An Unlikely Bride for the Billionaire by Michelle Douglas Read Free Book Online Page B

professionals. She didn’t, of course. She just sent him one of the bland smiles she’d become so adept at.
    â€˜Do you have any questions, Mr Geroux?’ He’d barely spoken two words in the last hour.
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜None?’ Dylan double-checked, a frown creasing his brow.
    â€˜Stop bouncing,’ Thierry said in irritation to Carla, who clung to his arm, shifting her weight from one leg to the other.
    â€˜But, Thierry, it’s so exciting !’
    Nevertheless she stopped bouncing.
    Thierry turned to Dylan. ‘Carla is to have the wedding she wants. As you’re the events expert, I’m sure you have that under control.’
    He ignored Mia completely. Which suited Mia just fine.
    Dylan turned back to Mia. ‘There could be quite a gap between the end of the wedding ceremony and the start of the reception, while Carla and Thierry have photographs taken.’
    Mia nodded. ‘It;s often the case. With it being late spring there’ll still be plenty of light left. I can organise a tour of the wildlife exhibits for those who are interested.’
    â€˜Oh!’ Carla jumped up and down. ‘Could we do that now?’
    â€˜Absolutely.’
    The exhibits—a system of aviaries and enclosures—were sympathetically set into the natural landscape. A wooden walkway meandered through the arrangement at mid-tree height. This meant visitors could view many of the birds at eye level, practically commune with the rock wallabies sunning themselves on their craggy hillside, and look down on the wombats, echidnas and goannas in their pens.
    At the heart of the wildlife walk—and the jewel in its crown—was the koala house. Set up like an enormous tree house, the wooden structure was covered on three sides to weatherproof it for visitors, with an arena opening out below full of native flora and an artfully designed pond.
    The entire complex was enclosed in a huge aviary. A visitor could glance up into the trees to view the variety of colourful parrots, or along the rafters of the tree house to see the napping tawny frogmouths. Below were a myriad of walking birds, along with the occasional wallaby and echidna. But at eye-level were the koalas on their specially designed poles, where fresh eucalyptus leaves were placed daily. No wire or special glass separated man from beast—only a wooden railing and a ten-foot drop into the enclosure below.
    â€˜I love this place,’ Carla breathed as they entered.
    â€˜This is really something,’ Dylan murmured in Mia’s ear.
    His breath fanned the hair at her temples and awareness skidded up her spine. ‘It’s a special place,’ she agreed, moving away—needing to put some distance between them.
    When they’d looked their fill, she led them back outside to a series of small nocturnal houses—the first of which was the snake house.
    Carla gave a shudder. ‘No matter how much I try, I don’t like snakes.’
    They didn’t bother Mia, but she nodded. ‘We don’t have to linger. We can move straight on to the amphibian house and then the possum house.’
    â€˜C’mon, Thierry.’
    Carla tugged on his arm, evidently eager to leave, but he disengaged her hand. ‘You go ahead. I find snakes fascinating.’
    Finally the man showed some interest— hallelujah!
    Thierry glanced at her. ‘Mia might be kind enough to stay behind with me and answer some questions?’
    The snakes might not bother her, but Mia loathed the caged darkness of the nocturnal houses, hating the way they made her feel trapped. She didn’t betray any of that by so much of a flicker of her eyelids, though.
    â€˜I’d be happy to answer any questions.’
    Dylan caught her eye and gestured that he and Carla would move on, and she nodded to let him know that she and Thierry would catch up.
    She moved to stand beside Thierry, nodding at the slender green snake with the