Julian was going to have to intensify his efforts to shelter Camille now that Papa and Madeleine were obviously up to no good.
CHAPTER SEVEN
JULIAN GAZED AT CAMILLE in her black dress with its crocheted look. It was sexy. An approving moan rumbled up his throat and he grabbed her hand, moving toward an inner wall inside the third floor salon. He glanced at her, winked and popped a wall panel open.
A soft gasp escaped her. “What the....”
“There are tunnels all over the estate.” He coaxed her inside. “We’ll make our escape through here.” It beat running into Papa, Claudette, or Madeleine in the hallways.
“Ooh, I feel like a spy.” She giggled as they enter the dimly lit tunnel.
Julian chuckled. “Yeah. A spy whose sanity depends on her escape.” He quickened his pace. He wasn’t the only one well-versed in these tunnel paths. The quicker they got outside and through the gardens, the better.
They hurried through corridors, descended steps cut into the ground and rounded corners, all in near-darkness. Camille tightened her grip on his hand.
“Don’t worry, Chéri. I know this place inside and out.”
“God, I hope so.” Her rich laughter wrapped him in amusement.
“We’re almost there,” he said in a low, husky voice.
After a few more feet and another curve to the left, Julian gave Camille a tug and pulled her closer before stopping to push his way through the outside exit.
The twilight of a setting sun filtered inside, casting a flattering glow over Camille. Her golden hair glistened like strands of lustrous glass, and he felt a ripple of excitement when her mouth curved into a tempting smile.
“What are the chances somebody’s going to be waiting for us out here?” she asked, and he got the feeling she was trying to be funny. And she would be, so long as she wasn’t right.
“I’ll let you know.” He checked the immediate area just outside the exit.
All clear. Good. Not that he was afraid to face them. But this was more fun. Sexy even. A faint light twinkling in her blue eyes told him she was just as excited.
Julian latched onto Camille’s hand. Joy bubbled over in her laughter as they raced along designated paths through the rose garden. Her happiness brought Julian a sense of satisfaction. It’d been a long time since he’d had this much fun.
Adrenaline sped through him, increasing ferociously when the tunneled gateway to the river came into view. Just as he’d arranged, a speedboat was waiting at water’s edge, ready to assist them in their escape.
Julian helped Camille before climbing aboard. The boat thundered to life and the engine’s vibrations roared through him, stimulating his adrenaline and his aspirations. He’d taken plenty of boat rides, and with a number of girls including Madeleine, but none had aroused him like this ride with Camille. Maybe it was just the thrill of the escape. Yes. That had to be the reason.
Camille sat on the seat next to him, perched in a model-like pose. Her legs, long and tanned, rose from red shoes and traveled seductively up until they disappeared underneath a black cocktail dress riding midway up her thighs. He liked the dress when they’d bought it in London, and he liked it now—especially now, as he envisioned slipping his hands beneath the fabric in an exploring fashion.
The boat charged down the winding river and a warm summer’s wind whipped Julian’s hair around wildly. Raking it back, he looked at Camille. Their gazes met, and a faint delicate flush glowed against her face.
“You okay?” He reached over, laying his hand at her knee.
“Yeah,” Her breathless declaration murmured out from behind a smile. “Where are we going?”
“Where would you like to go?”
“It’s your country. I’m leaving it up to you.”
Was she always this complying? Maybe he’d test that theory. “So, if I said, we’re going to see the symphony or an opera...you’d be up for that?”
“You didn’t say, ‘what do you want to do’.” She challenged him with her dauntless blue eyes. “You said, ‘where would you like to go’.”
“Okay.” Julian laughed. “What do you want to do?”
“Well...how about dinner and then maybe a walk on the beach or something?” An alluring smile implied she was inviting trouble.
Not that Julian wanted to tempt fate. He just wanted to explore what was underneath that little black dress. It couldn’t hurt. They were supposed to be in love.
“Good call. After all, we are thought to be lovers, are we not?” He reassured her with a soft caress over the bare portion of her thigh. But he didn’t push it. He didn’t invite himself to further exploration. Not yet.
“I’m just trying to cover all our bases,” she said, her voice strengthening as if she’d regained some of her confidence.
“What are you in the mood for?”
“What do you mean?”
“What kind of food?
“How about something local?”
Good answer. Not too specific, but she narrowed it down just the same, and complimented his hometown by keeping it ‘local’. Very pleasing.
Maybe he’d take her to L’Epuisette. That way, he could sate her palate with the best food around and reduce her inhibitions with some good champagne. He cut the boat’s engine and coasted alongside the pier, landing near his driver waiting by the car.
Julian stood and helped Camille to her feet. He liked the way the boat ride had tousled her hair, leaving it all windblown and sexy-looking. Their exhilarating escape reddened her cheeks.
He handed her off to Sebastian, his driver, who helped her out of the boat. She climbed up onto the landing and Julian enjoyed the advantageous view for admiring her assets. Her legs, bare and gleaming, continued to arouse him. Her dress hugged her hips, teasing him. Her laughter filled him with not just joy, but hope. Hope that when this was all over, he’d surface as the victor.
Camille could’ve gone straight to the car, but she didn’t. Surprisingly, she stood on the edge of the dock, waiting for him to emerge from the boat. She was the first to do that. There had been plenty who’d traversed the river with him, but none had ever thought of him. Not once. Until Camille.
For someone who was in it for material gain, she was doing a hell of a job at making Julian feel like she was here for him.
Camille waited for Julian on the landing. Mainly because she wasn’t about to get into the car without him. The suspicious sort, there weren’t many people she trusted. But she trusted Julian—sort of—yet there was no reason to offer blind faith to his employees.