‘Okay.’ As she made her way to the end of the line, the music started out front. It set her calm nerves flying off the radar again. She got to the end of the line and, once again, closed her eyes in attempt to calm her nerves.
‘Exquisite.’ The word whispered against her ear.
Her eyes flew open and she whirled around, almost losing her balance. Warm, strong, unforgettable hands grabbed her arms to stop her from falling. The action reminiscent of the first time they’d met in Broome in Fierro’s gift shop.
‘Jeff?’
His hand brushed her cheek. ‘Angel, I’ve missed you so much.’
Jeff didn’t give her a chance to respond. He bent down and meshed his lips with hers. She melted against him. His arms slipped around her.
She should be mad at him for kissing her before she was about to go on stage. But she didn’t care. Everything flew out of her mind. Being held in his arms was heaven and she never wanted to leave the safe haven they represented.
Reluctantly, Jeff pulled his lips away from hers and she moaned her disappointment. ‘I’m sorry, Angel. I’m sorry for hurting you. For saying things I didn’t mean.’ He hooked a finger under her chin, lifting it so she looked deeply into his eyes. Eyes that were not closed off but wide open, showing her his soul. ‘Please believe me when I tell you I didn’t tell your father about the baby. About us. That was one promise I couldn’t or wouldn’t break.’
As she stood in his arms, the truth shone brightly in their depths. Why hadn’t she believed him the first time he told her? Because she expected Jeff to let her down like her father had always done. It had been so easy for her to believe he’d shared their secret than to listen to what Jeff had to say.
Now she knew the man standing in front of her. The father of her child would never let her down. He wouldn’t be standing here, laying himself bare, if he’d wanted to ruin her.
‘I believe you.’ His smile lit up his face and he went to kiss her again. But she leaned back. ‘If it wasn’t you, then who did?’
‘The one person who had the most to gain from discrediting you.’
It dawned on her like a thousand bricks falling to the ground. Why she hadn’t given that possibility a thought when her father spoke to her that day, she didn’t know. It was so obvious to her now. ‘Graham.’
‘Yes.’
She pulled herself out of Jeff’s embrace. Needing a little space to work through what he’d told her. It was so obvious to her now. Of course, Graham would have been the one to tell her father. Her father would believe everything he had to say.
‘How did Graham know about the baby? About us.’
Jeff ran a hand down his leg. ‘He overhead me telling Luc and Nick when we were having lunch. We were seated in a corner of the restaurant. A half wall separator gave the table the privacy we all wanted. But he must have somehow heard everything.’
‘Probably hiding behind the wall. Waiting to see if he could hear something he could use against me.’ She reached out and touched his cheek, mimicking the action he always did to her. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. I should’ve trusted you more. But …’ her voice trailed off.
‘But you’d been let down so many times by the most important man in your life you thought I was going to do the same.’
‘Yes.’ How had he known that’s exactly what she felt?
‘I won’t let you down again. Ever. I also need to explain about the woman in my room when you came to the hotel.’
Greta froze. She didn’t want to know. ‘What about her?’
‘That woman is Jasmine Morelli, Luc’s wife. She raked me over the coals for using her to make you jealous. You can meet her later,’ he said with a small smile, before continuing. ‘I was so angry. You said you had used me and wished we’d never met. All I could think about was Kelly. How she’d flung those same words to me the day she died. I wanted to lash out and hurt you. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.’
‘Anger makes you say and do stupid things. I’m sorry for what I said to you that day too. I don’t regret meeting you at all, Jeffrey Courteux. In fact, meeting you has been the best thing for me. I’ve done a lot of thinking over the past couple of weeks. I need to thank you.’
‘Thank me?’
‘Yes, if I hadn’t met you then,’ she reached out and grabbed his hand and placed it on the small swell of her belly. ‘Then I wouldn’t be about to embark on the most amazing journey of my life. I’ve realised I don’t need my father’s approval to live my life. Or to believe in myself. I just had to be away from everything that influenced me to see I can do anything or be anything I want.’
Greta took a deep breath. ‘I love you, Jeff. I know now all I want is to be with you. I want to be a mother to your son or daughter.’
A smile like she’d never seen broke out over Jeff’s face. He cupped either side of her face. ‘I love you too, Greta. Like I’ve never loved anyone in my life. These past few weeks have been torture not being able to see you. Touch you. See you and our baby grow. I love you and I’m not letting you go.’
He swept her against his hard body, and when his lips took possession of hers she moaned in delight. This is where she belonged. In his arms, not behind some desk getting stressed out trying to prove herself.
‘Umm, ermm. Mr Courteux?’ A voice interrupted their reunion and Greta remembered where they were. ‘We’re ready for you.’
‘Oh my God, the show.’
‘It’s okay, Luc knows what I’m doing.’
The stage manager from earlier came storming up to where they stood. ‘We need you,’ he pointed to Greta. ‘Out on stage now. Mr Courteux, I don’t know what’s going on, but can it wait until after the show please? Once this model has gone out I’ll need you to make your speech.’
Greta and Jeff shared a look and smiled. Their reunion was far from over but the show must go on. Excitement to get out there and show off the jewellery the man she loved had made flowed through her.
‘Right, let’s go,’ she said, and pulled herself out of Jeff’s arms.
‘I’ll see you on stage, Angel.’
‘Okay.’ She threw over her shoulder as she followed the stage manager to where she needed to be.
‘You’re the final model, make sure you shine.’
‘Is that what you said to everyone?’
‘Yes, now go.’ He gave her small push the curtains. The bright lights blinded her and she stumbled momentarily. Composing herself, she took a tentative step forward. The sound of clapping and ooh’s and ahh’s reached her. The walk along the stage seemed miles long, but it wasn’t long at all.
As she reached the edge she noticed Jeff standing on the other side, smiling at her. Her heart leaped at the sight of him. She forgot what she was supposed to do and walked toward him. He held out his hand for her when she reached his side. She placed her hand in his. He brought it up to his lips, giving it a small kiss before leaning over and kissing her lips.
For a man who valued his privacy over the last few years, this public display of affection shocked her. Sending her a quick wink, he raised a microphone he held in his spare hand and faced the crowd.
‘Thank you, everyone, for coming this evening and helping Luciano and I celebrate the unveiling of my newest and, exclusive to the Regent Palazzo Hotel, line The Angel Collection.’ He paused as the crowd applauded. ‘This collection holds a special place in my heart. The person responsible for enticing you to attend this evening is the lady standing next to me, Ms Greta Adamas.’
Again he waited as the crowd clapped. This time he had to hold up his hand to stop the applause. ‘Not only did she create the most amazing advertising campaign I’ve ever seen, but,’ he looked at her. ‘She was the inspiration behind the whole collection. My muse. My love. The mother of my child.’
Greta gasped when he got down on one knee. ‘And, I hope, my wife. Greta, you walked into my line of vision one day and from that moment on I was lost. You brought me out of the shadows and into
the sunshine with your love. Will you marry me?’
She didn’t care about her dress or her make-up as tears rolled down her cheeks. She got down on her knees so they were at eye level. ‘Yes. Yes I will marry you. I love you.’
The crowd cheered as Jeff leaned in and kissed her on the lips. The kiss ended far too soon for her liking, but they weren’t really in the right place to let the kiss linger. He pulled her up by her right hand, tucked her firmly by his side and led her off stage. She smiled at the people, complete strangers, congratulating her and Jeff on their engagement.
Finally they were in a quiet corner.
‘For a private man, that was a very public proposal, Mr Courteux.’ And she would relive it for the rest of her life.
Jeff laughed and absently played with the dress ring adorning her finger. ‘You deserved to be the centre of attention and appreciated. I hope you didn’t mind.’
For the first time in their relationship, uncertainty emanated from him. ‘I’ll never forget it. It was the most romantic thing in my life.’
‘That’s good. You know, this is on the wrong finger,’ he said as he pulled the ring off and placed it on the ring finger of her left hand. ‘This is where I envisaged this ring belonging when I made it.’ He pushed it over her knuckle. It fit as perfectly on that finger as it had on her right hand.
‘You made this for me?’
‘Yes.’ He closed his eyes briefly; as if he was embarrassed by what he was going to say next. ‘After the ankle cuff, this was the second design of the collection I drew. But I put it away, never really intending to actually make it.’
‘What changed your mind? When did you make it?’
‘I started on it the day I got back to Broome, after everything blew up in our faces. I knew if I made it, it would make our future come true.’ He reached out and touched her cheek. She would never, ever tire of the action. ‘You would be mine.’
Greta leaned over and whispered against his lips. ‘Forever. I’m yours forever.’
She closed the gap so their lips were joined. She knew Jeff and their baby were all she ever needed in her life. He fulfilled her more than her career had. Or her need for her father’s approval ever would. With Jeff, she could face anything. Greta couldn’t wait to see where their lives would lead.
Jeff broke off the kiss. ‘I love you, my Angel. Forever and a day.’
Epilogue
Jeffrey looked down the white sands of the beach. Walking toward him, looking more beautiful than she’d ever looked, was the woman who was about to become his wife. A remarkable, strong woman.
His Angel.
His Greta.
He saw her smile at a man in one of the back rows—her father. He should’ve been walking her down the aisle but it was too soon. Greta and her dad were slowly rebuilding their relationship. He was glad for Greta. He knew she’d missed her dad, even though their past was rocky. Jeffrey hoped the future would be bright for them all.
The relationship between Greta and her father had become even more strained when she opened her own advertising agency and immediately landed two major accounts. They had celebrated in style that night. He’d known how important her career was to her, and just because they were going to get married and have a baby didn’t mean she had to give it up. He’d even told her he’d move his operation down to Perth if she wanted to live in the city. Greta had told him in no uncertain terms that wasn’t happening. In the end, they’d decided to split their time between Broome and the new house they’d bought in Perth. It was an arrangement that worked well for them both, and seeing Greta grow in confidence as a businesswoman only intensified his feelings for her. He couldn’t imagine his life without her now.
Holding up the baby in his arms, he smiled. ‘Look at your mummy, Adam. Isn’t she beautiful?’ His eight-week-old son cooed and waved his arm. ‘I see you agree.’
Next to him another child squealed in delight. Jeffrey turned to his left and watched Luc shush his six-month-old daughter, then melt when she smiled sweetly at him. Jeffrey knew fatherhood suited him and knew Luc felt the same way.
‘I think I’m missing a certain accessory here at this wedding. I thought it was only bridesmaids who carried something down the aisle.’ Nick teased them both.
‘You’re just jealous, man.’ Jeffrey joked back.
Nick smiled and winked toward his wife Pamela, who had taken her place next to Jasmine. Both women were Greta’s bridesmaids. The three women had forged a good friendship, along with Greta’s neighbour Sheree.
Nick turned and looked at Jeffrey. ‘No, not jealous. No need. We have it all.’
Immediately, Jeffrey knew that Nick and Pamela had some news of their own to share. ‘Congratulations, man. Who would’ve thought?’
The rest of the words died in his throat as Greta reached his side. The heart necklace she wore at the gala shone in the bright sunshine. It had been worth the hassle he’d had to go through to keep that custom piece. She was right when she’d said something that beautiful shouldn’t be an apology gift—it should be given out of love.
‘Angel, you take my breath away,’ he murmured as he brushed his lips against hers.
‘You’re supposed to wait until we’re married to do that.’ Greta smiled softly.
‘Then let’s get to it,’ he said on a laugh.
He switched Adam to his other arm, so that their son was nestled securely between them.
The most important people in his world were standing right next to him.
His family.
They recited their vows and then the celebrant was pronouncing them husband and wife.
As their lips met, Jeffrey knew they were unbreakable. Bound by their love for all of eternity. Life out of the shadows and in the sunshine was wonderful.
Thanks for reading Bound by Their Love. I hope you enjoyed it.
If you’d like to know more about me, my books, or to connect with me online, you can visit my webpage www.nicoleflockton.com, follow me on Twitter, or like my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NicoleFlockton?ref=hl.
You can also follow me through my publisher’s page here www.escapepublishing.com.au
Reviews can help readers find books, and I am grateful for all honest reviews. Thank you for taking the time to let others know what you’ve read, and what you thought.
You’ve just read a book in my Bound series. The other books in this series are Bound by Her Ring and Bound by His Desire.
If you liked this book, here are my other books: Tango Love, as well as the first two of the Bound series.
This book was published by Escape Publishing. If you’d like to sample some more great books from my fellow Escape Artists, please turn the page.
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Bound by Their Love Page 20
