Wedding Fever

by Lee Wilkinson

‘Bruno Osvald, the company pilot. And Finn and myself when we’re up there.’

  He was civil, just, but it was obvious that he was in no mood for conversation, and after several more fruitless attempts she gave it up and relapsed into silence.

  Despite her long sleep she must have dozed, because she opened heavy lids to find the calm, sunny weather had been left behind them. A gusty wind was whipping the treetops into a frenzy while rain fell from a grey, turbulent sky.

  They had left the 195 and were drawing into a busy shopping complex with a central mall, car parking areas, a large petrol station, a car-rental agency, several steamy diners, a coffee-bar, a drive-through McDonalds and a couple of sea-food restaurants.

  ‘Ready for something to eat?’ Nick asked, his voice neutral, neither friendly nor unfriendly.

  Though far from hungry, she nodded eagerly. Surely over a meal she would be able to get him to talk, dissipate some of his anger?

  And when he showed signs of softening she would suggest an overnight stop in Bangor, then, tomorrow morning, she would put forward Niagara Falls—where there were hotels and people—as a possible honeymoon destination...

  But for the moment Bangor represented safety. If they once left the town behind them and headed north-east into the backwoods she would be trapped—alone with Nick and completely at his mercy.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  NICK found a parking space near the Lobster Pot, and hurried her the short distance through the pouring rain.

  Once inside they were divested of their coats, which were hung on a rail, and shown to a table on a glassed-in veranda with a sandy floor and enough artificial rocks, wicker cages and strange green plants to make an imitation sea-bed.

  The place was full of the sound of rain beating against the panes and sluicing down the glass in never-ending streams.

  A young, tousle-headed waitress came up, pad and pencil at the ready. She wore an immaculate white blouse, a short black skirt and sneakers. A student working her way through college, Raine guessed.

  As the name of the restaurant indicated, the speciality was lobster, and the girl began to reel off the various ways they could be served.

  Feeling unable to cope with lobster, Raine shook her head and, after a cursory glance at the menu, with too much on her mind to worry about what she ate, ordered a salad.

  As soon as the girl had gone, Raine gathered up her courage and asked in a determinedly casual tone, ‘How long will it take to get to Bangor from here?’

  ‘An hour...hour and a half.’

  She took a sip of the iced water that seemed a mandatory part of every meal, and suggested, ‘You must be getting tired of driving in such awful weather?’

  His dark blue eyes showed no sign of softening as they rested on her face, and she sensed with despair that it wasn’t going to work. But, anxious at least to buy some time, she forced herself to go on. ‘When we get there, wouldn’t it make sense to stop at a motel for the night?’

  Expression sardonic, he said nothing, and she knew he was dishing out some of her own treatment.

  ‘Wouldn’t it?’ she pressed. Then, in desperation, ‘We could always go on to Owl Creek tomorrow. If you still wanted to...’

  Smiling grimly at the rider, he allowed his gaze to travel slowly over her and linger on the swell of her breasts beneath the fine, close-fitting bodice of her dress. ‘I’m rather looking forward to getting there tonight,’ he said softly, and then he added, ‘It wouldn’t suit my plans to stay in a motel with people either side and paper-thin walls.’

  Though veiled, there was no mistaking the threat.

  Watching the shiver that ran though her, he smiled again. His smile wasn’t pleasant.

  Her heartbeats became irregular, increasing in speed as she contemplated fearfully what lay in store if she didn’t manage to change his mind.

  But, though he was proud and tough and arrogant, she wouldn’t have described him as a vindictive man. So perhaps if she apologised for her earlier behaviour, ate a little humble pie...?

  ‘Nick, I—’ She broke off as the waitress returned with her salad and the steak Nick had ordered.

  When, the tray tucked under her arm, the girl turned away to take someone else’s order, he lifted an enquiring brow at Raine. ‘You were saying?’

  Knowing how much depended on it, she sought for the right words. ‘Earlier you said there was no point in making things worse, and I . . . I’ve realised you were quite right.’

  His expression cynical, he gave her no encouragement but simply waited, and she swallowed and ploughed on. ‘I know I was . . . unresponsive and difficult. I’m sorry . . .’

  ‘So you’ve decided an apology might soften me up?’

  Watching the hot colour flood into her cheeks, he informed her trenchantly, ‘Well, I’m afraid you’re wasting your time.’

  ‘Please, Nick...’

  He shook his head. ‘Who was it said revenge is sweet?’

  ‘But I—’

  ‘Save your breath and eat,’ he advised crisply. ‘I want to get on.’

  She tried to force down a little of the salad, but, recalling his threat to make their honeymoon hell, she felt sick. Once they were alone, isolated, it would be only too easy to use and humiliate her, strip her of any last shreds of self-respect...

  The situation she found herself in was worse than anything she might have imagined, and, fighting against a suffocating panic, she decided that somehow she had to get away.

  Once they’d rejoined the interstate he was unlikely to stop again until they’d reached their destination, and then it would be too late.

  His own meal finished, Nick frowned at her barely touched plate. ‘If you’re playing for time...’

  ‘I’m not,’ she denied huskily. ‘I can’t eat any more. But I would like a coffee.’

  As soon as their cups were empty he asked the waitress for the bill and paid it, tipping so generously that she looked first taken aback then delighted.

  ‘Gee, thanks! Have a nice day.’

  With a hand beneath her elbow, Nick escorted Raine back to the entrance and helped her into her coat.

  ‘I need to wash my hands before we start,’ she said, and, pulling away, hurried towards the door marked ‘Ladies’ Rest Room’.

  The air-conditioned unit was pleasant and well lit, with several chairs, a make-up counter and a row of gleaming sinks. The only other occupant was an elderly woman with blue-rinsed hair using the hand drier.

  As soon as Raine had the place to herself she took a quick look round; her heart dropped into her shoes. There were no windows in any of the cubicles, and only the one entrance and exit

  Perhaps she could sneak out and, if Nick wasn’t in sight, make a run for it...

  But he was there, his tall, broad-shouldered figure between her and the outer door. As though some sixth sense had alerted him, he turned as she emerged, and she had no choice but to join him.

  Though it was barely mid-afternoon it was almost dark, and raining harder than ever. People hurried to and from their cars huddled beneath umbrellas. Lights spilled from shop windows and flashing neon signs gleamed red and blue and green on the wet paving.

  He put his arm around her waist and, ducking their heads, they ran to the four-wheel-drive and scrambled in. As Raine fastened her seat belt raindrops trickled down her face like tears.

  Leaning towards her, Nick wiped them away with the back of his hand. Her sharp intake of breath brought a gleam to his eyes, and with a crooked little smile he asked, ‘Looking forward to tonight, darling?’

  Lips pressed tightly together, she refused to rise to the bait.

  They were passing the busy garage on their way back to the interstate when, glancing at the fuel gauge, he said, ‘It would make sense to top up on gas before we start.’

  One of the pumps became free, and, drawing up in front of it, he switched off the engine and got out.

  With a sudden surge of choking excitement, Raine realised that this was the o
pportunity she needed. The main entrance to the indoor shopping mall wasn’t too far away. If she could slip in there it should be comparatively easy to disappear m such a large and bustling complex.

  It would mean leaving her case behind, but she would manage somehow. Though she had no dollars, and only a small amount of English money, she had her credit cards.

  All she had to do was hide until Nick had given up and gone, then she could hire a car, drive to the nearest motel and lie low until she could decide on the next step.

  Not wanting to draw attention to herself, Raine sat quite still, barely breathing, while he filled the tank, replaced the cap and, in order to leave the pump clear, moved the car to a parking bay.

  It would make things even easier if this time he left the ignition keys and she could just drive away...

  But, as though some warning sense was at work, he took the keys with him as he jumped out once more.

  Her heart thudding against her ribs, she watched his black-jacketed figure go into the brightly lit glass-fronted shop and join the straggling queue waiting to pay.

  A second later she had unfastened her seat belt and was out of the car, closing the door behind her, so that if he glanced across he’d see nothing amiss.

  Knowing it would be a mistake to run, she forced herself to walk away without a backward glance until she could mingle with a little group of shoppers heading for the mall entrance.

  Once through the glass doors, heart pounding, legs curiously stiff and alien, Raine hurried along the main concourse, which was swarming with people taking refuge from the rain.

  In contrast to the darkness outside it was light and airy, the well-designed central area surrounded by balconies and open to a high roof, giving a feeling of space.

  As soon as she was out of sight of the entrance she followed a branch to the left, and halfway along it took an escalator up to the second floor.

  Scarcely noticing the trickles of cold water that ran down her neck, she kept walking, putting as much space between herself and possible pursuit as she could.

  Many of the shop windows still had striking Hallowe’en displays. But, continually glancing nervously behind her, she scarcely noticed the witches with black steeple hats, the capering goblins, the ghosts trailing white draperies and the orange pumpkins cut into grinning lantern heads.

  A glimpse of a tall man with broad shoulders and thick fair hair sent her heart into her mouth. But a second glance showed her that there the similarity ended. He was younger than Nick but several stone overweight, with a fleshy face and a paunch.

  Security in the mall was tight, and deliberately obvious. Male and female blue-uniformed guards patrolled, walkie-talkies strapped to their belts. One of them was accompanied by a leashed Alsatian. A youth who was showing signs of being rowdy was separated from his companions and quietly warned.

  Feeling vulnerable in the open, Raine followed a couple of well-dressed women into one of the larger departmental stores.

  Discovering that to linger aimlessly in any one department for too long brought her suspicious looks from instore security, she kept moving, mingling with the throng of people. Gradually her nervousness subsided, and she began to feel relatively secure.

  After more than an hour of dodging from store to store, Raine told herself firmly that she was safe. Even if Nick had guessed that she’d come in here, it was virtually impossible for one person to search a mall this size. And he wasn’t a man to waste time in fruitless endeavour, or to hang about looking a fool.

  So, had he given up and gone?

  There was only one way to find out.

  Lassoing her courage, she went back to the main entrance. It was still pouring, and if anything the wind had heightened, battering signs and awnings and lashing rain into her face.

  Keeping under cover as much as possible, she made her way across to the garage, where strings of multi-coloured flags fluttered wildly. A cautious check of the bay where the four-wheel-drive had been parked showed that it was no longer there.

  Breathing a sigh of relief, she hastened into the car rental office and, opening her bag, felt for the wallet containing her credit cards, her driving licence and what little money she had.

  Her fingers failed to locate the familiar shape. On stopping to look, she discovered that it appeared to be missing. A second, more thorough and increasingly frantic search only served to confirm that the wallet was definitely gone.

  ‘Can I help you?’ a nasal-voiced brunette behind the counter asked.

  Completely thrown, Raine stammered, ‘I—I wanted to rent a car . . . but I seem to have lost my wallet.’

  ‘Try asking at the information desk in the mall,’ the brunette advised uninterestedly. ‘They deal with lost property.’

  Turning, Raine blundered out—straight into the arms of a tall, broad-shouldered man whose thick blond hair was beaded with raindrops.

  Feeling as though she’d fallen down a lift-shaft, she found herself looking up into Nick’s grim, hard-boned face.

  ‘Surprised to see me?’ he enquired, his voice as abrasively smooth as pumice stone.

  ‘The c-car wasn’t there... I—I thought you’d gone,’ she stammered foolishly.

  ‘That was what you were supposed to think. Now, if you’ve had enough fun...’

  Beneath his cool veneer she could tell that he was furious as, an arm around her waist, he propelled her back the way she’d come.

  She began to shiver—partly with shock, partly with the cold. If only she’d stayed in the mall where she was safe..

  Reading her thoughts with his usual nerve-racking ease, he said, ‘If you hadn’t emerged when you did, I would have come in and got you.’

  ‘That wouldn’t have been as simple as you’re trying to make out,’ she objected spiritedly. ‘In a big, busy place like that how would you have known where to find me?’

  A mirthless little smile twisting his lips, he informed her calmly, ‘I’ve known exactly where you were for the past hour.’

  Endeavouring to repress the sudden conviction that he’d been playing with her from the start, she shook her head. ‘I don’t see how you could have done. You didn’t follow me...?’

  ‘That wasn’t necessary.’ Feeling the tremors running through her, he said curtly, ‘You ought to have a hot coffee before we get on our way.’

  Though steamy and somewhat garish, the coffee-bar he steered her to was bright and welcoming, and not overcrowded.

  Perhaps it was the nervous excitement that had sapped her strength, but not until she sank onto one of the red plastic benches did Raine realise how utterly exhausted she felt.

  Sipping the coffee, which was good and strong and reviving, she asked in a low voice, ‘If you didn’t follow me, how did you know where I was?’

  ‘I alerted the mall’s security staff and gave them your description. Thinking it was some kind of efficiency test, they picked you up within a few minutes and kept tabs on you.

  As she stared at him, mouth slightly open, he added casually, ‘You see, I happen to own the company that runs the mall.’

  So all the time she had thought herself relatively safe Big Brother’s minions had been watching her. How funny... How incredibly funny! Suddenly, as though her overstretched nerves had finally snapped, she began to laugh.

  Hearing and reacting to the edge of hysteria in that laughter, he leaned forward and, taking her face between his palms, covered her mouth with his own, stifling the laughter into silence and causing her heart to start to race.

  To any casual observer they must look like lovers, she thought, and the thought pierced her.

  When he let her go and moved back, she swallowed some more of the coffee, hands unsteady, while she struggled for and found at least a semblance of composure.

  As soon as she could trust her voice, she remarked as lightly as possible, ‘I hadn’t envisaged a shopping mall forming part of your business interests.’

  ‘When the project was only half finished the ori
ginal developers got into financial difficulties, so I bought them out and took over.’

  ‘You’re pretty good at that.’ The acid retort was out before she could prevent it. ‘I suppose you own the carhire firm too?’

  ‘Sorry to disappoint you.’ His unsparing glance took in her pallor, her shadowed green eyes, the way her flawless skin seemed stretched tight over those marvellous cheekbones. ‘What were you planning to do after hiring a car?’

  ‘Stay at a motel until I’d had time to decide on my next move... However, it seems the odds were stacked against me. Apart from anything else, I’ve somehow managed to lose my wallet and credit cards.’

  He clicked his tongue reprovingly. ‘Dear, dear! How very careless of you.’

  His expression and his mocking words made her stiffen. Recalling how he’d handed her her coat and bag, she said hoarsely, ‘But I didn’t lose them, did I? You took them!’

  ‘That’s right,’ he admitted calmly.

  Seething with indignation, she demanded, ‘Why?’

  ‘Do you need to ask?’ He sounded bored.

  No, she didn’t need to ask. He was a man who left nothing to chance, and he’d been covering just this kind of eventuality. Making sure she was dependent on him. Making sure she had no easy way out.

  Watching her expressive face mirror her feeling of trapped despair, he ordered shortly, ‘Finish your coffee. It’s high time we were on our way.’

  Trampling on any remaining shreds of pride, she begged, ‘Please, Nick...if only you’ll take me back to Boston—’

  ‘You’ll be ready to toe the line?’ At her almost imperceptible nod, he said derisively, ‘That offer comes much too late, my darling wife. After you turned down every chance I gave you of improving our relationship, I decided things should be on my terms—with no bargaining on your part.’

  So she had gained precisely nothing. She was still faced with the same situation which had scared her into trying to run away...

  Or a worse one...

  Though he was behaving with cool restraint at the moment, later, when they were alone, she would almost certainly have to pay for her abortive attempt at flight.