The Registrar's Wedding Wish

by Lucy Clark

  ‘Ah.’

  ‘He hates the name Montague so naturally, being the good friend that I am, I tease him about it.’

  ‘Naturally.’ Their eyes locked once more and the atmosphere intensified. ‘Annie,’ he whispered, and leaned a little closer.

  The sound of Eloise coming back into the kitchen caused them to spring apart. The noise level increased with the arrival of Hayden’s father, one of his sisters and two brothers-in-law. The moment had passed.

  She had no idea what Hayden had told his family about their relationship, but from the look of things, the two of them were almost engaged. Just the thought gave her heart palpitations and in the light of her new discovery that morning she desperately needed something to do.

  Reaching across the table for the croissant basket, she inadvertently brushed her arm against Hayden’s. Her breath caught in her throat and her gaze flew to his. ‘Sorry,’ she mumbled, and pulled back immediately. ‘Uh…would you mind passing the croissants, please?’

  Hayden reached out and passed her the basket, waiting while she took a croissant before replacing the basket in the middle of the table. He didn’t look at her. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t smile.

  Annie had an overwhelming urge to burst into tears. Instead, she concentrated hard on breaking her mouthwatering French roll into pieces. Moments later the rest of the clan, including the blushing bride, came into the kitchen for what Annie then learned was the traditional family breakfast before the wedding celebration.

  Annie watched as Hayden joked freely with his sisters. The way he pulled funny faces at his two-year-old nephew and how he helped his mother in the kitchen. Throughout this, Annie only spoke when spoken to, not sure of the protocol for such a gathering.

  They were amazing.

  They all interacted with each other in such an easy, friendly manner. Hayden’s father, Mike, was in a serious discussion with his son-in-law, Eloise was talking to her daughter’s very pregnant ‘bump’ and the bride-to-be was laughing at her sister and brother-in-law.

  They were something Annie had never had and what she yearned for with all her heart.

  They were a family.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  ANNIE felt a pang of longing wash over her and she looked away—right into Hayden’s blue gaze. He had taken over the pancake flipping, and was watching her with concern. Her heart pounded wildly against her ribs and she forced a smile, swallowing over the lump of emotion in her throat.

  The moment was broken when Katrina, the sister who was neither pregnant nor the bride-to-be, sat down beside her.

  ‘Uh…will you quit making moon eyes at my brother and tell me about yourself?’ she demanded.

  ‘Excuse me?’ Annie was a little taken aback.

  Katrina sighed wistfully. ‘I remember what it was like…being in love. Gazing across the crowded room into each other’s eyes, wishing the family would just disappear so you could be alone.’

  ‘Oh.’ Annie laughed. ‘That!’

  ‘You’re very quiet.’

  ‘This is…a…new experience for me.’

  ‘What? Breakfast?’

  ‘A family breakfast.’ Annie leaned a little closer. ‘I have no siblings.’

  ‘Oh.’ Katrina’s eyebrows hit her hairline and it was then Annie could see the resemblance between Hayden and his sister. ‘No wonder you’re so quiet. Never mind, you’ll get used to it.’

  ‘You get together often?’

  ‘Usually every two months. This time, though, it’s been less what with Christmas and New Year and now Rowena’s wedding. So, how long have you and Hayden known each other?’

  Annie smiled. ‘Ah, I’ve heard about this.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘The sibling inquisition.’

  Katrina laughed. ‘I’m not letting you off the hook. We all have a lot of questions about you because until Hayden told Mum he was bringing a guest, we had no idea he’d been dating anyone.’

  Annie wasn’t sure what to say but decided that if he wasn’t going to clue her in on things, she was just going to have to do something drastic…and tell the truth. ‘We work together.’

  ‘I knew that much. Things must have moved pretty quickly because he’s only been in Geelong a short time, and when I visited him a few weeks ago he didn’t say anything.’

  ‘Ah, you’re the sister who made the cinnamon rolls.’

  ‘Yes,’ Katrina said slowly, eyeing Annie more closely. ‘I hope you enjoyed them.’

  ‘I did.’

  Katrina shook her head. ‘Looks as though Hayden is moving very quickly. Then again, that’s the way we Robinsons seem to be. Mum and Dad fell in love in under seven days. They hold the record. My husband and I were two weeks, Brigeeta was three weeks and I think Rowena was somewhere in between.’

  Hayden must seem like a snail to the rest of his family, Annie thought. She glanced across but found his mother back in control of the pancakes. Quickly she looked around to find him coming up behind Katrina.

  ‘What are you two talking about so cosily over here?’

  ‘You,’ his sister answered simply.

  ‘Far be it from me to interrupt.’ He turned his gaze to Annie. ‘I have to go out for a while but I’ll be back soon.’

  ‘Uh…’ Annie tried to stand but found her chair leg was jammed with the one beside her. She shifted again. ‘Can I come with you? I have something I need to do.’ Now was her opportunity to buy something to wear to the wedding.

  ‘Stay. Enjoy the morning. Talk about me with my sisters. I know how girls love to do that.’

  ‘That’s mighty conceited of you,’ she retorted, as she finally got the chairs untangled and stood.

  ‘That’s not what I meant.’ He smiled at her. ‘Girl talk.’

  ‘As much as I’d like to, I really need to run an important errand.’

  He placed both hands on her shoulders, stopping her from moving. ‘Annie.’ His tone was warm and encompassing and she felt as though he’d given her a big, secure hug. The touch of his hands on her shoulders caused her body to flood with tingles again, and the way he was looking at her made her mouth go dry. ‘It’s OK. Everything’s under control.’

  Before she could say or do anything, he dipped his head and brushed his lips across hers. ‘I’ll be back soon,’ he said, and quickly left the room.

  Annie couldn’t have moved even if she’d wanted to. It was a second or two later that she realised all conversations, all the noise in the room had stopped—and everyone was looking at her.

  Eloise had a strange misty look on her face. Katrina was nodding, as though in code, to her two sisters. Mike grinned widely. The moment seemed to last for ever and Annie wished, now more than ever, for a gigantic hole to open up and swallow her.

  Instead, she decided to face the music. ‘What?’ she asked with a shrug of her shoulders.

  ‘Nothing,’ Brigeeta said, and conversations resumed.

  ‘Have another cup of coffee, Annie,’ Katrina said.

  ‘No, thank you. I’ve eaten way too much food and drunk way too much coffee. Besides, I have something I need to do.’

  ‘What?’

  Annie shook her head, feeling embarrassed, and sank back down into her seat.

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  Annie sighed, not used to confiding in people who were basically strangers. ‘I forgot to get something to wear to the wedding,’ she said softly.

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Work’s been hectic.’

  Katrina winked. ‘I can imagine.’

  ‘No. It really has,’ Annie responded earnestly, not wanting Katrina to get the wrong impression.

  ‘I was only teasing.’ She drained her coffee-cup. ‘Come on. Let’s see what we can find.’ She stood up. ‘Ladies,’ she announced to the room, ‘we have an emergency.’

  ‘Oh, no. I don’t want to bother—’ but Annie’s pleas were cut short by Eloise, Brigeeta and Rowena as Katrina led her from the room. The hour that followed was so
mething Annie had never experienced before. She tried on outfits offered by all four women, mixing and matching as best they could.

  ‘I could just go and buy something,’ she stated more than once.

  ‘No, no, no.’ Katrina waved the idea away as though it was preposterous. ‘You don’t want to spend all that money on one dress just for one day.’ She continued to rummage through Rowena’s closet. ‘If only I’d known, I have a great dress that would look amazing on you. I could have packed it and brought it with me.’

  ‘Me, too,’ Brigeeta chimed in. ‘In fact, most of my wardrobe doesn’t fit me.’ She patted her belly lovingly. ‘You show so much earlier in your second pregnancy.’

  ‘Just wait until your fourth,’ Eloise said, and Brigeeta groaned. They continued to joke, enjoying the experience of having a real, live doll to dress up.

  ‘Your hair is gorgeous,’ Rowena enthused, flicking her straight, blonde hair over her shoulder. ‘I’d give anything for mine to curl.’

  ‘And your colour is so natural.’ Brigeeta added. ‘The style suits you.’

  ‘Speaking of hair, aren’t you supposed to be getting ready or something?’ Annie asked Rowena.

  ‘Not yet. Geeta will do my hair, Kat will do my makeup and Mum will help me dress. It’s all organised.’

  ‘OK.’ Annie spun around in another dress she’d put on.

  ‘The colour’s not quite right for you.’ Katrina said. ‘Got any more, Ro?’

  There was a knock at the door just as Rowena dived into the wardrobe once again. ‘Come in,’ one of the girls called.

  ‘Is Annie in here?’ Hayden asked, and when he spotted her, dressed in one of his sister’s dresses, he frowned. ‘Colour’s not right.’

  ‘That’s what I said.’ Katrina smiled.

  ‘Mind if I borrow Annie?’ Without giving her a chance to reply, he walked in, took her hand and started dragging her out of the room. ‘Thanks for looking after her, girls.’

  ‘Hayden?’ He tugged her down the hallway and into the room she’d been given. Then he closed the door behind them. ‘Hayden!’

  ‘Shh. Close your eyes and hold out your arms.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Do it,’ he said softly. ‘Please?’

  She frowned, not quite sure, but nevertheless did as he’d asked. ‘Keep them closed,’ he warned, and she heard a door open.

  ‘Hayden?’

  ‘I’m still here. Keep them closed.’

  ‘Fine.’ She felt something heavy—a box—placed on her arms.

  ‘Open sesame.’

  Annie opened her eyes and stared down at a big, shiny, square box. ‘Wha—’

  ‘Happy birthday, Annie.’

  Her jaw dropped open in amazement. ‘How…how did you know it was my birthday?’

  ‘Natasha told me. Open it.’ He was eager to see her expression when she saw the present.

  Annie slid the box onto the bed so she could lift off the lid. She gasped, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as she stared down at her present. Between the folds of white tissue paper was…a dress.

  ‘Oh, Hayden.’

  ‘Take it out,’ he urged. ‘Thank goodness Natasha also told me your size or this surprise would have been a nightmare.’

  With trembling hands she lifted the dress out of the box and held it against her. It was sleeveless, made of raw silk and lined. A simple, fitted cut which would hug every curve of her body. The neckline was sheer from the bust up, leading to an elegant beaded collar. The hem came to mid-thigh…and the colour was a warm, russet-red.

  ‘Oh, Hayden.’ Tears welled in her eyes and she desperately tried to blink them away.

  ‘Now, that colour suits you. But wait, there’s more.’

  He reached into the closet and pulled out another box. ‘These are from the Worthington family. Natasha was most explicit in her instructions on what to buy to complement whatever dress I chose for you.’

  Annie opened the second box, still unable to believe this was happening. It contained her accessories. Black shoes, an evening bag and a stole.

  She laughed through her tears. ‘Just like Natasha to be so bossy.’

  ‘She was a fantastic help.’

  ‘Hayden…I…’ She trailed off and wiped away a tear. ‘This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.’ She was thankful for her early morning revelation about being in love with him because now the feelings she felt for him had doubled in an instant. She gazed up at him, knowing the love she felt was reflected in her eyes.

  ‘I wasn’t sure what colour dress to get—’ his tone was thick with raw emotion ‘—until I saw your underwear this morning. You looked…’ He stopped and cleared his throat. ‘Annie, I know you didn’t want any kissing but I’m sorry…’ His voice was soft but urgent as he covered the distance between them. ‘I have to.’

  He tenderly cupped her face, not wanting to crush the dress she still held in front of her, and brought his mouth possessively down on hers.

  Annie couldn’t help but put everything she was feeling—the desire, the passion and the love—into the kiss they shared. It was what she wanted as well, and she was glad he’d given in to the need to break the rules she’d set.

  A few moments later Hayden pulled back and looked deep into her eyes. ‘Time to get ready.’ He stepped back and looked at the dress she still held up against her. ‘I can’t wait to see you in that.’

  ‘I can’t wait to put it on. Thank you.’

  ‘My pleasure.’ With that, he backed to the door, not taking his gaze off her until the last possible moment. After he’d gone, she hugged the dress tighter and whirled around the room, feeling every inch the birthday girl.

  ‘I feel like Cinderella,’ Annie whispered to Hayden, her hand resting on his arm as they walked into the church.

  ‘I’m glad this place has air-conditioning,’ he remarked.

  Annie giggled. ‘You’re so romantic.’ They were shown to their seats near the front on the bride’s side and waited for the ceremony to begin. After Rowena’s groom had come to stand at the front, they were all asked to be upstanding for the arrival of the bride. As the music started, Annie turned and looked down the aisle, waiting to catch a glimpse of Rowena.

  She sighed with awe when she saw Hayden’s beautiful sister start her journey up the aisle. ‘She’s breathtaking.’ Annie glanced up at Hayden. It was then she realised he wasn’t looking at Rowena. She followed his gaze and was stunned to see Adam standing three rows behind them.

  Of course. Why hadn’t she realised he’d be here? He was Rowena’s cousin just as much as he was Hayden’s. They were told to sit and she felt Hayden’s arm slip firmly around her shoulders, drawing her closer. She relaxed against the warmth of his body and focused on Rowena.

  His arm tightened possessively and the emotion surprised him. The need to protect Annie, to let every single man here—especially Adam—know that she was with him, became fierce. All he knew of her relationship with his cousin was that it was over. Did Annie have any old feelings left?

  Jealousy rose, along with the urge to throw Annie over his shoulder and march out…but caveman tactics just weren’t his style. He’d never met a woman who had made him feel this way, so…so…primitive. He shook his head slightly.

  ‘Something wrong?’ Annie whispered, concerned that he was shaking his head at a serious moment like this. Did he really hate the institution of marriage that much?

  It was then Hayden realised his sister and new brother-in-law were in the process of exchanging their vows. He glanced down at Annie, surprised to see hurt in her eyes. She’d obviously thought he’d been shaking his head against what was happening at the front of the church.

  He forced a smile and leaned closer. ‘Everything’s fine. Seems like yesterday she was just learning to walk.’ He felt her relax once more and was glad he’d put her mind at ease. Focusing his attention on his sister, seeing the pure love shining in her eyes, he knew she’d be happy.

  It appe
ared his sisters had better luck with love than he did. In fact, he couldn’t recall Lonnie ever looking at him like that. He glanced down at Annie again and she turned her face up to his, her eyes glazed with unshed tears, her heart in her smile, and it was in that moment, that split second, Hayden realised he was in grave danger.

  Two hours later they were dancing in the enormous marquee, Annie laughing at Hayden’s ridiculous jokes.

  ‘Here’s one my five-year-old nephew told me. How do you know when an elephant’s been in your fridge?’

  ‘I have no idea.’

  ‘The footprints in the butter.’

  Annie chuckled at the ridiculousness of the joke. ‘Of course.’ She sighed. ‘Hayden, I’m so happy. This is the best birthday ever.’ She leaned up and kissed him. ‘Thank you for making it so special.’

  ‘I can’t believe you weren’t going to tell me. Fortieth birthdays should be cause for grand celebration.’

  Annie looked around her. ‘This is a grand celebration.’

  ‘But it’s not for you.’

  Annie shrugged and smiled up at him. ‘I have the only guest I need right here, in my arms.’

  Hayden shook his head slowly. ‘When you make comments like that, Annie, you only make it harder for me not to kiss you.’

  ‘How about we lift that no-more-kissing rule, just for today, eh? After all, it is my birthday and, well, you’ve already broken the rule at least twice today, so…’

  ‘So, I think that’s a great idea,’ he murmured, drawing her closer. He smiled down at her as she lifted her face. He saw impatience in her gaze and knew it matched his own. A tap on his shoulder jerked him out of the isolated world where only he and Annie existed, and he spun around, a scowl on his face. ‘Adam.’

  ‘Hi, Hayd. Mind if I cut in?’

  ‘Yes, as a matter of fact, I do.’ Hayden kept Annie firmly in his embrace, his anger and frustration aimed solely at his cousin, mounting steadily with each passing second.

  ‘Hi, Annie. I was surprised to see you here.’

  ‘Likewise,’ she replied, relieved to find no twinges or pangs of regret as she spoke.

  ‘Come on, cous. One little dance. I never pegged you as the possessive type.’