by Chris Taylor
The action brought her close against him and she reveled in the feel of his hard body, however fleeting the touch.
“Shelby, honey. Hello, there! You look beautiful.”
Shelby turned and greeted her mother with a hug. “Thank you, Momma. So do you.”
Helen Gianopoulos was an imposing woman. It was from her mother that Shelby got her height. At six feet tall in bare feet and with her body only slightly turned to fat, Helen was even more intimidating when she wore heels. Dressed from head to toe in figure-hugging, silver-spangled Dolce & Gabbana, with sparkly silver high heels to match, she looked every bit the proud matriarch. To Shelby’s consternation, her mother’s gaze gleamed with interest as she looked from Shelby to Samuel.
“And you must be Samuel,” she announced with no small amount of fanfare.
Shelby suppressed a groan. It had started already. She held her breath and steeled herself against the embarrassment that was sure to come. Throwing Samuel a quick look, she was relieved to see that he didn’t look at all put out. Even better, his normal, friendly smile was in place.
“Yes, I’m Samuel Munro. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Gianopoulos.”
“Please, call me Helen,” Shelby’s mother tittered and then blushed when Samuel shook her hand.
Samuel inclined his head in acknowledgement. “I’m honored. And thank you for inviting me to your niece’s wedding.” He glanced around at the numerous shiny, expensive motor vehicles parked outside the church as far as the eye could see, and the even more well-dressed guests and then his gaze returned to her mother. “And what a beautiful afternoon for what looks like a grand family affair.”
Helen’s smile was filled with pleasure and she patted Samuel on the arm. Shelby stood tense, waiting for the next embarrassing moment. She didn’t have to wait long.
“Shelby’s so lucky to have found you. We were so worried she’d never recover from that broken heart.” Her mother leaned toward Samuel and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “She thought she’d marry Kostas, you know. We all did. Such a nice Greek boy. And then he went and broke things off. She—”
“Momma! That’s enough!” Shelby interrupted a little desperately. “Samuel has no interest in hearing about my ex. Please, let’s go inside and enjoy the celebration. This day is about Elena and Michael, not me.”
Her mother opened her mouth to speak again, but Shelby took Samuel firmly by the arm and led him away. It wouldn’t be the last time he was accosted by her curious relatives, but she wanted to give him some breathing room before the next one pounced.
What on earth had possessed her to invite him? Feeling desperate, she glanced at him sideways and some of her tension eased. He looked so handsome and distinguished in his tailored tuxedo that emphasized his trim physique. Gold cufflinks peeked out from the cuffs of his snowy white shirt and she could see reflections in the sheen of his black RM Williams boots.
As if sensing her anxiety, he reached for her hand and squeezed it and shot her a sexy smile. “Am I holding up okay?” He winked.
Laughter gurgled out of her and she was flooded with sheer delight. This beautiful creature, this Adonis, was her willing date for the night. And many more nights after that, if she had anything to say about it. What had started out as a desperate act to stave off the usual sympathetic looks and conversations with her elderly relatives had become something so much more. The speed of the acceleration of her feelings was a little frightening, especially at her age, but she was determined to be strong and brave and see exactly where they led. If the past week was any indication, there were only good times ahead.
* * *
The speeches had been made, the cake cut and the band was in full swing when Shelby’s brother came up behind her and startled her with a playful slap on her butt.
“I think you have something to tell me, little sister. Where have you been hiding him?”
Shelby lifted her wine glass to her lips and followed Dimitri’s gaze. She smiled at the sight of Samuel surrounded by her three spinster aunts. No doubt they were doing their bit to ensure another man didn’t escape her clutches. She felt a stab of sympathy for him, but if the expressions of pleasure and approval on her aunts’ faces were anything to go by, he looked like he was holding his own.
“He’s a doctor at the hospital. We work together,” she murmured and smiled into her wine.
Dimitri shook his head. “You’re a sly old dog, I’ll give you that! Here we all thought you were still in mourning over Kostas and all along, you’ve had a bronzed surfer-type keeping you happy. How come you didn’t say anything?”
Shelby ducked her head. “We only met a week ago.”
“Okay, now I forgive you for not telling me earlier. The way Mom talked, I thought you’d been hiding him in your closet for some time. I must admit, I was a little dubious about her claims, given that I share a house with you. I thought I would have noticed an extra body around the place.”
Shelby laughed. “Oh, dear! I can only imagine what other stories she’s spreading around the room. I think she’s kind of taken with him. I wasn’t sure she’d be happy—seeing as he’s not a nice Greek boy and all, but she seems to have gotten over that little anomaly rather well.”
“You think?” Dimitri deadpanned and Shelby laughed again.
“Too well, probably,” Shelby admitted with a grimace.
Dimitri chuckled with amusement. Shelby was reminded how good looking her brother was. Dark haired and dark eyed, like the rest of her brothers and sisters, he’d also inherited their mother’s height. A successful litigation lawyer in their father’s city firm, there was talk he’d make junior partner before the year was out. Shelby was happy for him. Dimitri loved his job and most of the time, he was happy with his life. She only wished he had someone special to share it with.
“So, when do I get to meet him?”
Dimitri’s question broke into her thoughts. She flashed him a smile. “How about now? I’m sure he’ll be happy for the interruption.”
Tugging her brother by the hand, she threaded her way through the crowd of wedding guests, avoiding the eye of her Uncle Theo as she did so. Samuel lifted his head and saw her coming. A relieved expression crossed his face. She swallowed a smile.
“Samuel, do you mind if I steal you away for a minute?” she murmured and then turned and smiled sweetly at her aunts. “I’m sorry, ladies. Do you mind?”
“Of course not, dearie,” Aunty Irene replied. Aunty Maria and Aunty Sophia merely smiled their approval and nodded.
Taking hold of Samuel’s arm, Shelby steered him away from the women and brought him over to where Dimitri waited.
“Samuel, I’d like you to meet my oldest brother. Dimitri, this is Samuel.”
Samuel held out his hand and Dimitri gave it a friendly shake. “It’s nice to meet you, Samuel. Looks to me like you’ve made a lucky escape.” Dimitri indicated from exactly where, with a nod in the direction of the aunts, who had their heads together, talking.
Samuel grinned. “I’d say you’re right.”
He shot Shelby a soft look and her insides melted like toasted marshmallow. Right here, right now, she could fall in love with this man. The thought filled her with equal parts nerves and excitement.
“So, Shelby tells me you’re a doctor,” Dimitri said.
“Yes, and she’s told me quite a lot about you, too. In fact, I think I know almost everything there is to know about the Gianopoulos siblings. You two live together, right?”
“That’s right,” Dimitri replied. “Along with two more sisters, Athena and Zoe, who are both younger than Shelby, but you probably already know that, too.”
Samuel lifted the glass in his hand and took a sip from his drink. Dimitri did likewise.
“So, Dimitri,” Samuel said, “you’re a lawyer.”
“Yes. I work for a firm in the city. Harton and Wentworth. You might have heard of it.”
“I haven’t had much to do with lawyers, thankfull
y,” Samuel replied, “but the name rings a bell. Do you have offices down near the Supreme Court?”
“Yes. In Martin Place. Dad’s a senior partner there.”
Samuel’s expression filled with admiration. “I’m impressed. Working under your old man. That’s got to be tough.”
“What’s got to be tough?”
Shelby jumped as the brash voice of her father boomed from somewhere behind them.
“H-hi, Daddy. This is Samuel. We were just talking about how difficult it is being a lawyer. The long hours, the trying cases. I’m sure you know what it’s like.”
Ignoring her, Alexei Gianopoulos drew to his full height. At six-foot-three, he was imposing. He stared down at the three of them then narrowed his gaze on Samuel. Shelby held her breath.
“I understand you’re seeing my daughter,” he stated.
To his credit, Samuel stood his ground and looked her father in the eye. Shelby’s belly clenched with nerves. Her father was known to be overprotective where his daughters were concerned.
“Yes, sir. I am.”
Alexei’s stare didn’t waver. “What are your intentions?”
Heat crept up Shelby’s cheeks. She didn’t dare look at Samuel.
“I have the most honorable of intentions, Mr Gianopoulos.”
“Are you sleeping with her?” Alexei demanded.
Mortification spread like flames across Shelby’s face. “Daddy! This isn’t the nineteenth century! That’s none of your business!”
Unperturbed, her father’s gaze remained fixed on Samuel. “Well, are you?”
She noticed a tic in Samuel’s cheek. His jaw clenched. “No, sir. I’m not.”
“Why not? Isn’t she good enough for you?”
Shelby gasped, but Samuel remained composed.
“It has nothing to do with that, sir. It comes down to respect.”
Her father looked unconvinced and turned to his son. “Dimitri, are they sleeping together? You share a house. You should know.”
“Daddy!” Shelby protested again.
Her brother spoke over her. “You’re behaving badly, Dad. What Shelby does is her business. She’s a grown woman, not your little girl. And for the record, this is the first time I’ve even seen Samuel.”
Her father looked unrepentant. Once again, he lasered Samuel with his gaze. “How long have you been dating my daughter?”
“A week and a half, sir.”
“And you haven’t slept with her?”
Samuel’s jaw tightened again. Anger glinted in his eyes. “I think we’ve been over this, Mr Gianopoulos and I would thank you not to disrespect both me and your daughter that way.”
Shelby’s father moved closer. She was sure it was in an effort to intimidate her date. Impatience surged through her. She’d had enough. Dimitri was right. She was no longer a child. She stepped forward in an effort to insinuate herself between the two men.
“Dad—”
Her father spoke over her head. “I’ve read about men like you. Are you sure you’re not using my daughter to cover up for the fact you’re gay?”
CHAPTER FIVE
“Daddy!” Shelby exclaimed, shocked.
“Dad, that’s enough.” Dimitri’s tone was cold.
Shelby burned with anger and mortification. She hardly dared to look at Samuel. When she did, she swallowed a gasp. He glared at her father. His eyes burned blue steel.
“Not that it’s any of your business,” he bit out, “but no, sir, I’m not gay. Just because I like women, doesn’t mean I sleep with every girl I go out with before the end of the second week. I have a few more scruples than that, but you wouldn’t know that because you know nothing about me and it’s also obvious you know nothing about your daughter.”
Samuel’s gaze narrowed and his voice lowered threateningly. “But be careful, Mr Gianopoulos. One of these days, you might find yourself having to apologize for your rudeness and I get the feeling saying sorry isn’t something that comes easily to you.”
The two men faced off with each other, their breaths coming fast. A moment later, Shelby’s father relaxed his stance and let out a chuckle.
“Guys, hey, lighten up! You’re taking this way too seriously! I can’t help it if I’m protective of my little girl. I’m her father. It’s my job to protect her. She’s already had her heart broken by that no-good, gutless Kostas. I want to make sure her choice of companion is worthy of her this time. Is that too much to ask?” He spread his arms wide, his face a picture of innocence. Shelby wasn’t about to let him off the hook quite so easily.
“You were incredibly rude to Samuel and me, Daddy. It’s uncalled for. Samuel’s my guest. You have no right to treat him like that.”
To her surprise, her father nodded. “You’re right, honey.” He turned to Samuel. “I’m sorry for my rudeness. Protective or not, there was no excuse. I know better.”
To Samuel’s credit, he graciously accepted her father’s apology. “No harm done, Mr Gianopoulos. I understand.”
Her father smiled and the tension between them eased. “You’ll understand even more when you’re in my shoes. Just wait until you have daughters. You’ll be every bit as protective as I am.” He gave Samuel a wink and all four of them chuckled. Shelby sighed quietly in relief.
The band chose that moment to start a new set and Shelby grabbed Samuel by the hand. “Come on! I love this song! Let’s dance.”
They strode hand in hand to the dance floor and Samuel took her in his arms. The music was slow and sensual. She clasped her fingers together around his neck. He moved with confidence, his feet sure and graceful.
“You dance well,” she murmured.
“My mother thought it would be a good idea for her children to be given dance lessons—ballroom dance lessons, I might add. I was a surly teenager at the time and couldn’t for the life of me think why I’d need such a skill. Now I’m glad she insisted.”
Shelby smiled. Samuel tightened his hold on her and then twirled her around. She gasped and laughed and was filled with happiness. There was still so much she didn’t know about him, but she knew the important stuff. He was good and kind and intelligent. He was polite and funny and generous. Not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. He was the complete package. She was the luckiest girl in the world.
It was the early hours of the morning when she and Samuel finally left the wedding reception and climbed into his car. Traffic was quiet through the city and they made it across the harbor in good time. Country music, turned down low, was playing on the radio.
Shelby’s limbs felt heavy. She’d consumed more than her fair share of wine at the wedding and she looked forward to climbing into bed. She looked across at Samuel. His profile was in shadow, but every now and then, it was illuminated by the streetlights they passed.
He had a strong jawline, firm lips, a high forehead. His blond hair was slightly long, like he was overdue for a haircut. It curled over his ears. She itched to trace its path with her finger, to slide over the whorls and valleys and ridges, learning every inch of his skin.
The music came to an end and she vaguely registered the news had come on. In a somber voice, the newsreader announced there had been another murder the night before along the cliff tops of North Bondi.
Shelby came alert with a start. It was the second murder in that area in less than a month. When she’d learned about the first one, she’d been stunned. The scene of the crime wasn’t far from her parents’ home. It was shocking to realize someone had been murdered so near to where her mom and dad slept in their beds. Now another young man had been killed.
“Did you hear that?” she murmured.
“Yes. It’s terrible, isn’t it? There was another one a few weeks ago. It happened not far from where I live.”
She turned to look at him, flooding with surprise. “Really? You live in Bondi?”
“Yes. It’s probably a little further away from the hospital than is convenient, but what can I say? I love to surf. It’s worth the pain
of having to get out of bed that extra bit earlier.”
He grinned and his teeth shone white in the streetlight. She was reminded once again of how good-looking he was. A shaft of desire tingled through her veins. The Aston purred to a stop outside her house. She glanced up at the windows that fronted the harbor. The place was quiet and dark. Samuel switched off the ignition and turned to face her. Shelby was beset with a rush of nerves.
“I-I’m sorry again about my dad. He was totally out of line. He—”
“Apologized, Shelby, and that couldn’t have been easy for him. I accepted his apology and that’s the end of the matter, as far as I’m concerned. Now,” his fingers grasped her chin and he turned her face toward him, “let’s not talk anymore about your family. I’d much rather spend time doing this.”
His lips came down on hers and moved over them with fluid warmth. Desire, hot and immediate, catapulted through her body. She relaxed into his hold and returned the pressure of his mouth. Reaching up, she cupped his cheek, her nails scraping across the shadow of whiskers that had appeared as the night wore on. He adjusted his position and pulled her closer.
“Ouch,” she squeaked and looked down at the gearshift where it dug into her hip.
Samuel cursed lightheartedly at the offending instrument and then chuckled. “The good old gearshift-in-the-hip trick,” he said in a fair Maxwell Smart imitation.
“It will do it every time,” she grinned. Silence fell between them. She broke it with a nervous clearing of her throat. “Would you… Would you like to come in? The rest of my family are staying at the reception center tonight. We have the place to ourselves.”
She blushed as she said it and was grateful for the dimness. She was no longer a virgin, but she was far from promiscuous and she hadn’t had sex since her break-up with Kostas. It had taken her awhile to get over the fact the man she thought she’d marry wasn’t that man at all. Sharing a house with three of her siblings was another deterrent to bringing men home.
