Australian Affairs: Taken: Taken Over by the Billionaire / An Unlikely Bride for the Billionaire / Hired by the Brooding Billionaire

‘For those who don’t know me personally, you might be wondering what a chap with an American accent is doing as Andy’s best man. Trust me when I say I might sound like a Yank, but if you scratch the surface you will find an Aussie through and through.’

Cheering from the guests.

‘Andy and I go way back. He was my best friend all through boarding school and then through law school. He was always there for me. Always. And I love him. Sorry, Andy, I know you don’t like mushy. Now, I know it is traditional to embarrass the groom by telling stories of things he got up to in his pre-wed life, but I have struggled to think of anything which Andy ever did which was stupid or reckless. Of course, I have been living in the US of A for the past ten years, so perhaps a few potential slip-ups have eluded me. I did hear a rumour that when he was in France he burnt the candle at both ends, so to speak.’

Laughter from the guests.

Ben smiled. ‘But I do not believe a word of it. From what I saw last night at Andy’s stag party, his candle is still in full working order.’

More laughter from the guests. And a horrified glance from the bride.

‘Just kidding, Catherine. Andy’s was the best behaved stag party I have ever attended. On a serious note, folks, believe me when I say that Andy is the most sensible, smartest man I have ever known. It’s testimony to his brain power that he has chosen such a lovely girl as Catherine as his life partner. They are a well-matched couple who love each other dearly. Such love is a precious gift, one which should be treasured. And protected. And toasted. So, will you please all be upstanding and charge your glasses…’

Everyone obeyed, especially Jess, who had been moved by the last part of Ben’s speech. Love was indeed precious, especially true love. Colin hadn’t truly loved her. As for Ben… No point in going there!

‘To Andy and Catherine,’ Ben said loudly as he held up his own glass.

All the guests repeated his words as they clinked glasses and drank.

Jess did likewise, then sat back down, feeling suddenly drained. More speeches followed and, finally, Andy stood up to speak. He did not have Ben’s gift of the gab, or the same smooth delivery, but what he said was sweet and touching. It actually brought tears to Jess’s eyes, which she had to blink back swiftly when he proposed a toast to the bridesmaids, explaining how Jess had had to step in at the last moment and how grateful they were to her.

Jess sat there, her right hand fingering the lovely silver and diamond pendant Andy had given the bridesmaids earlier. Catherine had received a magnificent pair of diamond-drop earrings. When Jess had insisted to Catherine that they give her pendant to Krissie afterwards, Catherine had said no, she and Andy would buy Krissie something special for the baby when it came.

They really were a very nice couple. And, yes, very much in love. Jess couldn’t help envying them their happiness. She was no longer pleased that Ben planned to stay in Australia a little longer. She knew the score. He wanted hot sex with her after which he would wing his way back to New York and forget she ever existed. And by then, she could very well be left behind with a broken heart.

Common sense demanded she have no more to do with Ben after this weekend was over. But common sense was no match for the sexual heat which had been charging through her veins ever since they’d signed the marriage certificate together. A few hot words whispered in her ear and she had almost combusted on the spot. Her still-erect nipples burned as they pressed against the satin lining of her dress, her belly tight with sexual tension. She couldn’t wait for this reception to be over so she could be with Ben again. She could not wait!

But she had to wait, she accepted wretchedly. Dear God, but she was in over her head here with this man.

At last they moved along to the cake-cutting part. Soon would come the bridal waltz, after which the serious partying would begin. Though tempted, Jess decided not to drink too much, so there wouldn’t be a problem with driving back to the cottage as soon as they could leave.

Which wouldn’t be any time soon, Jess realised with some dismay. No way could the best man leave till the bride and groom had gone—only a couple of hours to go, but it seemed like an eternity.

‘Care for a dance, ma’am?’ asked a voice with a thick, southern accent.

Jess’s head jerked around to find Ben standing behind her chair with a goofy smile on his face.

‘They say a fella’s best chance to get lucky at a wedding is with one of the bridesmaids,’ he added, acting like some redneck out of the hills.

Jess had to smile. He obviously hadn’t been sitting there, all churned up. This was all just fun and games to him!

‘Well, I sure wouldn’t want to disappoint a fella as handsome as you,’ she returned saucily. There was no point in being a wet blanket. Though dancing with him was going to be sheer torture.

‘Aw, shucks, ma’am,’ Ben returned, twisting his hands together in fake embarrassment. ‘You shouldn’t say things like that to a shy boy from Alabama.’

Jess laughed as she stood up. ‘Now you sound like a character from one of those Doris Day, Rock Hudson movies.’

‘Yeah, I know,’ he said, dropping the fake southern accent as he steered her onto the dance floor. ‘Those old movies have a way of drawing you in. I gather you like them too,’ he added, and pulled her into his arms.

Jess melted into him and closed her eyes, savouring the feel of his body against hers whilst trying to contain her ever-increasing excitement.

‘Mum does,’ she said. ‘I sometimes watch one with her. She likes happy endings.’

‘And you? What kind of movies do you like?’

Oh, Lord, now he wanted to chat! She tried not to sigh. ‘I guess something which is both entertainment and escape. I don’t go to the movies to watch things that are too real. I can’t stand stories about drug dealers or war or people who are mean and cruel.’

‘You like reading?’

‘I’m not as avid a reader as Mum. I spend a lot of my spare time sewing. But I do like a good thriller.’

‘Romances?’

‘One or two. I did read a certain erotic romance which swept the world by storm.’

‘And did it give you a few delicious ideas?’ he murmured against her ear.

She shivered as his lips made contact, his tongue tip dipping inside. But only for a split second.

She groaned softly when his head lifted, suppressing another groan when the other groomsman, Jay, tapped Ben on the shoulder and suggested they change partners.

Ben no more wanted to dance with Leanne than fly a kite, but what could he do? He’d been brought up to be polite, to have proper manners. So he smiled and handed Jess over to Jay whilst he did his duty and danced with the very silly Leanne.

‘So, how long have you known Jess?’ was the first thing Leanne said, her voice as curious as her eyes.

‘Not that long,’ he replied, his own eyes drifting over to where Jay was holding Jess too darned close, in his opinion.

‘She’s very attractive, isn’t she?’ Leanne went on.

Ben agreed.

‘Girls like that can get any man they want,’ she said with an envious sounding sigh.

Ben thought of Colin doing a flit but didn’t mention him.

Leanne fluttered her eyes up at him. ‘It must be difficult for a really rich man like you to know if a girl likes him for himself or his money.’

Ben was astonished at the sly bitchiness behind Leanne’s remark. ‘I’m not that rich, Leanne.’

Leanne smiled a knowing smile. ‘Maybe not now but you will be one day. I mean, your daddy’s a billionaire, according to Catherine. Not that I think Jess is a gold-digger. She’s a very sweet girl.’

‘You’re certainly right there,’ Ben stated, thinking to himself that Leanne was a nasty piece of work. Of all the girls he’d ever been with, Jess was the least likely to be with him for his money. If anything, his wealth was a mark against him. Hadn’t she said she would never marry a man as rich as he was?

It was a relief when Andy tapped him on the shoulder and handed him over to Catherine. Let him put up with Leanne’s malicious prattle. He’d had enough of her for one night. Ben had to smile, however, when within less than a minute Andy whirled Leanne over to Jay and gave her back to him, happily dancing with Jess instead.

Which made Ben happy as well. He didn’t mind Jess dancing with Andy. He certainly hadn’t liked her dancing with Jay. Hadn’t liked another man holding her that close and possibly trying to crack onto her.

Ben frowned as he realised just how possessive he was beginning to feel about Jess. It wasn’t like him to be jealous. He’d always despised that kind of self-destructive emotion. But with Jess he just didn’t have the control over his emotions that he usually had. He didn’t have as much control over his body either.