She watched as he lifted his glass to his lips and gazed around the room, taking in the flashy lights and chrome interior of the new East Perth wine bar the old girls had hijacked for the event. A couple of women—friends of Kat’s who were in the year above them at school—looked across and Faith saw the moment their gazes caught on her fiancé. Their glossy pink lower lips dropped open and they gaped unashamedly. Glowing with pride, Faith slipped a possessive arm around Monty’s back and drew him close.
His attention returned to her and he bestowed upon her a grin that would never get old. ‘Enjoying yourself, Madam Alumna?’
Stifling laughter, she pressed her finger against his lips. ‘Shh, I haven’t won anything yet. You have no idea how determined these women are. The Barking Ball may have been a success, but I’m small fry in the fundraising stakes. Besides, knowing we raised enough money to make a difference is all the prize I need.’
Monty tightened his hold on her and plonked a kiss on the top of her head. ‘That’s why I love you, Faith Forrester. You’re so modest, but in this case I’m looking forward to saying I told you so. I’ve already cleared a spot on the mantelpiece for your trophy.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘We don’t have a mantel, and I already told you there isn’t a trophy. There’s sash and a tiara that you have to return every year, but—’
‘Ooh, we could have a lot of fun with those,’ he cut in.
As heat flooded her body, Faith fought off the image of what his talented hands could do with the sash. ‘Let’s just work on surviving the night first.’
‘Piece of piss,’ he said. ‘Look, there’s Kat. Let’s go say hi.’
Faith took a deep breath as Monty grabbed her hand and began to lead her through the hordes. She and Kat had exchanged a few emails since the ball and Faith knew she’d permanently split with her husband. Kat also knew that Monty and Faith had mended their bridges, set up home at Clancy’s Breakaway and recently got engaged to seal the forever-deal.
‘Faith! Monty!’ Kat’s eyes lit up as she spotted the two of them.
She turned to let them into the small group she was chatting with, offered them both a quick hug and then made some introductions. ‘Ladies, you remember Faith Forrester. She’s up for the award tonight. Her Barking Ball was not only a novel event but also a huge success. And this is her fiancé Daniel Montgomery.’
He nodded with a smile as the ladies rushed forward to offer their cheeks for a kiss. ‘Please, call me Monty,’ he told them.
‘We heard about all you last year,’ crooned one of the women, ‘but I must admit you’re even better in the flesh.’
Faith thought the woman might take a bite out of Monty but was secretly pleased by their approval. Mostly because this time Monty really was hers, not some figment of her imagination. She couldn’t wait to walk down the aisle to him, even if it meant wearing a dress. He’d begged and pleaded. Just this once. For him. And since it was the short magenta dress that had initially nabbed his attentions, she wasn’t really opposed to the idea—not that she’d ever admit it.
‘And how’s that sweet little town of Bunyip Bay going?’ Kat asked, before taking a sip of her champagne.
‘We live down near Mount Barker now,’ Daniel reminded her.
‘Oh, that’s right.’ Kat made a tsking sound as if she couldn’t believe her mistake.
‘But Bunyip Bay is good,’ Faith interrupted. ‘We go back regularly.’ When Faith thought of all that had happened—with Ruby, Drew, Ryan, Simone and just recently Adam and the Burtons—it was hard to believe that so little time had passed. Although tough at times, it had undoubtedly been the best year of their lives.
‘And how’s your brother?’ Kat directed this question to Monty.
His smile grew even more. ‘Will’s great. He’s moved into sheltered housing two nights a week with Pippa—his girlfriend— and they’re both working hard towards living independently. And they recently got a puppy.’
Faith glowed inside at the pride in Monty’s voice. She too smiled every time she thought about how far Will and Pippa had come, but it was Monty’s emotional growth that made her proud. Once he’d opened up about his fears surrounding parenthood, they’d had some of the best chats of their lives. As they learned more about each other’s hopes and dreams, their relationship had moved to a new level. After the wedding, they planned to try for a baby, and Monty was genuinely excited about this prospect.
‘Well, I guess I’d better go talk to the other contestants.’
Kat’s voice broke Faith’s reverie and she realised she’d been in a world of her own.
‘Not long till the big announcement,’ Kat said, patting Faith on the arm as she waltzed past her and into the sea of people.
The other ladies dispersed soon after and Faith found herself alone again with her man. ‘Do we really have to stay for the fanfare?’ she asked him.
His grip circled around her wrist, gentle but firm. ‘Don’t you even think about going anywhere. We’ll do our duty, claim your award and then I promise to whisk you back to the hotel and make all this socialising worth it.’
‘That sounds like an offer I can’t refuse,’ she said, standing on tiptoes in order to kiss him.
Monty pulled back just as things began to get heated. ‘I love you, Forrester,’ he told her.
‘And I love you.’
Your favourite characters from Bunyip
Bay return in Rachael’s next book
Outback Blaze
RACHAEL JOHNS
Autumn 2014
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ISBN: 978-1-74364-470-6
Title: Outback Dreams
First Australian Publication 2013
Copyright © 2013 by Rachael Johns
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilisation of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the permission of the publisher:
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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