Forever (Time for Love Book 1)

by Charles, Miranda P.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  A purposeful knocking interrupted Zach's meeting with his PA.

  "Confirm my attendance for the charity dinner next month," he said to his assistant as he walked to the door. "I'll be bringing Rebecca with me. And you can take the rest of the afternoon off, Anita."

  "Thanks, Zach," his PA said, preparing to leave the room.

  Zach opened the door and he frowned in surprise. "Vicky."

  "Can we talk, Zach? It's important."

  He paused for a second, then nodded. "I'll meet you at the main bar in ten minutes."

  "Are you finished with your meeting?" Vicky asked, noticing Zach's PA leave the room. "We can talk here."

  Zach hid his smirk. No way he was going to be alone in his room with Vicky. After her recent behaviour, he couldn't trust her anymore. "No. I'll meet you at the bar," he said authoritatively.

  Vicky's face fell with disappointment. "That's a very public place, Zach. What I have to tell you is not something we'd want people to overhear."

  He lifted an eyebrow. "It would have been good if you remembered to maintain privacy when you had that outburst against Rebecca the other day, wouldn't it?"

  Vicky reddened. "I already said I was sorry I lost my temper. But do you want me to say what I have to say in public again?"

  "I'll meet you at the bar, then we'll find a quiet place to talk."

  "Okay," Vicky said with a huff and turned on her heels.

  *

  "This might not be something you want to hear, Zach," Vicky said as they stood by the railing on the upper deck, using her hand to hold her hair in a ponytail and stop it from being blown in a mess by the strong breeze.

  Zach stayed quiet, waiting for Vicky to continue.

  "Phillip said something to me. He asked me not to say anything to you because you might get angry at him and not consider him for a position in your company. But I thought about it, and I think you should know."

  "What did he say?" Zach asked, anger already rising before even hearing Vicky's news.

  Vicky heaved a huge sigh. "He said Rebecca's still two-timing you. With that guy Alix."

  "What?" Zach asked with a laugh. It was preposterous.

  "He said that he saw them have lunch together, and that they were cavorting in one of the pools just yesterday. That's very concerning, Zach."

  Zach's expression turned serious. "Yes, that's very concerning."

  Vicky tried to suppress a smile—in vain. "I'm glad I told you. I couldn't believe at first that Rebecca would even try to cheat on you here, where it's so easy to get caught. But I guess Phillip's right. Rebecca's just a slut."

  Zach took a deep breath to keep himself from lashing out at Vicky. "What I'm very concerned about is that Phillip is so intent on painting my girlfriend in a bad light," he said with barely controlled anger. "And he's still telling people lies about Bec?"

  Vicky's mouth opened in surprise. "But—"

  "Rebecca's not cheating on me, Vicky. And she most definitely is not a slut, so don't you call her that ever again," he said in a low growl.

  "But Phillip said—"

  "I know about Bec having lunch with Alix. I was supposed to join them, but I had an emergency phone call so I wasn't able to. And I know about Alix bumping into her and Sarah in the pool yesterday. Bec told me about that. Alix didn't want to end this trip with bad feelings with anyone, and wanted to assure me and Bec that we can count on him welcoming us in Greece if we decided to visit."

  "Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't realise..." Vicky said with a horrified expression.

  "Vicky, I know you're still hoping for something to happen between us again. I'm sorry, but there's no chance of that. I'm in love with Rebecca. But for our grandmothers' sake, I hope we can try to remain friendly with each other."

  Vicky looked down, then nodded. "Okay, Zach. It's a shame because you're a great guy. But I guess I'll have to set my sights somewhere else."

  Zach gave her a smile.

  "I suppose I should tell Phillip how wrong he is," Vicky said with a sigh.

  "I'll talk to him," Zach said, his anger returning. Hadn't he already made it clear to Phillip how totally wrong his assumptions had been regarding Rebecca? What the hell was wrong with that man?

  *****

  Zach watched his grandmother with concern as she sat down on the sofa. He wished he didn't have to involve her with this decision, but he had to. Magda treated Phillip like a nephew, and Zach felt guilty that he might be forcing her to agree with him to ask Phillip to leave the ship when they docked in Bangkok in a couple of days.

  "If you think it's for the best, then do what you have to, dear," Magda said softly after a period of silence.

  "If he hadn't threatened to make life hell for me, I wouldn't be suggesting this. It's better that he's not around to ruin the rest of this trip for us."

  "I wonder why he's acting this way?" Magda mused.

  Zach smirked. "He hates my guts for refusing to give him a job. And I think sheer jealousy is eating him. He's jobless and financially desperate while the Carmichael brothers are lucky, in his eyes."

  "He was such a sweet boy when he was young," Magda said, shaking her head. "Let me be the one to tell him why we want him off the ship. I want him to know that my doors will remain open for him as long as he doesn't mess with my family."

  "Okay, but I want to be with you when you tell him. I just don't trust him anymore, Gran."

  "Fine. Let's do it over lunch. And I want to pay for his airfare and whatever else he needs to get back to Sydney."

  "I don't have a problem with that," Zach said, getting to his feet.

  "Zach."

  "Yes, Gran."

  "I just want you to know I'm very glad you've sorted things out with Rebecca."

  He smiled at his grandmother fondly. "Me too, Gran."

  "She's not a temporary girlfriend is she, Zach?"

  "No. I love her."

  Magda's smile was radiant as she went to him and pinched his cheek. "My grandson's in love. How wonderful to see. Now we just have to work on your brothers."

  He grinned. "And how do you propose to do that?"

  "Well, I did get you and Rebecca on a ship where you couldn't escape each other, didn't I?" Magda said with a twinkle in her eye.

  Zach's jaw dropped as he stared at Magda. "You planned this?"

  "Only getting the two of you on this trip. The rest you did yourself. Anyway, I knew that if it was true love, the two of you would find your way. And you did."

  "So you knew about me and Bec months ago?"

  "I suspected it. Anyone who bothered watching how the two of you looked at each other would know something was going on. I was very disappointed when it seemed to have ended abruptly. And I got very worried about you, because you threw yourself into work and lost your spark. I had to do something."

  Zach hugged Magda as tightly as he dared, chuckling. "Thank you, Gran. You're the best. I love you."

  "And I love you, Zachary. Now, shouldn't you go order an engagement ring?"

  Zach laughed out loud. "Patience, Gran. Patience."

  Yes, that would be his first task when they got back home. Equally important would be convincing his Bec to move in with him straight away so she wouldn't have to live in the same building as Phillip.

  *****

  Zach pulled Rebecca onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her.

  "Zach," she whispered anxiously. "We're in a public place."

  He didn't even look around to see if anyone in Rebecca's favourite pool area was watching them. "Do I look like I care?" he asked, kissing her below the ear.

  "Don't hold me too close. You're the one who hates seeing your pictures splashed all over the magazines and papers."

  "If a photo of us does end up in a magazine, then you'll be famous, won't you?" he teased. "I can see the headlines. Zachary Carmichael Canoodling With a Mystery Brunette."

  "More like Zachary Carmichael Canoodling With His Grandmother's Nurse,"
she said dryly.

  He chuckled and placed soft kisses on her bare shoulder. He felt her melt in his arms and his cock stirred. Damn it. They were in a public place.

  The unmistakable sound of a clicking camera went off right next to them and Rebecca jumped out of his lap, her expression horrified.

  He was ready to give the photographer a nasty warning when he found out who it was—Jeff, who was grinning from ear to ear.

  "What the hell, bro?" he asked without heat.

  "I can't believe this very public display of affection from you, Mr. Don't-Give-Them-Any-Material Carmichael," Jeff said.

  "You're just envious," Zach said smugly. "Why don't you do a kissy-face with Marilyn? How are things going between you, by the way?"

  "There's nothing going on between us anymore. The interest has passed."

  Zach raised an eyebrow. "Last time I heard, she couldn't wait for you to get here."

  Jeff shook his head as he sat on the edge of Zach's deck chair. "Right now, she's not talking to me because I refuse to sleep with her again. That's actually a good thing. I don't have to avoid her because she's avoiding me."

  Zach tapped Jeff on the arm and indicated he should move to the empty chair next to them, then tugged Rebecca's hand so she would sit back on his lap.

  "Gran would be disappointed," he said to Jeff. "She was hoping you'd find your one and only on this love boat."

  Jeff smirked. "I've proposed to a woman once, and she turned me down. I have no plans of doing that again. I kinda like my status right now. Free."

  Zach stared at his brother, wondering if Jeff was still nursing a broken heart from the rejection of two years ago. Jeff's ex had not only said she wasn't ready to get married, but she'd left Australia to further her career in New York not long after Jeff's proposal.

  "Speaking of your gran," Rebecca said, "here she comes."

  Magda and Sarah were walking toward them, and Magda had a beaming grin on her face.

  Rebecca tried to get out of Zach's lap again, but he restrained her. Instead, he hugged her tight and kissed her soundly on the cheek. When he looked back at his grandmother, her smile had widened so much that it almost split her face.

  "Hello, beautiful ladies," Jeff said. "Have you come to join us for a swim?"

  "We have," Magda answered. "Where's Greg?"

  The brothers shrugged.

  "He must be taking a nap or something," Jeff said. "He had a big night last night."

  "I'm glad he's having fun," Magda said. "I've been wanting to go in the hot tub. Come join me, Jeffrey."

  Sarah helped Magda out of her wrap-around dress and stepped back, only to run out of room and stumble onto Jeff's lap.

  "Oops, sorry," Sarah said, blushing.

  "Don't be. I don't mind," Jeff said cheekily. "It's not often a gorgeous woman falls on my lap."

  "I bet that's a lie," Sarah said as she got up.

  "Which part? That I don't mind that you sat on me, or that gorgeous women don't often fall on my lap?"

  "The latter," Sarah said, her lips curving up even as she reddened deeper.

  Jeff pretended to think for a moment. "Okay. You're right. The first part isn't a lie. I really don't mind that you fell on me." He gave Sarah a teasing grin.

  Sarah's smile widened, her eyes taking on a dreamy look.

  Zach shook his head surreptitiously. Jeff was a big flirt, and he didn't seem to notice when women thought he was interested when all he was doing was joking around.

  He'd better have a quiet chat with Jeff later on and warn him that he should consider Sarah off-limits. It wouldn't be fun anymore if Sarah took him seriously when Jeff didn't mean anything. Rebecca wouldn't be happy, and neither would their grandmother.

  *

  "Do you want to go in the water?" Rebecca asked as they watched Sarah and Jeff support Magda as she got in the pool.

  "I'm quite happy sitting here. Do you want to?" Zach said.

  Rebecca shook her head and made herself more comfortable on his lap. He sighed with contentment and caressed her arm with the tips of his fingers.

  "Are you sure you won't get mad if a picture of us cuddling like this appears on the cover of a magazine?"

  "I think most people here are not interested in us. But even if one or two can't help themselves, I'm not going to spoil my fun with you by caring if someone might take a picture or not. Would it bother you, though?"

  "Not really," Rebecca said. "As long as whatever they write about us is truthful."

  "Well, we better show them more cuddling so they'll write Zachary Carmichael In Love."

  Rebecca giggled. "They'd probably add a subtitle to that. How Long Would It Last?"

  "Forever," he said in her ear.

  Rebecca gasped and gaped at him with happy eyes. "Forever?"

  He took her hand and placed it on his chest—against his heart that was beating only for her. "Forever."

  He would have preferred to wait—to have everything planned and ready for the occasion—but he simply couldn't help the next words that tumbled out of his lips. "Marry me, Bec."

  Rebecca's eyes filled with tears. "Oh, Zach."

  "Is that a yes?" he asked hopefully.

  "Yes."

  They kissed deeply. Passionately. Publicly.

  ###

  Thank you for reading!

  Jeff and Sarah's love story is next. Finally (Time for Love Book 2) is scheduled for release in May 2014. To be among the first to set eyes on the cover and read the first chapters, make sure you're subscribed to my newsletter. Click here to subscribe.

  Have you read the love story of Trey (Rebecca's brother) and Kris yet? Turn the page and enjoy chapter one of Secret Moves.

  SECRET MOVES (SECRET DREAMS BOOK 3) EXTRACT

  The love story of Kris McCann and Trey Andrews

  Chapter One

  Oh, weddings, you bring out the best and worst of emotions. Kristen McCann smiled wryly as she spotted a pensive-looking young woman stare surreptitiously at a couple kissing passionately in a quiet corner of one of Sydney's luxurious five-star hotels. Judging by their clothing, the sad-faced girl and the canoodling pair were guests of the bride and groom. She didn't recognise them, so she guessed they were on Kane Summers' guest list, and not on her best friend Jasmine Allen-Summers'.

  She sighed as she made her way back to the grand ballroom after a quick trip to the ladies'. This wedding—and the lead-up to it—elicited something in her, too. Lately, to her discomfort, her libido had been very much awake.

  Ever since she and her cousin Samantha Lane arrived from Melbourne a few days ago to fulfil their bridesmaid duties, she'd been constantly in the presence of two loved-up couples. Since she and Sam were staying at Kane and Jasmine's place while in Sydney, she'd been witness to the newlyweds' desire for each other, even though the pair tried their best to keep their passion private. Then there were Ari Mitchell, their other best friend, and her boyfriend Dylan Summers, Kane's brother. Those two seemed to be in competition with Kane and Jasmine for the title Sizzling Couple of the Year. Add to that mix the fact that she'd had a long sex drought of eleven and a half months. It was no wonder she'd been craving a warm, masculine body to alleviate some tension.

  She glanced at the amorous couple again, and her eyes widened in disbelief. The PG-rated kiss of a few seconds ago had now become an R. She let out an incredulous laugh, surprised at the audacity of the guy to visibly fondle his girlfriend's breast in full view of anyone who passed by. Fortunately, most of the wedding guests were inside enjoying some dancing. Honestly, they should get a room!

  She placed her palm on the heavy door of the ballroom and pushed, only to misstep and stumble when she saw who was on the other side of it.

  "Oops. I'm sorry," a deep masculine voice said as he grabbed her arms to stop her from falling flat on her face.

  She grinned. "It's not your fault. I was just surprised it's you."

  The hunk with incredible grey eyes and dark brown hair lifted his eyebrows a
t her questioningly.

  "Don't mind me," she said with a shake of her head. "I just happened to be talking about you with Ari a few minutes ago. Your name's Trey, right? I'm Kris McCann."

  "Hi, Kris. Yes, I'm Trey—Trey Andrews." The gorgeous one gave her a curious look as he shook the hand she offered him. "But of course, I already know your name. Hard to miss when you're one of the stunning bridesmaids."

  She smiled at the compliment.

  "So, why were you and Ari talking about me?" Trey asked.

  "Oh, it was nothing important," she said with a laugh. "Besides, I really shouldn't tell you."

  "Now, Kris. You can't just leave it like that. You can't incite my interest then leave me hanging," Trey said lightly.

  She pursed her lips. "Considering I agreed with Ari's suggestion, there's really not much point discussing it with you."

  "Now I'm even more intrigued," Trey said with a wide, engaging smile.

  She sighed—well, it was really more like a swoon. Trey really was gorgeous. Should she tell him that she had asked Ari to introduce them to each other for the possibility of some casual sex? Ari was clearly against the idea, warning her of Trey's reputation as a playboy. Since it had been Dylan who'd told Ari that, and Dylan was Trey's best friend, she had no reason to doubt the accuracy of that statement.

  Not that she cared about Trey being a playboy. Crude as it might sound, all she wanted was to get laid and Trey happened to catch her eye. But Ari had been concerned about possible complications. To put her friend at ease, Kris had agreed that it would be better if she considered someone else who was a complete stranger to all of them.

  "I can see the wheels turning in that beautiful head of yours," Trey teased flirtatiously. "Come on, tell me."

  She bit her lip to hide her smile as she stared at him, contemplating her next words. "My cousin Samantha and I are here in Sydney for three weeks to house-sit for Jasmine and Kane while they're on their honeymoon. I said to Ari that I wanted to make the most of it. One thing I wanted to do was to meet someone for some casual sex while I'm here. Not that it's something I do a lot of, but it's been a while, and I'm...you know," she said with a shrug.