Caroline Anderson, Josie Metcalfe, Maggie Kingsley, Margaret McDonagh

by Brides of Penhally Bay Vol. 03 (li

  ‘Back to help again?’ he asked, and Jem nodded enthusiastically. ‘Good lad.’

  Sharing a look with the most enigmatic of men, Kate mouthed, ‘Thank you,’ understanding how difficult it was for Nick to confront his own demons. Not wanting to push things or make a scene in public, she saw Lauren and Chloe returning to the side of the pitch and went to join them.

  ‘Everything OK, Kate?’ Chloe asked.

  She nodded in response to the gentle query, seeing the understanding in the younger woman’s green eyes. Her fellow midwife was one of only two other people, besides herself and Nick, who knew the secret about the identity of Jem’s father.

  ‘It’s been an excellent day and Jem is having fun being part of it.’ Again, Kate’s gaze strayed to where her son waited impatiently for the game to restart. Nick was watching him, too, and she wondered what was going through his mind. Aware she was on dangerous ground, she turned her attention back to her two colleagues. ‘Oliver did a brilliant job organising this. It’s a huge success.’

  Chloe glowed with pleasure at the praise for her fiancé. ‘I know. He worked so hard. Jack Tremayne helped, too. Both of them were able to call in favours from their days in London, securing the support of several national celebrities as well as the Cornish ones.’

  ‘Everyone’s really got behind the event,’ Lauren added with approval. ‘Despite the arrival of his baby boy, Dragan worked hard behind the scenes for today.’

  ‘I think he would have liked to play, but it’s understandable that he and Melinda wanted to keep out of public view after the press intrusions last spring,’ Chloe pointed out, and Kate nodded in agreement, remembering what it had been like in the village when Melinda had been identified as a member of European royalty.

  As both sets of players jogged out for the second half, cheers echoed around the playing fields.

  ‘Gabriel has been a star, jumping in to give support the moment he arrived here,’ Kate commented, glancing at Lauren. ‘He scored an excellent goal, too.’

  ‘All our guys have been great.’

  Kate smiled at Lauren’s reply, noting the wink Gabriel sent the young physiotherapist as he ran past and the flush that warmed her cheeks in response. It was clear where those two were heading! And Kate couldn’t be more pleased for them. Her smile broadened as Oliver detoured to give Chloe a kiss. Leaving the two friends to focus on the match—and the men who held their interest—Kate wandered farther along the side of the pitch so she could keep a better eye on Jem.

  The flood had been terrible for the whole village, causing physical and emotional trauma. The damage to property would take many months to overcome, while the loss of Audrey Baxter and Reverend Kenner was a tragedy never to be forgotten. But the aftermath, including the mass support for today’s event, showed what could happen when the community pulled together.

  Penhally’s previous disaster, the big storm a decade ago, had been the catalyst that had caused the moment of madness between herself and Nick which had led to Jem’s existence. Maybe the flood could have done some good if it sparked a turning point for the future…if Nick found a way to move on from the past and accept his son.

  ‘You really like Gabriel, don’t you?’ Chloe asked Lauren as Kate walked away from them.

  Lauren nodded, although ‘like’ was an insipid word to describe the complexity of her feelings and the extent of her attraction. ‘I do.’

  ‘The electricity the two of you generate when you’re together could power the whole of Cornwall,’ her friend proclaimed, giving her a quick hug. ‘I hope everything works out. I want you to be as happy as I am—and around Gabriel you look how I feel when I’m with Oliver.’ She hesitated a moment, then added more soberly, ‘I know we rarely mention it, but I’ll never forget all you’ve done for me, Lauren.’

  Chloe was such a sweetheart. That she was now blossoming was wonderful. Lauren still vividly recalled the state in which she had found Chloe eleven and a half years ago when the girl, then sixteen, had been beaten by her father. She had helped Chloe get away that night and was so proud of the success she had gone on to make of her life. Even so, for a long while Chloe had shut herself off from love because of her past—until Oliver had arrived. The perfect man to be understanding, gentle and loving, he’d taught Chloe all about being a woman in the fullest sense of the word.

  ‘You’ve come such a long way and I’m so delighted for you,’ she said, hugging Chloe back.

  ‘Thank you. Ooh, sorry, I didn’t mean to get all sentimental!’ Chloe’s smile was wobbly, her eyes bright with a suspicion of tears. Doggedly, she changed the subject. ‘Can you believe Vicky taking off like that after the flood?’

  Lauren had been friends with Vicky Clements since junior school. They were close but she acknowledged Vicky’s faults—primary amongst them being her propensity for gossip. Vicky didn’t mean any harm, but she often hurt people’s feelings and said thoughtless things she shouldn’t. And working at her mother’s hair and beauty salon, Vicky heard a lot of tales she was only too keen to pass on. They’d had a lot of fun together over the years, and Lauren enjoyed the flighty woman’s company, but it was to Chloe that Lauren turned for advice and to share confidences. Chloe was discreet and kind and totally selfless.

  ‘It will be a while until the salon is up and running again after the flood damage. Vicky’s mother is going to keep up her regular clients by doing home visits until the salon can reopen,’ she explained now. ‘Vicky’s been restless since embarking on her hot new romance with the guitarist of that up-and-coming band she met in a nightclub in Rock. When the band asked her to go with them on their world tour, to do all the styling and hair for them and the backing singers, she felt it was too good an opportunity to miss.’

  ‘A real adventure, for sure,’ Chloe agreed.

  ‘Vicky’s never been so committed to a man before…maybe this will change her.’

  ‘It’ll seem quiet around here with her gone.’ A twinkle of mischief appeared in her friend’s green eyes. ‘At least Vicky is too busy with her own love life to gossip about or interfere in ours!’

  ‘Amen to that.’

  Lauren remembered how Vicky’s tactless meddling had caused problems—thankfully temporary ones—for Chloe and Oliver back in the summer. It was a good thing that Vicky was away for the next few months, she decided. She didn’t need her nosy friend making wisecracks or involving herself in what Lauren hoped was her own budding new relationship with a certain sexy French doctor.

  ‘The second half is about to start.’ Chloe’s comment drew Lauren from her thoughts. ‘It’s been competitive but friendly so far—I hope no one gets hurt.’

  ‘Me, too.’

  The famous, top-flight referee, who had agreed to officiate for the charity match, blew his whistle and the game began again in earnest with the celebrities leading the locals by four goals to three. Lauren, as Penhally team physio, was kept busy as the game went on, with various muscle pulls and a couple of sprains. Then Jack Tremayne received a nasty cut to his knee, one that was suspiciously shaped like a stud mark from a misplaced football boot.

  ‘You need stitches in this,’ Adam Donnelly declared, examining the wound and stemming the bleeding.

  ‘It can wait until after the game.’ Jack ignored the combined medical opinion and insisted on rejoining the fray once he had been bandaged up. ‘If we win, I’ll let you at me with a needle.’

  Adam turned away with a good-natured grin. ‘Gee, thanks. Perhaps I’ll misplace the local anaesthetic. That or sew your lips together,’ he called back, making everyone laugh.

  The game continued and the goals kept coming for both sides. Lauren cheered loudest of all when Gabriel scored another spectacular goal to put the home team in the lead with only ten minutes left to play. Standing on the sidelines, enjoying the action, she couldn’t stop watching Gabriel. He had a wonderful physique, strong but leanly athletic, and his sleeveless top—part of the players’ kit donated by a national sportswear chai
n for the occasion—showed off the roped, corded muscles of his arms to perfection. Oliver had a good body, too, but looking at him did nothing for her in terms of attraction. Neither did any of the other men here. Only Gabriel. Just one sight of him stole her breath and set a fire of need smouldering inside her, clenching her stomach and leaving her giddy with excited anticipation.

  Watching him so closely, she was aware the instant something went wrong. She was already reaching for her bag when Gabriel collapsed as if he had been poleaxed. Seeing him fall scared her witless. Then she was running towards him, even before the referee had given her permission to cross the pitch. Gabriel needed her. Her heart in her mouth, Lauren dropped to her knees beside the prone figure on the ground.

  ‘Gabe, what’s wrong?’ Her voice shook with emotion and she didn’t consciously realise she had shortened his name. ‘Where are you hurt?’

  ‘Cramp,’ he managed through teeth gritted with pain.

  His right leg was rigid with vicious spasms. Lauren got to her feet and grasped his ankle, holding his leg up straight and pushing back against his foot to try to ease the locked muscles. By the time the referee, Oliver and a few of the other Penhally players had jogged across to see what was going on, some of the knotted tension in Gabriel’s leg was beginning to dissipate.

  ‘You’ll have to carry out any other treatment off the pitch,’ the referee insisted, for all the world like this was a major professional match rather than a fundraising one.

  ‘I can play on,’ Gabriel insisted, trying to get to his feet. ‘There’s not much longer to go. I want to see it out.’

  Lauren held on to him as he took a few faltering steps only for his leg to give out and cramp up again. ‘Gabe, you can’t. We need to get you rehydrated and your leg dealt with.’

  ‘She’s right, my friend.’ As Oliver backed her up, she sent him a grateful smile. ‘Let Lauren take care of you.’

  ‘You’ve given your all and scored two goals,’ she reminded him.

  Coffee-coloured eyes, threaded with pain, looked into hers. After a moment, he nodded. ‘All right.’

  ‘Thank you.’ She turned to Oliver. ‘I’ll take him down to the treatment room.’

  ‘Good idea. We’ll ferry down any other walking wounded when we’re done.’

  As Oliver went to organise a substitute for the last part of the game, Lauren grabbed her bag with one hand and slid her free arm around Gabriel’s waist, helping him balance as he limped to the sidelines. He put an arm around her shoulders, accepting the support, and she welcomed the weight of it. Even given the circumstances, she couldn’t help but be aware of how it felt to be so close. She could feel the heat of him and scent his earthy maleness.

  Chloe and Kate awaited them on the touchline, looking worried.

  ‘Is there anything we can do?’ Kate asked.

  ‘Can you keep an eye on him while I get my car?’ She hated to leave him but no way could he walk all the way to the car park. ‘If you have water or a sports drink, Gabriel needs them.’

  ‘Of course.’

  Knowing Gabriel was being cared for, Lauren ran for the car. Soon she was driving as close as she could to the pitch, pleased to find that Chloe and Kate had helped to guide Gabriel to her through the crowds. She jumped out and hurried round to open the passenger door, noting the tension on his face as his leg tightened again when he sat in the restricted space.

  ‘Thanks.’ She smiled at her friends and slid back behind the wheel, grateful it was only a very short distance to the surgery.

  She threw him a quick glance, pleased to see he was continuing to drink. His eyes were closed and he was stretching out his leg as much as the confines of the car would allow. ‘Are you OK?’

  ‘I’m getting too old for this,’ he joked. ‘Don’t worry, chérie, the cramp will ease.’

  It certainly would once she had a chance to work on those calf and thigh muscles. But she made no comment as she parked outside the surgery, unlocked the door and helped Gabriel inside. The problem with her plan only hit her once they were in the physio room.

  Alone.

  And Gabriel had gone behind the curtain to take off his football boots, socks and shorts.

  Oh, sweet mercy.

  Now he was lying face down on the treatment table. True, he was still wearing his football top but the towel covering his lower half reminded her of the day they had met. Lauren swallowed. She was a professional. She could do this. She could put hands on Gabriel’s scrumptious body and give him a therapeutic massage without thinking about or acting on any of the salacious and erotic fantasies running through her mind. Of course she could. And would. If she kept telling herself enough, she might even believe it.

  Ignoring the way her hands were shaking, she took out a bottle of the embrocation she favoured for working on tired, cramped muscles and approached the table. Biting her lip, she pushed the hem of the towel up to mid-thigh. His legs were beautifully sculpted, all toned muscle and supple, dark skin.

  ‘L-let’s get these knots sorted out,’ she murmured, cursing her lack of control. ‘Ready?’

  ‘Do your worst, Lauren.’

  ‘Right.’

  She poured oil into her hands and rubbed them together to warm it, telling herself to forget all the ‘worst’ things she really wanted to do to him and focus on the professional massage. Sucking in a steadying breath, she touched him for the first time. Her hands settled low on his calf, feeling the tightness of the muscles in spasm as she pressed upwards with deft strokes to the back of the knee. She forced herself to concentrate on what she was doing. She couldn’t allow herself to dwell on how wonderful it was to touch him, or let her gaze to move any farther up to where the towel brushed his thighs and draped across the enticing shape of his rear.

  Gabriel groaned as her thumbs circled deeply into his flesh. ‘Mon Dieu, that feels good.’

  The sultry roughness of his voice shimmered to every nerve ending. He certainly felt good, his skin warm and male beneath her fingers. She worked slowly up his leg, relaxing the muscles of the calf and thigh, feeling his tension ease while her own magnified. No matter how hard she tried to remain professional, to keep her touch neutral and impersonal, she had never been so intensely aware in her life. She wanted this man as she had never wanted anyone before. The temptation to caress, to glide her hands higher and allow her fingers to explore his body was overwhelming.

  Lauren was relieved that Gabriel didn’t talk. She didn’t think she could. Indeed, he seemed unaffected, his head turned to one side, resting on his crossed forearms. His eyes were closed, and he gave every impression of being relaxed and at ease, while she was on red alert, aroused and aching. It was mortifying.

  ‘Turn over now, please,’ she directed, injecting as much calm unconcern into her voice as she could manage.

  ‘Lauren…’

  She reached for the bottle of oil. ‘Hmm?’

  ‘I think it is fine now, chérie,’ he stated, sounding oddly wary.

  ‘Nonsense,’ she riposted briskly. If he could do this without batting an eyelid, so could she. ‘I haven’t finished massaging the leg.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Please, Gabriel.’

  He huffed out a breath, and she frowned, wondering what the problem was as he continued to hesitate. She waited endless moments before he slowly rolled over. Her pulse rate rocketed and her throat closed as the reason for his reticence became apparent…the tented towel gave evidence to the fact that the extent of his arousal matched her own. She couldn’t look away. Her stomach knotted with an ache of need, her heart pounded, and she could feel her nipples pucker even further in response, sensitive against the lacy fabric of her bra.

  Gabriel sat up and swung his legs off the table. ‘Lauren.’ His hands cupped her face, raising it until she was looking into eyes so dark and hot with desire she felt singed from the fire.

  ‘Gabe…’

  His name had barely whispered from her lips before his mouth met hers, firm, de
manding, delicious. The plastic bottle she was holding fell forgotten to the floor, her fingers trailing up the leanly muscled contours of his arms before clinging to the strength of his shoulders. She had longed for this moment. Had yearned to taste him. And now, at last, she was. There was no hesitancy, no awkwardness of a first kiss. It was as if their mouths, their bodies, already knew each other.

  Her lips parted in welcome and she moaned as he accepted the invitation with barely restrained hunger, sweeping inside, taking and giving, stroking and sliding. One arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer, and she stepped up between his thighs. The fingers of his other hand sank into her hair, tilting the angle of her head to deepen the contact between them. His touch was electric, his kiss explosive. Lauren felt as if all the cells and molecules in her body bonded with his, their genes homing in on each other.

  The kiss melted her, stealing her reason. Her legs threatened to give way and she tightened her hold, leaning into him for support. She had never felt like this before. The intense, thorough kiss was even more than she had imagined and dreamed about in the time she had known him. She met and matched Gabriel’s every move, never wanting this to end. Her tongue twined with his, and she sucked on him, excited when he nibbled at her lips, teasing and tormenting before deepening the kiss again and sucking back at her. She wanted more, needed everything, revelled in his immediate response, the passion between them intensifying.

  Gabriel lost himself in the sweet heat of Lauren’s kiss. The firm softness of her breasts pressed against his chest and he could feel the hardened crests of her aroused nipples through the thin barrier of their clothes. His hand grazed down her back to cup the enticing swell of her rear, and he shaped her, pulling her tighter, swallowing her involuntary whimper as she met the fullness of his erection. An answering groan escaped him as she wriggled closer, rubbing herself against him.

  He’d never felt this out of control from a kiss, but the wild chemistry between them had him on the ragged edge already. A kiss was never going to be enough. He wanted her. Wanted her as he had never wanted any other woman in his life. Needed to see her and touch her and taste her all over. Couldn’t wait to unite their bodies, to possess her fully, to lose himself deep and tight inside her. Lauren and this incredible passion they shared could make him forget all about the problems awaiting him back in France.