The Bridesmaid's Wedding

“But he was having a ball with me,” Lainie argued.

“That’s what one does at a wedding, Lainie,” Ally warned her. “Have a ball.”

Lainie considered that for a time. “You’re the only one who worried me,” she said finally. “Mum woke me up to the fact Rafe might consider me for a girlfriend.”

“So good luck, then,” Ally answered feeling she had done her best. Having a ball at a wedding didn’t add up to a romance. Or did it?

The theatre show was as brilliantly entertaining as the reviews had promised. Everyone came out of the theatre feeling a flood of warmth, smiling, humming snatches of the catchy tunes.

“You’re coming on with us to the nightclub, aren’t you, Ally?” Francesca asked as they stood amid the swirling crowd in the foyer.

Ally was long used to all the glances of recognition that came her way. In another minute someone would come up and ask for an autograph. Meanwhile she smiled at her cousin, anxious now to be off. She certainly didn’t want to see any more of Rafe with Lainie in tow. “I have to fly back to Sydney in the morning, Fran,” she explained. “I have a pretty hectic schedule next week.”

“What a pity. I’d have loved you to come.” Francesca couldn’t hide her disappointment even as she understood.

“So how are you getting home?” Grant, who was holding Francesca’s slender arm, turned his tawny head to see if he could catch sight of his brother. “Rafe is somewhere back there. Maybe he could give you a lift?”

“No, that’s okay.” Ally smiled back. She realised Grant, like her own brother, Brod, had never given up hope she and Rafe would some day be reunited. “I can catch a cab.”

“You can share ours.” Francesca didn’t like the idea of Ally’s going home on her own.

“You’re going the other way, love,” Ally reminded her.

“That doesn’t matter.” Francesca looked up to Grant for confirmation.

“Of course not.” He was more than happy to oblige. “We can drop Ally off then come back into town. Where is it, Ally? Some friend lent you their unit, didn’t they?”

Ally nodded. “Pam is holidaying on the Barrier Reef for a week. It seemed nicer than staying at a hotel. I like to be a bit anonymous.” Keep my whereabouts a secret, she thought a little grimly.

“Ah, there’s Rafe now. Rafe?” Grant called to his brother who was clearly enjoying something Lainie was saying to him.

“Be with you.” Rafe lifted a long arm, turning to shake the hand of a male guest who was moving off.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think it’s a good idea if Lainie falls in love with Rafe,” Grant announced out of the blue.

“You think she might?” Fran looked like she’d never considered it for a minute.

“I’m sure she already has,” Ally confirmed, turning to a youngster who came up with a program to be autographed.

“Gee, thanks, Ally, that’s cool!” The boy, who had to be all of fourteen, whistled behind his braces.

“Does he know you?” Grant looked after the departing fan.

“No. He just thinks he does.” Ally smiled. “I’ve had complete strangers come up and start talking as though they’d known me all my life.”

“I don’t think I could get used to it,” Grant said with a slight frown. “Anyway, to get back to Lainie. Rafe isn’t flirting with her, he’s only being nice.”

“Well he’s got her up in the sky somewhere. Floating on cloud nine,” Ally offered wryly. “Mind you, Lainie is sweet. She’s entitled to her dreams.”

Grant wrinkled his broad forehead. “Just between you and me. Rafe needs a great deal more than Lainie can offer.” He laughed shortly, the tiniest spark of anger in his hazel eyes. “Do you honestly think she’s woman enough for him?” He held Ally’s gaze in his direct manner.

“Don’t ask me—it’s too close to home.”

Francesca stared from one to the other, looking thoroughly intrigued. “Are you suggesting someone should tell poor Lainie to back off, Grant, dear?”

“It might save her a lot of heartache.” Grant looked serious. “No one wants Lainie to get hurt.”

Lainie, smiling brilliantly, was starting towards them and Ally began to brace herself for what was to come.

“I’m trying to talk Rafe into joining us at the nightclub,” Lainie announced. “You have to help me.” She appealed to Ally and Fran.

“Rafe’s really not one for nightclubs, Lainie,” Grant tried to warn her.

“But on such a night.” Lainie clutched at Francesca’s arm in her enthusiastic fashion. “Quite a few of us are going on. There’s absolutely no need for him to rush off.”

“Well, I have to,” Ally told her lightly. “We start shooting very early Monday morning.”

“I’d love to get a bit part in one of your shows,” Lainie confessed. “But I suppose I’m too short.”

That struck Grant as utterly irrelevant and he said so.

“It was just a thought.” A little warily Lainie eyed Rafe’s younger brother, knowing Grant Cameron wasn’t as sweetly tolerant as Rafe was. Grant was one of those men who didn’t suffer fools gladly.

Into the group came the rangy, elegant Rafe, looking super relaxed. The overhead lighting gilded his fine features and played around the smile on his sexy curving mouth. “So is everyone off?”

“You’re coming, then?” Lainie rejoiced, all but rubbing her cheek against his slate blue jacket. “It’s wonderful to know I could persuade you.”

“Well…” Rafe looked down a moment at her fair head. “Lainie, I find it hard to disappoint you, but I’m flying off home in the morning. Grant is staying on to line up some more business, but I have to get back to the station. As well, I promised Brod I’d keep an eye on Kimbara. You’ve got a dozen people to keep you company,” he consoled her. “Fran and Grant are going on. So is Mark Farrell. I thought you two got on rather well.” He referred to the groomsman. “And Ally must do this sort of thing all the time.”

“You obviously haven’t heard about my killing schedule,” Ally said in a wry voice. “I have to get lots of beauty sleep so I can get up the next morning without telltale bags under my eyes.”

“Bags? Not you,” Lainie retorted.

“So can I drop you off at your hotel?” Rafe looked on sardonically. “You’re staying with Fee and Francesca?”

“Not this time.” Ally shook her head. “Fee has commandeered the best suite. Davey has another.”

“I have to settle for deluxe,” Francesca smiled.

“And a friend has lent me her place while she’s away,” Ally added.

“Rafe are you sure you won’t come?” Lainie persisted, desperately wanting it to happen.

“Sorry, pet.” He gave her his maddening nonchalant smile.

“Well, that takes care of that then,” Grant said with satisfaction. “We were going to drop Ally off, Rafe, but I’m sure she’s happy for you to take over.”

“I don’t have to go,” Lainie looked about vaguely, wishing secretly Rafe would simply take her off to bed.

“Sure you do!” Grant took hold of her arm purposefully, with Francesca, blue eyes twinkling, taking the other. “Let the good times roll.”

Grant looked back at his brother and Ally and tilted a tawny eyebrow.

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