Page 17 of The Return of Her Billionaire Husband

Her smile was for the crowd, for appearances’ sake.

It wasn’t for him.

* * *

Juliette couldn’t look at Joe without blushing over their kiss that morning. She couldn’t look at him and not think about their own wedding. Their cold and duty-bound wedding where the promises he made had meant nothing.

But had hers meant something? Anything? Juliette gave an inward frown, wondering why her conscience was bringing this up now. She hadn’t been the one to insist on marriage. She had done the right thing in telling him he was to be a father, to give him the option of being involved or not. She could have refused his offer... Why hadn’t she?

Juliette stood to one side of Lucy and Damon as they exchanged their vows. Both had tears shining in their eyes, their love for each other plain to see. She glanced at Joe to find his gaze trained on her, his expression grave. She bit her lip and looked away again, her heart feeling as if squeezed by an invisible hand.

Maybe she had judged Joe too quickly. Hadn’t her parents always complained about her impulsive nature? Her tendency to act first, ask questions later had often caused her to regret her actions in hindsight. She had not only not asked Joe the questions, she hadn’t even allowed him to contact her. She had blocked him at every turn.

It was excruciatingly painful to confront her role in the breakup of their relationship. Would she be making a huge mistake in pursuing a divorce? But how could their marriage continue if Joe didn’t love her?

The newly married couple kissed and the guests clapped and cheered and again Juliette was reminded of the brief kiss Joe had given her at their wedding, and the less than enthusiastic applause from the handful of guests, her parents in particular.

After Lucy and Damon’s official photos were taken further along on the beach, the mostly informal and relaxed reception was held in the villa’s ballroom overlooking the beach.

Juliette got up to dance with three of the other groomsmen to avoid dancing with Joe. She was worried she would betray herself in his arms, reveal things about herself she knew she shouldn’t be feeling while she had divorce papers to hand to him. Dance after dance, drink after drink, she worked the room as if she had graduated as star pupil at Social Butterfly school. But inside she was shrivelling up, struggling to cope with pretending to be happy. One of the guests—another cousin of Damon’s—was heavily pregnant and every time Juliette looked at her she felt a hammer-blow of sadness crash over her.

Juliette took yet another glass of champagne off a passing waiter and turned to find Joe standing beside her.

‘Is that a good idea?’ He nodded towards her glass, his expression brooding.

She arched her brows. ‘Since when did you join the Temperance Society?’

He took the glass out of her hand and placed it on a nearby table. ‘I think you’ve had enough.’

‘I think you need to back off,’ Juliette said, glowering at him. ‘Just because you’re not having a good time doesn’t mean I can’t.’

‘Are you having a good time?’ His gaze was as pointed as his tone. But then he released a heavy breath and added with a frown, ‘You’re pretending, just like I am. But doing a much better job of it than me.’

Some of Juliette’s anger faded. She couldn’t explain why—it just slumped inside her like a windless sail. ‘It’s a form of torture, isn’t it? Watching other people being happy.’

‘Sì.’

Juliette tried to read his expression but it was like trying to read a cryptic code. Or maybe it was because her head was starting to pound from all the champagne she’d consumed. Or maybe it was because she knew she was getting closer to the moment when she would hand Joe the divorce papers. She couldn’t allow her defences to let her down now. She had come on a mission to get those papers signed. One kiss did not a reconciliation make. She pinched the bridge of her nose and winced. ‘I think I need to go to bed. Do you think Lucy and Damon would be offended if I slipped away now before they leave?’

Joe glanced to where the happy couple were dancing cheek to cheek. ‘No. I don’t think they’ll mind. Come on—’ he held out his hand ‘—I’ll walk you back to our room.’

* * *

Joe led Juliette back to their room. Their room. One last night suffering the torture of having her close enough to touch. Close enough to remember the potent magic that brought them together in the first place. Close enough to regret how he had handled every step, every stage of their relationship. Close enough to wonder if there was a chance—a slim chance—she would consider trying again.

The idea crept into his head and looked around for a place to get comfortable, pushing his conscience, his fears, his doubts out of the way. He wasn’t imagining the chemistry still between them, was he? It was as strong and pulsing as ever. Their kiss had proven how strong their connection still was.

How could he forgive himself for not at least exploring the possibility of reconciling?

Joe closed the door of their room but he realised immediately his timing was way off. Not only was there a fold-out bed set up in the sitting room area but Juliette looked tense and on edge. Her teeth chewed at her lip, her eyes not quite meeting his.

‘Are you okay?’

She nodded and sat on the sofa and held a scatter cushion against her body like a shield. ‘I will be. I just need a glass of water.’

Joe fetched her one and brought it back to where she was sitting. She took the glass from him, guzzled down the water and then handed the glass back. ‘Thanks.’

‘Another one?’

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