by Karly Lane
‘He does have a killer body though.’
Georgie shook her head in despair at her friend’s never-ending endeavour to find her a man.
‘Speaking of killer bodies … What’s with you and Michael? Brent and I always thought after that weekend, you two might end up together. You’ve never talked about what went on with him.’
‘I gave him a lift back into town,’ she shrugged, adding silently, and married the lying bastard. Nothing exciting. ‘Why don’t you go and have a nice long soak in the spa while I dart back to my room and grab a few things,’ she told Shannon, who looked as though she could barely keep her eyes open.
‘I think I will … I’m wiped out.’
Once outside, Georgie stormed along the corridor until she reached her room and swiped the key impatiently. She found Michael seated on the balcony, taking in the panorama of the night-lit city before him.
‘I’m here, start talking,’ she said without preamble, standing with her arms folded across her chest and her eyes flashing. She hated his high-handed summons to the room but knew he’d make true his promise of coming to Shannon’s door to get her if she didn’t turn up.
‘We need to discuss last night. There won’t be time tomorrow and we haven’t had time today.’
‘There’s nothing to discuss. I drank too much, you were here, and we had a good time … that’s it.’
‘That’s it?’ he echoed.
‘If I hadn’t drunk so much, I wouldn’t have allowed it to happen. I accept my part in it, but that’s it. It won’t happen again.’
‘Are you saying I took advantage of you?’
‘No. I’m saying I wasn’t thinking straight.’
Slowly he stood from his seat, towering above her as he stared down into her apprehensive eyes. Georgie stood transfixed by the sheer presence of the man.
He moved his hand slowly towards her face, cupping her cheek in his large palm, never taking his eyes from her own.
‘Are you thinking straight now?’
Her heart thudded painfully against her ribs. ‘Why won’t you just give me the divorce, Michael? End this once and for all?’
‘I don’t give up, Georgie, not ever.’
She saw that he meant every word he said. ‘Well, unfortunately for you, neither do I.’
He slid his hand from her cheek, into her hair and dipped his head to touch her lips. He was like a drug. She tried to resist him, but he always managed to intoxicate her with his heady kisses. This animal attraction was what had got her into this whole mess in the first place. Her traitorous body responded to the warm, musky scent of him and blocked all common sense.
Then from somewhere deep and dark, an image from the newspaper flashed before her eyes. A farmer and his bedraggled family, their eyes empty. Dragging her mouth from his warm lips, she pulled away, breathing heavily.
‘I have a proposition for you.’
Georgie gritted her teeth but remained silent.
It didn’t faze Michael in the least. ‘I’ll give you your divorce. If, after a week together, you can still tell me you feel nothing for me.’
Her eyes flared with resentment. ‘I don’t have to prove myself to you, Michael, and I sure as hell have better things to do with my time than waste it playing games.’
His voice, soft and deep, floated across the small distance between them. ‘Sounds to me like you’re afraid you’ll lose the bet.’
Turning away, she pulled open the door with more force than was necessary and headed to her bedroom. His words stayed with her as she rode the elevator back to Shannon’s room, and she tried not to listen to the voice that pointed out maybe he was more than a little bit right.
It was hard to sleep that night, although Shannon apparently had no trouble—she was asleep and snoring before her head even hit the pillow, leaving Georgie to toss and turn, grasping for the sleep that continued to elude her.
Giving up, she went out onto the balcony wrapped in the bed quilt and stared up into the dark night sky. The last few days she’d been inundated with memories, but in truth they’d started when she’d received the phone call from Shannon and the news that Michael was to be her partner in their wedding party. If it’d been anyone other than Shannon, she would have refused to be bridesmaid.
The thought of seeing him again had cost her many a sleepless night in the lead-up to the wedding. She’d refused to look back over their tumultuous relationship and wonder what might have been. There’d been no point. The pain she’d felt was still a raw wound she carried within her.
It had become easier over time to ignore the pain and concentrate more on the shame. She’d always considered herself a level-headed, down-to-earth woman who had her future carefully mapped out before her, not some lovestruck fifteen-year-old. It was hard to believe that she’d allowed herself to become so caught up in a romance that she’d pushed all common sense aside and married a man she’d barely known. It’d been madness.
Those unbelievable few weeks of her life she’d been swept off her feet and had had her whole world turned upside down. She’d believed in the fairy tale, only to have it all ripped from her in the time it took to read a newspaper article. Just like that, her happily-ever-after had come crashing down around her. The memory of how stupid she’d been still stung.
The morning of the wedding dawned with brilliant sunshine. The sky was a perfect cloudless blue, and it was the last day Georgie would have to be stuck here with Michael.
With hair and makeup done, she slipped on her bridesmaid dress, a beautiful beaded satin charmeuse in a shimmering sky blue that hugged her body like a second skin. The ruched back was draped and dipped to reveal her lower back. Georgie had protested that it was too sexy for a bridesmaid dress, but Shannon had brushed away her concerns and clapped her hands in delight.
The slinky material felt like a cool cascade against Georgie’s skin and she’d never worn anything so gorgeous in her entire life.
In almost reverent silence, she helped her best friend get into her wedding gown and stood back to look at the reflection in the mirror. It was hard to imagine this day was finally here. All those years the two girls had played dress-up and make-believe in their bedrooms, Shannon had always been the magical princess bride. Where had those years gone? The happy carefree days before reality took hold of Georgie and taught her so many harsh lessons about life and love. Before her mother was taken away, along with Georgie’s little-girl dreams. She’d never had the chance to share this moment with her mum. Or her dad, she thought, thinking of Shannon’s parents and the part they would play today in their daughter’s wedding. She wiped at the dampness brimming on her eyelashes and cursed silently for allowing the memories to creep up on her today of all days.
‘Don’t you dare,’ Shannon warned in a husky voice. ‘We are not going to redo this makeup.’
Georgie hugged her and put on a bright smile, then all too soon there was a knock on the door and it was time to head downstairs to the cars. A long sleek limousine awaited them at the front of the hotel, and Shannon waved like a celebrity to the small crowd of onlookers who called out their congratulations and good wishes, her dad looking proud as punch as he helped her into the car.
Georgie felt her throat close up a little as she fought to hold back the unexpected rush of emotion.
The trip to the church would take them a little over forty minutes. Shannon had her heart set on an old stone church she’d discovered one day out sightseeing. It was up in the hills, overlooking the valley below. As they drew up in front of the church, Georgie could see why her friend had been so stubborn in her resolve to be married there. The views were breathtaking and the little old church with its moss-covered walls and cottage-like appearance made the perfect fairy-tale church.
With a final hug as the first strains of the wedding music started, Georgie took a deep breath and began her walk down the aisle. The church was full, almost bursting at the seams with friends and family eagerly craning their necks to catch a
glimpse of the bride.
More than a little out of her comfort zone, Georgie struggled to keep the smile on her face as she made her way down the aisle. As much as she loved getting dressed up, she was far more at home in boots and jeans, chasing cattle and riding horses.
Her gaze lifted towards the front of the church where the minister stood patiently. The encouraging beam of his kind round face sparked a genuine smile from Georgie. Sliding her gaze sideways, she sent a confident grin to Brent, who looked as though he wanted to fidget with the collar of his white shirt. Then she moved further along to Michael, looking as calm and cool as if he were waiting in line at a checkout.
One glimpse of his slow, sexy grin set her heart racing and her step faltering. With only the slightest of stumbles she regrouped and continued, hoping no one else had noticed. She couldn’t risk another look at him—she wasn’t sure she could make it to the front of the church without falling flat on her face otherwise. That man certainly knew how to wear a tux.
As she reached the altar, a collective gasp from the congregation behind her announced the arrival of the bride.
Shannon and her father made a majestic sweep down the aisle, and more than a few tissues were dabbing at eyes by the time they reached the front. Looking over at Brent, Georgie saw that his gaze hadn’t left Shannon’s face the entire time. He was the picture of an infatuated groom. A small smile touched her lips and she knew she wore a wistful expression as she thought once again how happy her friend was to be marrying the man of her dreams. Like a magnet though, her eyes were pulled towards Michael and she saw his thoughtful gaze resting upon her.
The service started and Georgie was immediately lost in the magical world of promises and pledges, trying hard not to let her own cynical experience tarnish the moment.
Twenty
Michael tossed and turned all night thanks to the constant turmoil Georgie Henderson sparked inside him. Infuriatingly gorgeous, stubborn woman that she was. He’d spent the morning trying to calm his besotted brother’s nerves and keep him on track. Brent was so uncharacteristically tense that without constant prodding to remind him it was time to get dressed and put on his shoes, they wouldn’t have made it to the church at all.
At least it had kept him from thinking about Georgie all morning. His thoughts still managed to wander back to the night they’d spent together, tormenting him by selecting choice images of their lovemaking, making him harden uncomfortably as a result. He’d fallen back into that teenage boy nightmare, where his body decided to take on a life of its own, choosing the most inappropriate moment to do so.
When Georgie walked into the church he felt as though his heart stopped beating for a moment, before thumping so painfully against his chest that he wondered whether he might be having a heart attack. He’d always found her beautiful, no matter what she wore, but seeing her appear in that doorway with the afternoon sunshine streaming in around her, she was breathtaking. She was like some silken goddess floating down the aisle towards him and he had to swallow over a hard lump that formed in his throat.
Watching her throughout the ceremony, he wished he could read her mind. Was she remembering their wedding vows? Did she ever remember how good it was at the beginning, before she shut him out of her life?
As the ceremony came to an end, he watched her hand Shannon’s flowers back to her and step away, waiting for the new Mr and Mrs Matthew to pass by. Her radiant smile faded slightly as she looked up at him, taking the arm he’d extended to escort her from the church and out into the church grounds for the photographs.
His breath caught as he glanced down and noticed for the first time the way her dress exposed the length of her bare back. It sent a wave of longing crashing through him. He itched to run his hands down the smooth tanned skin and feel her shiver in anticipation. His thoughts were put on hold as a wayward, rather rotund aunt of the bride clasped his cheeks firmly between her pudgy hands and pulled him down into a lip-smacking kiss.
‘Welcome to the family, son.’
Beside him, Georgie smothered a giggle but stepped in.
‘Aunty Betty, this is Brent’s brother Michael. It’s easy to mix them up.’
Her gentle nature was another thing he loved about this woman. She had a way of making people feel good, never drawing attention to their flaws or mistakes and often making fun of herself in order to save someone else’s embarrassment.
One way or another he was going to win Georgie back. He was buggered if he knew how, but he’d find a way, even if it took the rest of his life.
The reception was held in the hotel, the function room upstairs transformed into an elegant ice castle fantasy. White silk had been draped from the roof to billow softly above the guests and create a magical winter wonderland. Huge ice sculptures were scattered around the room with miniature ones in the centre of each table. Candles flickered against white backdrops and fake icicles were hung from tables and suspended from the ceiling.
As usual, after the beer and wine began to flow, things loosened up, and once the formalities ended, people were free to move around and chat. Georgie loved catching up with old neighbours and people she hadn’t seen in years.
Admiring the decadent wedding cake with a few other guests, Georgie was suddenly swept off her feet and into a strong pair of arms. She let out a squeal of surprise as she clung for dear life to the shoulders of her abductor. It turned into a laugh of delight once she discovered his identity.
‘Ben!’
‘Long time no see, Henderson.’
Georgie slapped his shoulder and demanded to be put down. Placing her back on her feet, Ben took a step back and looked her up and down.
‘Wow, you sure filled out in all the right places,’ he said with a long whistle that made her blush like an idiot.
‘Knock it off.’ She couldn’t help but laugh at him. He’d always been a larrikin, even as a kid. His family owned a property further down the road from Tamban, and he and Georgie had gone to the same school. Even though Ben had been a few years above her, they’d been good mates.
‘It’s good to see you again. What have you been doing with yourself?’
‘I’m running the old place now. Dad and Mum have buggered off to the Gold Coast to enjoy a bit of the good life.’
‘Good on them. They deserve it.’ She remembered Ben’s parents. They’d been good, hardworking people, and his mum had often dropped by with a casserole when her dad had been at his worst.
‘Are they here?’ She craned her neck to search the sea of faces but couldn’t spot them.
‘Nah, Dad’s just had an operation, so they couldn’t get here.’
‘Is he okay?’
‘Yeah, you know Dad. Tough as nails. Had a few heart issues but the doc reckons he’ll be good as new.’
Georgie gave a small shake of her head at the blasé answer. A few heart issues could mean anything, but clearly if Ben was at the wedding and not his father’s bedside, then maybe it wasn’t as serious as it sounded after all.
‘I’ll tell them you said g’day,’ he said.
‘Do that. I’m sorry I didn’t get to catch up with them.’
They headed over to the bar to get a drink and sat down to continue their chat. Ben was a typical country boy, tall and well built from a life of hard outdoor work. His sandy hair curled a little around his ears and powder-blue eyes sparkled at her in frank appreciation. She shook her head, grinning at his open flirtation.
Time had certainly done him no harm either. He was much better looking than she remembered from when he’d been a scrappy schoolkid riding home on the bus.
Laughing together over a shared memory of Shannon and an underage drinking incident, a deep voice cut through the jovial atmosphere.
‘Georgie, we’re needed for the bridal waltz.’
‘Sorry Ben, duty calls. It was nice to see you again.’ She bent down and kissed his cheek. ‘We’ll catch up a bit later and I’ll give you my number.’
Raising his glass i
n a show of agreement, Ben gave her wink and a slow grin.
She could feel Michael’s disapproving silence radiating beside her and bit back the rush of irritation. He doesn’t own me, she told herself angrily.
As instructed, Georgie and Michael were to wait until the bride and groom had completed a full circle of the dance floor and then join them before other guests were invited to take part. Placing her hand carefully in Michael’s, Georgie did her best to ignore the butterflies that fluttered against her ribcage.
‘It’s only one dance,’ Michael said, breaking into her thoughts and reading them as accurately as ever.
With a small snort, she said, ‘Be thankful Shannon outgrew her desire to have her bridal party do a fully choreographed dance routine.’
‘Now that would have been interesting.’
‘It was on the cards when we were kids.’ Memories of long hot days and school holidays, staring up at the cloudless blue sky above sharing dreams of the future swarmed her senses. She could, even now, smell the grass and the eucalyptus, hear the noisy insects in the trees and feel the sun on her face.
‘And what was your wedding daydream, Georgie?’ Michael asked, dipping his head close to her ear.
‘I don’t know. I was always Shannon’s bridesmaid.’
‘Your talents are wasted as a bridesmaid. Good thing I have first-hand knowledge of you as a beautiful bride.’
Her breath hitched at the solemn tone of his voice. He’d always had the ability to make her feel as though she were the most gorgeous woman ever created—but then again, he was a good liar …
Michael took her hand in his and slid his arm around her waist in a firm hold that drew her tightly against his body. As they glided onto the dance floor, she felt the heat of his hand on her naked back and a shiver raced through her. Beneath her palm, the fabric of his tux felt coarse; his shoulders wide and solid. As they made a circle, he pulled her a little closer and her hand moved further across his broad shoulder towards his neck. She knew that if she moved her fingers just a little higher, she’d touch the trimmed, neat edges of his short hair where it tapered down the back of his wide neck.