The Australian Affairs Collection. Margaret Way
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struggled not to show her feelings on her face. But did he have to concentrate on her body?
‘I’m glad you think so. By the way, you said yesterday we could have a talk about Fab Fashions this morning.’
He seemed genuinely taken aback. ‘Yes, I know I did. But that was before last night.’
Jess glared at him across the table. ‘You mean you don’t have to pander to me any more because we’ve already had sex.’
Ben hid his guilt well. Because she was right, wasn’t she? But, damn it all, he wasn’t about to waste time talking about business when he could be having sex with her again.
‘No,’ he said carefully. ‘That’s not true. Though what we shared last night does change things, Jess. It was so very special. We can talk about Fab Fashions during the drive home tomorrow. And every day next week. Meanwhile, we probably only have a couple of hours to ourselves before we both have to get ready for the wedding this afternoon. What time do you have to be over at Catherine’s?’
She seemed mollified by his explanation. ‘I said I’d be there at three. But I have to do my hair first. Catherine and Leanne are having their hair done at a hairdresser’s in Mudgee this morning, but I prefer to do my own hair. I’m better at it than the hairdresser.’
He smiled. ‘I have no doubt you are. Okay, Andy said he’s going to collect me around two-thirty. We’re all getting ready together up at the house before heading over to Catherine’s around four. Apparently, it doesn’t do for the groom’s party to be late arriving.’
‘You haven’t been in a bridal party before?’
‘Actually, no, I haven’t. Have you?’
‘I was a bridesmaid at all of my three brothers’ weddings.’
‘Maybe next time you’ll be the bride.’
‘I doubt it,’ she said, her voice sharp.
‘Don’t you want to get married?’
‘Well, yes, I do. Eventually. That’s what we do in our family. But I’m prepared to wait till the right man comes along. After Colin, I’m not in any hurry.’
Ben wasn’t in any hurry either. But it did cross his mind that Jess would make some man a wonderful wife.
‘And what would make him the right man?’ he asked.
Jess shrugged. ‘That’s a difficult question. For starters, he’d have to be reasonably successful in whatever he’s chosen to do in life. I like men who are confident.’
‘Would he have to be rich?’
‘Not rich like you, Ben De Silva. I would never marry a man as rich as you.’
Ben felt perversely offended. ‘Really? A lot of women would.’
‘Yeah. Silly, greedy ones like Leanne. And already rich ones like your Amber.’
Ben frowned. ‘Why makes you think Amber’s rich?’
Jess stood up and started clearing the breakfast things away. ‘Am I wrong?’ she threw at him.
‘No. She is rich. Or, her father is.’
‘I thought as much.’
Ben laughed. ‘You’re not jealous, are you, Jess? You have no reason to be. Amber’s history.’
His accusing her of jealousy was very telling. Because she was. Horribly so. Jess turned her back on him and walked over to the sink. She’d be history too one day soon. It was just a matter of time. And geography.
His suddenly taking firm possession of her shoulders startled her. She hadn’t even heard him get up.
‘Don’t be angry with me, Jess. Come back to bed. We can talk about Fab Fashions there, if you like. We can multi-task.’
She couldn’t help it. She laughed. ‘Men can’t multi-task.’
‘Don’t you believe it,’ he said as he pulled her back hard against him. ‘I can talk and get an erection at the same time. See?’ he said and rubbed himself against her bottom. ‘There’s proof.’
She laughed some more.
‘I love it when you laugh,’ he murmured as he nuzzled her neck. ‘But I love it more when you come. The sounds you make, the way your insides squeeze me like a vice… You drove me crazy last night. Drive me crazy again, lovely Jess. With your mouth this time. And those hands you’re so damned good with.’
She was the one who was being driven crazy. No man had ever said things like that to her. He made her want to do everything with him. Oh, God…
She didn’t say a word, just whirled in his arms and kissed him. And he kissed her back, a long, wet wildly passionate kiss which scattered her brainwaves and turned her body to liquid.
‘Come on. Back to bed,’ he said when he finally came up for air.
‘Bed?’ she echoed, dazed.
His smile was wry. ‘Yeah. You know. The furniture thingy with sheets and pillows where you go to sleep at night. But we’re not going to sleep in it today, beautiful,’ he added. ‘Not even for a single second.’
‘DO YOU THINK I’m doing the right thing?’
Jess almost shook her head at the bride in exasperation. After all, why ask her? She knew next to nothing of Catherine’s relationship with Andy. It was also rather late to have second thoughts with the bridal party about to make its way over to the rose garden where the groom would be impatiently waiting. They were already twenty minutes behind schedule. At the same time, Jess did feel some sympathy for the girl. Her mother was not the most reassuring of mothers—the woman had spent the last two hours in tears—and marriage was a big step, especially in this day and age when divorce was rife and the ‘for ever’ kind of love seemed like a pipe dream. But, as they said in the classics, better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all!
‘Do you love Andy, Catherine?’ Jess asked quickly.
‘Yes, of course.’
‘There is no of course about it. Lots of girls marry for reasons other than love.’
‘Not me.’
‘Nor me. And does Andy love you?’
‘Yes, I’m sure he does.’
A sudden thought crossed Jess’s mind. ‘You’re not pregnant, are you?’
‘Lord, no. No. But we do plan on having children.’
‘Sounds like you don’t have any reason for last-minute doubts, Catherine. Now, come on, girl, we’re already running late. Though, before you go, let me say you look absolutely gorgeous!’ Which was true. Her dress was a bit OTT in Jess’s opinion, but it suited Catherine’s feminine blonde beauty.
‘Oh.’ The bride fairly beamed. ‘You look gorgeous as well. And you too, Leanne.’
Leanne preened whilst Jess just smiled. Yes, they did all look very nice.
‘Aren’t you girls ready yet?’ Catherine’s father snarled at them.
Jess had disliked the man within seconds of having met him. He was one of those larger than life men who was absolutely full of himself. Jess decided with sudden insight that his bombast could explain why Catherine’s mother was a nervous wreck and why perhaps Catherine was afraid of marriage. If Andy had been anything like her father in character—which fortunately he didn’t seem to be—then she would have every right to be hesitant.
Jess decided to put him