His Blackmailed Bride

‘Please, what?’ he said, and his lips brushed hers. ‘Tell me what you want me to do, Juliet. Show me.’

Her head fell back as his lips found her throat, and she moaned softly as she felt the silky glide of his tongue caress her skin. He was bending her back over his arm, lowering her to the sand, and it was what she wanted. He was what she wanted, he was all she wanted, he was everything…

‘… are you out here?’

No! The voice was recognisable, even if the words were muffled by the surf. Paige stiffened in the stranger’s arms.

‘It’s my mother!’

Her whisper was frantic. He said nothing, and she thought he hadn’t understood her. Then she heard his stifled oath and felt the sudden tension in his muscles.

‘Keep quiet and she’ll go away,’ he murmured against her cheek.

‘She won’t do that,’ Paige whispered. ‘Let me go—please.’

His eyes burned into hers. ‘Only if you swear you’ll come back to me.’

Paige shook her head. ‘No, no, I can’t. I…’

‘… are you?’ came her mother’s voice.

‘She’s going to come down here,’ Paige said in a desperate whisper. ‘Let go of me, I beg you.’

His hands bound her to him. ‘Tell me you’ll come back,’ he said fiercely.

‘I can’t. I…’ Paige looked up. Her mother stood silhouetted at the head of the path that led down to the beach. ‘All right,’ she said breathlessly. ‘All right, I’ll come back.’

His hands clasped her shoulders, biting into her flesh until she winced. ‘Swear it,’ he said in an urgent whisper. ‘Swear it, or I’ll come with you now. I’ll tell your mother and your Romeo that you’re mine tonight.’

‘I’m not. I…’

His mouth took hers in a hard, swift kiss that stole her breath away. ‘Don’t lie to yourself, Juliet. I don’t understand it, either, but I know sure as hell that something’s happened. And I’m damned if I’m going to let you walk out of my life until I figure it out. Do you understand?’

Paige’s heart tumbled crazily. ‘Yes,’ she whispered, and an overwhelming sense of joy filled her. ‘Yes,’ she said again, and then she heard her mother’s footsteps on the gravel. She touched the man’s cheek and then stepped swiftly on to the path. ‘I’m here, Mother,’ she called.

‘For heaven’s sake, dear,’ her mother said, taking a step towards her. ‘We were worried half to death. Where have you been?’

Paige hurried up the last few yards and looped her arm through her mother’s, drawing her back towards the gardens and the brightly lit clubhouse.

‘I was… I was walking on the beach, Mother. I’m sorry if I worried you.’

’Well, not just me, Paige,’ Janet Gardiner said as they moved across the flagstones. ‘We were all upset. Your father, Alan—whatever got into you? Were you out here all by yourself?’

Paige glanced over her shoulder. There was only darkness behind her. ‘Yes, of course. I’m really sorry. I just… I just needed some time to myself, I guess.’

Her mother’s footsteps slowed. ‘Are you sure you’re all right, dear? There’s something about you this evening…’

‘Mother, where’s Alan?’

‘Looking for you, of course. He…’

‘I have to talk to him,’ Paige said in a rush. ‘I have to tell him that this…’

Her mother put her arm around Paige’s waist. ‘Alan understands,’ she said soothingly. ‘He knows it’s just last-minute nerves.’

‘Mother, please…’

‘All brides feel that way. You’ll be fine the day of the wedding. Once you see your bridesmaids and the ushers, the flowers, the guests smiling at you, and Alan waiting at the altar—you’ll see. All the jitters will vanish.’

It was a litany designed to comfort, but it was also a reminder of reality and responsibility. Paige came to an abrupt halt.

‘Will they?’ she asked in a whisper.

Janet Gardiner smiled. ‘Of course,’ she said, and then, looking into Paige’s eyes, her smile turned to a worried frown. ‘Unless you have real reservations, Paige. Do you? If you’re not sure…’

Paige caught her lower lip between her teeth. ‘Yes. No. God, Mother, I… I don’t feel… I don’t feel the way I should about Alan, do you know what I mean? I… I just don’t feel that way…’

Her mother’s eyebrows rose. ‘The way you felt about that man in New York, you mean.’ Her voice was stiff with distaste. ‘Is that what you’re saying?’

Paige took a breath. ‘I’m not comparing the two situations, Mother. I…’

‘I should hope not. Alan will never hurt you, Paige. You should be happy.’

‘I am happy. I mean, I thought I was. But…’

The door ahead of them swung open suddenly, and the noise and smoky warmth of the ballroom spilled over them. Alan gave a sigh of relief as he stepped on to the terrace.

‘There you are,’ he said. ‘What happened to you, sweetheart?’

‘I was… I was walking, Alan. I…’

He put his arm around her shoulders. ‘Are you OK?’

Paige nodded. ‘Fine.’

‘I looked everywhere for you. In the cloakroom, in the car…’

‘You didn’t look on the beach,’ Janet Gardiner said. ‘That’s where she was, Alan. Walking off a bad set of nerves.’

Paige flushed. ‘Mother, for heaven’s sake…’

Alan grinned. ‘Terrific. I’m the one who’s supposed to be jittery, remember? That’s the bridegroom’s prerogative.’

Paige drew in her breath. ‘Are you?’ she whispered.

Alan put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. ‘We’re going to be happy,’ he said softly. ‘I promise.’

Paige stared at her fiancе. They would be happy, she thought. Of course they would. What she’d felt a few moments ago, in the arms of a stranger, wasn’t happiness. She knew that as well as anyone. Better, perhaps…