Brides of Penhally Bay - Vol 2

by Various Authors

  The dog took full advantage of her position to lick his face, and he laughed. ‘You horrible mutt. What are you? Horrible!’

  She licked him again, clearly hearing in his tone of voice how much he loved her. She reminded him of the dog he’d had as a boy. So when Melinda had been looking for a home for the dog she’d rescued, a few months before, he hadn’t been able to resist offering.

  ‘How did you get on?’ he asked Melinda as he set the dog back on her feet.

  ‘I’ve done some notes for George and Sally, and there’s a flight to London at twenty past seven tomorrow morning. I can pick up my tickets from the desk, but I need to be at the airport an hour before my flight.’

  ‘Crack of dawn start, then.’ He shrugged. ‘Not a problem. I’ll just go and fetch my clothes and Bramble’s basket from the car.’

  When he returned, Bramble was settled very comfortably, thank you, on the sofa, and Melinda was making a fuss of her.

  ‘Don’t think you’re sleeping there tonight, dog,’ he warned.

  Bramble just thumped her tail, as if she knew perfectly well that Melinda wouldn’t mind.

  ‘I’ll make us something to eat,’ Dragan said. ‘And, no, Bramble, you are not scoffing all the cold, soggy chips,’ he added at the dog’s hopeful look when he carried the paper parcel over to the bin. ‘They’re bad for you.’

  ‘Don’t do anything for me. I’m really not hungry,’ Melinda said with a grimace.

  ‘You need to eat,’ he said gently. ‘Trust me, low blood sugar on top of the bad news you’ve just had will only make you feel worse. Now, you go and check on Cassidy, and I’ll make you an omelette.’ At her raised eyebrow, he smiled. ‘I make a very good omelette, I’ll have you know.’

  When she came back from checking on the parrot and the large, fluffy omelette was cooked, he divided it into two and slid it onto their plates.

  She ate about three mouthfuls before pushing her plate away.

  ‘It’s that bad?’ he asked.

  ‘No, no.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m sorry. I just…It feels wrong to eat somehow. My brother’s dead and here I am, stuffing my face. It’s…wrong.’

  ‘OK. I won’t force you.’ He scraped the contents of her plate into the bin and made short work of the washing-up. ‘Come on. Let’s try and get some sleep.’ He looked at the dog, who was still curled happily on the sofa. ‘Bramble, in your basket.’

  ‘Oh, leave her,’ Melinda said, her voice weary. ‘It doesn’t matter.’

  He remembered that feeling, too. As if nothing mattered any more. And he ached for her.

  ‘Come on, cara,’ he said, and shepherded her into the bedroom. She used the little en suite bathroom first and by the time he’d had a quick shower and cleaned his teeth, she was curled up in bed.

  ‘Have you set your alarm?’ he asked.

  She nodded.

  ‘Good.’ He slid his arm round her waist and drew her back into the curve of his body. Melinda was a bright, independent woman who was more than capable of standing on her own two feet—but tonight he felt very protective towards her. He wanted to be the barrier between her and the world, make sure nothing else happened to hurt her.

  Clearly her family was nothing like his own had been. The trace of bitterness in her voice when she’d spoken about not fitting in…Well, she fitted in just fine with him. And together they’d make a new family. A family where she was the centre.

  Ha. He hadn’t even thought about children before. But now the idea had slid into his head, he liked it. And he could imagine their daughter—a small, stubborn version of Melinda, with his own dark eyes and hair and Melinda’s beautiful smile. She’d wrap her daddy right round her little finger.

  ‘Volim te,’ he said softly, and kissed Melinda’s bare shoulder.

  He really hadn’t intended to pressure her into making love with him. But when she twisted round in his arms, slid her arms round his neck and kissed him back, he couldn’t help responding.

  Her hand slid down over his shoulder, squeezed the firm muscles of his upper arms. ‘You feel so good,’ she whispered. And her mouth traced a path over his jawline, down his throat; her tongue pressed against the pulse point beating hard and fast in his neck.

  ‘Ah, bellissima,’ he muttered, and tipped his head back against the pillows, offering himself to her. If she wanted to take comfort from him, that was fine by him. He would tell her with his body that he was there for her, any time she needed him. That he loved her, wanted her, always would.

  He dragged in a breath as she kissed her way down his breastbone. Her mouth was so soft, so sweet, and her hair felt like warm silk against his skin. He couldn’t resist sliding his hands into the blonde tresses, urging her on. ‘Melinda. You’re driving me just a little bit crazy here.’

  She lifted her head and her blue, blue eyes crinkled at the corners. ‘Did you know, when you get turned on, your accent comes back a bit?’

  ‘My accent?’

  ‘Normally you sound very English. But when we make love…’

  ‘I lose control,’ he admitted.

  ‘That’s what I want. I want to make you feel the same way I feel.’ She shifted to straddle him. He could feel the warmth of her sex against his erection and it made his pulse ratchet up that little bit more.

  ‘I need to be inside you, Melinda,’ he breathed.

  ‘Si?’ she teased, wriggling just enough to make him gasp.

  In retaliation, he cupped her breasts, stroked the soft undersides and rubbed the pads of his thumbs against her nipples until she gave a sharp intake of breath.

  ‘Dragan. I need you.’

  He lifted his upper body from the bed so he could take first one and then the other nipple into his mouth, sucking hard. Her hands fisted in his hair and he could feel little shivers of desire running through her.

  ‘Please, now,’ she whispered. ‘I need you now.’

  ‘Let me get a condom.’

  ‘No.’ She leaned forward and kissed him hard. ‘I don’t want any barriers between us tonight.’

  ‘Melinda, we should—’ he began.

  She pressed her forefinger lightly against his lips. ‘It’s OK. It’s my safe time.’

  The doctor in him knew there was no such thing as a safe time. Though he also knew exactly why she was asking him to do this: it was a way of fighting back against the spectre of death, of proving to herself that she was alive and kicking.

  He shouldn’t do this.

  She was vulnerable.

  And he was taking advantage of her. This had to stop.

  ‘Tonight I need you close, Dragan.’ She dragged in a breath. ‘I want nothing between us. Just you and me.’

  His heart overruled his head. How could he stop now, push her away and make her feel even worse? She needed comfort. She needed him. And if they made a baby tonight…then so be it. They were getting married in a few weeks in any case. He would’ve liked more time with her on his own, but if they made a child tonight he’d love their baby. Always. Just as he’d always love Melinda. She was the one who made him feel complete.

  ‘I want you so badly,’ she said, her voice hoarse. ‘I need you. I love you. Ti amo.’

  ‘I love you, too. Always. Siempre.’

  She shifted slightly and slid her fingers around his erection, guided him to her entrance; he rocked his hips, easing inside her. Lord, she felt good, so warm and wet. Her eyes were almost black in the lamplight, her pupils dilated so he could barely see the iris. As turned on as he was. Needing this as much as he did. Right now they were as one—body, heart and soul.

  And he never wanted this moment to end.

  Her mouth opened in a soft sigh of pleasure as he began to move, a pleasure echoed in his own body as her muscles tightened round him and her movements mirrored his, lifting herself until he was almost out of her and then pushing down hard as he pushed up, taking him deeper than he could ever remember.

  His fingers laced with hers and they gripped each other tightly
as the tension ratcheted higher and higher.

  ‘Dragan!’ Her body started to ripple round his, and he could feel the tension in his own body reaching snapping point.

  And then he was falling with her.

  Over the edge, into a starburst.

  She collapsed forwards onto him and he wrapped his arms round her; he could feel her heart beating rapidly against his chest, just as he knew she’d be able to feel the answering beat of his heart.

  ‘I love you,’ she whispered.

  ‘I love you, too. And everything’s going to be all right.’

  ‘Is it?’

  ‘Everything’s going to be fine,’ he promised her. ‘Look, it’s not too late to change your mind—I can maybe ask Lizzie Chamberlain to look after Bramble for me and come with you tomorrow.’

  ‘No, I can’t ask that of you—and you’re short-staffed at the practice as it is.’

  ‘They’ll manage. We can get a locum. You’re more important to me, tesoro. More important than anything else in the world.’

  He could feel dampness against his chest and realised she was crying. Silently, with no shudders, as if she didn’t have any strength to hold the tears back any more and they were just leaking out.

  ‘Let it out, honey,’ he whispered. ‘Let the tears wash away the pain.’

  She sobbed against him. ‘I don’t even know why I’m crying for him. Raffi was a selfish bastard and most of the time we didn’t get on. He could be charming and good company—but most of the time he was a pain in the backside and he drove me demented with his thoughtlessness.’

  ‘He was still your brother, still of your blood—there was still a bond between you, even when you fought.’

  ‘I just don’t want things to change between you and me. Ever.’

  ‘Hey, why would they do that?’ He lifted her slightly and kissed away her tears. ‘I won’t insist that you take my name, if you choose not to. Though I think it sounds nice. Melinda Lovak.’ He kissed her gently. ‘Beautiful. Bellissima. Like you.’

  Her smile was wobbly, but at least it was a smile, he thought with relief. ‘Of course I’ll take your name, Dragan.’

  ‘It’s not a problem if you want to keep your maiden name for professional purposes.’

  ‘No. But thank you for giving me the choice. For understanding.’

  Her words were heartfelt, he could tell—but he had no idea what she meant. Giving her the choice? But…why wouldn’t she have a choice? This was the twenty-first century. He wouldn’t expect her to give up her career. If they were blessed with children and she wanted to be a stay-at-home mum, that was fine; but if she wanted to combine a career and children, that was also fine. They’d work something out between them.

  Maybe the root of this was in her relationship with her family. The fact they hadn’t wanted her to be a vet—they’d wanted her to be part of the family firm, even though she was clearly born to be a vet. And she obviously felt guilty about the fact she had a family she wasn’t close to, whereas he’d lost the ones he’d loved so much. Maybe when she came back from Contarini he’d persuade her to tell him about it. Get the bad memories out of her heart and replace them with happiness.

  It took a while, but at last Dragan could tell from the regularity of Melinda’s breathing that she’d fallen asleep. Though sleep eluded him. He was too worried about her.

  He’d talk to Nick tomorrow morning, see if they could arrange a locum to cover him at the practice. Then he could go over to Contarini to give Melinda his support.

  Then again, if her relationship with her family was that strained, this would be a seriously bad time to meet them. No way would her parents want to hear news of their daughter’s wedding just before the funeral of their son.

  Which left Dragan torn between being Melinda’s support and abiding by her wishes: whatever he did, it didn’t seem enough. For now all he could do was hold her while she slept. And when she came back to England he’d do his best to make her world a brighter place. Give her the happiness she deserved.

  CHAPTER SIX

  IT WAS still dark when Melinda’s alarm beeped.

  ‘Urgh. I am so not a morning person,’ she grumbled. Especially today, knowing what she was going to face in Contarini.

  And today, when she had to tell Dragan exactly what she was going back to. Why she was dreading it so much.

  ‘I’ll put the kettle on while you have a shower,’ Dragan said.

  By the time she’d dressed, he’d already made her a cup of coffee—strong and dark, just how she liked it—and he took a quick shower himself before he carried Bramble down the stairs to let her out. The dog, clearly sensing Melinda’s need for comfort, insisted on sitting with her nose on Melinda’s knee when Dragan brought her back up to the flat.

  ‘All right, cara?’ he asked.

  No. Definitely not. But she tried to force a smile to her face. Be brave for him.

  ‘Come on. You have to eat something.’ He looked at the toast she’d crumbled onto her plate.

  ‘I’m not hungry.’ She felt too sick to eat. Sick with tension and guilt and misery and worry.

  She had to tell him.

  Now.

  You’re not just marrying the village vet. You’re marrying…

  ‘And we have to leave in ten minutes,’ he warned her, after a quick glance at his watch.

  ‘And I need to check on Cassidy before we go.’ Which meant no time to talk. She couldn’t neglect her professional duties. But she didn’t want to neglect the love of her life either.

  ‘Do you want me to hold him while you get the formula into him?’

  She gave in. He was being so kind, so sweet—so caring. She couldn’t tell him and expect him to cope with everything in the space of ten seconds before he helped her with her patient. ‘Yes, please.’

  They’d just finished when Sally walked in. Melinda gave the nurse the rundown on Cassidy’s treatment plan and made sure she had Jake’s number for queries.

  And then it was time to go.

  Dragan carried Bramble down to the car first, then brought Melinda’s small flight bag and slid it onto the back seat. She locked the flat behind them and climbed into the car. Although she normally fiddled with his radio or the CD player, today she wanted silence. Silence to work out the right words to tell him. And Dragan was in tune with her mood enough not to push her to chatter.

  She still hadn’t worked out the right words by the time they got to the airport. Every time she tried to speak, it felt as if her tongue was glued to the roof of her mouth.

  He left the window open enough to give Bramble some fresh air—he wouldn’t be that long at the airport and, besides, it was still early morning and cool, so the car wouldn’t become hot and uncomfortable for the dog.

  ‘I’ll carry this,’ he said, hoisting Melinda’s bag over his shoulder, and he walked hand in hand with her into the airport. He waited while she checked in at the reception desk and picked up her tickets, then walked with her to the departure lounge.

  ‘Send me a text when you get there, so I know you’ve arrived safely,’ he said, holding her close. ‘I won’t have my phone on during surgery, but I’ll pick up your message as soon as I switch the phone on again.’

  ‘OK. I’m not sure when I’ll get a chance to ring you.’ Her face was white. ‘I really don’t know what…’ Her voice faded. Now. She had to tell him now.

  Dragan, clearly oblivious to the real reason for her silence, squeezed her hand. ‘Look, I’ll call Nick. I’ll sort out a locum and go back to Penhally to get someone to dogsit Bramble and then I’ll follow you straight out to Contarini. You don’t have to face this on your own. I’ll be there beside you.’

  She swallowed hard, hating herself for being a liar and a fraud and hurting the man she loved. ‘You are a good man, Dragan. I really don’t deserve you.’

  ‘Of course you do. Come with me and we’ll sort out my tickets.’

  ‘No, Dragan. I have to…’ She dragged in a breath. ‘I apprec
iate your offer, but I have to stand on my own two feet.’

  ‘Sometimes,’ he said with a sigh, ‘I wish you weren’t quite so independent. But I hope you know you can lean on me—that I’ll never let you down.’

  Oh, Dio. How could she do this? ‘Dragan, I need to tell you—’

  ‘Later,’ he said, pressing a finger lightly against her lips. ‘Don’t worry about whatever it is. Everything will work out OK in the end. You have a flight to catch.’

  And she hated herself even more for letting him talk her out of telling him. This was important. And the longer she left it, the more hurt he was going to be when she finally told him.

  Please, please, don’t let this be too much for him. Don’t let it make him walk away from her. Don’t let her lose him.

  ‘You know you can call me any time,’ he reminded her. ‘Even if it’s three in the morning, it doesn’t matter—if you need me, just ring me.’

  ‘I’m not going to disturb your sleep. But thank you. It helps to know you’re there.’ Her face was white. ‘I love you with all my heart, Dragan.’

  He stroked her face. ‘Are you scared of flying, or something?’

  Or something. ‘I just want you to know that I love you.’

  He smiled. ‘I know. Just as I love you. And we’re going to make that promise to each other in front of everyone the day you walk down the aisle to me.’

  If he still wanted to marry her, once he knew the truth about her. ‘Tell Reverend Kenner I’m sorry I couldn’t make our meeting,’ she said.

  ‘He’ll understand.’ Dragan paused. ‘Look—I won’t ring you because it might be awkward timing for you. But call me when you can, OK?’

  ‘I will.’ She’d call him the second she got to Contarini.

  And she’d tell him she loved him.

  And she’d tell him what she was going home to. Exactly who she was.

  ‘I love you. Ti amo. Volim te,’ he added.

  ‘I love you, too,’ she whispered. ‘Siempre. Always.’

  Dragan watched her as she walked through the scanner. All clear.