The Australian's Bride

‘No.’ Alex seemed fascinated by the goose bumps that had appeared on Susie’s arms. He reached out and touched her lightly. The frisson of fear vanished—the chill suddenly replaced by burning heat. Susie’s gaze was locked on Alex as he raised his eyes. ‘I’ve found a lot of things I didn’t expect here,’ he said softly.

His hand moved. A slow stroke that drifted down her arm until it reached her knees. Knees that were bent to provide shelter for breasts that hadn’t received the cover of that T-shirt. Susie could feel her nipples tighten so dramatically it was painful. Alex leaned closer and her lips parted in expectation of his kiss.

‘Dad!’

The voice was a distant shout but it was close enough to be audible. Susie could see the way Alex’s intent drained from his eyes. She could almost imagine a degree of the same disappointment she was feeling. His hand lingered in the space between her knee and her breast for just a second longer. And Alex smiled. A smile that was just for Susie. A promise that whatever had been ignited was still glowing. It could be fanned into life later. And then he turned, moving smoothly so that he was simply sitting beside Susie. Facing his daughter. That moment of connection and desire had been screened, Susie realised. Stella didn’t need to know there was anything between her therapist and her father.

Did Alex not want her to know?

Why not? Was it too soon or did he protect her from any relationship he might have so that it didn’t impact on her life when it was over?

Susie fought the stab of disappointment. This was crazy. She was expecting too much. Hoping for too much. She drew a deep, steadying breath as Stella and Jamie got closer.

She was in way over her head here.

‘Jamie’s cool, isn’t he, Dad?’

‘He seems like a very nice boy.’ Alex was actually watching Susie as she left the beach. Her T-shirt was covering her top but those endless legs moved under a very neat bottom with an action that was mesmerising. The boy just happened to be walking beside Susie.

‘Wait till he comes back with his surfboard. You should see him surf, Dad. Not that there’s real surf here. Jamie say it’s a millpond, whatever that is, but he can still stand up for ages. He’s awesome.’

‘I’ve got a cart up on the track. Didn’t you want to go for a ride up into the rainforest?’

‘Not now!’ The prospect was clearly not a contender when the opportunity of feasting her eyes on the sight of the boy riding baby waves was on offer, but Alex just smiled as Stella turned to face him.

He’d never seen her looking this happy.

He could feel almost envious of that pure joy. The kind of trust and devotion that you could only experience once in your life because, when it was broken, you knew that being hurt again was always a possibility.

‘OK if I hang out here with you for a while, then? I don’t have to go back to check on Danny for an hour or so.’

‘Sure.’

They both lounged on the sand, watching the surf and a group of children playing well down the beach. The silence was companionable and Alex didn’t try to engage his daughter in conversation. The secret smile he caught pulling at the corners of Stella’s mouth on more than one occasion was evidence of what she preferred to be thinking about.

Susie was right. Trying to interfere would only push Stella away, and that was the last thing Alex wanted. Especially now, with this new—wonderful—adult-type closeness growing between them.

It was only for a day or two. Let her enjoy the thrill of her first experience of being a couple. If he didn’t push her away, he could be there for her when she was separated from the boy by circumstances. He could be understanding. Sympathetic. Deepen this new bond even further.

‘You’re not getting sunburnt, are you?’ he asked eventually.

‘No. Jamie gave me some of his sunscreen.’

Had he put it on for her, too? It was an effort to suppress outrage. It was none of his business. Not really. Even if the boy had been brave enough to offer to cover the difficult areas like her back, it would have been an innocent experience.

Yeah…right! Alex couldn’t help imagining how it would have been to smooth sunscreen onto Susie’s brown skin, the feel of which was branded into his memory for ever. Not just the feel of it, either. She had smelt perfect. Tasted perfect. Responded in a way Alex had never encountered before.

He sucked in a breath that earned a glance from Stella, and he said the first thing he could think of.

‘How about dinner with me tonight, sweetheart? Something special over at the resort. Five-star stuff.’

‘Um…no, thanks, Dad. We’re having nachos at camp. That’s my favourite.’

‘Is it?’ Alex blinked. Since when had Mexican food become a favourite?

‘Yeah. And it’s movie night. We’re getting the new James Bond movie and popcorn and everything.’

And she would get to sit next to Jamie, no doubt. Holding hands.

‘Take Susie to dinner.’

‘What?’ Alex was even more startled. Had Stella seen something in their body language maybe before she’d called out to him earlier?

‘She’s really nice.’

‘I’m sure she is.’

‘She’d like dinner. And you don’t have to come back early. I’ll sleep in the dorm again.’

Was Stella trying to encourage him to date Susie or was this a means of getting her father out of the way for the evening? Alex’s hackles rose.

‘I don’t think that sounds like a very good idea.’

‘It’s a great idea,’ Stella said firmly. ‘Susie’s been great. I wouldn’t be walking like I am if it wasn’t for her, and it would be a nice way to say thank you.’

‘True. So you should come to dinner with us.’ Alex raised an eyebrow. ‘You could bring Jamie along if you want.’

‘Wewant nachos. And the movie. Besides…’ Stella’s grin was impish ‘…if I’m there, you won’t be able to talk about me and how well I’m doing. I might get a big head.’

The reminder of how well Stella was doing was enough to make Alex relax. To make a concerted effort to embrace the encouragement she was getting, rather than his suspicions of the boy’s motives.

And he was a nice boy. Responsible. Caring. Plus, he must know after that first meeting that Alex would kill him if he did anything to harm Stella. The camp was well supervised and the dormitories were full of kids. It was perfectly safe.

‘Fine,’ he said with only a hint of resignation. ‘I’ll take Susie to dinner, then. By myself.’

‘It’s only dinner, Dad.’ Stella’s tone was soothing. ‘I know she’s not your type.’

‘Oh? What is my type?’

‘Dark and kind of brooding. Like those pictures of Mama. Like…you know…Greta.’

Yes. Dark and sultry. Or should that be sulky? Funny how that didn’t seem remotely appealing any more.

‘Susie’s different,’ Stella concluded.

‘Yes. She certainly is.’

But Stella wasn’t listening any longer. Jamie had reappeared, with a surfboard under his arm, and Stella’s face was glowing—her eyes alight with joy. Starstruck.

Alex understood. Too well maybe. It might be totally hidden but there was a part of himself that was feeling the same way. Blown away.

Touched by magic.

And his daughter, bless her, had just ordered him to spend the evening—the whole night, in fact— exploring more of that magic.

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