“Is everything okay today, my dear?” he asked, concern drawing his bushy white brows together. “You’re certain about this?”
She nodded, unable to enunciate the words that he sought from her. It would be a lie if she said she was sure. She had never been more uncertain about anything. With every second that ticked past she came that much closer to having to go through with marrying Burton.
“Shall we start?” she asked, with as much of a smile as she could muster.
“Certainly. I’ll bring Burton out to you.”
“B-Burton?”
“Yes, he said that given what happened last time, he wanted to escort you in himself. No need for nerves this time around.”
The priest opened the door and made a small gesture with his hand. Shanal was forced to swallow against the bitter taste in her mouth as Burton joined her. As soon as they were alone his eyes swept her from head to toe.
“You look beautiful,” he said, as if that was all that mattered. And to him, it probably was. “Are you ready?”
She inclined her head and Burton took her hand and placed it on his forearm.
“Good, we look perfect together. I so look forward to dancing with you at our reception.”
With any luck there would be no reception, she thought fervently. Music began inside the church and she and Burton started to walk down the aisle. She was surprised at the number of people there. She’d asked for this wedding to be simpler and smaller, but she’d left those details to Burton to arrange, and clearly he’d chosen to ignore her preferences. Anyway, she supposed that none of it mattered anymore. Burton had never taken her wishes into account before, so it shouldn’t surprise her that he wouldn’t have over this. The sight of so many friends and colleagues made her all the more uncomfortable in the overdone confection of fabric and diamantes that he’d insisted she wear again. But, she made a mental reminder, she would stand here today as herself, not as Burton Roger’s puppet bride. At least she wouldn’t be if Raif got here in time. Where was he?
She scanned the many faces turned to them as they walked down the aisle, searching for Raif’s dark head, his square shoulders. He was nowhere to be seen. Fear tightened its screws on her already tightly strung nerves. He wasn’t going to make it!
At the altar the priest gave a brief welcome before launching into the service.
“We are gathered here today...” he began, with a wink at the bride and groom before him.
Struck by a near overwhelming sense of déjà vu, Shanal flung a frightened look toward the door. Still no sign of Raif. Firm, almost painful pressure on her hands made her look up into Burton’s eyes, where the hard gleam of satisfaction reflected back at her. He was getting what he wanted and she could do nothing to stop it. The feeling of powerlessness was terrifying, but nowhere near as frightening as the cruel smile that curved Burton’s lips.
How had she ever thought that marrying him would be a good idea? How had she allowed him to gain so much control over her? She knew all too well that the fault lay with her. She’d gone into this with two objectives: her parents’ financial security and the head research position at Burton International. She hadn’t ever believed she could lose her soul in exchange for those things. She should have known better than to try and strike a deal with the devil.
“If anyone here has just cause why Burton and Shanal may not be lawfully joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”
Burton fired a seething glare at the priest. “I thought I told you to take that out of the service.”
“It’s a requirement, dear boy, but don’t worry. Everything will be all ri—”
His words were cut off as the front doors to the cathedral clanged open and a loud male voice rang out.
“Stop the wedding. I object!”
Shanal sagged in relief as she saw Raif stride toward the altar, a look of grim determination on his face.
“Oh, not again,” the priest groaned, his face paling.
“Keep going,” Burton insisted, his own face suffusing with ugly, angry color.
“We can’t,” the cleric whispered back. “He has to state his objection.”
“There’s nothing he can say that can stop this wedding, trust me.”
“Let’s find out, shall we?”
The priest looked at Raif. Everyone looked at him, including Shanal, who had never seen a more welcome sight in all her life. Her eyes raked over him, taking in his disheveled hair and the determined light burning in those beautiful blue eyes of his. He stood there, tall and proud, dressed in a casual windbreaker and worn jeans and boots, and to her, he’d never looked more appealing.
“Young man, please state your objection,” the priest directed.
“Before I do, I need to know one thing.”
“What is that?”
Raif looked directly at Shanal, his expression intense and sure. “Shanal, do you love me?”
There was a collective gasp around the cathedral.
“Don’t answer him!” Burton interrupted, stepping forward, his hands clenched.
Shanal moved swiftly to insert herself between the two men. The air between them seethed with testosterone. She turned her back to Burton and faced Raif, her eyes meeting his. Love him? She hadn’t wanted to think about that through all of this, but now, with him here before her, she knew the truth without doubt.
She breathed for him. Her heart beat for him. Her body yearned for him.
“I do. I love you, Raif Masters, with all my heart and with everything I am.”
Raif’s lips quirked in a half smile that made her want to stretch up and kiss him with all the devotion and passion that dwelled inside her.
“That’s perfect, then. Because you know I love you, too.”
Two policemen appeared in the doorway to the cathedral, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Good, thank goodness. Finally someone with some sense,” Burton blustered. “Please, come and arrest this man. He’s disrupting my wedding and being a public nuisance.”
“I don’t think so, Burt,” Raif replied, his smile widening as he did so.
Shanal saw Burton bristle at the loathed shortening of his name.
“This is preposterous. Get this man out of here,” he directed the two officers, who’d drawn level with Raif.
“No, Burton, they’re not here for me. They’re here for you, and this time you’re not getting off without the blame that’s been due to you for far too long.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Burton stood even more upright, as if by doing so he could convince everyone what a model citizen he was. But Shanal knew better. She knew the darkness that lurked beneath the surface of his smooth facade. She understood the latent danger he kept well hidden under that apparently charming and debonair exterior.
Raif caught the priest’s attention. “Father, I object to this marriage on the grounds that this man is a criminal. His deliberate, spiteful actions led to the death of an innocent woman three years ago, after which he deliberately withheld the truth from a police investigation and perverted the course of justice by bribing others to hide the truth.”
Burton paled, his eyes narrowing at Raif as he directed the full force of his hatred toward him. “You’re lying. It’s all lies,” he said, his voice cold and deadly as finely honed steel. “You will regret this, Masters.”
“I don’t think so,” Raif replied just as smoothly. “You won’t get away with it this time. The police have a full statement from Noah. It seems he couldn’t live with hiding the truth.”
The officers stepped forward, one on either side of Burton. “Sir, you need to come with us.”
Burton launched himself toward Raif, a feral expression on his face. “You think you’ve won? You
haven’t—you can’t win. I’m the winner. I remember how you mooned about her when we were at school. How lovelorn you were when you thought no one was looking. When she came to work for me I knew there was nothing that would stop me from getting her. I had had Laurel, now I have Shanal. She’s mine, I tell you!”
The police grabbed Burton’s arms and pulled him back before he could do more than unleash his diatribe.
“Take him away.” Raif nodded to the officers, but Burton, it seemed, hadn’t said quite enough.
“I waited a long time to lord it over you the way you did over me at school. You think it didn’t hurt when we were growing up, when you excelled at everything—the way you thought you were so superior because you always won at sports, with your grades or with girls? I vowed a long time ago I would beat you, and I did. Shanal is mine.”
The look in Burton’s eyes held a hint of mania that sent a thread of fear winding through Raif’s heart. The man was dangerous, and far less stable than Raif had realized. Had he truly done all this—manipulated everyone so cruelly—because of some petty school yard grudge?
“She’s her own person,” Raif said quietly. “She makes her own choices.”
One of the policemen recited the charges against Burton and then read him his rights before they escorted him, still struggling, from the cathedral. Raif and Shanal watched in silence. Around them, the silence changed to a loud hum of excited murmurs.
Raif looked at Shanal and offered her his hand. “Shall we go?”
“Please.”
His strong fingers closed around hers and together they walked outside. Raif’s Maserati was parked at the curb and he held the door open for her, then made sure her dress was completely tucked inside before closing the door. Shanal sat in the comfortable leather seat and let relief wash over her in drenching waves. Burton’s hold on her was over.
Raif settled in the seat beside her. His face was more serious than she’d ever seen it.
“You’re safe now,” he said firmly. “Safe from him, safe to do what you choose. He can’t control you anymore.”
“What will happen now?”
“He’ll be formally charged and questioned. Given it’s the weekend, it might be a while before he comes up before the court. I don’t imagine he’ll be happy about cooling his heels in jail so his lawyer will try and have him released on bail. The police assure me that, due to his easy access to unlimited funds, they consider him a flight risk and will do everything in their power to ensure he remains behind bars.”
Shanal sighed in relief, then looked deep into Raif’s eyes. “And us? What will happen with us?”
“That’s entirely up to you. Would you like me to take you to your parents’ place?”
She shook her head. “No, I’d like to call them, let them know I’m all right—that this business with Burton is over—but I want to be with you. I want to be wherever you are.”
His eyes darkened at her words and he leaned forward, pressing his lips all too briefly against hers. “If that’s what the lady wants, then that’s what the lady will get.”
He started the car and drove away from the cathedral. Shanal briefly looked back at the people now spilling from the church doors and down the steps. She shuddered at the thought of how different it all could have been if Raif hadn’t made it on time, if he hadn’t discovered the information that had put a stop to Burton’s manipulation. She turned her head to look forward again, to her future. A future that, hopefully, would include the man next to her, for a long time to come.
When they pulled in through the gates that led to Raif’s home, Shanal knew she was in the right place. He stopped at the front door and came around to help her from the low-slung car. When he led her inside she couldn’t help feeling how different this was than the last time she’d been here. Then, she’d been filled with anxiety. Now, nothing could be further from her mind.
Raif gestured to his office. “Use the phone in there to call your mum and dad. I’ll go pour us a drink.”
She smiled in thanks and went into the room. Her mother answered on the first ring.
“Mum, it’s okay. It’s all over. The police have Burton now.”
“What—? The police?”
“I’ll explain it all to you and Dad later. I promise.”
“What about the mortgage and the loan?”
“Raif said he’d take care of everything. I believe him, Mum. You can, too.” And she meant every word. After what Raif had done today she would trust him with her life.
“Oh, thank God for that. When are you coming home?”
“Soon. I’m with Raif now. He’s where I belong.” As she said the words, she knew she’d never belong anywhere else—with anyone else—more than she did with him.
“Then that is good. Have you talked yet? About the baby?”
“Not properly. But Mum, don’t worry, and tell Dad everything will be all right now.”
By the time she hung up, Shanal felt drained. Even so, the weight of responsibility that had so burdened her these past months had lifted. Yes, there was a great deal to sort out and work through, but she could see an end in sight. A happier end. One that began with the man waiting for her across the hall.
* * *
Raif was struck anew by Shanal’s beauty and grace as she walked toward him, the overblown fussiness of her gown serving to accentuate the classical beauty of the darkness of her hair and the burnished bronze of her skin. He handed her the glass of mineral water he’d poured for her, and lifted his wine in a toast.
“To us,” he said.
“Yes, to us.”
Shanal clinked her glass against his and took a sip.
“You okay?” Raif studied her, sensing that she was in a state of turmoil.
“Just thinking, wondering what’s going to happen next with Burton International, with my parents’ home, with you and me.”
“Let me put your mind at rest about the first two,” Raif said, leading her over to the sofa and sitting down next to her. He stretched one arm along the back of the couch and brushed her cheek with his fingertips. “The board will step in at Burton International and keep things running. He’ll be removed as CEO and a provisional one will be installed in his place.”
“How do you know all this?” she asked.
He smiled in return. It hadn’t been easy and it had taken the better part of the morning to meet with the movers and shakers who would take control of the company. But they hadn’t needed much convincing when he’d explained that Burton would be arrested on a manslaughter charge, at the very least, before the wedding. More importantly, he’d done it in time to save Shanal from committing herself to a man who treated people as if they were no more than accessories designed to make him look all the more powerful or appealing.
“I know some people,” he said, keeping the details to a minimum. There’d be time enough to go into the specifics of how things would pan out.
“And my parents? The mortgage Burton held over their house?”
“All sorted out. He didn’t hold that personally. It was done through a company run by some of the same people on the Burton International board. The mortgage will be discharged in full on Monday, as soon as business opens.”
Tears brightened the pale green of Shanal’s eyes. Raif took her glass from her and put it with his on the table in front of them. He then turned to pull her into his arms.
“I can’t believe it’s over,” she whispered against his chest.
“It’s only just begun,” he murmured in response.
He put a finger under her chin and lifted her face to his, capturing her lips in a kiss that conveyed all the promise and hope he had for the future, their future. She was quick to respond. Her hands reached up to cup his face, to hold him to her as if she would never let him go. And he didn’t
want her to. He’d waited a long time for this woman. He planned to hold on to her for the rest of their lives.
She protested when he broke their kiss, but came willingly when he stood and took her hands. He led her down the hall toward his master suite, to the place where he could show her, by words and by deed, exactly what she meant to him.
“Raif?”
“Hmm?”
“I meant what I said in the cathedral. I do love you. Not just because you rescued me, again. Not just because you promised to make everything right for me and my parents. But because you make me happier than I’ve ever been. And what makes me happiest of all is the thought of a future with you and our child.”
An incredible swell of joy filled him. She’d put into words the most astounding gift of all.
“Thank you. You humble me,” he replied, resting his forehead against hers and hooking his arms around her waist. “I would move heaven and earth for you and our child. I want you to know that. All you ever need to do is ask.”
“Just love me back. That’s all I’ll ever want or need.”
“I do. Let me show you exactly how much.”
He took his time undressing her, in undoing the row of crystal buttons down her back until her exquisite beauty was revealed without adornment. As he did so, he traced the lines of her body with his fingers, with his tongue, with his lips. She trembled beneath his touch—not with fear or discomfort, but with need and want that was a mirror to his own. And when he lifted her into his arms and laid her gently on his bed, he knew he could explore her every day and never tire of her.
Shanal watched him from under hooded lids as he stripped away his own clothing with far less finesse than he’d undressed her. His erection jutted from his body, his flesh aching to find surcease within her. When he joined her on the bed her hands were quick to find him, to stroke his length, to cup his balls, to squeeze gently, making him close his eyes and give himself over to trust. Trust in her the way she’d trusted him.
They kissed, their lips fusing. First soft and gentle, then with increasing heat until Raif felt as though his entire body was aflame with want for her. His tongue probed the moist recess of her mouth, stroking her tongue as it met his, teasing the roof of her mouth in a kiss that was hot and wet and deep. Shanal arched her back, pressing her breasts against his chest. He tore his mouth from hers, then kissed a trail across her jawline, down her throat and farther, until he caught one nipple between his lips.
The Wedding Bargain Page 15