The Wedding Must Go On

‘He apologised as soon as I balled him out.’

‘Not soon enough.’ News on social media networks spread quicker than a wink. Sometimes a great thing. In this case, just plain dumb. ‘But Marla can’t stay mad for ever.’

‘You think? A few words on the phone—her crying, me begging—and she refuses to see me again, let alone marry me.’ Greg’s towel swiped down his unshaven face, around the thick column of his neck. ‘I’ve sent a truck full of flowers, a diamond bracelet to go with the ring. I even hired a scaffold and played a slideshow of all our best moments outside of her second-storey window. She pitched our framed engagement photo at the screen. Tore a two-foot rip down the middle.’

Nate forced a Pollyanna smile. ‘After getting that out of her system, she might be ready to talk.’

‘When she emailed our guest list and said the wedding was off, what could I do?’

Seriously? ‘Not give up.’

There was a reason he and Greg were friends. They thought the same. Shared similar values. Nate knew Greg would never cheat on a woman because Nate, himself, would never do such a thing. Not that he was naïve enough to think indiscretions between couples didn’t happen.

At the engagement party six months ago, he and Roxy had been talking out on the restaurant’s balcony when she’d mentioned her father and his exploits. She hadn’t belaboured the point but had rather only said enough to make her situation growing up clear. Life was confusing for a kid when your dad was a womanizer and your mother refused to see the situation for what it was: a betrayal not only to wife but also to child.

Guess there were some advantages to that blasted family curse, Nate thought as he drew the sweat-damp shirt off over his head. Despite the downsides, he was thankful his parents’ marriage was a solid one. They didn’t argue over anything more important than where to spend their next vacation. If their trust should ever be tested, neither would look at the other with suspicion. Not that his dad would ever come close to cheating. And neither would Greg.

His friend was jamming his shirt into his bag, muttering, ‘Hell, maybe Marla’s better off without me.’

‘Like Sparks Martin Steel would be better off without you?’

Greg’s dark gaze edged over. ‘I know you’re disappointed but, believe me, it’s best you go that alone. I’m no good to anyone right now. I’d only let you down.’ He headed for the exit, his six-plus height barely missing the lintel. ‘I’m going to take a shower inside.’

Nate punched his arms through the sleeves of a fresh shirt, then followed Greg out. Time to set down the first layer of his plan.

‘Why don’t you and I get away for a couple of days? You had time pencilled out anyway.’

Time off to finalize wedding stuff with Marla.

‘I’d be sorry company.’ Outside in the evening cool and beneath path lights, Greg turned and sent a wan smile. ‘I’m beat. I’ll catch you later in the week.’

As Greg made his way down the path that led to his separate quarters on his parents’ extravagant Potts Point estate, Nate set his jaw. Dammit, he wasn’t giving up on that wedding. He certainly wasn’t giving up on his and Greg’s partnership. This was only the first round and, no matter the setbacks or complications, he was in for the long haul.

When his cell vibrated and buzzed in his sports bag, Nate checked the ID and his heartbeat began to crash. Speaking of complications …

Shoring himself, Nate connected and Roxy Trammel purred down the line.

‘Is that Luscious Lips?’

‘That’s not funny.’ Neither the nickname nor her tone. He’d done the wrong thing that night, but couldn’t she show him a little mercy six months on? He’d fallen hook, line and sinker when she’d given herself over to their embrace. Now her voice was tease enough.

If history was anything to go by, it wouldn’t take too many more embraces like the one this afternoon to have him looking cross-eyed, thinking he was in love and arranging a whole new set of priorities. The mere thought of the way her body had moved against his could make him break into a sweat that had nothing to do with the energetic hour he’d just spent on the court. If it killed him—and it probably near would—from now on he’d keep his hands to himself.

‘Are we still on for tonight?’ she asked.

Regarding Marla and Greg? ‘You bet. Have you eaten?’

‘I have a craving for sushi.’

Sauntering to his car, Nate winced. ‘Raw dead fish.’

‘Who knew you were so cultured?’

‘I vote Chinese.’

‘Done.’ She suggested a well-known restaurant.

‘Say, thirty minutes? I need to change.’

‘Just for you, I’ll change too. All this white satin is getting heavy.’

He heard her laugh before signing off and, despite his mood, Nate couldn’t help himself. He laughed too.

Roxy arrived at the China Town restaurant bang on time.

The expansive room was bordered by tall arched windows, smelled of fine Asian cuisine and was illuminated by a sky of glowing pumpkin-shaped lanterns. A slender woman dressed in a red full-length cheongsam led her to a table and when Roxy pulled in her chair, she knew Nate would appreciate their location: dead centre of the restaurant, in plain view of everyone. That second kiss had been even more unsettling than the first; neither she nor Nate needed to be tested by sharing a darkened corner tonight. Her outfit had also been chosen with those same boundaries in mind.

A ‘tailored black trousers, loose-fitting black silk shirt with matching casual vest’ combo was more ‘business’ than ‘come hither’. Spiked sandal heels were a staple with this outfit but tonight it was boots. No sheer silk stockings either. Thick, black, to the breastbone tights, as well as her ugliest bra. Who could get turned on wearing old stretched cotton? Amazing what a person found stuffed at the back of their lingerie drawer.

Roxy glanced across at the entrance—no Nate—so she filled her water glass from a centre pitcher then inspected the table setting. Skimming a fingertip over the symbols printed on her Chinese zodiac placemat, she smiled. The years indicated she was a tiger! Powerful, passionate.

Reading on, she frowned.

Restless, reckless? What sign would Nate fall under? An agile rabbit might fit. Or an arrogant monkey. She huffed and flicked out her napkin.

Bet he was a loner snake, waiting for some unsuspecting victim to mesmerize.

When he strode in five minutes later, looking drop-dead amazing in chinos and casual button-down, Roxy skulled her ice-water to keep her over-heated imagination from going up in flames. So much for the power of pathetic underwear.

His dark hair was post-shower damp and his shoulders tonight appeared even broader. He’d forgone a shave and the bristled shadow smudging his strong square jaw only served to make his presence all the more entrancing. Knowing he was near, she felt tingles race over her skin, brushing her most sensitive spots and making them glow.

Could a man grow sexier in a matter of hours?

He caught sight of her and crossed over with a fluid strong gait that had every woman in the room blindly setting down chopsticks and turning her head. At the table, he beckoned a passing waiter at the same time he dragged in his chair.

‘I’ll need something a little stronger,’ he said as she refilled her water glass. ‘Care to share a bottle of red?’

‘No alcohol for me.’

‘Need to keep your wits about you?’

She blinked at the tease glittering in his lidded blue eyes. But after her ‘luscious lips’ comment earlier, she’d allow him one ace. Frankly, she didn’t need her inhibitions weakened tonight. Not that she would admit that now.

‘I have to be in the shop early,’ she said. ‘Busy week coming up.’

‘Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that.’

Before he could explain, that waiter arrived and Nate ordered a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon.

‘To have any hope of enticing Greg and Marla back together,’ he said as the waiter moved off, ‘you need to speak with your friend about getting away from Sydney for a few days. Somewhere isolated where she can’t jump on the next plane out and escape before really hearing him through.’

‘Sorry.’ Shutting one eye, Roxy turned her head slightly. ‘Think I’m having auditory hallucinations.’

He spoke up. ‘We’ll need to send Greg there too, of course.’

‘Without either of them knowing?’ Roxy fought the urge to laugh. This was his plan? ‘Are you crazy? A, they’ll hate you for ever for tricking them. B, short of leading them by the nose, they’ll never go.’

‘Precisely. I’ll take Greg. You take Marla.’

‘You want me to take Marla out to some isolated destination so she can meet with Greg and verbally tear his head off again?’

‘I want to see them together so they can work through this. We’ll keep them on track.’

‘We. As in you and me? You expect me to leave Sydney, my shop, to go trekking off to God only knows where with you?’ Astonished, she sat back. ‘I have a business to run.’

‘Put someone else on at the shop.’

Roxy wanted to get up and leave, then and there. He really was an arrogant son of a …

Dragging down a calming breath, she put her thoughts back on track.

After Violet’s deposit this afternoon, the books were almost square. When the minor alterations were done and the dress delivered, the balance would put her business back in the black. That didn’t mean she could afford to slack off. The economy was dead. People cut corners, even on must-haves like a perfect wedding dress. She had to keep her eye on the bottom line.

‘If you need some funds,’ he said, as if reading her thoughts, ‘to see your way through, I can help.’

‘You really are mad if you think I’d accept anything from you.’

‘You’re being obstinate.’

She exploded. ‘You don’t get it. I’m not going anywhere with you.’ She crossed her arms. ‘And I’m not lying to Marla.’

‘Even if it means helping to secure her future happiness?’

‘That’s your story. I’d like to think Greg is innocent but …’

That was being naïve, gullible, as her mother had been for too long. Some guys liked it on the side, no matter how devoted they might outwardly appear, her own two-timing father, case in point.

Nate was folding a shirt cuff back up over his wrist … a bronzed, corded forearm. It looked so strong, so lawlessly masculine, she found herself remembering how completely lost she’d felt when they’d kissed this afternoon and, irrespective of knowing that she would never approve of this man, would never agree to anything he might scheme and plan, Roxy found herself asking.

‘You want me to abandon my shop and fly off to where exactly?’

‘I’m thinking the Outback.’

Her arms unravelled and she sat straighter. ‘Really?’

‘That appeals?’

‘I’d like to experience the red dust and sweeping plains at least once in my life.’

‘What about snakes and scorpions?’

‘I thought you wanted to talk me into this.’

‘Right.’ He put on a serious way-too-cute face that sent her pulse rate spiking. ‘The carols of kookaburras will wake you each morning, you’ll enjoy a panoramic view of rust-coloured hills and fiery sunsets every night, not to mention the magical allure of those endless starry nights. How am I doing?’

She inwardly sighed. Fabulous. But it was far from that simple. Remembering her disgust when she’d happened upon the picture of Nate canoodling that woman just days after he’d left her stranded on her doorstep, she pinned her shoulders back and made clear again.

‘I only want to do whatever’s right for Marla.’

The waiter arrived and poured a wine sample. Nate tasted, voiced his approval and, thoughtful, set his glass down for the waiter to fill.

‘Can I ask you something?’

‘Thought you already had.’

He ignored her tone and asked, ‘Why were you wearing Marla’s dress today?’

‘I’m a tactile person.’ She shrugged. ‘I thought wearing the gown, feeling the fabric against my own skin, might help give me an idea or two.’

‘More information needed.’

She pressed her lips together, but talking about a bad situation couldn’t make it worse, even if she was talking to a man she didn’t trust.

‘That dress is entered in a contest,’ she admitted. ‘First prize includes a showing in Paris, among other fabulous things.’

‘And yet you look unhappy.’

‘One of the conditions of the contest is that the gown must take its stroll down the aisle by the end of this month. With Marla and Greg’s wedding off, so is any chance of that dress taking out the number one spot. Or even a coveted place.’

‘What did Marla want you to do with the dress?’

‘She doesn’t care. As long as she doesn’t have to see it again.’

‘So someone else could wear it. You could put out an ad or something so long as the nuptials are sealed before the thirty-first.’

‘I thought about that, but this dress is special. I couldn’t give it away to someone who might not appreciate it.’

‘Even for a shot at that contest prize?’

Even if she explained, he wouldn’t understand. People didn’t value what they got free. What they didn’t have to fight for or respect. That gown deserved to be adored.

Besides, ‘What if Greg and Marla do get back together?’ She collected her water glass. ‘Not that I’m saying it’ll happen. But in one breath I’m supposed to be working to reunite them and in the next I’m giving her gown away.’

‘If those two reunite, all our problems will be solved, including your gown’s. Greg was caught in an unflattering moment. It can happen to anyone.’

‘It’s never happened to me.’

He looked as if he might say, Me either, but then thought better of it.

‘I’m convinced he’s meant for Marla and vice versa.’ Nate’s glittering gaze took on a distant look. ‘A man falls in love only once in his life.’

‘Wow. Such conviction. Anyone would think you’re an expert.’

‘You don’t want to know how big of an expert I am.’

Elbows on the table, she set her chin prettily in the net of her thatched fingers. ‘But I really, really do.’

That shadowed jaw shifted and he took another sip of wine. He set down the glass, his chest expanded on a breath and he finally said, ‘Truth is, I’m the product of a happy family.’

That was it? She sat straighter. ‘More information needed.’

‘My father fell in love with my mother at first sight,’ he went on. ‘They married a matter of weeks later. I’ve always known they were happy together. Were meant to be. The looks they share. Marla and Greg look at each other the same way. It’s not something you can fake.’

Roxy’s throat swelled. She felt sad and envious as well as pleased for Nate all at the same time. What must it be like to have grown up in such a stable, predictable world and obviously, from Nate’s face, not appreciate it nearly enough?

‘Must be great to have parents who really get it.’ She swallowed as that familiar dark feeling gripped her stomach. ‘Think I mentioned my dad’s been married three times.’

Nate gestured for the waiter to bring another glass for Marla. ‘And your mother?’

‘She has a circle of good friends.’

‘But none of the male variety?’

‘She doesn’t believe in love any more.’

‘And her daughter creates wedding gowns?’

‘My mother supports what I do.’ Roxy relented and sipped her wine, which coursed a warm pleasant path down her throat. ‘She often says how proud she is of me.’

‘What about you?’

‘Of course I’m proud of my career.’

His tone dropped. ‘I meant do you believe in marriage?’

The question took Roxy aback. She thought he’d already pegged her as a huge fan—a woman who stuck her claws in at the first opportunity and didn’t like to let go. And she wouldn’t lie now.

‘Pardon the pun but I do. I also believe that making it legal shouldn’t be rushed.’ His eyes took on a new light as those broad shoulders seemed to lock. ‘Sounds like your parents lucked out,’ she went on, ‘but mine married after a whirlwind romance too and they bombed out badly.’

‘So it’ll be a long engagement for you?’

‘I have a career to nurture. Places I want to visit. People I’d like to meet. I’m a long way off from wanting to get serious with someone.’ Particularly the wrong someone.

‘That’s exactly how I feel.’

Her grin was wry. ‘I kinda guessed.’

As his gaze roamed her face, the awareness glistening in those crystal-cut eyes sent her heartbeat tripping all over itself and her mind wandering to places it shouldn’t. She already knew she loved the feel of his mouth on hers, the heat of his amazing body pressed close. She also knew developing feelings for Nate Sparks was completely, totally out of the question. Her mother might have been weak and fallen for a rogue who thought only of himself, but, dammit, she never would.

‘I have an idea,’ he said, collecting his glass as if ready to make a toast. ‘If you agree to be part of this plan and Greg and Marla don’t make up …’

His head went back as if he were having second thoughts but now, despite it all, she was curious.

‘And if they don’t make up …?’

‘If they don’t make up, I’ll walk you down the aisle in that dress myself.’

Her vision tunnelled, the world tipped upside down and Roxy forgot to breathe. When she did fill her lungs, it was with a gulp. Then she coughed and had to cover her mouth with the napkin.

‘You must have a temperature,’ she said over the square of linen. ‘You’re delirious.’

‘You have everything to gain, nothing to lose.’

‘Except Marla’s friendship when she bans me from her life for deceiving her.’

‘I’m betting she’ll name their first girl child after you. If not—’ his smile softened ‘—she’ll understand. That’s what friends do.’

Slowly, Roxy set her napkin down. ‘You’d really commit to walking me down the aisle in that dress?’

‘It’s for a good cause. Besides there’s such a thing as annulment.’ His laugh was a little too quick. ‘We’re not talking for real here, Roxy, just a means to an end. We both agreed. Neither of us is after that kind of commitment.’

She blinked and felt her cheeks go horribly warm. Well, of course that was what he’d meant. This proposition was simply another of his angles to get to where he wanted to go.

‘Was that a yes?’ he asked.

She held her brow. She hadn’t said that. She couldn’t agree. ‘That’s too wild of an idea.’

‘Way I see it, for you it’s a safe bet.’

Roxy looked down at her placemat and that big striped cat flashed a challenging grin. Was she like that tiger? Powerful, passionate? Reckless? Nate had already said it wouldn’t be a real

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