David sucked in his breath, ran his hand over her ribs so his palm was against her skin. She gasped as they came into contact, and she heard his breath catch, too.
âBeautiful,â he said roughly, and then, anchoring her head with his other hand, he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her properly for the first time.
âCan we lose the light?â he said, and she realised he was still afraid of her reaction.
âNo,â she said, not knowing at all if it was the right thing to do, but just sure she wanted to see him, wanted him to see her, so there would be no secrets, nothing left to shock or surprise or disappoint. She lifted her hand and touched it to his heart. âI want to see you. I want to look into your eyes. I want to know itâs you, and I want you to know itâs me, warts and all.â
PROLOGUE
NOW what?
He turned his head, eyeing the vibrating, cheerful little phone on his bedside locker with distaste. God, he loathed that ring-tone. Why on earth hadnât he changed it?
It stopped, and he dropped his head back against the pillows and closed his eyes, trying to get back to that quiet place inside where nothing could reach him.
But not for long.
The phone rang again, and he sighed and picked it up.
Damn. Not Georgie. Anyone elseâanyone who knewâbut not his little sister. Not now.
Except she wouldnât give up, of course. She never did. She was going to keep on ringing and texting and driving him mad until eventually he gave up and spoke to her, so he might as well get it over with.
Bracing himself for the inevitable lecture, he stabbed the button and forced some enthusiasm into his voice. âGeorgieâhi! Howâre you doing?â
âFineânot that you care, or you wouldnât screen my calls!â
His laugh cracked a little, and he coughed to cover it.
âYeah, yeah, I know, Iâm a lousy brother,â he said, not bothering to deny the call screening. âSoâwhat have I done wrong this time?â
âNothing.â
âGood God. A miracle.â
âDonât get overexcited, thereâs still a chance,â she warned, and he wondered what she wanted. Something, for sure. She always did. And he always failed herâ
âNow, are you listening?â she went on. âIâve got to tell you something really important, and youâve got to pay attention.â
âAs if I donât always,â he said drily, and heard her chuckle.
âYeah, right. When youâre not ignoring me. Iâve been trying to get you for days to tell youâno surprises there. I donât know where you hide. Anyway, the thing is, Dadâs getting married againâto Liz, Nickâs motherâyou know, my mother-in-law?â
âMarried?â He straightened up, stunned. âThatâs a bit sudden, isnât it?â
âSudden? David, theyâve known each other for two years! Itâs hardly sudden, and heâs lonely, and they get on so well. Itâs time he moved on. Itâs been seven years since Mum died. Thatâs long enough.â
Seven years? Really? âI canât believe that,â he said.
âBelieve it. And you have to come home for the wedding. You havenât been home since before Dadâs heart attack, and if itâs not been one darned excuse itâs been another, but you have to come home for this, no isnât an option. Your empire will have to take care of itself for a while. He wants you to be his best man, but he wonât ask you himself, you know what heâs like, but he really wants you here standing by his side. And donât even think about breaking something just to get out of it.â
âAs if,â he said, trying to make a joke of it, but she wasnât laughing.
âDonât give me that. Itâs time you came home, David, even if youâre in a total body cast,â she said firmly, and he swallowed again and stared down the bed at his feet.
He didnât think so. The timing couldnât have been worseâand, as for being his fatherâs best manâstanding by himâwell, that was some kind of sick joke, wasnât it?
âWhenâs the wedding?â he asked, hoping to God it wasnât another life-changing event he was going to miss because of this stupid, stupidâ
âNot for a while. They want to get the spa finished so he can enjoy the wedding.â
âSpa?â
Her sigh spoke volumes, and he knew he was in trouble again. âYou really donât listen to anything, do you? Nick bought the old hotel at the top of the high street with Dan Hamilton and Harry Kavenagh: Danâs the architect, and Dadâs firm are doing the work. Ring any bells?â