by Chris Taylor
She smiled ruefully and he pulled her even closer. His body burned with the need to kiss her, but he reminded himself it was their first date. His reservations had everything to do with the fact Shelby Gianopoulos was nothing like the girls he usually dated and the knowledge had him in a spin. He sensed this could be something very special and he didn’t want to screw things up. He wanted to take things slowly and savor every moment; accept that his life was about to change forever, if he’d let it.
A buzzing noise coming from the direction of her evening bag interrupted his thoughts. She fumbled with the clasp and finally pulled out her phone. Glancing at the screen, she grimaced.
“I’m sorry, it’s my mother and I’ve just noticed I’ve missed her last three calls. I’d better take it.”
“Of course. Please, go ahead.”
He moved a little way away to give her privacy and she threw him a grateful glance. With his hands in his pockets, he stared out at the water, watching the lights from the harbor side restaurants dancing patterns in the waves. He vacillated between joyous elation and panic. It felt like he was in a dream.
Had he met the woman of his dreams, or were they doomed to failure? There was so much about him she didn’t know. How would she feel when she finally found out his secrets? Refusing to dwell on all that a moment longer, he thrust the troubled thoughts aside, determined not to spoil their night. In silence, he waited for Shelby to finish.
* * *
Shelby answered the phone and pitched her voice low. “Momma, what’s the matter? Why have you called me four times?”
“Shelby Anna Gianopoulos! I’ve been trying to talk to you for hours! Why don’t you answer your phone?”
A surge of foreboding flooded through Shelby’s veins at the exasperation in her mother’s voice.
“What is it, Momma? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, honey. Athena called me. She told me about your date. With the doctor.” Her voice was full of innuendo. “I wanted to call and offer you some advice.”
“Momma! Athena shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t need any advice. I know how to handle myself on a date.”
“Tut, tut, tut. Of course you do, but I wanted to give you a few pointers. You haven’t been out with anyone since Kostas and I know he broke your heart. You’re not as young as you used to be. Time’s marching on. If you want to get married and have babies, you’d better get a move on.”
Shelby cringed with embarrassment. She was so not having this conversation with her mom at this moment. It was bad enough when her aunts got involved with their ‘you don’t want to be left on the shelf’ lectures. She was only twenty-seven. It wasn’t exactly ancient.
“It’s fine, Momma and I’m fine. I can deal with this on my own. I’m having dinner with a nice guy. That’s all it is.”
“Yes, honey, but a doctor. You don’t want to mess that up.”
Shelby gritted her teeth and suppressed a groan. Samuel stood a short distance away with his back to her, hands in his pockets, facing out to the harbor. She wondered how much he could hear. With a surge of impatience she cut her mother short.
“Listen, Momma, I appreciate your concern, but I have to go. Samuel’s waiting for me. I—”
“Samuel. That’s a nice name. Is he Greek? It doesn’t sound Greek.”
“No, Momma. He isn’t Greek. In fact, his parents are aboriginal.”
“Mm,” came the non-committal reply. Shelby suppressed a grin. Her mother didn’t have anything against other cultures, but she was determined to find good Greek boys for her girls.
“Anyway, Momma, like I said, I have to go.”
“All right, honey. Don’t forget about Elena’s wedding next Saturday. It starts at three o’clock. The whole family will be there.” Her mother’s tone turned sly. “Perhaps you could bring Samuel…?”
Shelby groaned under her breath. She’d forgotten about her cousin’s wedding. Twenty-three-year-old Elena was marrying her childhood sweetheart. Michael was a nice Greek boy from a nice Greek family. It was a perfect match.
Shelby thought of the deluge of relatives who’d descend upon her once again. ‘Poor Shelby, desperate and dateless.’ She didn’t know if she could stand listening to another well-meaning ‘don’t get left on the shelf’ lecture. They were exhausting and embarrassing and took all the fun out of any celebration. She’d be tense the whole night.
Her gaze fell on Samuel and without conscious thought, her mother’s suggestion took hold. With Samuel as her wedding date, her aunts would have nothing to say. Well, they’d have plenty to say, but not about her getting stuck on the shelf, or other similar, completely unhelpful platitudes. With vague promises to get back to her mother later, Shelby ended the call and tossed her phone back in her bag. She wandered over to Samuel.
“Everything all right?” he asked. The twinkle of amusement in his eyes warned her that he’d heard more than he should.
“Yes, it was just my mom calling to remind me of a family celebration I’m meant to be attending on the weekend. My cousin’s getting married. It’s kind of a big deal.”
Samuel smiled. “Of course it is. Wedding’s are always a big deal. I can only imagine what they’re like in a large Greek family.”
She offered him a rueful grin. “Oh, yes, there’s nothing like a big Greek wedding.”
“Is it anything like what they showed in that movie, or was that only for Hollywood?”
Laughter spilled over. “Oh, no, Hollywood got it right that time. That’s pretty much what it’s like. In fact, my family will probably go even further.”
Samuel’s eyes sparkled with humor. “Really? It sounds like fun.”
“Would you like to come?” she blurted out and then promptly clamped her mouth shut.
His face flooded with surprise. “Really? You want me to come?”
She blushed and looked away, grateful for the dimness that hid her embarrassment. Was she being too forward? After all, they’d only just met. Despite her desire to ward off her well-meaning aunts, to take him to a family wedding as her date could have serious consequences. Her relatives would immediately make assumptions and would hound him with questions until both of them wanted to scream, not the least being how he felt about their beautiful niece/cousin/sister/daughter and when he would be putting a ring on it. Shelby shuddered with horror at the thought.
“Actually, you know, on second thought, it might not be such a good idea,” she said hurriedly. “You barely know me. It’s way too presumptuous to think you might want to accompany me to a wedding—and a big Greek wedding, at that. My family are kind of…pushy. They’ll never leave you alone. They’ll presume there’s something more between us than there is. You’ll feel—”
“Honored that you asked me and very pleased to attend,” he interjected softly and reached up to cup her cheek.
The breath left Shelby’s body in a rush. Her heart thudded double time. Samuel’s warm hand slid from her cheek to her chin and he tilted her face up to his. He bent his head and his mouth skimmed across her lips, soft, fleeting and full of promise.
The evening melted away. She was oblivious to the sound of lapping water, the screech of the gulls, the people walking by. There was nothing and no one but Samuel and then he kissed her again.
His lips were warm and curious as he sought out the taste and feel of her mouth. Magical kisses, whisper soft, glanced off her lips. She reached up and clung to his shoulders, feeling the warm strength of him through his clothes. His muscles bunched beneath her fingers and she was flooded with heat.
He felt every bit as good as he looked and she burned to pull him close, skin to skin, lips to lips, together as one, forever. Her mind spun with her ridiculous thoughts, but still, she wanted more. Holding his head in place, she kissed him back.
This time, his mouth opened under hers and her tongue snuck into its warmth. He tasted faintly of wine and garlic and something indefinably his own. She came up on her toes and pressed herself fully
against him.
The feel of his erection hard against her stomach sent a thrill of excitement coursing through her. She couldn’t believe this was happening, that she was making out with Samuel Munro. And then he was setting her away from him and she was gasping to catch her breath. She stared up at him in confusion.
“Please don’t look at me like that, Shelby,” he murmured, his voice hoarse.
“W-why…?” She could barely form a coherent thought.
“It’s not because I don’t want to,” he assured her. “I want to very much.”
“Then…?” She shook her head, her thoughts still in a muddle.
“This is our first date. I want more from you than a one-night stand. I… I want to take things slow.”
She stared at him in confusion. “Slow? Who does slow anymore?”
He laughed and hugged her to him. “Not enough people, that’s for sure. But I’d like to, if you’re willing. We might have only met earlier today, but I can tell you’re special. Let’s not rush. I want to savor every moment.”
Shelby continued to stare at him, hardly daring to believe what he said. She had no idea men like him still existed. Could he be any more perfect?
“Sure,” she finally managed and then gave him a tremulous smile. “I’d like that. I’d like that very much.”
He grinned and hugged her tightly to him before setting her away. Taking hold of her hand again, they continued to walk.
“So, you’re bringing me to your cousin’s big fat Greek wedding, right?” His wink was accompanied by a smile so soft and tender, it stole her breath away.
She smiled back at him. All of a sudden, the stars gleamed brighter and she swore she heard music in the air. It was just like in the movies… It was perfect.
CHAPTER FOUR
Dear Diary,
I’m surrounded by beautiful things. I live in a beautiful home. I have a caring spouse, good-looking, successful children, everything I could want or need. And yet, I’m filled with discontent. I’ve been that way for most of my life. There is beauty all around, but all I see is black. The blackness of deceit, of lies kept hidden for far too long. I don’t know how much longer I can keep my secrets… Or even if I want to. Only time will tell…
It was just as I imagined it. I watched the procession of men who came and went from that secret place of abomination for several weekends. When I made up my mind to take action, I lay in wait for hours. I knew someone would come along. A Friday night in Bondi. The beach is never short of a crowd or people looking for a good time. Music pumped from the bars nearby. I could hear its throbbing beat all the way up on the hill. It was good. The music helped to camouflage his terrified cries for help.
It had been that way the first time. Oh, I can still hear his desperate pleas. They soothed my soul, helped me focus as I brought the tire wrench down. Over and over, my blows connected, until my arm ached and I gasped for breath. Only then did I cease.
He was barely recognizable when at last I stopped. I stared down at him, bleeding, bruised, broken…dead. The cap he wore had been lost in the bushes. With the aid of the flashlight on my phone, I found it and tucked it inside the waistband of my pants. A sense of calm exhilaration overcame me. Life was good. Some people might judge me harshly, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat…
* * *
Detective Sergeant Jared Buchanan stared at the battered remains of the young adult male and wondered, not for the first time, what the hell he was doing working a city beat. He’d moved from his hometown of Armidale only a month earlier in search of the excitement and exhilaration the city lights promised. He hadn’t counted on coming face to face with three homicides, all in the space of four weeks, two of which had occurred right there, along the cliffs of Bondi. It was taking some getting used to.
“Do we have an ID?” he asked the junior detective who’d accompanied him to the crime scene.
The cool night air ruffled the young detective’s longish hair, sending it into his eyes. Jared saw his lips move, but the sound of the surf crashing onto the rocks of Bondi Beach below muffled the man’s words. Jared moved closer.
“I’m sorry, Greg. I didn’t hear you.”
“I found a driver’s license in the pocket of his jeans,” Greg replied. “The license belongs to someone by the name of Simon McLean. Though it’s hard to be sure after the beating he’s taken, he bears some resemblance to his photo.”
Jared compressed his lips and nodded. The crime scene wasn’t for the fainthearted. Simon McLean—if in fact it was Simon McLean—had been beaten to death with a blunt object. Contusions on the back of his head suggested the first blow had come from behind. It had been followed by several others that had torn into the skin of his face. One of his eyes had been pulverized. The man lay on his side among the scrubby bushes along the cliffs of North Bondi, tucked up in a fetal position, his face a mask of agony.
It was a sickening scene and was eerily similar to one Jared had attended close by a few weeks earlier. Worse still, as yet, they had no motive. The man’s wallet had been found on his person. Two fifty-dollar bills and a few smaller notes were still tucked inside. An expensive watch had survived the blows and was still around the deceased’s wrist and a couple of gold chains hung around his neck. It was obvious robbery hadn’t been the motive.
Jared looked around him. He’d have to order some more lights. Though the moon was three-quarters full, it wasn’t supplying enough for their needs.
The last murder scene hadn’t offered up any hints as to the identity of the killer. He refused to let another murder go unpunished. This time, he’d scour every inch of the surrounding bushland for any clue about what had happened and who was responsible. He sighed quietly. It was going to be a long night.
* * *
Samuel checked his bow tie for the umpteenth time and wiped imaginary pieces of lint from his suit. The reality of what he was about to do suddenly hit him. He’d been dating Shelby Gianopoulos for a little over a week and still hadn’t come clean to her about his family. The more he got to know her, the more he liked her and the harder it was to take the risk and tell her the truth.
What if she dumped him? It was obvious family was extremely important to her. What would she think of him when he told her his family was… Was what? He wasn’t sure how he’d describe his branch of the Munro clan, but they sure as hell weren’t playing happy families like hers.
Why the hell had he agreed to accompany her to a family wedding? And not just any wedding, but the wedding of all weddings where he’d be subjected to sly glances, open curiosity, and no doubt outright questions about his intentions toward their girl.
“I still don’t get it,” Ian Broderick said from his lounging position in the armchair that stood in the corner of Samuel’s bedroom. “Who goes to a wedding with a girl they just met?”
“I like her, Ian. I like her a lot.”
“You’ve known her for a week, Samuel! Have you lost your freaking mind? Yeah, she’s sexy as hell with that cloud of hair and a body just ripe for fucking, but going to a wedding when you know what every guest on her side will be thinking…” Ian shook his head in disgust. “I don’t get it.”
Samuel’s lips tightened at Ian’s words. Despite his inner reservations, he wouldn’t stand for anyone to speak about Shelby like that. He glared at his friend. “Don’t talk about her like that, Ian. She’s off limits. I like her and I’m going to go to this wedding and be damned with what everyone thinks.”
Ian threw up his arms in a sign of surrender and stretched his legs out in front of him. He stacked his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling. Samuel adjusted his bow tie. Again.
“What’s so special about her?” Ian mumbled. “It’s not like she’s the only good-looking chick in Sydney. And I had the twins lined up last week. I can’t believe you blew them off. Christina was livid when I turned up without you. I was kind of hoping she’d go for a threesome, but she turned me down flat. Then her sister blew me off
, too and I went home alone.”
He sat up straighter in his chair and shot Samuel an accusatory look. “That was your fault, Munro. Make no mistake.”
Samuel shrugged, barely listening. Nerves had been twisting his stomach into knots since he’d woken early that morning. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go to the wedding with Shelby. It was just that they barely knew each other and he wasn’t sure he was ready to undergo a family inquisition. Like Ian said, was he out of his mind?
He’d spoken the truth when he’d told Ian he liked Shelby a lot and he was quietly hopeful she’d understand the difficulties he had with his family and that their feelings would develop into something lasting, but having their shiny new relationship put under the microscope by hordes of well-meaning, but no doubt intimidating relatives was enough to cause anyone to break out in hives. Including him.
He winced at the thought and made a concerted effort to force the negativity from his mind. Men and women had been dating since time began. It was a normal, natural progression for single people. He had nothing to be scared of. Once he got the family thing out in the open and laid the closet bare, things would be sweet. As for the wedding, they were her relatives and only had her best interests at heart. He could cope with that, couldn’t he? After all, it was only for a few hours and then he’d take Shelby back to his place and laugh about it as they sipped icy cold Coke. That’s where he’d tell her about his family. She’d commiserate, offer him comfort, tell him she understood. They could make out in the dark like teenagers before he reluctantly drove her home. Yes, he could do this. He was sure of it.
* * *
Shelby sat in the passenger seat while Samuel parked his gunmetal gray Aston Martin DB 9 in the parking lot beside the church. He hurried around to open her door. She was touched by his old-fashioned manners. He looked every bit the sexy bachelor with his sun-bleached hair tamed into submission to complement his formal attire. The black tuxedo fit him perfectly. She guessed it had been custom tailored. His snowy white dress shirt with pin tucks only heightened the tan of his skin. A black satin bow tie completed the ensemble but sat slightly askew. She reached up and straightened it.