The Bridesmaid's Baby by Barbara Hannay Read Free Book Online Page A

moonlight. Fire flashed in his light grey eyes.
    ‘Let me help you up,’ he said as he opened the truck’s passenger door.
    ‘I can manage.’ Lucy was anxious to avoid his gallantry. If Will touched her now, she might self-combust.
    But managing alone wasn’t easy. With her arms filled with her bridesmaid’s bouquet as well as the bride’s white roses and with the added complication of her long straight skirt and precarious high heels, the whole business of clambering up into the truck was fraught with difficulties.
    Will was full of apologies. ‘I forgot how hard it is to climb into this damned thing.’
    ‘If you hold the bouquets, I’m sure I can swing myself up.’
    Without waiting for his reply, Lucy thrust the flowers into his arms. Then, grateful for the darkness, she yanked her skirt with one hand and took a firm grip of the door handle with the other. She stepped high and hauled herself up, and everything would have been fine if one of her high heels hadn’t caught on the step.
    In mid-flight she lost her balance and then lost her grip on the handle and, before she could recover, she was slipping backwards.
    Into Will’s arms.
    She was crushed against his chest, along with several dozen blooms.
    ‘I’ve got you.’
    Lucy wasn’t sure if the pounding of Will’s heart and hissharp intake of breath were caused by shock or the exertion of catching her.
    Desperately, she tried to ignore how wonderfully safe she felt in his arms, how beyond fabulous it was to be cradled against his splendidly muscular chest. The wool of his expensive suit was cool and fine beneath her cheek. She could have stayed there…
    ‘I’m sorry,’ she spluttered. ‘Anyone would think I was drunk.’
    ‘The thought never crossed my mind.’
    ‘You can put me down, Will. I’m quite all right.’
    ‘I think it might be better if we do this my way.’
    His face was in darkness so Lucy couldn’t see his expression, but his voice was deep and warm, like a comforting blanket around her, and he hoisted her up onto the front seat of the truck with astonishing ease.
    ‘Put your seat belt on,’ he said, as if she was a child. ‘And then I’ll pass you what’s left of the bouquets.’
    Chastened, Lucy thanked him.
    The glorious scent of crushed rose petals filled the truck’s cabin as Will climbed behind the wheel and pulled the driver’s door shut. But the fragrance couldn’t disguise the smell of ancient leather and it couldn’t block Lucy’s memories.
    This was the first time in ten years that she’d been alone in the dark with Will, and stupidly she remembered that embarrassing kiss on the shadowy veranda at Tambaroora. She could remember exactly how he’d tasted and the warm pressure of his lips, the sexy slide of his tongue…
    He turned to her. ‘Are you OK now?’
    ‘Perfectly,’ she said in a choked whisper.
    ‘Are you sure?’ he asked, frowning at her, watching her intently.
    She pressed a hand against her heart in a bid to calm its wicked thudding. ‘I was hobbled by this jolly dress and I slipped in the stupid heels.’ She sounded more astringent than she’d meant to. ‘After tonight, these shoes are going straight to the Country Women’s second-hand store.’
    Will chuckled softly, then started the truck and soon they were rumbling down the street. Lucy buried her nose in the roses, glad that he didn’t try to talk all the way home.
    But, in the silence, her thoughts turned back to their earlier conversation. Will had shocked her when he’d raised the subject of marriage and babies, but perhaps she shouldn’t have been so surprised. It was, as he’d said, happening all around them. Gina and Tom had their twins. Mattie was married.
    She had been so busy trying to back away from the topic, so scared Will would discover how hung up she was about these very things, that she’d cut the conversation short.
    Now she was left to wonder. Had he actually been leading up to something he wanted to discuss?