Finding Elizabeth (31 page)

Wanting her hands on his skin, she made sure he enjoyed the same experience. Her mouth parted in ecstasy, savouring the feel of her hands sliding over his hard muscles. He raised his arms, his athletic body tightening.

All the while, water ran over their faces and mingled with their kiss.

Jack murmured with pleasure as he placed his broad hands under her bottom and lifted her over him, sliding into her.

Katherine wrapped her legs around his hips. “Oh … god,” she whispered on a sigh, her urgency thick with passion.

Deep inside her now, he pressed her against the warm tiles. Katherine clung to him, rocking her hips in rhythm with his. Heat, steam, and water added to the excitement.

“Kate, look at me. I want to see your eyes.”

Katherine met his gaze and, when their eyes locked, tantalising anticipation tingled through her body. And then he thrust deeper, pulling back, then deeper again. He was on the edge, his breath short. The heat in his gentle gaze an utter turn-on. A shuddering wave of sweet ecstasy throbbed through her. She cried out, and his movements quickened until an exquisite orgasm hit them both.

He gave her a heart-melting look as he eased her down until her toes touched the tiled floor. Then, slowly, he closed his eyes and slipped his wet mouth caressingly over hers.

“I love you, Katherine Bell,” he murmured.

She gasped. “You keep saying that.”

“That’s right. I’ll say it with my last breath—corny, but true.”

She stared up at his smiling eyes and remembered what her mother had said back in her apartment. “I’m not afraid.”

“That’s an odd thing to say.” Jack pulled a ‘what-the?’ face.

“What I meant was I’m not afraid of my feelings. As my mother put it, afraid of giving my all and not having it returned.” Jack was about to speak and Katherine covered his lips with her finger. “According to my mother, there’s a scarred seventeen-year-old inside me. I can see and feel that you love me, Jack—and I love you too, completely.”

Tears welled in his eyes. He dipped his head and kissed her.

“I’m lucky—and you’re tasty,” he murmured with a smile, and turned the water off.

Katherine stepped out and slowly wrapped herself in a towel, mesmerised by Jack’s movements as he slipped the excess water off his chest, arm and legs with the flat of his broad hands.

“You should drip dry,” she purred.

He took a step closer. She ran off, laughing. He wrestled her for the towel and she darted into his bedroom.

“
Sh-sh-sh
,” Katherine urged. “You’ll wake the whole house.”

“I’m not the one making all the noise.” He dropped her on the bed and followed, bouncing on the mattress. “Besides, there’s no one here except Bubbles.”

At the sound of her name, Bubbles whined on the other side of the door.

“I’d better let her out.” Katherine stood, gave him a seductive over-the-shoulder wink and said, “Later, Jack.” She wrapped her hair in a towel and slipped into an enormous bathrobe with sleeves that dangled past her fingers.

“Later,” Jack said. Eyebrow cocked, he added one of his bad-boy grins.

She let Bubbles out the back and promised her they’d all go for a walk after breakfast, then filled her bowl with doggy chunks and went back to the bathroom to dry her hair.

Leaning against the doorjamb, Katherine dropped the blanket, struck a sexy pose and purred, “Hey gorgeous, you got something comfy I can wear?”

His gaze lazily scanned her body. “No, it’s come as you are,” he drawled, sending her a slow sexy smile. “
Hmm
,” he hummed low and licked his lips. Lost in a daze, he placed a hand on his bare chest, and whispered, “You take my breath away.”

“Clothes?” Katherine’s pulse prompted.

“Oops, I was picturing the scene,” he said, before opening the dresser. He pulled out a large blue T-shirt and handed it to her.

She buried her face in his clothes, absorbing the scent of him before slipping it over her head. “Coming?” she asked.

“You realise I won’t leave you alone all day. Not unless you put these on.” Jack dangled a pair of lace panties from his outstretched fingers. He whisked them just out of Katherine’s reach. “I have a better idea.” He hunkered down and held her panties open for her to step into. Slowly, he began sliding them up, kissing her knees, inner thighs and …

Clutching his hair, she gasped. “Oh god!” He kissed his way to her navel and curled his tongue around the outer edge before dipping inside it. Then more slow kisses to the sensitive area just inside the hip bone. Eyes shut, she grabbed his shoulders and leaned back. Her hands rose with him as he stood. She opened her eyes. “What happened?”

“Later,” Jack said and adjusted her panties, making sure they sat comfortably.

“Oh,” she breathed. “You sure? We could …?”

Eyes dancing with mischief, he said, “Foreplay.”

“Foreplay! I’ll be hot all day.”

“That’s the idea,” Jack grinned. He took Katherine’s hand and led her to the kitchen.

“I loved it, but that was mean. Just for that, you have to make me breakfast.”

With wicked smiling eyes and a sexy chuckle, Jack asked, “How about French toast dripping with maple syrup?”

“Stop that,” Katherine said and slid onto a stool at the breakfast bar. “This place is amazing. When I buy a house, or maybe build one, a hot tub will be on my wish list. When are the owners coming back?”

“Not for another couple of months. They’re having a family reunion on Hamilton Island.”

Her stomach flew up to meet her heart. “Cripes, we’ll be having one today as well. We’ll chew our fingernails until this afternoon.”

Jack gave her another of his quirky grins. And Katherine nearly lost her balance and fell off the stool.

The crunch of tyres made Katherine’s heart leap. It seemed like forever since Jack and Dave had taken off for the airport. She glanced at her mother. “Why do you look so calm?”

Margaret took her hand. “Katy, I’m a quivering mess inside. Andrew remembered me as a nubile young thing. He’s in for a shock.”

“
Mum!
You’re beautiful, your skin is lovely. Andrew has aged; he’s grey and skinny and kinda hunched over. You have nothing to worry about, your Indian grandmother saw to that. You’ll always be a Canadian beauty.”

Margaret squeezed her hand just as the living room door opened.

Jack and Dave walked in. They were alone.

Katherine’s heart pounded. She covered her mouth to stop the question on her lips. Where was Andrew?

“Relax,” Jack said. He took her hand and kissed it. “He’s outside … breathing.”

Shadows moved near the open door. Andrew Riley wasn’t the least bit stooped. This tanned, tall, rangy man, with grey hair cut in a short trendy style would still make heads turn. He wore jeans and a crew-necked sweater. As he walked in, Katherine noticed his muscles were strong, sinewy. He looked fit enough to wrestle an alligator, a man who could tackle anything. She could see how Andrew had influenced Jack. Andrew’s clear blue, smiling eyes glanced between her mother and herself. His emotions close to the surface, he tried hard to keep it together, and it showed.

With a measured step, Andrew Riley moved closer.

Katherine glanced at her mother, who stood motionless. Her pale complexion and trembling hands were the only sign of nerves. Katherine turned to Jack. He gave her a warm smile and a barely perceptible shake of his head. He wasn’t going to interfere, intent on watching the scene unfold of its own accord.

Her mother walked slowly towards Andrew. Only inches away, their eyes locked, and they didn’t speak, but their intense aura filled the room. In her mother’s eyes, Katherine saw so much unmitigated love that it made her cry. Life’s events should never have separated them. Together, they would have always walked in peace, serenity and love.

“So much love …” Katherine whispered to herself, and Jack’s arm tightened around her.

“G’day,” Andrew said softly, gentle eyes glistening, and an unconscious smile that would melt any woman’s heart.

In the next instant, Andrew had Margaret wrapped in his embrace. She buried her face in his shoulder.

Sobs choked in Katherine’s throat.

“Come on, let’s give them privacy,” Jack whispered and moved Katherine away.

Dave, Leandra, Cynthia and Pierre followed them into the adjacent library. Jack pulled Katherine into his chest and she let the tears flow. When she came up for air, the others were sitting together, silently waiting. To speak would have broken the spell.

“Hey, where is everyone—Jack?” Andrew called out.

Jack opened the double sliding panels that separated the rooms. “We’re in here.”

“We wondered where you all were,” Margaret said, dabbing her eyes.

Jack took Katherine’s hand. “Andrew,” he began, “I’d like you to meet your daughter Katherine.”

Katherine gazed into a pair of blue eyes that mirrored her own, and all she could see was regret and love—so much love. She threw her arms around his neck and revelled in his strength as he held onto her tightly.

After a long moment, Katherine pulled back and saw that, like hers, his eyes were flooded with tears. She reached up and kissed his cheek. “Gosh!” she exclaimed, “all this sobbing has to stop. As Mum said, this is a moment to celebrate.”

“It sure is,” Cynthia said, dabbing her face. She extended a hand to Andrew. “Hi, Andy, isn’t life bloody incredible?”

“Yeah, Cynth. It’s good to see you again. Come here.” Andrew drew her into his arms. “And you must be Leandra.” He freed an arm and held it out.

“Hi,” Leandra said, sniffing.

Andrew wrapped her and Cynthia in his arms.

“Dave. G’day mate, it’s been too long,” Andrew said, hugging Dave and clapping him on the back.

“I either need a drink or a bucket of ice water, or both,” Leandra announced.

“Andrew,” Margaret said, “you remember my brother Peter Johnson, now Pierre Garneau. He changed his name for artistic purposes.”

“Pierre, nice to see you again.” Andrew shook his hand.

“This has been a long time coming, Andrew,” Pierre sniffed.

That night Katherine lay in Jack’s arms, listening to the soft murmur of her mother and Andrew talking and laughing. Her mother had found her long lost love again.

“‘A faithful heart makes wishes come true’,” Katherine said softly.

“
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
,” Jack whispered.

“You really surprise me sometimes,” she whispered back. “Will you marry me?”

“I married you the moment I saw you.”

“Aw, that’s lovely.” She cuddled closer. “But not good enough. I want the whole package, you on your knees with a ring, a gown, and friends throwing confetti.”

“Okay we’ll do it tomorrow.”

“Sounds good to me. But there’s a blizzard predicted for tomorrow.”

“Damn,” he chuckled, “so many obstacles. How about spring, or summer?”

“Sounds perfect. Where are we going to live?”

“In an igloo.”

“Great, we’ll keep each other warm … forever.”

Arranged to Love

by Elizabeth Dunk

All her life, Madhuri Singh was sure she’d make an arranged marriage with an Indian man. But when the opportunity arrives at the same time a past lover returns to her life, Maddie finds herself torn between her culture and her desire.

All his life, Jack Faulkner was obsessed with taking over Faulkner Publications when his father retired. When the company is finally within his grasp, he finds himself face to face with the one woman who can make him forget everything.

What will win out—the dreams they’ve always held for their futures, or the passion that cannot be contained?

A Basic Renovation

by Sandra Antonelli

When it comes down to it, rats in the oven trumps Lesley’s desire to never set eyes on another Brennan family member. So Lesley, a pro at property redevelopment, scrambles to Dominic Brennan’s hardware store for supplies. Dominic knows poison—rat and otherwise—and he sees it in Lesley. The woman ruined his brother’s life. Now that she’s back in town, Dominic’s afraid she’ll drag up the past, the secrets, and the pain. They clash immediately, but mix in a teenage boy, a puppy, some white paint, and some loud music, and what starts as cold fury transforms into a nuclear attraction. This basic renovation becomes a major life refurbishment for them both.

Finding Elizabeth

by Louise Forster

After a lifetime in the bright lights and the big city as a prima ballerina, Katherine Bell has finally returned home to her small, snowy town where the weather might be frightful, but her friends and family are delightful. She’s ready for a quiet life using her skills and knowledge to help her community.

But things aren’t as simple as she hoped. There’s a blizzard outside, a daredevil girlfriend in her house, and a persistent, sexy Australian called Jack Riley who needs to be kept at arm’s length.

And something sinister has stalked her to her snowy hideaway…

Louise Forster grew up in a Victorian country town. She ran barefoot along dirt roads and loved looking through the leaves of tall eucalypts at the azure summer skies. Eventually, she grew up, and the country town became a suburb of Melbourne. Running barefoot to catch her train to work would have caused more than a few raised eyebrows so she opted for stilettos, of course. At eighteen, Louise travelled through Europe, parts of Africa and the Pacific Islands.

These days Louise lives on the far north coast of New South Wales on a small property that includes her extended family, three dogs, three cats and all manner of wildlife.