Page 9 of A First for the Playboy Dragon

Taking a deep breath, telling himself he was making a big deal out of nothing, he turned away from Juliet's path and headed for the village instead. Claudia would show up in less than an hour; he needed food for dinner and a shower before she got there. Ignoring his lack of enthusiasm as he made his way down the beach, he hoped that the spark of excitement would return. Claudia was a beautiful, sophisticated woman, the perfect partner for a few hours of pleasure. He’d be a fool not to take advantage of the situation.

But when he opened his door a little while later and saw Claudia standing on his porch, he couldn’t ignore the disappointment that it wasn’t Juliet. Before he could say a word, Claudia was in his arms, kissing him and rubbing her body all over him, her hands sliding toward the button on his pants. She managed to get it free before he slipped away from her and took a step back, as shocked as she was by his reaction, sure that it was the first time he’d ever done something so stupid.

Claudia stared at him, clearly offended. “I’m sorry, you just surprised me,” he said, with a little laugh. I wasn’t ready for that. Maybe we should start over.”

She narrowed her eyes and studied him, then put her hands on her hips, waiting for him to make the first move, then shook her head with a big sigh when he didn’t move. “I was hoping that I didn’t see what I thought I did on the beach this afternoon, but I guess I was wrong,” she said. “I can’t believe that…woman took you away from me. What did she do, put you under a spell or something?”

“I’m sorry, Claudia. I wish I could explain it to you, but I don’t completely understand it myself,” he said. “I never meant to string you along if that’s what you’re thinking.”

Claudia waved her hand in the air, “I’m the one who canceled on you last night; I’m just trying to figure out how it all slipped away so quickly,” she said, then ran her hands down her body. “You’re giving up this for…well…that…”

“I’m as surprised as you are if you want to know the truth,” he said, then shrugged. “I don’t suppose you want to stay for dinner anyway?”

Claudia let out a barking laugh. “I don’t think so,” she said. “I’m just going to go back to my cabin and pack. I’m leaving tomorrow. I had hoped this last night would be one to remember.”

“I really am sorry. This isn’t what I thought would happen,” he said. “I wish things could be different.”

“You and me both,” Claudia said, walking over to him then giving him a kiss on the cheek. “But it happens to all the good ones eventually. I just hope when I’m ready to settle down, I find someone like you, Harrison. Juliet is a very lucky woman.”

“We’re not…that’s not what…” he stammered. “I just…”

Claudia laughed again. “Oh, Harrison, you aren’t that naive,” she said, shaking her head. I hope Juliet knows what she’s getting herself into. You aren’t going to make this easy for either of you, I’m afraid.”

She left him standing in the open doorway, her words echoing through his head, a mild feeling of panic welling up inside him. He wasn’t falling in love. He had sworn to never go down that path. He was just a bit obsessed with Juliet and wanted what he couldn’t have, but it would pass with time. Turning Claudia away didn’t mean anything, not really, he just wasn’t in the mood for sex.

If that had never happened before, he chose to ignore that little fact and closed the door, then went into the kitchen to get some dinner. After making himself a plate, he took it into the living room and settled down at the desk, determined not to waste the entire night. He’d spent too much time thinking about women since he’d been on the island. Work would be the cure for that. Getting his priorities back in line was the answer to his problem.

Several hours passed without a single thought of Juliet and he went to bed feeling better than he had all day, but it wasn’t long before she was invading his dreams. Her face floated through his mind, and he relived the last kiss they’d shared over and over; most distressing of all were the images of them together, teasing and tormenting him until he woke in the early morning hours. Restless and unsatisfied, he flung back the covers, frustrated with himself, and got into the shower, desperate for a morning run.

***Juliet***

Juliet hit the send button and leaned back in the chair, sighing, relieved to have the pictures sent off like she’d promised. She hoped that it would be enough to buy her brother’s freedom. She wanted to get off the island and back home as soon as she could. Harrison had turned her world upside down, a feeling she didn’t like, and the safety of home was all she could think about.

She still couldn’t believe that she’d kissed him this afternoon. She’d never lost control like that before, and she was determined that it would never happen again. The only problem was that Harrison had this pull over her that she found impossible to resist, and after her last little stunt, she was afraid of what shemight do. The man was dangerous, a threat to the safe little barrier she’d put between herself and the world. He’d break her heart in a second if she let him.

The sound of her phone ringing broke into her thoughts, making her jump. She scrambled to the desk to grab it, knowing it had to be her brother. “Please tell me that you have good news,” she said, skipping a greeting. I’m ready to go home.”

“Those pictures you took are great. Mr. Adaloni is really happy with them,” Joe said. “You’re really saving my butt, Juliet, I knew you could do this.”

“When can I go home?” she asked. “Will you come with me?”

There was silence on the other end of the line. “I wish we could both go home, but well…the thing is, Mr. Adaloni isn’t quite ready to forgive me. He wants just a little more.”

“What do you mean, more?” she asked, her heart sinking. “What else am I supposed to do?”

“It’s not anything you can’t handle, sissy, I promise,” Joe said, then hesitated long enough that she began to get worried. “The thing is, we didn’t know that there was security on the island. We thought it was just Max and that guardian guy protecting the island. It kind of changes everything, you know, so I was thinking if you could get close to that security guy that could help, maybe find out what his plans are, that kind of thing.”

“Joe, I can’t do that,” she said. “I don’t know anything about security, I wouldn’t know what I was looking for, and Harrison doesn’t talk about his work when we’re together. It would never work…”

“Wait, you know this guy?” Joe interrupted her, his voice full of excitement. “This is going to work out even better than I thought. Mr. Adaloni is going to be so pleased.”

“You’re not listening to me. I can’t do it,” she said, raising her voice, hoping her brother would listen. “I’m an elementaryschool teacher, not a spy. You’re going to have to find someone else, someone who knows what they’re doing.”

There was a short silence on the other end of the line. “You’re all I have, Juliet,” her brother said, his voice shaking a little. “I’m really scared, sissy, this is my only hope of getting out of trouble. You can’t abandon me now. Just think how great it will be when this is all over; you and I can finally be together, we’ll get an apartment, I’ll get a job, and everything will be perfect for the first time since Mom and Dad died.”

“You don’t understand, Joe, I just can’t do it,” she said again. “You don’t know what you’re asking, what it might cost me to help you.”

“I guess you’ve forgotten what it’s going to cost me if you don’t,” Joe said. “But it’s okay, Juliet, don’t worry about me. I’ll figure out something. I was so sure you weren’t going to abandon me this time, but I guess I was wrong.”

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