Читать книгу Mills & Boon Showcase - Christy McKellen - Страница 17

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SANDY WAS ONLY too aware that every detail of her appearance would be scrutinised by the other guests at the Chamber of Commerce dinner dance. Every nuance of her interaction with Ben would be fuel for the gossipmongers of Dolphin Bay.

In one way it amused her. In another it scared her witless.

In spite of Ben’s reassurances Kate’s warning still disconcerted her. All the people who would be there tonight knew Ben. Had known Jodi. Had even—and her heart twisted painfully at the thought—known his baby son. She wouldn’t be human if that didn’t worry her.

She wished she and Ben could spend the entire time they had together alone in his boathouse home. Just him and her, and no one else to poke their noses into the one step forward and two steps back of their reunion. But it seemed it would be played out on the open stage of Ben’s tight-knit community.

Thank heaven she’d packed a take-her-anywhere outfit for Melbourne. She checked her image in the mirror of her hotel room with a mega-critical eye. Dress? Red, strapless, short but not too short. Jewellery? A simple yet striking gold pendant and a blatantly fake ruby-studded gold cuff from one of her fashion accessory clients. Shoes? Red, sparkling, towering heels. She thought she would pass muster.

The look in Ben’s eyes when he came to her room to pick her up told her she’d got it right.

For a moment he stood speechless—a fact that pleased her inordinately. He cleared his throat. ‘You look amazing,’ he said.

Amazing was too inadequate a word to describe how Ben looked in a tuxedo. The immaculately tailored black suit emphasised his height and the breadth of his shoulders, and set off the brilliant blue of his eyes. There was little trace of the teen surfer in the urbane adult who stood before her in the doorway to her room, but she didn’t mourn that. The crinkles around his eyes when he smiled, the cropped darker hair, only added to his appeal. It struck her that if she met the grown-up Ben now, for the first time, as a total stranger, she’d be wildly attracted to him.

For a moment she was tempted to wind her arms around his neck and lure him into her room with whispered words of seduction. She thought of the birth control she had discovered tucked into a corner of her suitcase, accompanied by a saucy note from her sister, Lizzie: In case you get lucky in Melbourne.

But Ben had official duties to perform. She couldn’t make him late.

‘You look amazing yourself,’ she said. She narrowed her eyes in a mock-appraising way. ‘Kinda like a surf god crossed with a tycoon god.’

He rolled his eyes at her words but smiled. ‘If you say so.’

Her stratospheric heels brought her to kissing distance from his face. She kissed him lightly on the cheek, but he moved his face so her lips connected with his mouth. She nearly swooned at the rush of desire that hit her. As she felt his tongue slip familiarly into her mouth she calculated how much time they had before they were due at the dinner dance. Ten minutes. Not enough time for what she needed from Ben if things were going to get physical again.

Besides, she wasn’t so sure that was the way to go when their time together was so short. She didn’t want to leave Dolphin Bay with a pulverised heart.

With a deep sigh of regret, she pulled away.

‘C’mon, haven’t you got awards to present?’ she said.

She slipped her arm through his and they headed towards the elevator.

* * *

The first person Sandy saw when she walked with Ben into the hotel conference room where the dinner dance was being held was his mother. She clutched Ben’s arm, shocked at the feeling of being cast back in time.

Maura Morgan had been wearing jeans and a T-shirt the last time she’d seen her; now she was wearing an elegant brocade dress. She was handsome, rather than beautiful, and she’d hardly changed in the intervening years. Her hair held a few more strands of grey, her figure was a tad more generous, but her smile was the same warm, welcoming smile that had made Sandy’s stay at the guesthouse all those years ago so happy. And her voice still held that hint of a lyrical Irish accent that was a legacy of her girlhood in Dublin.

‘Eh, Sandy, it’s grand to see you. Who would have thought we’d see you here after all these years?’ The older woman swept her into a warm hug.

‘It’s wonderful to see you again.’ It was all Sandy could think of to say. But she meant every word. That summer, so long ago, there had been a wire of tension between her parents that at times had come close to snapping. Maura had been kind to her, and covered for her with her father when she’d snuck out to meet Ben.

Maura stepped back, with her hands still on Sandy’s shoulders. ‘Look at you, all grown up and even lovelier than when you were a girl—and friends with Ben again.’ Her face stilled. ‘Fate works in amazing ways.’

‘It sure does,’ Sandy agreed, reluctant to talk more deeply with Ben’s mother. Not wanting to bring up the tragedies that had occurred since her last visit. She didn’t know what Ben had told Maura about her reasons for staying in Dolphin Bay. The reignited feelings between her and Ben were so fragile—still just little sparks—she wanted to hug them close.

Maura released her. ‘Your mum and dad...?’

Sandy shrugged. ‘Divorced.’

Maura shook her head slowly. ‘Why does that not surprise me? And your sister?’

‘Lizzie’s still my best friend. She has a little girl, Amy, who’s five years old and a real cutie.’

As soon as she mentioned Amy, Sandy wished she hadn’t. Ben’s son Liam had been Maura’s only grandchild. But Maura’s smile didn’t dim. ‘It’s lovely to hear that,’ she said. ‘And do you—?’

Ben interrupted. ‘Mum, I’ve sat you and Dad at my table so you’ll get a chance to talk to Sandy during the evening.

Maura laughed. ‘So quit the interrogation? I hadn’t yet asked Sandy if she has room in her heart for a homeless puppy.’

Ben groaned, but Sandy could hear the smile in his protest.

‘A puppy? I’d love one,’ she said without hesitation. ‘That is if...’ Her voice trailed away. Get dog of own once settled in Melbourne. Could she really commit to a dog when her future had become so uncertain? Until she knew exactly how she felt about Ben at the end of the four days?

Maura patted her hand. ‘I won’t hold you to the puppy until we’ve talked some more.’

The genuine warmth in her voice did a lot to reassure Sandy that Maura did not appear to have any objection to her reunion with Ben.

She felt she could face the rest of the evening with a degree less dread.

* * *

Sandy outshone any other woman in the room, Ben thought as he watched her charm the bank manager and his wife. It wasn’t just the red dress, or the way the light caught her glittery shoes just like that darn fairy dust. It had more to do with the vivacity of her smile, the way her eyes gleamed with genuine interest at the details of the couple’s daughter’s high school results. He knew she was nervous, but no one would guess it.

It was a big, public step to bring her tonight—and he was glad he’d made it. It felt good to have her by his side. Instead of ill-disguised sorrow or embarrassed pity, he saw approval in the eyes of his family and friends. It was a big step forward.

But for the first time since he’d been elected president of the chamber Ben resented his duties. He didn’t want to make polite chit-chat with the guests. He didn’t want to get up there on stage and make a speech about the business community’s achievements. Or announce the awards. He wanted to spend every second of the time he had left with Sandy—alone with her. They had less than four days—three days now—of catching up to do. If that included being behind closed doors, slowly divesting Sandy of that red dress and making love to her all night long, that was good too.

‘We must catch up for coffee some time,’ the banker’s wife gushed in farewell to Sandy as Ben took Sandy’s elbow to steer her away towards his table. He wanted her seated and introduced to everyone else at the table before he had to take his place on stage for the awards presentation.

‘I’d like that,’ Sandy called over her shoulder to the banker’s wife as Ben led her away.

‘Would you?’ he asked in an undertone.

‘Of course. She seems like a nice lady. But not any time soon.’ She edged closer so she could murmur into his ear. ‘We’ve only got a few days together. I want to spend every second of my spare time with you.’

‘I’ll hold you to that,’ he said.

It felt unexpectedly good, being part of a couple again—even if only temporarily. He’d been on his own for so long. Maybe too long. But his guilt and regret still gnawed at him, punishing him, stopping him from getting close to anyone.

And now Sandy was back with him in Dolphin Bay.

The president’s table was at the front of the room. His parents were already seated around it, along with Kate, his brother, Jesse, and two of the awards finalists—both women.

If his father remembered how disparaging he had been all those years ago about the sincerity of a city girl’s feelings towards his son, he didn’t show it. In his gruff way he made Sandy welcome.

Jesse couldn’t hide the admiration in his eyes as he rose from his seat to greet Sandy. ‘I would have recognised you straight away,’ his brother said as he kissed her on the cheek.

Ben introduced Sandy to the awards finalists, then settled her into the seat between him and Kate. ‘I have to finalise the order of proceedings. I’ll be back in five minutes—in time for the appetiser,’ he said.

He wanted to kiss Sandy. Claim her as more than a friend in front of all eyes. But it wasn’t the right time. Instead, he brushed his hand over her bare shoulder in parting before he headed backstage. Only Kate’s big grin made him realise the simple gesture was more a sign of possession than a friendly kiss on Sandy’s cheek would ever have been.

* * *

Sandy heaved a quiet sigh of relief as she sank into her chair. The worst of the ordeal was behind her. From the moment she’d entered the room she’d been aware of the undercurrent of interest in her presence beside Ben. Her mouth ached from smiling. From formulating answers in reply to questions about how long she intended to be in town. Even though Ben had smoothed the way, she felt she was being judged on every word she spoke. She reached gratefully for her glass of white wine.

Ben’s empty seat was to her left, between her and Kate. Tall, dark-haired Jesse—every bit as handsome as in her memories of him—sat on the other side of her, engaged in conversation with his mother.

Kate sidled close enough to whisper to Sandy. ‘Note that Ben didn’t sit me next to Jesse. Probably worried I’d fling myself on his brother, wrestle him to the ground and have my way with him under the table.’

Sandy nearly choked on her drink. ‘Really?’

‘Nah. Just kidding. I actually asked him not to put me near Jesse.’ Kate’s green eyes clouded. ‘It’s hard to make small-talk with the guy I’ve wanted all my life when he sees me as more sister than woman.’

‘Can’t he see how gorgeous you are?’ Sandy asked. In an emerald silk dress that clung to her curves and flattered the auburn of her hair, Kate looked anything but the girl next door.

Kate pulled a self-deprecating face. ‘Thanks. But it doesn’t matter what I wear. To Jesse I’ll always just be good old Kate, his childhood pal.’

‘You never dated him?’

‘We kissed when I was thirteen and he was fourteen. I never stopped wanting him after that.’

‘And Jesse?’

Kate shrugged. ‘He was a shy kid, and I guess I was a convenient experiment. It never happened again. Though I must have relived it a million times.’

‘He certainly doesn’t look shy now.’

Jesse’s full attention was beamed on the attractive blonde award finalist.

‘Yep. He’s quite the man of the world these days, and quite the flirt.’ Kate kept her gaze on Jesse for a moment too long before returning it to Sandy.

Sandy’s heart went out to Kate. ‘That must be so tough for you. Ben told me Jesse’s only visiting for a few days.’

‘Yes. Jesse leads a construction team that builds low-cost housing in areas that have been destroyed by natural disasters. Think India, Africa, New Orleans. He only ever comes here between assignments.’

Sandy glanced again at Jesse. ‘Good looks and a kind heart. No wonder you’re hooked on him.’

‘Kind hearts run in the Morgan family—as I think you well know.’

Was Kate about to give her another lecture about Ben? If so, she wasn’t in the mood to hear it. ‘Kate, I—’

Kate laughed and threw her hands up in a gesture of self-defence. ‘I’m staying right out of the you-and-Ben thing. I’ve been warned.’

‘Warned? By Ben?’

‘Of course by Ben. You’re important to him. Ben protects the people he cares about.’

Sandy loved the feeling Kate’s words gave her. But, again, she sensed she might be getting out of her depth. Three more days in Dolphin Bay. That was all she was talking about after this evening. Deep in her heart, though, she knew there was a chance it could end up as so much more than that. She didn’t know whether to be excited or terrified at the prospect.

* * *

After the starter course Ben took his place on stage. To Sandy, he looked imposing and every inch the powerful executive as he took the microphone to give a brief review of the year’s past business activities. From the applause and occasional catcall from the audience it was apparent Ben was still very much the town’s favourite son.

As he made a particularly pertinent point about the growth in revenue tourism had brought to Dolphin Bay Sandy thought she would burst with pride at his achievements, and at the way he had overcome such tragedy to get to this place. She wanted to get up from her seat and cheer. She caught his mother Maura’s eye and saw the same pride and joy reflected in her face.

Maura acknowledged the thread of emotion that united them with a smile and a brief nod, before turning back to face the stage and applaud the end of Ben’s speech.

Sandy smiled back—a wobbly, not very successful smile. Maura knew. She bit her lip and shredded the edge of her dolphin-printed serviette without really realising she was doing so.

Could she kid herself any further that all she wanted from Ben was a fling? Could she deny that if she didn’t protect her heart she might fall right back in love? And then where would she be, if Ben decided four days of her was enough?