The Australian's Desire: Their Lost-and-Found Family / Long-Lost Son: Brand-New Family / A Proposal Worth Waiting For

‘How do you know I have a …?’ She paused. She swallowed. Alistair’s grin became almost evil.

‘Aha! So where?’

‘It’s none of your business.’

‘I told you about my toupee.’

‘It’s not a—’

‘I just have very good glue.’

‘I’ll pull harder.’

‘If you show me your tattoo, I’ll let you pull all you like. I’ll even let you canoodle.’

They were at the side door. He was ushering her through it, his arm around her waist as he propelled her forward. Behind them the entire wedding party was crowding round while they figured out the protocol of getting the bride and groom out of the church where the main door was suddenly unusable and slates might crash down on their heads. They’d have to use the side door. But not yet.

‘Em and Mike … you’ll have to go back to the altar and start the wedding procession again.’ It was Mike’s mother in full battle cry. ‘Charles, start the trumpet again, from the beginning. Bridesmaids, back into line!’

‘No mere cyclone’s going to get in the way of Sophia’s perfect wedding,’ Georgie said, giggling, and then they were out the door, propelled into the instant silence of the vestry.

Alistair closed the door behind them. The silence was suddenly … electric.

‘Hey. Um … Maybe we should go back and get in procession like everyone else,’ Georgie said, suddenly breathless.

‘But you’re not like everyone else,’ Alistair said, turning. He’d been holding her hand. By turning, she was against the wall and he was right in front of her, smiling down. ‘You’re different.’

‘I’m not different.’

‘Yes, you are,’ Alistair said softly. ‘You don’t belong.’

She stared at him, confused. ‘I do belong.’

‘Why did you come to Croc Creek?’ he asked suddenly.

‘I got a job here.’ He was so close …

‘With your qualifications there’s a job for you wherever you want to go in the world. Croc Creek’s home for those who want to devote a couple of years to a good cause. Or those who want excitement.’

‘That’s me.’

‘Or it’s a refuge for those who are escaping,’ Alistair said, as if he hadn’t heard her. It was almost as if he was talking to himself. ‘What are you escaping from?’

‘I’m not.’

‘I recognise the symptoms.’

‘You’re a neurologist, not a shrink.’

‘I’m an escapee myself.’

‘You …’

‘I like a bit of control,’ he admitted, sounding thoughtful. ‘That’s why I was engaged to Eloise. Only then I met you and I decided control wasn’t everything.’

‘Hey.’ She was suddenly really, really breathless. ‘How did we get to this? You’re really saying I influenced you in breaking your engagement?’

‘Of course you influenced me. Just the way I reacted … I’m not saying I want to take it further …’

‘That’s good because—’

‘Shut up and let me speak,’ he said, quite kindly. ‘All I want you to know is that what happened six months ago was a really big thing for me. Huge. I don’t usually proposition complete strangers.’

‘You’re saying that between us …’

‘Something happened. Yes.’ Something was certainly happening in the church behind them. They could hear Sophia giving directions right through the massive door. ‘But I don’t know what,’ he said. ‘And before you think this is a line, I need to say I’m not interested in doing anything with it. At least, I don’t think I am. As I said, I like control and you don’t make me feel I’m in control. But I also know … Georgie, I recognise you’re running, so maybe you need to be honest enough to admit it to yourself.’

‘Why?’ She was suddenly angry. What the hell was he playing at, psychoanalysing her like this? For what purpose?

‘So you can move on.’

‘To what?’

‘To … life? It’s not all that scary.’

‘Like you’d know.’

‘I—’

‘Look, I don’t know what’s happening here,’ she muttered. ‘You’re talking about something I don’t understand.’

‘You do understand it,’ he said, and before she could respond he tugged her into his arms. ‘Or at least you understand that what’s between us is … well, it just is.’

‘It isn’t,’ she gasped.

‘It’s not?’

She should fight. Of course she should fight. This was crazy. What was she doing, standing in the vestry with the wedding party on the other side of the door, letting him tug her against him, letting him lift her chin, letting him …?

No. She wasn’t fighting. For every fighting instinct had suddenly shut down.

Everything had shut down.

He was going to kiss her and she wasn’t going to do a damned thing about it.

Alistair.

And that was her last sane thought for a long time. His lips met hers and everything faded to nothing.