Australian Bachelors, Sassy Brides

by Margaret Way

  ‘Oh, good.’ Callie forced the words out between teeth that were inclined to want to chew her lip. ‘That sounds like a great idea.’ She bolted towards the office. ‘I’ll just check the weather while you do that.’

  Hopefully Mary would be in the kitchen, and she would be able to introduce Gideon to all those lovely people—who really were lovely people, including Mac.

  Being boisterous didn’t mean they were scary.

  Or anything.

  Honest!

  CHAPTER FIVE

  THE weather warning was even more severe on the morning of the wedding. The authorities couldn’t say which way it would go, and most often storms passed by the island, but the air was heavy, thick and still. Callie hoped for the best—or, if not that, for the worst to hold off at least until after the ceremony was over.

  Mary looked beautiful, in a simple cream sheath dress, with multi-hued flowers in her bouquet and in her hair.

  Callie stood to Mary’s left and let the words of the ceremony wash over her. She’d given up all pretence of fighting off tears the moment Mac first looked into Mary’s eyes and began his vows. The sound of waves on the beach wafted through the gazebo’s wide-open doors as Mac continued to speak. A flash of something caught Callie’s eye through those opened doors. The glint of sun on a bird’s wings in the distance? She wasn’t sure.

  Mac caught Mary’s hand and held it in his, and his voice deepened to an emotion-roughened rumble. ‘And I will love and cherish you for ever, and never forget the gift you are to me. I won’t ever forget, Mary.’

  The celebrant smiled and nodded, and pronounced them husband and wife, and Callie surreptitiously wiped the tears from beneath her eyes. She couldn’t let herself look at Gideon, who stood on Mac’s other side. That would be just too difficult. It would tug at her heartstrings too much, and she didn’t want to ask herself why that was.

  Mary and Mac kissed, and when they broke apart the family gave a boisterous cheer of approval.

  They walked down the makeshift aisle, with Mac receiving back-slaps and Mary receiving kisses on her cheek.

  Callie followed, with her bridesmaid’s bouquet clutched in her fingers and the rustle of pale blue silk whispering against her legs. She tried so hard to focus on those things.

  Tried, but couldn’t. Because her thoughts were on the man at her side, who now had her hand tucked through his arm.

  ‘Mary looks beautiful.’ Gideon’s voice was rough, resigned, but tender as he watched Mary, glowing on her new husband’s arm. He was still worried. That, too, sounded in his tone.

  Somehow, knowing the service had moved him moved Callie, too. It softened her to him—and that was such a bad thing to have happen.

  ‘The celebrant was good, hey, Mac?’ Andrew Jones let his pride show as he addressed his brother. ‘I know how to find someone who can do the job and keep quiet about it.’

  Mac nodded his head. ‘For Mary, it has to stay quiet. I don’t want a media circus for her, so it’s good to know this person won’t talk now or later.’ His voice held reserve as well as appreciation, but he produced a smile for his brother. ‘You did well, Andrew. I do appreciate it.’

  Just for a moment Gideon’s expression gave away the fact that he was on the same page with Mac when it came to preserving Mary’s privacy over this marriage. The couple intended to keep a low profile always; Callie had assured Gideon of that before they went their separate ways last night.

  ‘Mary does look beautiful, and years younger than she is. Happiness has taken age off her.’ Callie hoped her words would shift Gideon’s focus from the potential for disaster involved in this marriage.

  Yes, Callie had her concerns, in certain ways. She’d worked with Mary to ensure secrecy. She’d met Mac’s family and worried, and hoped Mary truly would be safe amongst them. In the end she’d concluded that Mac, despite his ways, quieter than some of the others, would do everything necessary to ensure Mary’s security—even from his own relatives if need be.

  ‘Are you okay now, Callie?’ Gideon dipped his head to search her face.

  She nodded self-consciously. She hadn’t expected to feel raw like this when Mary said her vows and bound herself to Mac. It wasn’t because Callie feared Mac wouldn’t love Mary enough. It was because she knew he would.

  ‘I’m fine. I’m happy for Mary. She looks lovely—glowing and happy, inside and out.’

  ‘You look just as beautiful, Callie.’ Gideon spoke the low words and squeezed her hand.

  For a moment there was a sadness in him, and Callie’s heart hurt—because she was remembering another wedding day, and how she’d taken herself away to a remote part of the island and grieved alone because she simply couldn’t share it.

  She had pushed that grieving down so far…

  ‘Callie?’ Gideon’s hand folded over hers. Shadows filled his eyes—concern for her—but he didn’t understand and she was glad. She didn’t want him to understand, because that would mean he knew…

  Knew what?

  That she’d…she’d cared about him back then, that was all. Simply cared about him.

  Callie drew a shaken breath. And then there were people all around and the moment passed.

  They rearranged chairs around tables and ate their buffet dinner in the gazebo while the sun set and darkness fell. Tiny rows of fairy lights twinkled overhead on the domed ceiling. The scent of Mary’s special foliage and hundreds of flowers filled the large room.

  ‘MacKay’s relatives have done a good job with the catering. The meal was excellent.’ Gideon made the observation into Callie’s ear as they watched the newly married couple take to the small area set aside for dancing.

  It was a conciliatory statement, and Callie treated it as such. She was relieved that he hadn’t been able to read her thoughts earlier, anyway.

  ‘Yes. I’m glad they went with the buffet idea. It kept it that little bit more informal, and allowed for a wider variety of foods.’ As she spoke the words the music started. Not a bridal waltz, no—not that for Mac and Mary.

  Instead they danced the Charleston. The couple had practised the dance for months, and Callie couldn’t help smiling as she watched them. She observed a look of anticipatory unease on Gideon’s face as he glanced her way.

  ‘Oh, don’t worry. That won’t be expected of us.’ Callie laid a consoling hand on his arm, the first voluntary touch she’d given him today—though not the first touch they had exchanged.

  You don’t want to think about that, Callandra. You haven’t been noticing all those necessary touches, and the few unnecessary ones he’s given you.

  And you certainly haven’t been affected by them.

  Right. Of course she hadn’t. Callie’s fingers tightened against Gideon’s arm, and then she drew away abruptly. The flicker of intensity in his eyes didn’t help her cause. But why was he looking at her like that after they’d both agreed that yesterday’s kiss was a mistake and they were over all that? Not that he meant he’d ever been other than over it. He’d just been momentarily distracted yesterday, nothing more.

  What had she been talking about?

  ‘The next dance will just be a regular one that anyone can do.’ Though it would be expected that they’d be the next couple on the floor, before anyone else joined in.

  Well, Callie could manage dancing with Gideon in front of a bunch of Mac’s relatives. No problem. No drama. No big deal.

  The music changed as she had those thoughts.

  ‘I think that’s our cue.’ Gideon got to his feet and held out his hand.

  ‘We haven’t danced together before.’ Callie placed her hand in his and got to her feet, and suddenly her heart was beating fast and she was breathless.

  He took that hand in a strong clasp and led her onto the floor. He turned her into his arms. He didn’t comment on her statement of the obvious, but his hands were gentle as they held her.

  Callie should have been conscious of people watching them. The sounds of laughter and boisterous t
alk should have impinged. Yet she could only feel Gideon’s hold on her, acknowledge how she relaxed into that hold, welcomed it.

  She could only notice the man who held her.

  There were so many sensations to notice. His hand holding hers. His other hand high in the centre of her back. The bridesmaid’s dress had spaghetti straps and a not at all plunging back, but it left enough skin bare that his fingers touched her flesh. What Callie couldn’t let herself notice was how right it felt to be held by him.

  ‘Let’s see if we can do this.’ Gideon’s low words were clearly intended to be jovial. The deep, husky tone of them somewhat put paid to that intention.

  Callie imagined she murmured some appropriate assent. Once her hand rose to rest on his shoulder she could no longer focus on words. His shoulder beneath her fingers was rock-hard. She could feel the outline of bone and muscle, and when they began to dance could feel every movement of his body through that one touch, even without the sense of his fingers gripping her other hand.

  Other couples joined them on the floor.

  There were more dances and changes of partners over the next hour, and pieces of wedding cake and wonderful coffee, and far too much champagne flowing, but Callie never lost the memory of that first dance in Gideon’s arms. Never lost her awareness of him at all.

  Mac and Mary slipped away quietly, after speaking with her and Gideon briefly. Mary didn’t throw her bouquet, Mac didn’t throw a garter, and Callie was kind of glad about that. She didn’t want to think of Gideon throwing a garter at a wedding years ago.

  Mary and Mac left by special chartered boat—a pre-arranged deal to get them away after nightfall.

  Somewhat similar to Gideon’s arrival, except he’d told her he’d simply bought a boat to get here. Only he would do that!

  The party went on until the early hours, and turned into somewhat of a family reunion. A very loud one.

  Callie had to see the party through to the end. And Gideon chose to see it through with her.

  ‘One more dance, folks.’

  The DJ set another vinyl onto the turntable and a sweet poignant song flowed through the gazebo. The warm mellow sound of the music lent it an intimacy that Callie did her best to fight. And no, her best was not good enough.

  ‘There’s something about music played the “real” way—on a turntable, with the scratch of a needle.’

  Gideon took Callie into his arms for this one last dance and told himself it was fine—because he’d made it through the evening, made it through the myriad temptations of Callie so close at his side.

  Callie was more temptation than he wanted to consider or acknowledge. He didn’t know why. Except for yesterday’s kiss…

  But still he held her for the final dance, and his hands touched her gently because that was what she drew from him.

  ‘Seven years ago I sent you away from me.’ He murmured the words against the hair that was piled on her head in artfully arranged Titian curls. He’d sent her away for her sake. Hadn’t he? ‘Now I’m wondering…’

  ‘You were getting ready to marry Dianna.’ She glanced up into his eyes. ‘I embarrassed myself that night—a young girl blurting things she shouldn’t have.’

  ‘I was a lot older, and I have to take my share of the blame for what happened.’ He was glad to have the incident out in the open at long last. ‘I could have dealt with it better at the time. But you tempted me then. You…still tempt me now.’

  The music faded to silence then, and they broke apart. Maybe it was as well, because she was a lot of temptation in his arms.

  People began to gather their things and head for the guest house.

  ‘You did a wonderful job with the wedding arrangements, Callie.’ Gideon’s words were determinedly focused away from the two of them.

  That was wise.

  So why did Callie feel almost disappointed?

  He went on. ‘I’m glad it’s over, and that it was kept quiet. Maybe if the family all leave, and Mary’s happy and she and Mac keep a low profile, you’ll be fine to carry on here.’

  He was still worrying about her. Callie didn’t want to think she glowed as a result of his words, but she probably did exactly that. Because Gideon cared.

  Oh, she was far too soft when it came to him!

  The last person finally left the gazebo. Callie let out a sigh of relief.

  ‘It all went without a hitch. No doubt the storm that was predicted will have passed over us by morning, too. Mary and Mac are away for their honeymoon, and tomorrow everyone will make their way back to the mainland.’

  ‘You’ll be able to get back to normal.’

  Did he sound as unenthusiastic at the thought of that as Callie felt?

  She spoke into the silence—but not the words that were inside her head: I wish you didn’t have to go.

  ‘I’d better get back to the guest house—see if anyone needs anything. The clearing up in here can wait until tomorrow. I’ll just shut the door on all of it for now.’

  ‘Take a walk on the beach with me first. Give yourself a minute to wind down. You’ve worked hard today.’

  Gideon rested a hand on her arm, and in the moment she hesitated, uncertain what to say or how to refuse what sounded like a dangerous but alluringly tension-easing idea, he pulled her the rest of the way through the doorway and closed it at their backs.

  Somehow, minutes later, they were on the beach. Her strappy sandals were in her hand, his shoes and socks were in his, and the moon was above them, casting a silken glow over the sea and the island and the night.

  ‘Are there jellyfish to avoid?’ Gideon gripped her free hand, as though he would protect her from such things if need be.

  Callie let him hold her hand, and her heart pounded just because he’d done the protective thing. ‘There are no jellyfish. They don’t end up here, which is good.’

  So that meant he could let go of her, right? She could make her own way, breathe in the sea air, centre herself after this long, busy day, and then retire to the guest house and sleep, and be ready for an early start tomorrow.

  Callie didn’t shift her hand.

  ‘All the guests are leaving first thing in the morning.’ The words were almost plaintive. She cleared her throat. ‘I hope Mary and Mac have a wonderful honeymoon. It’s their first step in a whole new future.’

  ‘I hope they’re happy, Callie.’ He stopped walking. ‘I do hope that. When I discovered Mac’s identity I was worried. I still am. The report I got in wasn’t entirely reassuring. Mac himself seems to truly have changed his outlook, to be determined to live a crime-free life, but that doesn’t erase his past…’

  ‘I know.’ How could she blame him for caring when that worry came out of his concern for his aunt? When Callie herself shared much of it? ‘I don’t blame you, Gid. To be honest, I’ll feel a little better when his family are all gone. They’re a little overwhelming all at once.’

  ‘You’re the only person in my life who calls me that—Gid. The only one who ever has.’ That husky tone was back in his voice again, and he turned his head to look at her in the moon-limned night. ‘I think it’s just as well I’ll be leaving in the morning, Callandra, because I’m having trouble viewing you the way I should.’

  Don’t ask him. ‘What way are you viewing me?’

  ‘In this way.’ He lifted his hand to stroke his fingers over her shoulders. ‘In a way that can’t stop me looking at the soft dusting of freckles across your shoulders and wanting to kiss each one.’

  ‘You—ah—’ She closed her eyes as his fingers rose to caress her cheek. ‘You make freckles sound enticing. I’ve always viewed them as a nuisance…’

  ‘Enticing, tempting. As tempting as this.’ His fingers drifted into her hair, pulled at pins, dropped those pins onto the sand at their feet as her hair tumbled down around her shoulders. ‘God, Callie. I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as your hair. Why do you tie it back all the time?’

  Before she could answer he shook his he
ad. ‘I’m glad you tie it back. At least no one else is seeing…’

  If he’d imbibed too much champagne she would have thought that was behind this loosening of his tongue—this spill of words that whispered into the night air and echoed on the roll of the waves, wending their way through her until she stood frozen, unable to resist them.

  Callie couldn’t remember any more why she needed to resist. Something about Gideon’s negative attitude to emotional commitment, his rejection of her offer of her love seven years ago…

  What was she saying? She’d had a crush on him. It hadn’t been anything more than that. She certainly didn’t have any deep feelings towards him now.

  Yet the feelings are quite familiar, aren’t they, Callie? Such longing for his arms around you, for him to hold you and do it as though he means it.

  ‘What are we doing, Gid? Why are you doing this?’ The words burst from her. ‘This wedding, watching Mac and Mary bind themselves together, all I could think of was when you married Dianna and I didn’t want to think about you that day. You don’t want—’

  ‘I want. I…I can’t help wanting.’

  His mouth stopped her words, sealed to her lips, and his hands folded her in until the two of them were pressed close from chest to knee.

  There was rawness in Callie’s heart and in Gideon’s hold—in the way his mouth moved over hers. Rawness, and a need that matched the feeling deep down inside her. And she finally acknowledged that feeling, even if it didn’t have a name.

  Maybe its name was simply Gideon.

  And though she shouldn’t think it if she wanted to protect herself—protect whatever corner of her did care about him because, yes, there was a corner of her that did—the thoughts came.

  Why shouldn’t this go wherever it wanted to go? Why shouldn’t she let herself have whatever he wanted to share with her?

  Callie had known Gideon for ever. She’d come close to making love with him once. If she wanted to have that intimacy with him now, why shouldn’t she?

  A thousand reasons, her mind tried to tell her. But she couldn’t hear the words. She could only feel.