‘And Luc’s a family man now,’ Blake added. ‘Namborra’s a bit far to have come to Sydney for a night out. We’ll make up for it later. Oh...’ His voice cracked as soft music began and every head turned. ‘Wow...’
Jack caught his breath at the first sight of Sam, looking so radiant and beautiful, but it felt like his heart had stopped in sympathy the moment he saw Harriet. She looked like a ray of sunshine in that pale yellow dress and he’d never seen her hair lifted up from her neck like that. With the tiny flowers amongst her curls, she looked almost like a bride herself. He knew that Sam was the star of this show but, for him, Harriet Collins was outshining the bride. Without the slightest doubt, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in his life.
And...and she wasn’t limping. Not even a little bit...
He felt incredibly proud of her at that moment. So proud he had to blink hard to get rid of the extra moisture in his eyes.
Maybe it was just as well she wasn’t looking at him. Even when they’d stepped aside so that only the celebrant was framed between the palm trees in front of Sam and Blake, Harriet kept her gaze firmly on what they were here for—the exchange of vows between two people who were making a public declaration of a love they both believed would last for the rest of their lives.
Jack tried to keep his own gaze focussed on Sam and Blake as well and it wasn’t hard. The vows they had written were personal and beautiful and little Toby was very cute as he played his part in delivering the rings. But then it came, finally. That moment when they had their first kiss as a married couple and there was nothing Jack could do to stop his gaze sliding towards Harriet.
Had she already been looking at him or had she just felt the same pull at exactly the same moment?
It didn’t matter.
The kiss between Blake and Sam had made her remember and, in that long moment of connection when neither of them could look away, Jack knew he hadn’t been wrong.
Harriet had wanted that kiss on the beach that day.
As much as he had.
They both broke eye contact as the applause from the guests began. They had duties to perform now, like the signing of the register and then the official photo session. He still had his speech to make later, too, but Jack wasn’t feeling remotely nervous any more.
He wasn’t quite sure what this enormous sensation in his chest was. Relief? Excitement? Pure joy?
Whatever it was, this wasn’t the time to think about it. Or to try and talk to Harriet about it.
It was enough that it was there.
And, suddenly, Jack thought he recognised what this huge feeling was.
Hope...
* * *
Oh, man...
The way Jack had been looking at her.
Maybe it was a result of the most romantic setting ever, on this gorgeous beach with the background of a turquoise sea interrupted only by the lush green shapes of outer islands and the blue of the sky by some harmless, cotton-wool puffs of cloud.
Or maybe it was a reflection of the palpable love between the two people who had just joined their lives together in the most beautiful exchange of vows Harriet had ever heard.
Weddings were notorious for sparking romance amongst the witnesses and guests, weren’t they?
Except that she’d seen a paler version of that look in Jack’s eyes before. When he’d touched her leg, as if her scars were a part of her that was as acceptable and important as any other part of her body. She could have drowned in that gaze and it had been a shock when the guests had begun clapping because, for a heartbeat, she’d totally forgotten that anyone else was here. Even Blake and Sam.
She didn’t dare catch his gaze again. She busied herself, making sure that Sam’s dress was in perfect folds and that the breeze hadn’t messed up her hair for the photos as they signed the register and then moved to a more formal photo shoot further down the beach. It was easy to smile at the camera as group shots were taken but it became harder as the photographer suggested some more casual ideas.
Towards the end, both Blake and Jack had discarded their jackets and shoes and rolled up the legs of their trousers so they could stand in the gentle wash of waves.
‘Grab your girls.’ He grinned, then. ‘Hold them up high enough so their dresses won’t get wet.’
Blake had no hesitation in scooping Sam into his arms and walking back into the water. She had her arms around his neck and was laughing up at him and then he dipped his head to kiss his bride and Harriet knew it would be the best photo. She was so caught up, watching them, she barely noticed that Jack was right beside her.
‘Yes,’ the photographer called. ‘Awesome. Now we need the whole bridal party in the sea.’
Harriet caught her bottom lip between her teeth. She had to look up at Jack now, to see whether he was feeling anything like she was—as if she was about to take a flying leap off a cliff.
But he was smiling, his eyebrows raised in a query. He liked this idea.
With a tiny sigh, Harriet gave in to the moment, reaching up to put her arms around his neck. She felt strong arms take hold of her and then lift her as he turned and walked into the water.
She hadn’t been in a man’s arms like this for longer than she could remember. Once, Pete had picked her up on the beach and run into the surf, but only to dump her in deeper water. It had been a game. Fun.
Nothing like how this felt.
Jack wasn’t about to drop her and it wasn’t just because it would ruin her dress. The feeling of having his arms around her like this suggested a safety that went far beyond any clothing.
She trusted this man. And he was the sweetest, most generous person that she knew. She couldn’t do anything that would cause him harm—physical or emotional. He might think he wanted to be with her as more than a friend but she couldn’t allow that to happen if it had the potential to hurt him. She might think she was capable of trusting someone again but what if she was wrong? Was she really ready to risk having her heart broken again?
It was a huge thing to contemplate. Terrifying, even.
Not that she could give that fear any headspace right now and spoil this fun. They were all laughing, even when Blake’s trouser leg unrolled and got soaked. Their feet were caked with sand as they made their way back to the reception in the yacht club and neither of the men put their jackets back on but nobody seemed to mind. The venue was gorgeous, on an open deck with the fabulous views that were getting more and more stunning as the sun sank. Tables were sheltered by umbrellas that had hanging lanterns that would look like small moons as it got darker. The food was amazing, the speeches all went well and the dance floor was ready for them to party on into the night.
Harriet knew that she would have to dance with Jack, at least once, as they joined the bridal couple after their first dance. She wanted to dance with him so much that it was ringing alarm bells. If he looked at her the way he had during Blake and Sam’s kiss, while he was holding her in his arms and moving to soft, romantic music, she would be totally lost. It might be impossible to even remember the reasons why anything more than friendship with Jack wasn’t a good idea. That one—or both—of them would only end up getting badly hurt.
That was why she took a moment to have a private word with Sam. To whisper that her leg had reached its limits for the day and that she was scared she might fall on her face if she tried dancing. She saw Sam whispering to Blake a short time later and then Blake got up, resting a hand on Jack’s shoulder as he bent to say something to his best man before taking his bride’s hand and leading her to the dance floor.
A part of her heart was breaking at the smile that Jack gave her as he leaned closer.
‘No worries,’ he murmured. ‘You’ve done so well today, Harry. Not even a limp. We won’t push it.’
‘Thanks.’ She couldn’t quite meet his gaze. ‘I did it, didn’t I? Met my
first goal of being the bridesmaid that didn’t limp. Thanks to you.’
‘I reckon you would have got there without any help from me. I’m just glad I got to go along on the ride.’ Jack cleared his throat, reaching for his glass of water. ‘How ’bout that other goal, of getting your old job back?’
‘I’m getting a trial next week, thanks to that cardiac arrest I told you about. I know I can do it.’ But the shine of this new step forward in her life had dimmed. Jack sounded as if their training sessions together were a thing of the past. A ‘ride’ that was now over. It would make things easier not to spend so much time together but there was a hollow feeling in her stomach that felt a lot like loss.
‘I know you can, too.’ Jack was smiling again. ‘Reckon it’s time to talk to Blake about getting back on the team.’
They both turned to watch Blake and Sam as they were dancing. It was clearly something they both loved to do and their dancing was a pleasure to watch. The joy that emanated from the couple made Harriet catch her breath.
‘One step at a time,’ she said. ‘I doubt very much that Blake wants to think about the team while he’s on his honeymoon.’
If she joined the team again, it would mean regular team meetings and training sessions on top of any actual callouts. More time in Jack’s company, even if the personal training was done. She needed to get her head around that and make sure she could handle it and stay strong. For Jack’s sake as much as her own.
The silence felt a little awkward until Jack broke it. ‘They’re staying on here, aren’t they?’
‘Yes, for a week. They’ve got a private bungalow on one of the smaller islands and a line-up of amazing things to do like snorkelling and swimming with turtles. I’ll have to come back here one day myself, I think.’
The first dance was ending and Sam and Blake went in opposite directions to find new partners to bring to the floor. Sam came towards the bridal party’s table.
‘Jack... Blake says I have to dance with our best man.’ But her smile faded a little as she looked at Harriet. ‘You don’t mind, do you, Harry?’
‘Go for it,’ she said. ‘Blake’s got your mum up on the floor and look...your dad is asking Blake’s mum.’
‘He knows about her disability. He’ll be gentle.’
They all knew that Blake’s mother was limited in her physical abilities after her stroke but here she was on the dance floor, in the arms of a man who would be taking care of her. Beth was there as well and she had problems with her vision but Luc was there to protect her and they had little Toby holding each of their hands and bouncing enthusiastically to the music.
Harriet could feel Jack’s gaze on her. Telling her that he would have been gentle as well. That he could protect her. That she could cope if she wanted to.
It was just as well that Sam was dragging him away to join the increasing number of people who were getting up and into the fun. Harriet was left alone at the table. She watched for a few minutes but then stood up and walked towards the end of the deck. Nobody was going to miss her if she took a few minutes to herself and went out to enjoy the shine of the moon on the sea.
* * *
‘Where’s Harry?’
‘I have no idea.’ Jack had noticed the empty space at the table a while ago but he’d assumed that Harriet was mingling to talk to other guests.
‘I thought she’d gone to the loo but I’ve just been and she’s not there.’ Sam was looking worried. ‘Do you think she’s okay?’
‘She seemed fine. Apart from not wanting to dance.’
‘Maybe her leg’s worse than she was letting on.’ Blake appeared beside Sam and slid his arm around his new wife. ‘Could you go and look for her, Jack?’
‘Sure.’ Except that he might not be welcome if he found her. This would be chasing her in a far less subtle manner than sending a text message or something. But now he was worried, too.
‘Tell her it’s no problem if she’s tired and needs to go back to her bungalow. We’ll see her at the breakfast tomorrow.’
‘Will do.’
‘And thanks, Jack. For everything. It’s been the best day.’ Sam stood on tiptoe to plant a kiss on his cheek. ‘And now I need to go and dance with my husband again.’
‘Call us if there’s a problem,’ Blake added, but he was smiling down at Sam. ‘Husband, huh? How soon can we slip away, do you think?’
Jack paused at the bar at the end of the deck. ‘Have you seen a gorgeous redhead in a yellow dress recently?’
‘Couldn’t miss her,’ the barman said with a wink. ‘Looked like she was heading to the beach for a bit of fresh air.’
The sand still felt warm beneath his feet as Jack walked along the beach. The sounds of the party faded behind him until all he could hear was the soft wash of tiny waves. The beach looked completely deserted and he was walking away from the main part of the resort where he could have made enquiries about which bungalow she was in for the night.
Instinct told him that there was a problem. Not with her leg necessarily but...with him.
That same instinct told him that Harriet wouldn’t have shut herself away in a room. That she probably wasn’t far away and that she was finding peace in this soft symphony of sea music and moonlight.
And...there she was, her skirt bunched up in one hand, her sandals dangling from the other, walking close enough to the sea to have her feet covered by foam at the end of every wave.
‘Harry?’
She turned. And stopped.
‘Sam was worried about you. She sent me to see if you’re okay.’
‘I’m fine.’ Harriet bit her lip. ‘I just came out for a minute but...it’s so beautiful I guess I lost track of time.’ She came away from the water and let the skirts of her dress fall. ‘I’d better go back, hadn’t I?’
‘There’s no rush.’ Without thinking, Jack put out his hands to touch Harriet’s shoulders and stop her moving forward. ‘I... I think we need to talk...’
He could feel the softness and warmth of her skin beneath his hands. Her eyes looked huge in this soft light and her gaze was holding his as if she couldn’t look away. As if she didn’t want to...
A puff of breeze caught a curl of her hair that dangled in front of her eyes. Jack moved his hand to brush it back and then his fingers cupped the back of her head. He could feel the way her head tilted into his hand and his gaze dropped to where her lips had parted. There was no way on earth he could have resisted the force of what felt like a reflection of his own longing. He bent his head and touched her lips with his own.
* * *
This was every bit as astonishing as any fantasy kiss that had haunted her nights recently.
Only so much better, because it was real.
That first touch of Jack’s lips had been so gentle. So slow and thoughtful, as if he was soaking up something way more than physical contact. Building into an inevitable rush of sensation that she knew had taken them both by surprise because of that brief moment in time where they both froze. A tiny part of her brain registered her sandals falling from her hand before she reached up to put her arms around Jack’s neck. And then it was an avalanche of a kiss on a very different level that was sweeping her into a place that felt totally new.
Huge.
Scary, definitely... But it didn’t feel wrong. Quite the opposite, in fact.
It was hard to catch her breath when they finally broke apart.
For a long, long moment, Jack held her gaze. And then one corner of his mouth lifted.
‘Sorry.’
Her eyes widened. How could anyone be sorry about a kiss like that?
‘I didn’t ask for permission, did I?’
And then she remembered what she’d said when Jack had asked whether she was allowed to keep Harry the dog in her apartment. That sometimes it was better to apologise later than ask for perm
ission first.
She felt her own lips curve into a smile that just kept growing and any awkwardness between them seemed to vanish. Their friendship was still intact, and it had just stepped onto a completely new level.
A miraculous, totally unexpected level.
‘I’m not wrong, am I?’ Jack asked softly. ‘You’re feeling this, too?’
‘You’re not wrong.’ The words were a whisper. Harriet had to close her eyes for a heartbeat. Feeling it didn’t quite cover this overwhelming surge of emotion. Amazement and joy. A warmth that only came from love and an excitement that was pure sexual desire. But there was also trepidation mixed in there. Guilt even...
She opened her eyes to find Jack’s steady gaze locked onto hers.
‘But...?’
‘But...it couldn’t work, could it?’
‘Why not?’
‘I’m older than you, Jack. Maybe enough that your mates would laugh at you. People would look at me like I’m a cradle snatcher or something.’
Jack’s breath came out in a huff of laughter. ‘You’re kidding, right? You know how hard it is to find somebody that you feel like this about? What the hell do a few years’ difference in age make? Age is just a number. And who cares what anybody else thinks, anyway?’
Harriet couldn’t look away from those dark eyes. He really believed this. Other people probably did, too. She could almost hear the echo of May’s voice at the back of her head saying exactly what Jack had just said. That age was just a number...
‘Hey...when you’re eighty-something and I’m only seventy-five, do you really think it’s going to matter a damn?’
Now she couldn’t breathe again. This was more than just sexual attraction Jack was talking about, wasn’t it? Could he see them still being together when they were that old? Did he really see this as the start of...for ever?
Oh...wow... Yep. This was terrifying. But irresistible...
‘But...but what about your family?’
‘What about my family?’ A frown creased Jack’s brow. ‘You didn’t like them?’
Rescued by Her Mr. Right Page 9