Never the Bride (Dilbury Village #1)

by Charlotte Fallowfield

  ‘I think she deliberately stepped on your dress,’ Miller panted, scrubbing his face as he bobbed in front of me.

  ‘That bitc–’ He cut me off by clamping his hand over my mouth.

  ‘We’ll deal with her later. We’d better get out, we’re causing a bit of a scene,’ he whispered. I nodded, but my eyes darted over to Fi-Fi’s far-too-gleeful ones while Martine urged everyone to keep moving, announcing the wedding must go on. ‘Come on, let’s swim down to the shallow end and we can try and sneak out with minimal disruption.’

  ‘Why do weddings with you always end up with us cold and wet?’ I asked as we started to climb the steps. Miller offered me his hand as my dress hung heavy around me. Most of the crowd was focussed on us instead of the soon-to-be happy couple.

  ‘I’d rather a wet wedding with you than a dry one with anyone else, Abbie,’ Miller grinned. He was still in his suit trousers, but he’d obviously managed to strip off his jacket before he’d dived in after me, as his white shirt was clinging to his chest and toned stomach.

  ‘And me you, Mr. Darcy,’ I whispered, eyeing him up. He shook his head and chuckled, then gasped and grabbed both of my breasts as the laughter and chatter from the guests at the back of the congregation grew louder. ‘Oh no,’ I groaned.

  As if I thought my humiliation at ruining Annabelle’s perfect day couldn’t get any worse, the weight of the water had pulled my dress down as I’d stepped out of the pool and both of my tits were out, flashing everyone whose eyes were on us.

  ‘Quick! You know I love them, but pop them back in,’ Miller laughed.

  ‘I swear I’m going to kill her. I’m going to push her over the edge of the building. I’m going to bottle Sumo’s farts and send it to her as a new designer perfume. I’m going to pop her over-inflated tits with one of Daphne’s knitting needles,’ I ranted, as I dragged my dress back up and scooped my breasts into the cups. ‘I’ll make her walk barefoot on sharp gravel. I’ll make her rue the day she–’

  Miller cut me off again by yanking me to him and kissing me until I sagged against him in a happy, relaxed heap. He then swooped down to scoop me up into his arms.

  ‘You can exact your revenge later. Right now I want you out of this wet dress.’

  ‘Oh, hello,’ I giggled.

  ‘That wasn’t what I was thinking, Abbie Carter,’ he grinned. ‘I can’t have you slipping and breaking anything, not when we have another week of sight-seeing to do,’ he advised.

  ‘Come, come,’ Martine ordered as she scurried up to us, holding Miller’s suit jacket. ‘Let’s get you out of here. Bernard will be waiting for you when you exit the elevator to escort you to a vacant suite so you don’t drip water all over your own. You can shower, then relax in the bathrobes with some complimentary champagne and truffles. We’ll wash, dry, and press your clothes within the hour and he’ll return them to you. Abbie, I’ll send up a beautician from the spa to redo your hair and make-up. You’ll miss the wedding itself, but should make it back in time for the champagne reception before the sit-down meal.’

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ I grimaced as I gave her an apologetic smile.

  ‘Pfft,’ she huffed with a flick of her wrist as we climbed the steps to the lift. ‘Trust me, as wedding disasters go, this is nothing. Anyway, don’t blame yourself. I was watching, this was no accident.’

  ‘She did step on my dress! I’m so going to be having words with her later,’ I hissed. A hiss seemed appropriate as visuals of a catfight with her filled my head. She was well overdue being put in her place.

  ‘Trust me, I will be having words with her later,’ Martine stated, with a scary, stern schoolmistress face.

  ‘Me too,’ added a furious-looking Miller.

  ‘And I will let the bride know that this catastrophe was not your fault,’ she added, softening her face to give me a smile as she ushered us into the lift and pressed for it to go down.

  ‘Catastrophe,’ I groaned loudly as the doors slid shut. ‘Annabelle’s going to kill me, but on the plus side, I don’t think I’ll be asked to be a bridesmaid again, not after two total disasters.’

  ‘And on another plus side, this dress isn’t running, so you won’t be returning with black, blotchy skin.’

  ‘Oh, God, can you imagine?’ I laughed, burying my face in his wet chest. ‘That would be even worse than my multi-coloured one.’

  Martine was true to her word, leaving me marvelling at the efficiency of The Domville. Bernard showed us to a suite opposite the lift and straight into the bathroom, where piles of fluffy white towels were waiting, along with some toiletries. By the time we’d emerged from the shower, a bottle of champagne on ice was waiting for us in the lounge, with chocolate-dipped strawberries coated in edible gold leaf. There was also a note to say that one of the girls from the spa would arrive soon and our clothes would be returned within the hour.

  ‘I could get used to this,’ I grinned, as Miller pulled me down onto his lap and fed me a strawberry.

  ‘I didn’t think you were that sort of girl,’ he said, biting down on one of his own.

  ‘I’m a girl full stop. Show me any girl that doesn’t like being pampered from time to time.’

  ‘I meant all this. The luxury, the money, the glitz of it all. Beautiful as you looked in that dress, and you really did, deep down you’re Abbie Carter, simple jeans-and-tee country girl. Aren’t you?’

  ‘I am, but a little glitz and glamour is nice from time to time,’ I confirmed, feeding him a strawberry this time, then licking some stray juice off his lower lip.

  ‘Could you ever see yourself leaving the country, living somewhere like this?’ he asked.

  ‘The Domville?’

  ‘No, a big city like New York.’

  ‘No way!’ I scoffed immediately. ‘I think it would be like London, fun for a while, but then the noise and hustle and bustle and constant crowds would get on my nerves. And can you see me taking Sumo for a walk on his skateboard here?’

  ‘Hmmm,’ he responded, picking up his flute of champagne with a frown on his handsome face.

  ‘Oh God, you weren’t …’ I felt myself starting to panic. Was he asking me to move here, and I’d just unknowingly shot him down? ‘Was that a subtle proposition? As I’m not good with subtle. I’ve lived with Sumo’s gas for too long, and as you know, subtle isn’t his style. He goes for the smack-you-in-the-face method of subtlety, just like that time he redecorated Georgie’s salon brown. So if you were–’

  ‘Hey, take a breath,’ Miller laughed, putting his fingers over my lips. ‘I wasn’t trying to be subtle, I wasn’t trying to be anything. It’s just being back together reminds me how much I’ve missed you, and sometimes I try and imagine where we’re going to end up, that’s all.’

  ‘I’ve missed you too,’ I mumbled against his fingers.

  ‘So, how is the little guy?’ Miller asked, changing the conversation. But I was sure he was as aware as I was that it was one conversation we couldn’t avoid forever. Not if we didn’t want to have an ocean separating us for all eternity.

  ‘Should I wait, or see you up there,’ he asked as he shrugged on his navy jacket and tugged the white cuffs of his shirt down. I looked up at the girl doing my hair and make-up.

  ‘I’ll be done in ten minutes,’ she responded.

  ‘Go up then,’ I suggested, licking some drool from my lower lip. He looked so hot in his suit. ‘I’ll find you.’

  He flashed me a smile and one of his sexy winks, and I swore I heard my helper sigh breathlessly. I was getting used to that reaction from women when they saw my man. She gave me a sexier, smoky-eyed look ready for the evening and turned my straight hair into some kind of movie starlet’s, with tumbling waves and body. I gave her a tip and went to twirl in the mirror, thinking I didn’t look half bad. By the time I made it back up onto the roof terrace, everyone was milling around with champagne and nibbles. I spotted Miller over in the corner, talking to none other than my sworn nemesis, Fi-Fi. Well, if she hadn’t
been before, she was now.

  I headed over, wishing I’d learned some kung-fu moves so I could flip her up into the air and smack her down on her arse, then pin her to the floor until she screamed for forgiveness. The two of them were oblivious to me as I approached, seeming to be in the middle of a heated debate, so I swiped a glass of champagne from one of the waiters and stayed a discreet distance, but within earshot. I felt like 007 on a secret mission, and idly wondered why there wasn’t a female 007. Bond, Abbie Bond. No, didn’t really have the same ring to it.

  ‘Stop trying to deny it, Fi. I’ve spoken to half a dozen people who all confirmed you stepped on her dress deliberately. I don’t know what you thought you’d achieve by humiliating her in public, not to mention the stress you caused Annabelle, but if this was some sort of ploy to make me ditch Abbie and come running into your arms, you’re sadly mistaken.’

  ‘You’re telling me you’re happy with that … that … bore? Squeaky-clean Abbie, the stuffy accountant? She has no idea how to satisfy a man like you, Miller.’

  ‘Well, she does. It’s not all about appearances, Fi, and the sooner you realise that and grow up, the happier you’ll be.’

  ‘Haven’t you changed,’ she sneered, as I stepped back a few paces when someone blocked my view of them. ‘There was a time when you’d have accepted any offer.’

  ‘That was the old me, I’ve changed. Maybe it’s time for you to as well.’

  ‘Have you changed, Miller, I mean really changed? Does she even have any idea of the kind of sexually active man you were? Does she even know who you are?’

  ‘She knows me better than most,’ Miller stated firmly.

  ‘That’s not saying much though, is it? You always kept your cards close to your chest. I wonder if I went and had a chat with her about who you really are, though, about what you’ve hidden from her, how would she feel about you then?’

  ‘I’m warning you, Fi,’ Miller growled, and I frowned, wondering what she was talking about. ‘Stay away from her!’

  ‘So, she doesn’t know. Well, well, well. I wonder how Miss Perfect, Miss “It’s wrong to tell lies, Fi-Fi” Carter, will react when she finds out the very man she’s trusted has been lying to her all along. I might just have to go and whisper the truth in her ear.’

  I gasped as I watched her put her hand on Miller’s chest and move closer, pressing herself against him as she licked her lips. My God, she was like a lioness, sizing up her next meal. I was so close to marching over and slapping her, but I wanted to know what was going on. What had Miller lied to me about? What was he hiding from me? I suddenly felt sick.

  ‘Back. Off,’ Miller warned, reaching up to grip her wrist.

  ‘Make me. You know what I want, what I’ve always wanted, Miller. You,’ she added breathlessly, making me grit my teeth. I put up my palm and blew out a harsh “Sssshhhh” as someone came to make polite conversation with me, receiving a startled look in response.

  ‘Even if you were the last woman on earth, Fi, my answer would still be no. And you’re right, I haven’t been honest with her, but that was something I was going to rectify tomorrow anyway, because she deserves to know the truth. You know why? Because unlike all of you gold diggers who came after me knowing exactly who I was, she fell in love with me without having a clue. I’d take a thousand Abbie Carters over one vapid, vacuous whore like you.’

  I gasped at the same time as Fi-Fi, then winced as she ripped her hand from his grasp and slapped him sharply across the face before stalking off. Miller rubbed his cheek as he frowned, then turned to scan the crowd and saw me standing there, my mouth ajar.

  ‘How much of that did you hear?’ he demanded as he marched over to me.

  ‘Enough to know that you’ve been honest with me about your feelings for me, but also enough to know that you’ve apparently lied to me about who I’m dating.’

  ‘Damn it,’ he muttered, wiping his hands up over his face and into his hair. ‘It’s not what you think, and what I was going to share with you tomorrow isn’t some deep, dark secret that would have you fleeing from me in horror, but I’m worried that you’re going to hold it against me for not being upfront with you.’

  ‘Then maybe you should tell me and let me decide for myself,’ I suggested as I set down my empty glass. ‘Until I know, I can’t gauge how I’m going to react, but I hate lies and I’m feeling a bit let down right now if that’s what you’ve done.’

  ‘Not exactly,’ he replied, taking my hand as he led me to a section of the garden that wasn’t quite as crowded. ‘I think the phrase is “economical with the truth.”’

  ‘Are you married?’ I asked, my stomach churning as I waited for his response. That would kill me, to find out I’d unwittingly become “the other woman.”

  ‘No.’

  ‘Engaged?’

  ‘No,’ he replied, a little more firmly.

  ‘Seeing anyone else?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘You’re transgender?’ I shot back.

  ‘No!’ he exclaimed.

  ‘An ex-serial killer?’

  ‘Again, no. And how do you become an ex-serial killer?’

  ‘I don’t know, I’m thrown as you’ve not been honest with me and I’ve no idea about what.’

  ‘How about you just let me tell you?’ he huffed, full of exasperation.

  ‘Well, I’m not getting any younger, just spit it out,’ I suggested.

  ‘I don’t just design video games, Abbie. I’m the Davis of the August Miller Davis Corporation, better known as AMD,’ he stated, then folded his arms across his chest as he waited for my reaction.

  ‘Ermmm, great?’ I offered. His brow furrowed into a puzzled frown. ‘Sorry, is that supposed to mean something to me?’

  ‘Yes,’ he chuckled, shaking his head with a look of astonishment on his face. ‘It’s the reason women tend to throw themselves at me.’

  ‘Oh my God, you’re a stripper! Your group AMD rivals The Chippendales!’

  ‘No!’ he laughed, his shoulders shaking violently as he tried to contain himself. ‘See, this is part of the reason I love you, Abbie. You have no idea who I am. You’re with me for me, the man, not the business mogul.’

  ‘You’re a mogul? Fancy. So this is your big secret, you own a business or something?’ I asked, the overwhelming feeling of relief at it being nothing untoward calming me.

  ‘Or something,’ he chuckled with another disbelieving shake of his head. ‘Just when I thought I couldn’t love you any more, you prove me wrong. I’m August Miller Davis, founder and owner of the largest gaming company in America.’

  ‘Your first name is August?’ I giggled.

  ‘That’s what you’re taking from that statement?’ he asked, looking surprised.

  ‘So you’re worth a few bob, is that what you’re telling me?’

  ‘Who’s Bob?’

  ‘It’s a phrase, like … bucks. You’re worth a few bucks?’

  ‘Yes,’ he said slowly, elongating the word. ‘A few … billion bucks.’

  ‘Billion?! Damn. I’ve got to end this relationship right now then, I only like to date penniless losers. Now that I know you’re a billionaire, this is never going to work out.’

  ‘Abbie,’ he scolded, yanking me to him and lifting me up off my feet to plant a kiss on my lips. ‘You’re not angry that I kept this from you?’

  ‘No,’ I replied, putting my arms around his neck. ‘As a single woman who owns her own car and house and has a pension and savings, I get being cautious in case someone’s only after what you have. But I mean, you need to be on a whole other level. Or billion levels even.’

  ‘You could have looked me up on the internet anytime, but you seemed so clueless when we first met, unlike most of the women I meet, I just wanted to see if you’d like me, plain old Miller Davis, not because you thought I was worth a few … Toms.’

  ‘Bobs. Actually bob, singular. Don’t ask, English is confusing, and I’m English. And you, August Miller Davis, wil
l never be plain old anything to me. You’re the most handsome man I’ve ever set eyes on. You made me fall for you the first time that I saw you, remember?’

  ‘I remember,’ he nodded, with a soft smile full of emotion.

  ‘Just tell me I don’t have to call you August from now on, as that’s a ridiculous name!’

  ‘It is,’ he laughed. ‘I was found in August, and since no one knew my name, that’s what they chose.’

  ‘Good thing they didn’t find you in June,’ I giggled. ‘That wouldn’t have been a manly name at all. Where did the Miller Davis come from?’

  ‘The male nurse who found me. I’m only called August in the boardroom, which I want to show you this week. I promise I was going to come clean. When we checked out of the hotel tomorrow morning, I was going to take you to my penthouse, then show you around my company on Monday.’

  ‘As long as I don’t have to play any video games, which so aren’t my thing, I forgive you,’ I murmured, letting my lips linger on his for as long as was polite at a high society function. ‘But there’s someone I’m not forgiving any time soon.’ My brow furrowed as my mind whirled, trying to think of a way of getting her back.

  ‘The bitch!’ Georgie gasped as I filled her in from my suite during a quick break before our evening sit-down meal.

  ‘I can’t think of a way of getting her back that won’t ruin Annabelle’s function,’ I sighed. ‘Pushing Fi-Fi in the pool would cause a scene, or more likely a catfight. Making sure the waiters didn’t give her lactose-free meals could end up with her being sick or sharting at the table, and anything I do in public would make me look like a malicious, vindictive bitch myself. Which I so want to be, but not at the risk of my own reputation.’

  ‘Can you get in her room? Switch her shampoo for hair removal cream or something?’ Georgie suggested.

  ‘That’s a bit harsh!’ I exclaimed.

  ‘No more harsh than she deserves, coming on to your boyfriend and shoving you in the pool, making you look like a drowned cat.’

  ‘Cat … hmmm, cat … otherwise known as pussy,’ I mused.

  ‘Yes, where are you going with this? You have an idea, don’t you?’