From a practical point of view, I’ve been up to my throat in wedding arrangements for the past few weeks, so I know exactly what I’m doing and who to contact, "Beverly proffered" as she sat beside Layla in the back of Lucas’ opulent limousine an hour later.But there isn’t enough time to organize anything fancy.’The brunette told her drily: "When a man is as rich as Lucas is, there are always people willing to take a challenge for a substantial bonus."But why should you help us? Layla asked baldly, no longer able to swallow back that burning and obvious question.I have my pride. Beverly fielded wryly, "First and foremost, I would prefer our friends to believe that the break-up was amicable rather than inspire a pity party. I’ve also since had a radical rethink about my own future.Yesterday, when I went to meet you, I was fighting to preserve the status quo, but, having cooled down, I’m now more inclined to think that Lucas and I were just treading water and never meant to be. My f
Back at the hotel, Layla went straight up to the suite Lucas was using. A stranger opened the door and two others were hovering around the desk at which Lucas sat, his jacket off, his tie loosened, broad shoulder muscles flexing beneath a white silk shirt as he turned his head and stared fixedly at Layla, who hovered, uncertain of her welcome.He sprang upright. "Beverly did good," he quipped, brilliant dark golden eyes sliding over her slim figure in a look as physical as a touch. ‘In fact, she did brilliantly.’‘She was a tremendous help.’ Layla’s colour was heightened by his scrutiny and the disturbing reaction of her body to that unashamedly sexual appraisal. Her nipples had prickled into taut sensitivity while a drenching pool of heat settled between her thighs. She was shaken by the intensity of her desire for him to reach out and touch her.‘My staff...’ Lucas introduced the three men before swiftly dismissing them. The trio swiftly gathered up laptops, briefcases, and jackets
She met with her tutor and her decision to take a year out from her studies was accepted. While she negotiated the stairs back down to the busy ground floor of the university building, Layla was thinking resolutely positive thoughts about the seed of life in her womb. She was facing huge changes in her life, but the sacrifices she was making and the adjustments that would follow would all benefit her baby, she told herself soothingly.Marrying Lucas would give Layla the precious gift of time. She would have had time to come to terms with the prospect of motherhood and time to enjoy the first precious months of her baby’s life without the stress of wondering how she was to survive as a new mother.She would also have Lucas’ support. Any male that was keen on marrying her for their baby’s sake would be a hands-on father, and she very much wanted that male influence in her child’s life. She had never forgotten how much she herself had longed for a father as a little girl. In every possib
During the ceremony, Layla focused on the handsome flower arrangement on the table while listening carefully to the words. She would have preferred a church service but would not have dreamt of telling Lucas that.He slid a ring onto her finger, but he had not given her one to return the favour with and there was a small embarrassing pause as the registrar allowed them time to complete what was usually an exchange of rings. Clearly, Lucas wouldn’t be wearing a ring, announcing to the world that he was "taken," Layla reflected ruefully, wondering why that small detail should make her feel so insecure. She reminded herself that many men didn’t like wearing rings.A light meal was served to the wedding party at an exclusive hotel. Layla glimpsed her reflection in one of the many gilded wall mirrors in the private function room and barely recognized the refined image of the woman clad in the sleek bronze sheath.At the beauty salon the previous day, every part of her had been primped and
Lucas’ expressive mouth quirked in receipt of her innocent comment. ‘Having both parents never felt lucky to me. Logan married my mother, who was a very spoiled Greek heiress, primarily for her money.’Layla gazed back at him in shock. "That’s an awful thing to accuse your father of!"But regretfully true. Although he married my mother, he was actually in love with a waitress called Athena. He set Athena up as a mistress, and she became pregnant with William only a few months after my mother conceived me, "he confided grimly. ' Eventually, my mother found out that she wasn’t the only woman in her husband’s life.I must’ve been about six by then. I still remember her screaming, sobbing, and throwing things, and the drama went on for days. Logan duly promised to give up Athena, and we lived in peace for a while. But of course, my father was lying, and the truth came out again. That same destructive pattern just kept on repeating and repeating—’"That must’ve been devastating for your mo
"Bite the bullet, Lucas," Layla advised in amusement. "This is a very romantic setting."Lucas stiffened, but looking away from Layla at that moment wasn’t an option; she looked so irresistibly appealing. She had taken her hair down during the flight, and the brilliantly colourful strands tumbled luxuriantly round her slim shoulders, glinting like her metallic dress in the sunlight coming through the windows.He moved forward, stepped behind her and ran down her zip, peeling the fabric back slowly from her shoulders while planting a kiss on the pale flesh he exposed.Layla held her breath, watching their reflections merge in a tall mirror with the faint blurry quality of antique glass. As he bent over her, the brush of his lips made her shiver. His hair was so black against hers, his hand so dark against her white shoulder. The dress slid down her arms and then dropped into a pool at her feet."My turn to say wow," Lucas growled, flipping her round to take in the full effect of her cu
A couple of hours later, they lay naked in a tangle of fur throws in front of the gas-fired logs in the massive fireplace in the main drawing room. As night fell, they had become hungry and had raided the fridge to savour the delicacies prepared by Josefina, the housekeeper, who had gone home hours earlier."I thought pregnant women suffered a lot from nausea," Lucas said abruptly. But you still have a good appetite.’‘I haven’t felt sick once,’ Layla admitted. ‘A little dizzy a couple of times, but that’s all.’"I’ve signed you up to see one of the local doctors while we’re here.""That’s unnecessary this early in my pregnancy."Lucas gave her a warning glance. "Humour me. I have a very strong need to know that I’m looking after you properly.’But Layla was worried that if she gave an inch, Lucas would take a mile. She wondered if he had taken the same managing and controlling attitude to Beverly and asked.Lucas leaned back on his hands, the hard muscular lines of his chest and stom
Temper hurtled through Layla like a rejuvenating blast of oxygen. You mean you wouldn’t have done it?Of course I wouldn’t have done it. I’m not an unjust man. Your uncle gave you a home when you needed one, and I respect him for that because I doubt very much that he received much support from your aunt.’ Lucas studied her. But from certain things you have let slip quite without meaning to, I think your aunt should be burnt at the stake as a witch...and possibly your cousin with her.’That cool rundown of her upbringing snuffed out Layla’s annoyance as though it had never been and provoked an involuntary laugh from her lips. ‘Oh...dear.’But in one sense, you have done me a favour. Your position in your uncle’s family closely resembled William’s when my half-brother and I were children, and that has enabled me to see that William was often excluded, set apart from my parents and I by his birth and parentage and made to feel like an outsider, "he imparted grimly. It was wrong when tha