by Joanna Neil
‘Like the man who collapsed on his boat after he was hit by the mast.’ Amber smiled. ‘I heard he’ll be coming out of hospital soon. And his brother-in-law is on the mend, too.’
‘It turned out well in the end, didn’t it? I felt sorry for the young lad. It was a scary situation for him, and he was clearly worried about his father, but he managed to hold it together very well.’
Amber glanced at him, wondering whether she should ask him about what had happened to his own parents or whether it would be best to leave it alone.
In the end she said softly, ‘I guessed you were worried for the family and that you understood exactly what they were going through. Martyn told me what happened to your parents. It must have brought it all home to you.’
He nodded and didn’t seem to mind that she had brought up the subject. ‘I was a little older than the boy when the accident happened, so perhaps I was better able to cope with it. Like him, I was on board the boat at the time, and it was a frightening experience. We were caught up in a sudden storm at sea, and the waves were higher than any I’d ever seen. I think the boat must have been blown off course, and there was a problem with the onboard electronics. My father managed to radio for help, but he was tossed against the framework of the cabin and suffered a head injury. My mother and I went to help him, but she collapsed. They said later that she must have suffered a heart attack.’
Amber closed her eyes briefly. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said. ‘That must have been dreadful for you.’
He grimaced. ‘I suppose I was luckier than most. My uncle took me in and looked after me as if I was his own. He said I was like the son he never had…And Grace, my aunt, was like a mother to me. I could never get over the loss of my parents, but Martyn and Grace made my life whole again.’
‘It must make you very sad to see him so ill.’ She frowned. ‘I felt bad that I upset him the other day. It grieves me to think that I might have been the cause of him having a relapse.’
‘You didn’t do anything to make his condition worse,’ Ethan murmured. He turned the car on to the road leading to the hospital. ‘His heart is weak, and it’s only the tablets he’s taking that are helping him to keep it all together. I knew some time ago that things were bad, and I didn’t want him to go over to the U.K. because I thought it was too risky. I warned him, but he wanted to see how Caitlin was doing, and he was determined to look in on the U.K. offices to make sure things were shipshape.’
‘Even so, it can’t have helped when I reacted the way I did.’
He drove into the hospital car park and threw her a sideways glance. ‘What was it all about? I know he told you that Caitlin was getting married, but why would that cause you any problems?’
He parked the car and cut the engine. Then he remained still, waiting for her answer.
She sighed. ‘She’s marrying my ex-boyfriend…only he wasn’t an ex until he met her.’
He frowned. ‘So you and James were an item? How long had you been together?’
‘About a year.’
His eyes widened. ‘So it wasn’t a passing fancy. No wonder you were upset at the news. That must have caused you a few qualms. And did Martyn know this the whole time?’
‘Yes, apparently he did.’
‘No wonder you took Martyn up on his offer to come over here. It must have seemed like a heaven-sent opportunity.’ He gave a soft whistle, thinking things through, and she sent him a sharp look.
‘Don’t gloat,’ she said. ‘I didn’t come here with any designs on your uncle, neither did I develop any ulterior motive. I was out of work through no fault of my own, and I was ensured a job out here. You’ve had me wrong the whole time.’
‘Have I?’ He gave her a thoughtful, brooding look. ‘It still doesn’t account for my uncle inviting you over here and setting you up in a place of your own. He’d have treated you like a regular princess if he’d had his own way.’
‘Which he didn’t—and, like I said, don’t gloat.’
He held up his hands as though to admit defeat. ‘I’m not rejoicing in your misfortune. I wouldn’t do something like that.’ He studied her for a moment or two. ‘So how do you feel about James coming over here now that you’ve had time to get used to the idea?’
‘Humiliated, embarrassed, hurt—how would you expect me to feel? He threw me over for another woman, and I don’t know how I’m supposed to deal with that. Maybe you have some ideas about what I should do. You seem to have plenty of ideas about everything else.’
He blinked, jerking back a little in his seat. ‘Whoa. Don’t pin this one on me. I’m just trying to work out exactly what’s going on here.’
‘Well, I’m not going to run away, that’s for sure. I know you’d probably be glad if I chose to do that, but I realised that it was out of the question as soon as I saw Martyn relapse. He’s getting weaker by the day, and I don’t want to be the cause of any further downward spiral. I’m sorry if my staying here doesn’t suit you.’
‘I didn’t say I thought you should leave.’ He gave her a direct look, a glimmer of light starting up in the depths of his eyes. ‘If I remember correctly, what I actually said was I thought you should turn your attention towards me. That way we both stand a chance of getting what we want.’
She glowered at him. ‘You’re impossible,’ she said, reaching for the handle and pushing the door open. ‘I can’t talk to you when you’re like this.’
She slid out of her seat and started to walk towards the doors of the accident and emergency department. She would concentrate her attention on the boy who had nearly drowned. He, at least, was worthy of her anxiety.
The boy gradually recovered over the next few hours, and the following day the doctors were able to remove the tube from his throat. He sat up and began to pay attention to his surroundings, and his parents were exhilarated to have their son back.
Over the next few weeks, Amber concentrated on trying to boost Martyn’s strength. She made slight changes to his medication, giving him diuretics to lower the pressure in his arteries and heart, along with tablets to improve the heart’s pumping ability. Gradually, he seemed to be better able to cope.
The wedding plans went ahead, and Amber did her best to ignore the preparations going on around her. The wedding was to be held on Martyn’s land, with a terraced and grassed area close to the beach set aside for the actual ceremony. A wedding planner came to organise the seating arrangements, and soon there were visits from flower arrangers, caterers and all the other people who would be involved in making this a wedding to remember.
James and Caitlin arrived home the day before the ceremony was due to take place. Martyn embraced both of them and invited them into the house where Molly was busy laying out a welcome home feast in the dining-room.
Ethan greeted Caitlin like a long-lost sister, giving her a hug and at the same time lifting her off the ground and twirling her around in and exuberant show of affection. ‘It’s good to see you again,’ he said. ‘Congratulations on the new job. When do you start?’
She answered him, talking excitedly about all the changes that were taking place in her life. ‘It was such good fortune that James managed to get a job in clinical research alongside me. It was what we both wanted.’
Ethan acknowledged that, and turned to James. ‘So, James,’ he said, giving him the once-over, ‘you’re going to tie the knot and whisk my cousin away to the Caribbean for your honeymoon, are you? You must be a pretty fast worker. You only met a short time ago, didn’t you?’
James nodded. Perhaps he became aware of Amber standing a short distance away because he sent her a cautious glance, before answering Ethan in a low tone. ‘It was more of a love-at-first-sight kind of thing,’ he said, shifting his gaze to Caitlin by his side.
Caitlin slid her hand into his. ‘We both knew right away that we were made for each other.’ She, too, glanced towards Amber, a worried look on her face.
‘I guessed it must be something like that,’ Ethan said. ‘
And, of course, being able to connect with both of you through the video link at the hospital it meant that I already had the chance to get to know James.’ He moved towards Amber, who had been helping Molly set platters of food on the table. ‘It’s how I first came across Amber, too.’
Amber gave a faint smile, acknowledging that. He was making an effort to include her in the conversation, and that was probably more for Martyn’s sake than anything else, since his uncle was looking a bit fraught about the situation when he thought no one was looking at him.
But Ethan took her completely by surprise with his next move. He slid an arm around her shoulders and drew her close to him. ‘She’s the light of my life.’
The pressure of his arm about her slowly increased, as though he was giving her a hidden warning not to try to pull away. And then he looked down into her eyes with the expression of a man who was totally in love. Only Amber wasn’t fooled for a moment. She could read the hidden message in those glittering eyes, and it was telling her that she should go along with this pretence, not only for her sake but for Martyn’s, as well.
She gazed up at him. He was way out of order, wrapping her close this way and crushing the softness of her curves against his long body. If she could have aimed a surreptitious kick at his ankle without giving rise to suspicion, she would have, but everyone was watching them intently, and she had no choice but to smile through this mockery of a love match.
It was bad enough that he was teasing her this way, but even worse was her unwilling response. Ethan’s hand seared her skin where it rested on the curve of her shoulder. He let it glide downwards until it rested lightly on the curve of her hip, and she felt the instant clamour of her nerve endings as sensation rocketed through her. He knew exactly what he was doing. With one gentle caress he fired up her senses as though she was the candle to his flame, and her whole body went into meltdown. How could he torment her this way? Why wouldn’t he leave her be?
But she knew the answer to that, didn’t she? He was putting his uncle’s mind at rest and wiping away any guilt that might linger in his cousin’s mind at the same time.
She could see that Martyn was pleased that they were supposedly over their differences and heading for something more meaningful. There was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. If only he knew the truth of the matter…
Still, perhaps it was better this way. He could see his daughter married with a clear conscience, and his blessing would go with them when they set off for the Caribbean.
She carefully detached herself from Ethan’s embrace. ‘I promised Molly I’d help with the food,’ she said. ‘Excuse me, will you?
Caitlin followed her a short time later, coming into the kitchen and looking anxiously across the table towards her. ‘I’m so glad you’ve managed to find happiness for yourself,’ she said. ‘You must think I’m a terrible person.’ There was a catch in her voice as she added, ‘I didn’t know, to begin with that you and James were a couple. If I had done, I probably wouldn’t have let things go as far as they did. By the time I found out, it was too late. I’d fallen for him completely.’ She looked at Amber, her gaze sincere, apologetic. ‘Can you forgive me?’
‘I never blamed you,’ Amber said. ‘You were going through a very difficult time, with your father being seriously ill, and I could see that you turned to James for comfort. It doesn’t matter. Don’t worry about it.’ She was thoughtful for a moment or two. ‘Perhaps he and I were never really suited anyway. We got on very well together, like true friends, but there has to be more if you want to sustain a relationship.’
Caitlin seemed to take comfort in that. ‘I’m glad you don’t feel too badly towards us,’ she said. They spoke for a while longer about various things and then she glanced around the kitchen. ‘Molly has done us proud again, hasn’t she? Shall I take that bowl of rice through to the dining room?’
‘Yes, she has. Thanks, that would be helpful.’
Caitlin went back into the dining room and Amber gathered up a tray of nibbles and headed after her. She saw James and Ethan talking to one another as though they were old friends, and she decided that she would like nothing more than to slip away at the first opportunity.
She couldn’t, though. They were ready to sit down and eat together, and the talk was all about the wedding the next day.
‘You brought your dress in London, I heard,’ Molly said, looking at Caitlin and placing a basket of crusty rolls on the table. ‘I can’t wait to see it.’
Ethan came and sat next to Amber. He offered her a dish of chilled tropical fruits. ‘This is your favourite starter, isn’t it? Well, next to Molly’s scrumptious prawn cocktail, at least. What’s your fancy today?’
She looked at him from under her lashes. How did he know about her favourite food? Was he a people watcher, like his uncle? Or was it simply a case of getting to know the enemy? ‘You don’t need to keep up a pretence with me,’ she said, keeping her voice low. ‘I believe James already has the message. That stunt you pulled earlier was enough to grab his attention—and everyone else’s too. Even Martyn fell for it.’
‘You can’t have too much of a good thing,’ Ethan murmured. ‘Let’s make sure they swallow it hook, line and sinker, shall we? Then the wedding will go off smoothly and the young couple will go off happily on their honeymoon.’
‘I’m not playing your games,’ she muttered under her breath. ‘Enough is enough.’
‘Enough?’ He lifted a dark brow. ‘Believe me, angel, I haven’t even started yet.’
She looked up at him then, and he smiled at her, his mouth curving in a way that found its mark, a bonemelting, heat-seeking-missile kind of smile that laid waste to her defences and left her floundering.
He was incorrigible. Worst of all, she had the feeling he would be true to his word, and her knees grew weak at the thought. How could she withstand the onslaught of his carefully prepared manoeuvres? Heat pooled in her abdomen at his mere smile, so how on earth could she cope with a full-blooded ambush?
On the morning of the wedding, the bustle of preparations moved up several notches. The caterers set out a banquet fit for a king. There were Caesar and Waldorf salads and fruit starters, a selection of appetisers, which included spinach and cheese brochettes, and there was filet mignon, along with spiced chicken and seafood dishes. For dessert there were all kinds of delicious sweets to choose from…tropical fruits, whipped cream and chocolate mousse were just a few.
Outside, in the grounds of the house, rows of elegant white-painted chairs were set out on the lawns by the terrace, and standing columns adorned with splendid flower arrangements had been placed alongside the seating area. There was a bridal archway festooned with fragrant roses, and to one side was an area laid out with tables and chairs where people would sit and eat after the ceremony.
Beyond the immediate area, the curve of the bay provided a jewelled backcloth, where the glitter of sunlight on the blue ocean vied with white ribbons of surf that were left by the gentle waves rolling up on the beach. A cluster of palm trees would provide the setting for photographs of the bride and groom, and altogether Amber couldn’t think of a lovelier way for a couple to be married.
‘How are you doing?’ Ethan asked softly, coming alongside her as she stood on a low promontory, breathing in the salt tang of the air and gazing out at the ocean. ‘Just a short time now, and everyone will be taking their seats for the ceremony. How are you coping with all that?’
Her mouth made a crooked shape. ‘Are you afraid that when the minister says, “Does anyone here know any good reason why this couple should not be married?” I’ll interrupt and say, “Yes, it should have been me”?’
He laughed. ‘I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t go that far.’ He slid his arms around her. ‘But how do you really feel?’
‘I don’t know,’ she answered truthfully. ‘It’s very strange, but I don’t feel anything. Perhaps I just want it to be over, so that life can get back to normal, or at least as normal as it can be out h
ere when my home is in the U.K. My whole world is upside down right now.’
‘Well, we have a whole day of celebrations ahead of us, good food, music, dancing. Let me help you through that, at least. We can think about getting back to normal later.’
‘I don’t need help,’ she said. ‘I’m okay, and I just want to be left to deal with things my own way.’
He sucked in his breath. ‘Oh, I don’t think that’s a good idea at all. You have way too many devils to fight…least of all the fact that your ex-boyfriend might wonder how you feel about all this.’ He gazed beyond her to the house where all the preparations were going on at a fast pace. ‘You haven’t spoken to him about that yet, have you?’
‘I haven’t had the chance. Obviously, we talked before I left England for Hawaii, but the wedding plans came as a complete shock.’ She listened to the waves lapping at the shore, lulling her with their own soft, calming refrain.
‘I expect he wants to know that all is forgiven…but maybe you’ve moved on since then?’ He drew her closer to him, winding his arms around her so that there was no escape. Then he lowered his head to hers and in the next moment he had claimed her lips, crushing their softness in a kiss that was more thorough and passionate than anything she’d ever experienced.
His hands slowly stroked the length of her spine, trailing over the curve of her hips, and a wave of delicious sensation coursed through her. It felt as though her entire body was fused with his in an explosion of pleasure that left her weak with desire.
How was it that he could make her feel this way? She had never been so emotionally out of control before. It was as if he had lit a spark within her that flared briefly and within seconds had ignited a conflagration. Her whole body yearned for him. She needed him. She loved the way he was holding her, kissing her, thrilling her with his gently stroking hands. He made her feel cherished, as though they were the only two people in the world and there was no need for anything else.
And then he was slowly releasing her and she stared up at him in a haze of bewilderment. She wanted that sweet bond to go on for ever, and yet he was carefully easing himself away from her