
“Where?”
“That’s a surprise. Bring a sweater, an extra set of clothes and a…” He hesitated, as if searching for a word, something he rarely did. “A kite.”
“Kite…as in a flying-in-the-wind kite?”
He nodded enthusiastically.
“Alek,” she said, studying him, “Are you taking me to the ocean?”
“Yes, my love, the ocean. And,” he added, “we’re leaving our cell phones and BlackBerries behind.”
Julia had no problem with that directive.
Within fifteen minutes they were on their way. Anna’s basket was tucked away in the backseat, along with an extra set of clothes for each of them, several beach towels, a blanket—and no fewer than five different kites, all of which Alek had bought while he was out.
He drove to Ocean Shores. The sun shone brightly and the surf pounded the sand with a roar that echoed toward them. The scent of salt stung the air. Sea gulls soared overhead, looking for an opportune meal. There were plenty of people, but this was nothing like the crowded beaches along the Oregon and California coasts.
Alek parked the car and found them an ideal spot to spread out their blanket and bask in the sunshine. Julia removed her shoes and ran barefoot in the warm sand, chasing after him.
“This is perfect,” she cried, throwing out her arms. “I love it.”
Alek returned to the car for their picnic basket and the kites and joined her on the blanket. He looked more relaxed than she could ever remember seeing him. He sank down beside her and stretched out with a contented sigh.
The wind buffeted them and a minute later, Alek moved, positioning himself behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and inhaled slowly, drawing the salty air into his lungs. Julia did the same, breathing in the fresh clean scent of the sea.
“It’s so peaceful here,” she murmured. There were a number of activities going on around them, including horseback riding, kite flying, a football-throwing contest, even a couple of volleyball games, but none of those distracted her from the serenity she experienced.
“I thought you’d feel this way.” He kissed the side of her neck.
Julia relaxed against his strength, letting him absorb her weight.
“My mother often brought Anna and me to the Black Sea after our father was killed.”
Julia knew shockingly little about her husband’s life before he came to the United States. “How old were you when he died?”
“Ten. Anna was seven. It was 1986.”
“How did he die?”
It seemed an eternity passed before Alek spoke, and when he did his voice was low. “He was murdered. I don’t think we will ever know the real reason. They came, the soldiers, in the middle of the night. We were all asleep. I woke to my mother’s screams but by the time I got past the soldier guarding the door, my father was already dead.”
“Oh, Alek.” Julia’s throat tightened with the effort to hold back tears.
“We learned from someone who risked his life to tell us that the KGB suspected my father of some illegal activity—we never heard the details. It made no sense to us since my father was a loyal Communist. Like me, he worked as a chemist.”
“Oh, Alek. How terrible for all of you.”
“Yes,” he agreed, “and it nearly destroyed my mother. If it hadn’t been for Anna and me, I believe my mother would have died, too. Not at the soldiers’ hands, but from grief.”
“What happened afterward?”
“My mother had to support us. Both Anna and I did everything we could to help, but it was difficult. Because I was a good student, I was given the opportunity to attend university. It was there that I met my first Americans. I couldn’t believe the freedom and prosperity those students told me about. I’ve always been good with languages—Anna, too. Soon afterward, I started learning English. After I met Jerry, he sent me books and CDs. He was my link to America.”
“Were you surprised when he asked you to come and work for Conrad Industries?”
“Yes.”
“Did Jerry ever tell you about his beautiful younger sister?” Julia prodded.
“In passing.”
“Were you curious about me?”
“No.”
She poked him in the ribs and was rewarded with a mock cry of pain.
“I’m more curious now,” he said, laughing.
“Good.”
His hand edged beneath her blouse.
“Alek!”
“I’m just wondering how fast I can make you want me.”
“Fast enough. Now, stop. We’re on a public beach.”
He sighed as though her words had wounded him. “Maybe we should get a hotel room.”
“We could have done that in Seattle. Since we’re at the beach and the day is gorgeous, let’s enjoy ourselves.”
“Julia,” Alek said sternly, “trust me, we would enjoy ourselves in a hotel room, too.”
Smiling, she leaned back her head to look at him. “No one told me you were a sex fiend.”
“You do this to me, Julia, only you.”
“I promise I’ll satisfy your, uh, carnal appetite,” she assured him with a grin. “And I’m a woman of my word.”
“I must not be so selfish,” Alek said, and the teasing quality was gone from his voice. “I didn’t bring you here to make love, I brought you here to heal. After my father was killed, my mother made weekly trips to the beach with Anna and me. It was a time of solace for us, and it helped us heal. I hoped it would help you, too.”
“It does,” Julia said, looking out at the pounding surf.
“You must forgive my greed for you.”
“Only if you forgive my greed for you.” The love-making was so new, they were eager to learn everything they could about each other, eager to give and to receive. Julia didn’t fool herself into believing this kind of desire could continue. If it did, they might both die of sheer exhaustion.
“I want you to relax in my arms,” Alek said, “and close your eyes.” He waited a moment. “Are they closed?”
She nodded. The sounds that came at her were intense. The ocean as it slapped against the shore, the cry of the birds and the roar of scooters as they shot past her, kicking up the sand. The smells, carried on the wind, were pungent.
“Now open your eyes.”
Julia obeyed and was overwhelmed by the richness of the colors around her. The sky was blue with huge puffy clouds. The water was a sparkling green that left a thin, white, frothy trail on the sand. Every color was vibrant, every detail. Julia’s breath caught in her throat at the beauty before her.
“Oh, Alek, it’s so lovely.”
“My mother did that with Anna and me, but I think she was doing it for herself, too. She wanted us to see that life could be good, if we looked around at the world instead of within ourselves.”
Julia knew that was what she’d been doing these past few years, looking at the darkness and the shortcomings within herself. Under such intense scrutiny, her faults had seemed glaring. It was little wonder that she’d been so miserable.
“Alek,” she said, with her discovery, “thank you, thank you so much.”
They kissed, and it was as if his love was absolution for all that had gone before and all that would come later. She turned in his embrace and slipped her arms around his neck. When they’d finished kissing, they simply held each other.
* * *
Alek knew his relationship with Julia had changed that afternoon by the ocean. Things between them were different now. More open, more trusting. They’d had fun, too—childish, uncomplicated fun—something neither of them had done in years. They’d fl
own kites, run through the surf, eaten Anna’s sandwiches and cookies, feeding each other bites.
Sunday evening, the day after their venture to the beach, Alek needed to run down to the lab. When he told Julia, she offered to go with him, as if even an hour apart was more than she could bear.
Her willingness had taken him by surprise.
“You’re sure?” he asked.
“Of course. It’ll do me good to get out.”
They listened to classical music on the way across town. Security had been increased at the plant, with extra guards posted; Alek gave them a friendly nod. Julia went with him into his office. He found the notes he needed and brought them home.
“Would you like some coffee?” she asked once they’d returned.
“Please.” Her desire to indulge him with small pleasures was something of a surprise, too, a pleasant one.
While he read over his calculations, Julia was content to sit at his side, absorbed in a novel. He couldn’t remember a time when she’d voluntarily sat still. Her body always seemed to be filled with nervous energy. That was gone from her now and in its place had come a restfulness.
“I’m not looking forward to work in the morning,” she said when Alek was finished. Leaning against him, she stretched her legs out along the sofa and heaved a giant sigh. “These past few days have been so wonderful. I don’t feel ready to deal with the office again.”
“Will you always work, Julia?”
“I…don’t know. I hadn’t thought about it. I suppose I will until after the children are born at any rate, but even then I’ll still be involved in the management of the company.”
“Then you wouldn’t mind if we had a family.”
“No, of course I wouldn’t mind. Did you think I would?”
“I wasn’t sure.”
“Then rest assured, Mr. Berinski, I want your children.”
Alek felt his heart expand with eagerness. “So you’d like a family,” he said. “Could we work on this project soon?”
“How soon?” she whispered.
He fiddled with the buttons of her shirt. “Now,” he said, aware of the husky sound of his voice.
Julia sighed that womanly sigh he’d come to recognize as a signal of her eagerness for him. “I think we might be able to arrange that.”