by Grady, D. R.
The tears she tried to contain fell anyway. She could feel their hot path tracing down to her lips, and curving with her cheek. Others forged their own path, and still she tried to check them. How she wanted to...
“Giselle?” A quiet voice asked in the darkness and her heart seized before continuing to beat in an uneven pattern. Her stomach clenched as did her thighs and she wanted to believe that voice in the darkness truly was Stefen.
She heaved a shuddering sob, and curled into herself. Only to have strong, firm arms close around her. His unforgotten scent engulfed her and Giselle wanted him so badly she turned into those familiar arms and wrapped him tightly in her embrace.
Not until she felt his hand at her spine did she truly believe the man in her arms holding her so close was real. Smelling him, feeling him, holding him, her heart broke all over again.
“Gissy, please don’t cry,” he crooned, “I don’t think you’ve ever cried in front of me before, baby.”
“Stefen?” She had to confirm this wasn’t a dream. That it wasn’t her mind playing tricks on her.
“I’m here Giselle. I’ll yell at you later for not coming to me immediately and for not correcting everyone’s assumptions.” Giselle gave a hiccup of laughter. He’d already forgiven her.
She understood his frustration though. If she had been strong enough to confront him, they would probably already be married.
“Celeste—” she started, but he cut her off with gentle words.
“I know, Gissy, I know. Your mother phoned me and from what she said, and knowing you, I put the facts together. You’ve never understood how I could love you to distraction and not even spare a glance for your sister.”
She drew in a shaky breath. “I still don’t understand that. Celeste was perfect.”
“That’s probably why I could never be attracted to her.”
She choked out another laugh. It felt so right to be in his arms again, to hold him, to love him.
“I like your fire, and competency, which extends to everything except your self-worth. I love your laughter and your patience, and your ability to do whatever you set your mind to. You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met and I intend to place a ring on your finger by Tuesday, followed by another, one that matches the ring I’ll be wearing, by the end of the month.”
She had wanted him for so long. No other man could compare to Stefen Bannette. Upon learning that he felt the same way nearly two years ago they embarked on a secret courtship, but she never truly believed that he wanted her. And they had wasted an entire year.
Holding him again, she made a vow to never distrust him or their feelings again.
“I love you,” she choked out, her hands spreading over his face. She couldn’t see his features, but knew them by memory anyway. As her fingers traveled over remembered hills and valleys, she silently thanked who ever had seen fit to grant her another chance.
“And I love you,” Stefen replied. “This has been the worst year of my life, Giselle Saltaire. I thought you had died, and I died right along with you.” A fierce, but gentle hand curved under her chin and he held her face still. “You will vow to me now to never, ever keep yourself from me for an entire year, for even a minute. When we have misunderstandings we will sort them out together.”
“I promise,” she whispered through a tear ridden smile.
Then he kissed her. A savage, purposeful, ardent, perfect kiss. And Giselle gave him everything. Just as he gave her.
When they finally broke apart, Stefen leaned over and snapped on the bedside light. His eyes devoured her. Her eyes took him in as ravenously.
“You’ve lost weight,” they spoke at the same time.
“I couldn’t eat.” She shook her head sadly.
“Nor could I,” he admitted. “I thought I’d lost you. How did you cope?”
“I knew you weren’t dead so I hoped maybe someday you might want me.”
“I’m all yours. And you’re all mine.” Stefen groaned. “You still smell as sweet as honeysuckle. I couldn’t forget your scent. Or how you felt in my arms. Or your laughter. And you’re so beautiful.” His hand lovingly trailed over her face, her neck, across her shoulders, and down her arms.
Giselle’s eyebrows rose. “My face is red and blotchy and tear-streaked.”
“You’re the most beautiful woman alive, my Giselle.”
She pulled his face back to hers, needing another kiss. “I thought I’d slip out to see you. You came to see me first.”
“I had to. This was the most joyous day of my life, learning you lived. I couldn’t assimilate all the information at first. And after hearing Mallen say you all thought I had asked for Celeste, and how your father didn’t actually announce your name, I realized what happened.” Stefen stroked the hair from her face, seemingly lost in his perusal.
“Celeste was home that day while I wasn’t. Everything happened so quickly after that. I wanted you so much but then it seemed wrong to go to you after Celeste had died.”
“Like dancing on her grave?”
“Yes.” Giselle nodded. “I just couldn’t do so. By then too much time had passed.”
“I’m also guilty.”
She cocked a brow at him.
“I never came to offer my condolences because I couldn’t face your home without you here.” He pulled her fiercely to him. “I didn’t think I’d ever hold you, see you, touch you, taste you, or smell your sweetness again.”
Dragging something out of his pocket, Stefen took her hand. “I can’t wait until Tuesday,” he mumbled, before opening the box and removing a marquis shaped, four-carat diamond ring.
He slid the huge sign of commitment on to her finger.
She dragged him close, blinking back the tears of happiness, and tried to seep every bit of him into her body. She wanted to be a part of him. A thrill shot through her.
By the end of this month, that would happen. They would be married then and she would become a part of him. And he of her. She shivered in anticipation. As the light gleamed off her new jewel she realized she wanted the man more than the ring.
“Are you cold?” he asked in concern, pushing her away so he could see her face.
“No, just anticipating our wedding night.”
A pirate’s grin crossed his beloved face as he folded her tightly against him. “Oh, yes, sweetheart, oh yes.”
***
Lila joined them before supper, and she glanced around, as though looking for someone. “Giselle decided not to join us?”
“Simone said something about her having a headache.” Mallen’s hand stroked idly down her hair. It was drying rapidly in the dry heat generated by the fire.
“She developed that while I spoke with her.”
“You spoke with her?” He demanded at the same time as she did.
Lila answered them with a smile. “She still loves Stefen and she agreed to speak with him on Tuesday.”
“Do you think she’ll wait that long?”
“I sincerely hope she’s gone to him by now.”
Mallen grinned. “Or he’s here, and they’re working out their differences.”
“Right.”
“So this means we have to stay down here for most of the evening?” she inquired.
“We’ll have to be quiet tonight when we go upstairs,” he answered.
“You won’t need to worry about ‘interrupting’ anything, love. We have a custom here in Sandovia where a couple doesn’t make love until their wedding night,” Lila supplied.
Julia turned astonished eyes on Mallen. “Really?”
“Really, and it works very well.” He sounded smug.
“That’s wonderful. I wish the States were more like that,” she admitted.
“I’m sure it is in some parts.”
Lila added, “No one has said they wished they had made love before their wedding night. Everyone has been grateful they waited.”
“They respect their parents because this is something they f
eel very strongly about,” he added. “Another thing that helps is they see their parents happy together, and to hear both of them say they’re happy they waited.”
Julia smiled. “I guess that means I’m in good company then.”
“I’m not a virgin dear.” Lila’s mischievous side popped out along with her grin.
Turning to Mallen, she asked, “Where did you get her again?”
“We’re still trying to figure that out.”
During the lively supper, Giselle did make an appearance. A man followed closely behind her. On her left finger she wore what Julia equated a rock. The diamond sparkled dazzlingly in the light. Yet the gem’s brilliance couldn’t compare to Giselle’s happy glow.
Mallen stood and he and the man embraced as men do. They shook hands, too and she admired the show. She suspected the other man was Stefen Bannette. He stood easily as tall as Mallen. He had a square jaw, brilliant green eyes, and blue-black curly hair. His skin was a light chocolate color.
“Julia, this is one of my closest friends, Stefen Bannette.” Mallen made the introduction as she rose to her feet.
Stefen didn’t immediately acknowledge her, as he had to finish hugging Lila. Once he did, however, she felt immediately at ease with him. His hand engulfed hers, but she was so used to Mallen’s largeness, she wasn’t as intimidated as she would have been three weeks ago.
“You are this Julia I have been hearing so much about?” Stefen’s voice was deep and pleasant.
She smiled. “And you are Stefen, who I have heard so much of.”
“Welcome to Sandovia, we love this place and hope you will also.”
“Thank you.”
He returned her smile before looking down at Giselle. She was tucked closely to his side, and acted as though she’d like to be closer still.
“Perhaps we should mention our plans, love.” He murmured the words into her hair. Julia’s heart clenched at the love in Stefen’s voice.
“We’re getting married at the end of the month.” Giselle smiled tearily at her family.
Mallen whooped and Lila gasped. Julia shared her friend’s happy smile.
Chaos ensued as everyone hugged everyone again.
Such heartache this family had endured, but now life was smiling on them. Two deaths, but a wedding this year. Julia wondered how long before the first birth. She slid a sly look at Lila who beamed when she intercepted the glance.
“I’ll be getting grandbabies soon. I’d better go find my camera. We need to take pictures of the happy couple.” Lila made to leave the room, but Giselle grabbed her mother in panic.
“Mother, that’s not necessary.” She sent a frantic look at her brother. “Mallen was just leaving to find his. He can take the pictures.” Before she even uttered the entire statement, Mallen had already left the room at a high rate of speed.
He returned with one of the tiniest cameras she had ever seen. The little camera disappeared inside his palm when he raised it to take a shot. In his excitement, he seemed to have difficulty lining up the shots. Julia removed it from his eager grasp. She was surprised to see it was the same model she owned. The camera had simply looked much smaller in his hand than hers.
She set the happy couple up in several pictures, and then suggested Mallen and Lila be included in the next photo. Julia had fun rapping out orders and directing the family. This might have been because Mallen managed to be goofier than usual, and kept her laughing the entire time.
Somehow, someone arranged that after Julia stood with the happy couple, she ended up standing alone with Mallen, arms around each other, for the last few pictures. She hoped her grin didn’t consume the entire shot, and more importantly, that she had been successful at hiding her feelings for the man holding her so sweetly.
Lila convinced the couple to have a Christmas wedding, as the middle of November was nearly upon them. She helped her cause by adding that if they did so, they could invite Jared and Annie, whom Giselle wanted present.
“Mother, you do know how to have your way,” Giselle commented as she and Stefen sat down at the table with them. Julia thought the pair could both use some fattening up, so she was happy to see them eating heartily.
“Yes, love, I know,” Lila patted her hair before she turned to Julia. “What about your parents? Would they be available to come for the wedding?”
“I don’t know. They only will just be returning from their trip. Instead of the month they planned, they stretched the time out to two.”
“Have you spoken to them?” Mallen asked.
“No, but we’ve been e-mailing. They’re on a station way out in the outback, where my father figured the best way to communicate was via the Internet. So he set up his computer to receive an e-mail signal somehow so we could still be in touch.”
“How did he do that?” Stefen asked, looking quite interested.
“He’s a computer geek.” She bit her lip. “So I have no idea. He’s an electrical engineer and he stays up on all the new technology.”
“Your father sounds like an interesting fellow. They can come for the wedding?” Stefen cocked an eyebrow at Mallen.
“I’m wondering if they won’t show up here sooner,” Mallen mused.
“Why?” Stefen and Julia asked at the same time.
“They’re worried about you?”
Her eyes widened. “My siblings and their spouses promised not to tell them why I’m here.”
Mallen looked exceedingly guilty.
She narrowed her eyes. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t know you hadn’t told them about George, so I told your dad you were healing and doing fine.”
“Oh no.” Her head hit the table.
He patted her consolingly. “They can be here for the wedding.”
“Mallen, they’re probably already on their way. How long ago did you e-mail them?”
“Yesterday.”
“They’ll be here tomorrow.” She raised her head to send him a pointed glare.
“No, I assured them they could visit after their stay in Australia. They thought they might arrive by the end of November.”
Julia wasn’t convinced.
“I sent them pictures of you, so they could see you’re fine. Annie also assured them. Your dad is very...”
“Level-headed,” she supplied with a fond grin, as hope rose.
“That’s it,” he agreed with a nod. “Your mother on the other hand is...”
Her head clunked onto the table again. “Over protective, an obsessive fretter.... she’s a mother. And very likely to move mountains to get here as I’m her baby chick.”
“That’s why I figure we’ll see them around the end of the month.” His voice was as complacent as his smile.
“This means we’ll have my mother and your mother here at the same time.”
Mallen stopped smiling.
Chapter 15
Tuesday evening arrived before Julia was prepared. She found herself in front of the full-length mirror in her bedchamber, wondering. About herself, did she look fat? About the dress, was this piece of finery appropriate? About her hair, was it too curly? About her makeup, would the lip gloss be enough?
There wasn’t much she could do if not, as she now wore the only dress she owned of this caliber. Her hair was what it was, and she liked lip gloss.
Stepping back from the mirror, she surveyed herself. She still liked how the little black dress covered everything, but made her feel sexy. The garment had long poet sleeves and skimmed lovingly over her curves. Paying tribute to them, showcasing her body rather than calling unwanted attention to what she considered generous amounts of bosom and bottom.
She paired the dress with strappy high heels and a swipe of peach gloss over her lips. Julia sighed. Hopefully her efforts were enough. Would Mallen appreciate her efforts better than George had?
When she turned she found a pair of yellow eyes staring at her.
“What do you think, Sebastian? Will it work?” She padded
to the bed to pat his proud head.
The big cat made a sound in his throat, one she was hard pressed not to consider a bit of encouragement.
She heard a knock on... her wall? With confusion dicing through her, she turned. He peered around a section of the wall that now stood partly open. “Are you decent?”
“I hope so,” she answered, still perplexed by the hidden panel. “Where’d that come from?”
“Where’d what come from?” Mallen’s head disappeared momentarily.
“The hidden door?”
“All of the rooms in this wing have these. It’s easier in case of war, I suppose. Not that we’ve had war here for...” He stepped into the room and stopped short. His mouth opened and closed a few times, but no sound emerged.
“What?” Julia asked in panic. Her eyes swept quickly over the room, hoping to locate whatever alarmed him.
She momentarily lost her own voice while taking in the sight of Mallen Saltaire in full evening regalia. His tuxedo had to have been tailored; it fit so lovingly to his amazing frame. The bowtie had been knotted perfectly and leaning closer, Julia thought she detected smiley faces in certain light. His combed hair lay smooth and finger worthy, and water still glistened from the short, tamed strands. She enjoyed a faint whiff of the wonderful aftershave she always associated with Mallen. Subtle and masculine, like the man himself. Her girls roused and she worked valiantly to hush them.
He wagged his head from side to side, never taking his eyes off her. “Julia, you are beautiful. You’re likely to start wars.” His voice held awe, tearing her from her hormone struggle. His eyes drank her in.
Her stomach flipped, her breath suspended, and then the tight, uncertain feeling shrank.
“Wh...wh...” She swallowed and tried again. “What do you mean beautiful? George thought I looked fat in this dress.” The admission cost her.
Mallen’s face closed, and Julia recognized distaste, anger, and something predatory in his expression. “Since we’re all aware that George is a loser, unhinged, and wouldn’t recognize beauty if he tripped over it, we need not consider his opinion. Obviously the creep is an idiot,” he said in a voice that sounded as though he had something lodged in his throat. “I, on the other hand, am a great admirer of beauty, and you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever set eyes on. And kindly remember, I live with two gorgeous women.”
