Page 42 of One Bridegroom Required!

‘South London. I live on the opposite side of town, these days.’

Luke nodded. ‘And how are you getting back there tonight?’

Ursula shook her head. ‘I’m not. I’ve booked in at The Bell. I don’t like these country roads at night.’

‘I don’t blame you,’ he said.

‘Here.’ Holly handed her one of the entry forms and Ursula filled in her name and address, then dropped it into the red satin box.

Afterwards she shook hands with both of them. ‘It’s been great meeting you both! And thank you for your help,’ she said. ‘Even if I don’t win, it was interesting to learn a bit more of the dress’s history.’

‘I’ll tell my mother when I next see her,’ promised Holly. ‘She usually turns up in England for Christmas!’

‘I’d like to tell mine,’ said Ursula with a sad smile. ‘But she died a long time ago.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ said Holly. On an impulse, she picked up one of her cards from the counter and thrust it into Ursula’s hand. ‘If you ever need a wedding dress, then you know where I am.’

Ursula smiled. ‘Thanks—but I’m hoping I might win that one!’

Holly hoped so, too—though she couldn’t see what use it would be if she did. The prize-winning dress would never fit Ursula, and her sister would be getting married before it could legitimately be worn...

There was silence in the shop once she had gone, and it took every bit of Holly’s courage to turn to Luke and say, ‘Is that everything? Only I don’t want to keep you.’

‘Everything?’ He laughed, but it was an angry, bitter kind of laugh, as though Ursula leaving the shop had negated any need for him to be pleasant to her. ‘Sweetheart, I haven’t even started yet. We may have just been treated to a touching story, but nothing has changed. Think back to what we were doing before Ursula arrived, Holly.’

Her cheeks flamed, even as her heart began to pick up speed. That was the last thing she wanted to do. ‘Luke, I really think it’s best if you go.’

‘I’m sure you do. And we must always do what’s best for Holly Lovelace, mustn’t we?’ A muscle began to work convulsively in his cheek. ‘But damn the rest of the world, isn’t that right?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ She made to turn away but he wouldn’t let her, grabbing her by the arm, and even that rough contact made her blood sing.

‘Don’t you?’ He was staring deeply into her eyes, and Holly seemed paralysed, rooted to the ground, mesmerised by the magic of that dark denim-blue gaze.

’N-no.’

‘Oh, I think you do, Holly. Be honest now.’

‘I don’t.’ He was still holding tightly onto her arm, his expression a mixture of disdain and desire, and yet still she remained fixed to the spot. ‘Let me go,’ she protested ineffectually.

‘No.’ He tipped his gold-brushed head to one side and gave her a long, consideri

ng look. ‘See what it feels like when someone takes control? You should do—after all, you’re the ultimate control freak, aren’t you, Holly? You decided that you wanted me, didn’t you? You wanted me real bad and you weren’t going to let anything as inconvenient as a fiancée in your way. That, presumably, is why you told her that we’d been sleeping together—’

‘Luke, don’t—’

‘Don’t what?’ He raised his eyebrows mockingly. ‘Don’t tell the truth? But why ever not, Holly? Does the truth make you feel uncomfortable? And it is the truth, isn’t it, Holly? Isn’t it?’

‘Y-yes,’ she admitted brokenly. ‘Partly.’

He nodded. ‘Yes, I know what you mean—and it is only part of the truth, because of course we haven’t slept together, have we, Holly? Not yet.’

His words sent shivers down her spine. ‘That wasn’t what I meant. Luke—’

‘After all,’ he interrupted remorselessly, ‘you’ve got what you want now, haven’t you? Caroline is off the scene. You made damn sure of that—’

‘Caroline has gone?’

His mouth shaped itself into a cruel curve. ‘Yes, she’s gone!’ he mimicked ruthlessly. ‘Of course she’s gone! Or did you imagine that she would hang around hoping that we could all have a cosy little threesome?’

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