Wedding-Night Baby Read Free Page A

defensively.
    â€˜What a little trouper.’ The mockery was even more apparent this time, but before she had time to put him firmly in his place she found that one of his arms had snaked around her waist, his dark, tanned face was close to her own, and he was laughing huskily as though she’d just said something wildly witty.
    â€˜What the...?’
    â€˜Wedding guests at ten o’clock, closing fast,’ he hissed close to her ear. For good measure he nibbled said orifice. For some reason her eyes closed and a shiver went right down to her toes.
    Blinking, she stared into the intense blue eyes. Deep tramlines radiated from the corners, and his lashes, whilst dark and thick, were straight. They weren’t just arresting eyes; they gave the impression of intelligence and humour, and a certain implacability shone clearly in the azure depths. He wasn’t just a physically overpowering person; intellectually, even on the briefest of acquaintances, he gave the impression of being a force to be reckoned with.
    Escort could not have been the first choice of career for him. What personal circumstances had reduced him...? It’s none of my business, she told herself, closing this line of speculation as a familiar voice broke her trance.

    â€˜Georgie, is that you, darling? I didn’t recognise you. Did you, George? We were just talking about you...so brave. Still, better to find out these things early on.’
    Georgina bit her lip as she nodded placidly at this trite observation. ‘Aunt Helen, Uncle George,’ she said quietly. The arm around her waist was suddenly very welcome. ‘This is Callum,’ she said triumphantly, much with the manner of a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. But there the similarity ended. If Callum was to be likened to anything in the animal kingdom he was much more like a large, sleek, predatory cat.
    Callum took the scrutiny of her relations in his stride. In fact, he seemed to have adopted a certain air of authority that made them look away first.
    â€˜I meet some of Georgina’s relations at last,’ he said, enveloping her uncle’s hand in a grip that made the older man wince slightly. The kiss he planted on her aunt’s cheek made her blush and look as flustered as any teenager. ‘Charming church,’ he observed, glancing at the square stone building. ‘Norman, isn’t it?’ He took Georgina’s hand and intertwined his fingers with her own. ‘Am I speaking to the parents of the blushing bride?’
    â€˜Indeed you are,’ Georgina agreed, bringing forth her very best not-a-care-in-the-world smile.
    Blushing bride! Her dear cousin was far too hard-baked ever to blush. Harriet had awaited her opportunity and stalked Alex with all the cunning and guile of a jungle animal. Georgina had always known her cousin coveted her boyfriend. It was the fact that her unassailable belief that Alex would never even look at another woman had been proved false that made her inwardly cringe. Had she ever been that naive? When it came to the crunch he’d done a lot more than look!
    But it’s useless to go over old ground, she told herself as she felt the familiar sensation of impotent fury rise.
With my family history I should have known better. Well, I do know better now, she thought, her chin lifting.
    Callum held the lych-gate to the churchyard open and waited for the older couple to pass through. ‘Smile,’ he hissed as they followed, still hand in hand. ‘You look like you’re on your way to the scaffold,’ he added.
    Georgina’s eyes glittered with wrath and she struggled to withdraw her fingers. ‘I thought you were here to butter me up?’ she breathed angrily. This man had forgotten his passive role very thoroughly. He had no right to make personal comments.
    He stopped in his tracks and jerked her around to face him. ‘I didn’t think you liked insincere