The Bridesmaid's Wedding

by Margaret Way

  “That’s wonderful!” Janet beamed. “Now both of you have to eat. Are you staying to dinner, Rafe?”

  “As long as you don’t try feeding me peanut butter sandwiches.” He smiled at her, harking back to a time Janet had done just that. “Unless you’d like to go out?” He glanced across to Ally, seeing her deepening expression. “No one needs to cook.”

  “You know that’s a great idea,” Janet said with enthusiasm, “but I won’t come along. There’s an old movie with Robert Mitchum in it I want to see. Fancy restaurants are for the young and wells-dressed.”

  “Maybe I’d better change.” Rafe gave his open-necked shirt an amused glance.

  Ally shook her head. “You look fine.” He looked wonderful. She would never tire of looking at him.

  “Tell you what.” Rafe stood up. “I’ll go back to my hotel and then I’ll pick you up around seven-thirty. It will give you time to relax a bit. Run a bubble bath.” As he said it he had an instant vision of her beautiful body barely concealed by glistening foam. “I have one or two calls to make.” One to Mead, he thought but didn’t say. “Victoria’s. suit you?” He named, as top restaurant.

  “You’ll be lucky if you get a table,” Ally warned. “It’s usually booked well ahead.”

  “I’ll get one,” he said almost idly.

  Janet laughed, her faded blue eyes crinklingi with wry amusement. “I bet he will.”

  With Rafe back in her life, even if he was only looking after her Welfare, Ally came alive. She had her scented bubble bath with foam spilling everywhere, relaxing her body in the fragrant, blue-tinged water. Her blood was rumiing like quicksilver as excitement surged through her veins.

  The memory of the night they had spent together, that extraordinary night of Brod’s and Rebecca’s wedding, had stayed with her with absolute clarity. The pounding

  force of their passion, the desperate hunger that had plagued them both endlessly totally assuaged. Afterwards she had felt peace but Rafe had lain so quietly, arms raised, his hands locked behind his golden head. It couldn’t have been plainer. Their passion was mutual. What went on in Rafe’s mind kept them apart.

  Why, oh, why, had Lainie decided to tell him all about the film role she’d been offered, Ally agonised. It was her own fault mentioning it. Telling Lainie Rhodes anything was like hiring a loudspeaker. She hadn’t even read the script yet but Lainie had obviously made it appear she was on the verge of accepting. Fame came before love. Alison Kinross’s career was everything. Even Fee was convinced she was going to take the role. Everyone in the business said it was inevitable she would move to the big screen.

  “A face made for the movies,” Bart always said. What he didn’t know was her so-called career had brought her no great joy. The excitement, the satisfaction levels had declined early. The underlying reason was she didn’t live for acting. It was Fee who fell in love with her roles. Fee who had found her career on the stage utterly fulfilling. Even to the exclusion of her family. It wasn’t Fee who had raised her beautiful little daughter.

  Fee had been locked into her Art.

  Ally had met Francesca’s father, Lord de Lyle only twice in her life, found him wholly different from her aunt, even different from his own cousin, David, but no one had disputed he hadn’t tried very hard to be a good caring parent.

  No one could make up for the absence of a mother. She and Brod. had lived with that loss. Fee was born lucky. She’s been given the blessed opportunity to get to know her beautiful daughter all over again. It was the strong resemblance between herself and Fee that was always remarked on. Was it any wonder, then, Rafe had come to believe any relationship between them was unworkable. Ally Kinross was set to follow in her famous aunt’s footsteps.

  When Rafe returned with a box of Belgian chocolates for Janet, Ally met him at the door, the two of them calling a good-night to Janet who had made herself comfortable in an armchair, turned on the television and gleefully opened the delicious assortment. Janet just loved chocolates and these were the very best.

  For dinner Rafe had changed into a beautifully cut dark grey suit with a white-collared blue and white striped shirt and a ruby silk tie. For a man who spent most of his life in riding gear he shad great taste. Not only that, he had the tall lean body to show clothes off. Ally was pleased now she had worn a new outfit in textured silk. She looked good in black. It was chic, it was elegant, it was sexy. And tonight she was relying heavily

  on her sex appeal. Sex was a woman’s not so secret weapon and she had to come armed if she wanted to convince Rafe she was still necessary in his life.

  The maitre d’ led them to their table, which Ally realised was one of the best in the room. Other diners looked on, absorbing the fact that was Ally Kinross, theTV star,

  but who was the amazing man beside her? He was clearly someone. He had the looks of a film star but a quite different aura. Abosolutely extraordinary. He filled the room like some great beautiful golden thoroughbred.

  “Like a martini?” he asked with easy charm.

  “I’d enjoy that very much. It’s been an awful day, an awful tiring day.”

  “You don’t look the least bit tired,” he told her. He could have said you look dazzling, but didn’t. Ally made a black dress look the ultimate in sex appeal.

  “Aah, that comes with clever make-up,” she responded lightly.

  “I’ve seen you without it.”

  His eyes were so distinctly sensuous, so sexually disturbting, she burst out, “You’ve seen me…”

  “Leave it there, Ally.” He seemed to shake himself out of it, picking up the wine list.

  “Very well, Rafe,” she answered with mock obedience. “But we did have our good times.”

  “Looking back, yes.” His expression unmistakably tightened.

  “I seem to do a lot of it these days.” She gave a genuine sigh. “Looking back.”

  He glanced at her over the top of the wine list. “That might, get you into trouble, Ally. I’m following the sign post. Straight ahead.”

  “I just can’t see you and Lainie,” she offered dryly.

  “As it happens, neither can I.” He shrugged lightly. “But I’m still out there looking for the right woman.”

  “Not me?”

  “Certainly not you Ally.” he smiled. “The way I hear it, you’re moving on to bigger and better things. Hollywood calls.”

  “I think I’ll pass on Hollywood,” she said.

  He appeared to ignore that as just so much talk. “Can they afford to lose you?” he asked suavely, breaking off as the waiter approached.

  Ally sat back while Rafe ordered, nodding her head when he suggested a particular wine. “I’ve had another card from Brod and Rebecca,” she told him more neutrally after the waiter had gone. “That’s four up to date. A phone call from their hotel in Venice.

  “I can claim a letter.” Rafe’s handsome mouth relaxed into a smile. “Brod could very easily miss me if he rang. He made it sound as though married life is very well worth the risk.”

  Her green eyes glittered. “Do, you have to sound so cynical?”

  “I don’t have any choice, Ally, darling, but I’m glad Brod has married the woman of his dreams. He deserves his happiness.”

  Ally nodded her dark head, centre-parted, a mass of curls and waves. “Marrying Rebecca was the best thing he could have done. She loves him with all her heart

  and of course she’s very clever. Kimbara will be the perfect place to write. She told me she’d love to make a start on a novel. I’m sure she’s got something in rnind with an Outback setting. “

  He seemed amused. “Surely she got enough inspiration delving into the Kinross past. Sex and family secrets.”

  “All right, all right.” Ally waved an acknowledging hand. “The Kinrosses never were as free of scandal as the Camerons. Anyway it’s going to ibe a mystery thriller.”

  “Great! I hope its brilliant. I can even think up a title. “The Disappearing Bride.”

&nb
sp; “The things we do to each other,” Ally mourned. “I used to be ta part of your life.”

  “Darling, you were part of me,” he corrected, a sudden flare in his eyes. “You had it all. I know. iit was a long time ago, but let’s get that straight.” He was damned if he was going to tell her she had taken the life from him and left him a terrible emptiness in exchange. Obsession was a raging monster he had to conquer.

  A great sadness came over Ally, a sense of having spoilt both their lives. “Now I’m your sparring partner.”

  He shrugged a Wide shoulder. “It’s better than being abandoned, believe me. Your kind of hold is tyrannical. There must be quite at lot of women with the underlying

  wish to own a man.”

  She stared at him out of her black-lashed green eyes. “I thought I could come back.”

  “You thought you could have an arrangement.” His brows knit together. “Sorry, darling. I’m an all or nothing man. Obviously you can still affect me. I couldn’t

  resist you the night of the wedding. I suppose I was off my head.”

  “Don’t say; that.” She reached out urgently for his hand, wrapping her fingers around his.

  She didn’t see his knuckles whiten. “You use sex like a tool, Ally,” he said, trying to harden his heart against the appeal in her beautiful eyes. “You’re as near to being a dangerous woman as there is.”

  She sat back shocked, but not surprised. She wasn’t wrong about Rafe Cameron. He had the pride of the devil. “I’m as needy as the next woman.”

  “Except the next woman doesn’t have a fraction of your allure. Add to that, you’re an actress.” Mockery lit his sparkling eyes. “You’ve just gotta have that great response.”

  “Are you saying you’ve never slept with anyone who offered better?” Blood rose to her cheeks. She felt hot in her silk dress.

  “Not in my experience. So far.” He smiled at her, brittle, a little taunting. “Even though something profoundly significant has been lost, we still share a powerful bond.”

  “God, yes!” Neither of them could deny it. Ally bowed her head, toying with her wineglass. “That’s very important to me, Rafe.”

  “I know.” He was consumed by the desire to take hold of her, crush her mouth under his. “It’s proof of the goddess syndrome. You let a man go on the condition he always retums.”

  Midnight was breaking by the time they returned to Ally’s apartment. Riding together in the back of the taxi had been an emotion-fraught experience made all the more tantalising knowing neither could have what their bodies so desperately craved.

  There wasn’t even ta chance he would kiss her, Ally thought, deeply conscious of the languorous heat in her body, the flower of desire that was trembling for release.

  Rafe paid the taxi off, joining her on the footpath and looking around.

  “You shouldn’t have let the taxi go. You mightn’t get another.”

  “Why are you whispering?” he asked, taking her by the arm.

  “I’m damned if I know.” She could actually feel herself swaying uncertain of what was to happen next. She even felt guilty because she wanted him so badly, her whole body stirring in seduction.

  Rafe kept her walking, taking time to check the dense foliage around the landscaped entrance. “They really oughtn’t let this get too high,” he said, looking at a hedge. “I might have a word with the caretaker in the morning. Don’t worry about me, Ally, I’ll see you to your door. I’ll be sure to pick up a roving cab. I could walk back to the hotel for that matter.”

  Why not? He had abundant energy. He was a big, strong man. He knew how to defend himself against a charging bull. Lord he had taken on half a dozen cattle

  duffers on his own, then went back to the muster.

  The lift doors opened and they walked in, the small mirrored panels on the walls reflecting their images. She felt strung up. Ragged.

  “Why do you look like that?” he said under his breath.

  She gavea little delicate shrug and put her hands to her flushed cheeks. “All I want is for you to love me.”

  “Make love to you, don’t you mean?” All night he had been resisting the violent urge to touch her, now she was inches from him, staring at him with those emerald eyes. Her olive skin was flawless beneath the overhead lighting. Her short silk dress showed off her beautiful legs. The style left her arms bare but was cut high at the neck, covering her breasts. He knew exactly what they looked like beneath the black silk, the delicate. curves, the points of her nipples. Did women know men regarded breasts as miracles?

  “Rafe?” she whispered low in her throat. A consummate actress playing a part? All he knew was he answered her with a soft growl, pulling her to him with one arm around her narrow waist.

  Such an exquisite forbidden mouth!

  “Rafe!”

  “Don’t bother talking,” he muttered, given over to consuming her mystery, though it was the source of his pain.

  Her mouth opened fully to his exploration. He could feel the silk of her tongue, smaller, more pointed than his. She had closed her eyes, her heads thrown back against his shoulder. He wanted to tear her clothes off, lay her beautiful body on a bed. His own body was filled with passion and agony, a great hurt having her in his arms couldn’t block out.

  He was dimly aware the lift had arrived at her floor. The door was opening. She was pressed against him, her arms going around his neck clinging as though without his support she would slip to the floor.

  He drew them both out, walked a few steps along the corridor, before allowing his mouth to sink on hers once again. What she was offering might have been the elixir

  of life. Wall brackets were burning. No one was around though there were four units to each floor. He could feel her shuddering against him and his hand swept down over her breast uncaring. He remembered how it was those years ago. The first times in the big bedroom at Opal. She was frantic for him then. His little virgin.

  She was frantic now.

  Time to do something, Rafe thought, chiding himself bitterly but unable to think straight with Ally in his arms. He knew if Janet Massie weren’t inside Ally’s apartment he would have Ally on her own bed. Such passion, for a woman was astonishing, bewildering. His mind said one thing while, his body, did a total turnabout. What he had often thought despairingly, was exactly right. Ally was in his blood. But he had to remember he had come here because she deeply needed his support and attention.

  There was something about that Harper character, though. he tried hard to be affable, something quickly covered over like a blanket. To hide what? Psychological damage? It could well be severe.

  Rafe’s feelings of protectiveness released him. “You have to go inside now, Ally,” he said, his voice changing from emotion-charged tones to the voice of authority.

  “l don’t, want to go.” She stared up at him, seeing the glow in his eyes, the passion that had emanated from him dissolving into a hard decision. “A pride of lions” is how people used to speak of the Camerons. Douglas Cameron and two sons. Rafe’s hair was glinting beneath the lights as bright as an angel’s.

  Rafe saw the shadowy figure moving towards the stairwell before Ally. The figure seemed to be draped in some sort of dark cloak, still Rafe had the definite sense

  It was a man.

  “Hey, you,” he yelled on impulse. “Come back.” His strong hands, closed on Ally’s shoulders, pushing her towards the door. “Get inside and stay there, Ally. And

  while youire at it, ring the police.”

  “No, Rafe!,” Immediately she knew his suspicions. The figure had given off an umnistakably sinister aura. “He could have a weapon.”

  “If it’s who I think it is I’ll fight him with my bare hands.’ Rafe had learned many hard valuable lessons in life. One was how to defend himself no matter how rough the going.

  He took off with no thought of his own safety hearing the hard pad of footsteps ion the internal stairway. With little more to go on than instinct he was con
vinced he wasn’t far away from the man who’d been harassing Ally. The whole building was slumbering. There was no one on the stairs, no lifts opened and shut.

  Just him and me, Rafe thought, hard in pursuit. Even if he found he had the wrong quarry, the figure in the cloak had no business being inside the building. Whoever it was, it was no woman. This was a fit man equal to the chase. He tried to put a face on the fleeing figure. Came up with Matt Harper. It had to be He fitted the profile too well. Mead had confided as much glumly, unhappy they couldn’t catch him out.

  “He’s probably writing up one of those letters now!”

  This time, however, Harper had made a mistake.

  The cloak, the surprise bit of apparel was thrown down early. Rafe leapt over it to the landing, with his long legs and his athleticism gaining on the quarry.

  Three floors down it all came together. Rafe sprang in a rage, his anger made all the more formidable because it was deeply personal. He grasped the back of the man’s neck and shook him like a rabbit, expecting violence, all that hate to detonate into an explosion of fists. Instead to his huge surprise, his quarry turned victim, shouting out a frantic, “Help!” He even ducked his head in his hands as though expecting to be beaten. Only Rafe had no killer instinct.He swung the man to face him, his whole demeanour incredibly tough and daunting.

  “What the hell are you up to?” he demanded.

  Matt Harper laughed shakily, rubbing his neck.

  “Jesus, are you cattle barons totally mad?” He laughed again, a choking sound.

  “Pretty much so when someone tries to stalk our women” Rafe told him with contempt.

  “Your woman, is she?” Harper gave Rafe a twisted smile. “You coulda hurt me, Mr Cameron.”

  “I still can,” Rafe warned. “What are you doing in Ally’s apartment building and why did you run?”

  “I did something. stupid,” Harper admitted. “But hell, man, I’ve got nuthin’ to feel ashamed of. Since all this bad stuff has been goin’ on I’ve been keeping an eye on Ally.”

  “Yeah…sure…. Don’t make me throw up.”