The Arranged Marriage (13 page)

“I meant...there is nothing personal,” she went on earnestly. “He came about work. Some singing engagements.”

He couldn’t stop himself from asking, “Are you interested in taking on more engagements with him?”

“I don’t know. I put him off. It was the wrong time to talk business. Marco was tired after the picnic. I’m to meet Peter tomorrow after I finish work.” Her eyes held an anxious query. “I thought there was no harm in listening to what he has to say.”

“No harm at all,” he assured her, suppressing his own dislike at the whole idea. Peter Owen didn’t have one moral bone in his body. On the other hand, if his professional interests were being served, maybe he would keep his hands off Gina, especially if she made it clear they weren’t welcome.

“If he offers you a deal tomorrow, make sure it’s a fair one to you, Gina. You could become a very strong drawcard for his act, so don’t undersell yourself.”

She gave a self-conscious little laugh. “Alex, he’s the professional. Compared to him, I’m an amateur.”

“You have a wonderful voice. I’d rather listen to you than him any day.”

“Well, thank you, but...”

“No buts.” He cupped her cheek and chin, fixing her gaze on his as he assured her of her true worth. “When you sang together last Saturday night, you were the star, Gina. It was your voice that enthralled the audience.”

“That could be prejudice speaking, Alex.”

“Then ask my grandmother. She’ll tell you. Don’t make a quick decision with him. That’s all I’m saying.”

“I won’t,” she promised, though her eyes seemed to be searching his for other reasons not to make a connection with Peter Owen. “Do you think I should pursue a career with my singing?”

“Only you can make that choice, Gina. You know best what’s in your heart.”

She said nothing. Her eyes seemed to be wanting him to say more yet what more could he say? He’d been as fair as he could. He wasn’t about to plead Peter Owen’s case for him. In fact, what he wanted most was to wipe Owen right out of her mind.

He leaned over and kissed her. She welcomed him so fiercely, the desire to have her again charged through his entire body. Yet subtly, persuasively, Gina pressed her wish to make love to him this time, and Alex found himself so entranced by her kisses and caresses, he didn’t want to take over.

It was quite awesome, the many ways she excited him; watching her, feeling her body move around his, the incredible sensitivities she aroused and played on. In some deeply possessive sense, it was as though she was imprinting herself on him—
her man—
and Alex couldn’t help revelling in being so intensely desired.

Finally she straddled him, controlling the rhythm herself this time, voluptuously magnificent as she teased and took him to exquisite peaks of excitement, holding him there, holding him as though she never wanted to let him go. Her hair swayed over her breasts, a tantalisingly primitive picture, and it stirred the caveman in him. In a surge of wild energy, he swept her back onto the bed and took her, wanting to be the possessor, needing her to feel his imprint, and there was a savage joy in bringing them both to a triumphant climax.

She evoked so many feelings in him—more than he’d realised could be felt. Even as he lay with her afterwards, he was aware that the tenderness she drew from him was all-encompassing, an emotional level that no other woman had ever tapped. He didn’t want to leave her, but time ticked on and common sense insisted it was a weeknight and they both had work to go to in the morning.

“Are you free on Saturday, Gina?” he asked, looking ahead to the weekend, wanting all the time he could get with her.

“Not really.” Her sigh sounded rueful. “I’m booked to sing at a church wedding on Saturday afternoon, then later at the reception. I’ll be taking Marco to my parents’ home beforehand.”

“What about Sunday?”

“It’s free.”

“Will you spend it with me?”

She hesitated. “Marco, too?”

He’d forgotten the little boy asleep just down the hallway in his own lovingly decorated little boy’s room. As much as he wanted Gina to himself, he knew instinctively she was not the kind of mother who would let her son be ignored. Besides, he really liked Marco.

“Of course,” he answered easily, his mind leaping ahead for some activity that would involve the boy. “I meant to check on the cane plantation. We can have lunch with the manager and his wife. They have a couple of young children. Marco might enjoy playing with them. How does that sound?”

She snuggled happily. “Sounds great!”

He smiled, thinking he’d take her on a long walk.

He’d never made love in a cane field.

There was a first time for everything.

“What
has made you so happy?” her aunt inquired, cocking her head assessingly as she watched Gina select precisely where to place a flamingo lily in the floral arrangement she was working on. “You sing, you hum, and your face is wreathed in smiles.”

Gina grinned at her, brimming over with the wonderful pleasure of being desired by the man she desired. “Oh, I just feel life is looking up for me.”

Her aunt arched an eyebrow. “Might it have something to do with Peter Owen?”

Gina sighed. “Has Mum been speculating with you?”

“Well, I know you’re meeting with him this afternoon. And your brother, Danny, has just called to say he’s on his way to pick up Marco.”

“Danny’s going to have a look at white-water rafting and he thought Marco would enjoy watching it, too,” she quickly explained.

“Leaving you free...”

“It will be easier to talk business with Peter on my own. But that’s all it is,
Zia.
Just talking.”

“Ah...” She rolled her eyes expressively, “...who knows where it might lead. It’s time you spread your wings, Gina.”

Luckily, an incoming customer drew her aunt back to the showroom at the front of the shop, cutting short the personal conversation. Gina was discomforted by the obvious gossip sessions running hot within the family circle. Of course, Isabella Valeri King’s interest in her had set the tongues wagging, then singing the duets with Peter Owen at the castle had added to the brew of speculation. Neither had anything to do with how she felt today... after last night with Alex.

Should this new involvement be mentioned now?

She still shied from giving out such a highly personal piece of information. Even though Alex’s invitation for Sunday assured her he really did enjoy her company— beyond the bedroom—she wasn’t sure how deeply the attraction went for him. What if she simply had a novelty value, given his disenchantment with
false images?
Was that phrase a pertinent link to his break-up with Michelle Banks?

The urge to keep this part of her life private remained strong. One afternoon and two nights of being together could hardly be a called
a relationship,
not in any decisive terms. Maybe after Sunday...

Danny arrived in his usual rush and cheerful hustle. He was so accustomed now to working with tourists, his professional manner overflowed into everything. He collected Marco from the backyard of the shop and carried him off on his shoulder, both of them whooping excitedly about going on an adventure.

For the rest of the morning a steady stream of customers kept Gina and her aunt busy. Orders came in for deliveries to the maternity ward at Calvary Hospital— Gina always liked doing those happy arrangements, giving new mothers pleasure—and she was occupied in the backroom choosing the flowers for them when her aunt came to the door with a shock announcement. “Alex King’s fiancée wants you out front.” Gina was stunned speechless.

“Michelle Banks, the fashion designer,” her aunt prompted.

“But...” She barely caught herself back from blurting out the engagement was broken. Yet if Michelle was claiming... or maybe her aunt was assuming...

“Apparently Miss Banks attended the wedding at the castle on Saturday night,” her aunt went on, “and wants to discuss songs with you for her own wedding over lunch.” Her smile was lit with delight at her niece’s sudden rise to fame. “Your voice is now in demand, Gina. Better get going.”

“But...” she spluttered again, totally flummoxed by these further statements. Michelle’s wedding was supposed to be
off!

“Don’t worry about the maternity deliveries. They can wait until you get back.” Her aunt actually rounded her up, thrust her shoulder-bag into her hand, and gave her a push, urging, “You can’t miss out on singing at a King wedding.”
Had Alex lied to her?

Her mind buzzing with heart-wrenching questions, Gina forced her legs to carry her towards a confrontation with the woman who shouldn’t belong in Alex’s life anymore, who shouldn’t be calling herself his fiancée, nor planning a wedding with him.

Michelle Banks was idly glancing around the display arrangements designed to catch the eye of passers-by and hopefully draw them into the florist shop. Her highly polished beauty instantly put another knife into Gina’s heart. She wore a silk slacksuit in a shimmering grey-green pattern that picked up the striking colour of her eyes, and her golden hair was piled on top of her head, drawing immediate attention to her long, swanlike neck and the classic bone structure of her face.

She bestowed a lofty, slightly patronising smile on Gina, making her feel lowly, despite her average height, and definitely
common
in her little lime green shift. “There you are!” she said, as though she’d had to go to tedious lengths to find her. She waved her left hand in an eloquent gesture of frustration as she added, “You disappeared from the ballroom before I could speak to you on Saturday night.”

The glittering diamond engagement ring on her third finger was as mesmerising to Gina as the swaying head of a cobra. And just as deadly to the hopes she’d been nursing. Alex had taken her out of the ballroom. Alex had kissed her, made passionate love to her, had told her...but his ring was still on Michelle Banks’ hand.

“Your employer informs me you’re free to come to lunch and I’d very much like to discuss my wedding plans with you,” Michelle went on, exuding supreme confidence in Gina’s falling in with her wishes. “Shall we go?” She headed towards the door. “I understand there’s quite a pleasant little coffee shop just along the street.”

Michelle opened the door, pausing to give Gina a look of arrogant expectation. It made Gina want to dig her heels in and flout the other woman’s preset plans, but the painful need to clear up the situation drove her forward. She caught a glittery satisfaction in Michelle’s eyes as she stepped past her to the sidewalk outside and gritted her teeth against the surge of sickening hatred it evoked.

Alex couldn’t love this woman, she argued fiercely.

False images.

Her frantic mind seized on the phrase he had spoken last night. Maybe he had let Michelle keep the ring when he’d broken the engagement. Maybe...yet why had she come, talking about her wedding to him? Who was lying? For what purpose?

Michelle prattled on about the duets with Peter Owen as they walked along to the coffee shop. Gina barely heard a word, too consumed by turbulent emotions to concentrate on listening. Michelle selected a table in a corner and quickly commanded the attention of a waitress. She didn’t bother looking at a menu, ordering a Caesar salad and black coffee for herself.

Gina found herself automatically ordering a cappuccino and a Foccacio melt—ham, tomato and cheese. It was doubtful she’d be able to eat a bite of it but that was irrelevant. This meeting with Michelle Banks wasn’t about having lunch. The order simply got the waitress out of the way. The moment she moved off, Michelle dropped her
social
mask and floored Gina with a sly sardonic punch.

“I take it you and Alex are still hot for each other.”

Gina felt her jaw drop with shock.

Michelle sighed. “Good old lust. It does raise its wicked head now and then. I hope you’re not getting yourself into some serious twist about it. It only ever runs a brief course.”

“You know? About Alex and me?” Gina choked out, reeling from this revelation.

Michelle laughed, her eyes dancing with cynical amusement. “Of course I know, darling. It was perfectly obvious on Saturday night that Alex couldn’t keep his hands off you. I don’t really fancy him making love to me while he’s thinking of someone else so I told him to go and get it out of his system with you.”

Gina’s stomach cramped. They had discussed her as an object of desire before Alex had come home, come to the nursery suite and...she felt sick. The sex that night hadn’t been unplanned. It had been premeditated. Her mind jolted through the train of logic Michelle was spelling out.

“But...you expect him to come back to you,” she managed to say with a semblance of calm consideration.

“Naturally. We have a great partnership going.” Michelle shrugged off the infidelity as though it were nothing. “A bit of bed-hopping makes no difference to the more solid things we share.”

“And do you...bed-hop...too?”

Another shrug. “If someone tasty comes along. Actually, Alex was well aware I fancied someone else on Saturday night and was a bit peeved because he was frustrated over not feeling right about taking you. Had some attack of conscience because you’re his grandmother’s protégée. I told him you were a grown woman and if you wanted him, why not satisfy each other?”

“Get it out of the system...” Gina repeated, feeling she was dying inside.

“Exactly. We’re just taking a bit of time out from each other at the moment, letting things swing.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

Michelle gave her a pained look. “I just had the feeling I might have made a bad judgement call with you. A widow, wanting a bit on the side, seemed right, but Alex is a prize in any woman’s book, and it occurred to me you might think you can get your hooks in and end up making trouble that could be embarrassing for everyone.”

“So you want me to understand it’s just a little fling that will burn itself out. Enjoy it while I can.”

“Well, looking at it sensibly...what do you think? I don’t mean to be offensive, but...Alex King and you?” Her eyes mocked any image of lasting togetherness. “Can you really see it, Gina?”

That was the crux of the whole issue.

And the diamond ring on Michelle’s left hand kept winking its devastating reality at Gina.

Time out.

It made more sense than anything else.

No future with her...just time out for now.

Peter Owen sat in the Coral Reef Bar, sipping a whisky as he waited for Gina Terlizzi to join him. Normally it would amuse him to think of Alex King having it off with some woman other than Michelle. And serve Michelle right, the two-faced bitch. But Gina Terlizzi? He shook his head. For all his cynicism about women, Gina was different. Just a sweet kid really, open-hearted, devoted to her little boy, not the kind to play around with. Even he recognised that. What the hell was wrong with Alex King’s vision? Blinded by lust? Peter frowned, never having considered the highly controlled Alex King that kind of guy.

Still, difficult to doubt Michelle’s version of events since he himself had seen the man leaving Gina’s house last Sunday. All uptight he’d been about Peter calling there, too. And no doubt about Michelle being totally peeved last night, coming to his apartment and spilling her anger out to him after finding Alex’s car outside Gina’s house.

“He’s taking it too far,” she’d stormed. “I’ll spike his guns. I’ll lay it out to her it’s just a payback for my little dalliance with you, Peter.”

“You keep my name out of it, Michelle,” he’d retorted with very deliberate menace. Gina Terlizzi was serious business and he didn’t want her turned off him by something that was utterly meaningless.

He took another sip of whisky, thinking he’d rip a few mats out from under Michelle’s slippery feet if she screwed up the deal he wanted to make with Gina. He had plans for that girl. Not only might she give his career a new shot in the arm, but...if he took the job as director of musicals for the Galaxy Theatre in Brisbane and he could produce a new star...the birth of two new careers...

He caught sight of Gina entering the lounge and swivelled on his bar stool with a warm smile of welcome to put her at ease. She didn’t smile back. She aimed herself at him and moved forward like a sleepwalker on automatic propulsion, no vivacity at all in her body, blank face, dull eyes.

Michelle had done a real number on her, Peter thought savagely, and for once in his life, felt a deep shame for even being loosely connected to this consequence. The slaughter of innocence was a miserable thing. He rose from his chair to meet her, to gently steer her to an armchair and see her safely seated.

“I’ll get you a drink. What would you like, Gina?”

Her name focused her gaze on him, but in her eyes was a struggle to come up with an answer.

“A gin and tonic?” he offered, thinking she needed a good slug of alcohol.

A relieved nod and a huskily whispered, “Thank you.”

Gina tried to pull herself together as she watched Peter Owen go to the bar for drinks. He might offer her some kind of positive step into a real future. Not dreams. Not fantasy. Something she could do for herself. It was important to listen.

Alex didn’t like him.

But what did it matter what Alex thought now?

What she decided to do wouldn’t intrude on his life. Not his real life. And however much she wanted to, she couldn’t go to bed with him anymore, not knowing it was just a lustful fling on his part. That was too shaming, too humiliating.

Anger boiled up in her as she recalled Alex saying Peter was a user of women. How did he see himself? Of course, he could undoubtedly defend his actions on the grounds it was
mutual
desire, and where was the hurt in that? None at all if she was like Michelle.

So what if Peter Owen was a
user!
Having learnt such a salutary lesson from this experience with Alex, she wouldn’t be so stupid as to think there was any caring for her beyond the talent she had for singing. And even Alex had conceded Peter could be helpful in establishing a professional career with her voice.