Torn Asunder (21 page)
Authors: Ann Cristy
His grin was for her alone, a pride in it, as though he had
ridden that curl just for her.
She could feel the answering smile widen her mouth and all
at once she was running toward him, arms out-
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spread, full of joy and laughter. Dev was victorious. He had
dared
He dropped his board and caught her up in his arms, swinging
her around, holding her close.
"You were wonderful out there. I thought I'd be
afraid.. .and maybe I was a little." She held his head with both hands.
"But I was excited, too. It felt like I was with you." Cle's tongue
clove to her mouth on the words. She felt naked, unprotected, as though she had
opened her skin like the pages of a book and allowed Dev to read her insides.
His face sobered. "You're always with me. I thought you
knew that. No matter what I do or where I go."
Cle swallowed, letting one hand trail down his cheek.
"Hey, are you two going to cuddle all day?" Max
yelled, a pouting mannequin from the salon on his arm. He waved at them.
"Time for sundowners."
"Coming," Dev called back and began to carry Cle
up the beach.
"Put me down," she burbled, her hands still tight
around him. "I'm too heavy."
"No." He smiled down at her, the green electricity
of his eyes dancing on her skin. "I like to carry you. I'll be able to
carry you when you're heavier, too."
"What does that
mean?" Cle was puzzled.
"Nothing." He
shrugged, the shuttered look to his eyes making Cle frown. Before she could say
any more, they were at the rocky base of the incline leading to the house and Dev
set her on her feet. He still kept his arm tight around her, but didn't look at
her as they walked toward the house.
Diana handed cold beers all around and gave Cle a seltzer
with lime.
"You looked like a
professional out there today, Dev," Alistair said.
Dev saluted with his beer. "You looked pretty good
yourself. This is a beautiful surfing area. I think my sisters will like
it."
Cle's head snapped around. She saw the querying looks on the
other faces.
"Are your sisters
coming to
Max asked.
"My whole family is coming out for a visit. My two
sisters, a younger brother, Roddy and my aunt and uncle Simes. I have numerous
cousins but they won't be coming." Dev announced all this in bland
fashion, his eyes skimming from one person to another.
Cle had the distinct feeling he was avoiding looking at her.
"Why are they all coming now?" Diana made a moue.
"I suppose I'm being too curious. You needn't answer..."
"I don't mind answering." Dev took a deep draught
of beer from his mug. "They are coming out to
attending my wedding." Dev dropped his bombshell then took another sip of
beer.
Cle felt like a fish tossed from the sea onto the shore. Her
mouth opened and closed but no words emerged. She wriggled in her chair, trying
to force her muscles into letting her rise.
"Why you secretive old dog!" Alistair Nivens
clapped him on the back. "I'll bet you're doing it because you want that
Willson fellow to be your witness. Congratulations."
Diana grabbed Cle's arms pulling her upright and into an
embrace. "Cle, darling, I'm so happy for you. How could you have kept it
so secret? I would have been shouting from the rooftops." She rocked a
lifeless Cle in her arms not seeming to notice her glazed eyes. Then Diana
released her and galloped to Dev's side to give him a big hug.
Max was at Cle's side. "You look as though you didn't
want Dev to tell us."
"I didn't,"
Cle wheezed.
"Surely you were going to ask us to attend?" Max
looked offended. "Jaime will be hurt. That's true. I'm Jaime's friend and
don't wish to see him hurt. That's also true... but surely you know that I'm
your friend as well and would want to see you married." Max exhaled so
sharply that his nostrils flared.
"I..." Cle
swallowed.
Dev was there, one arm coiling around her. "You didn't
want me to let the cat out of the bag, darling?" He pressed his lips to
her forehead.
"These people are assuming that it's me you're going to
marry..." Cle squeaked, wetting dry lips with her tongue.
Everyone laughed and crowded round them, appreciating Cle's
little joke.
"Of course, angel. Everyone knows you're the only woman
I've ever wanted to marry." Dev bent closer to her.
"Baloney," Cle muttered, her body having the
sudden nervous spasms one would associate with flu.
Dev held her tighter. "She's trembling," he said
to the others in general.
"I'll get tea," Diana said firmly.
"I'll get the Scotch," Alistair interjected,
nodding in an even more firm way to his wife.
"Hot toddy. That's
the thing," Max stated.
The three of them scattered, leaving the mannequin named
Jennifer staring at Dev and Cle.
"Imagine anyone
being upset by a marriage proposal," Jennifer mused, staring from Cle to
Dev and back again. "It's better than some of the arrangements I've been
offered." She looked back at Dev, a smile sliding across her face. "I
think I'd feel different if you offered the same thing to me." Jennifer's
stance changed subtly. Her tummy seemed flatter, her breasts more thrusting.
She turned sideways and her derriere had a more enticing curve.
Cle could feel her body
stiffen. She leaned back so that she could look through her lashes at Dev. His
smile had a knowing curve to it. Cle wanted to slap wet cement all over Jennifer's
lissome body, then toss her in
volunteers." Cle's voice was chipped ice. She could feel downward look Dev
was giving her but she kept her eyes on Jennifer.
The other girl shrugged. "You didn't seem too interested
to me."
"Perhaps you don't know me well enough to understand
my reactions," Cle ventured sweetly, her hands coming up to Dev's waist.
"Perhaps." Jennifer shrugged, then looked up at
Dev, her smile coy. "But just in case she doesn't decide to pick up her
option, you can always ring me at the salon. They have my- address and phone
number."
"I'll keep it in mind," Dev responded, amused sensuality
in his voice.
Jennifer raised her brows in response, then ambled from the
room in the direction that Max had taken, her bottom waggling, in what Cle
thought to be a disgusting fashion.
"Do you think you might unfasten those nails of yours
from my waist now?" Dev asked in a conversational way.
"You are lucky I don't perform surgery on you with
them." Cle spoke through her teeth. "Actually, I think you are in
dire need of a lobotomy and if I can find a rusty knife I will oblige."
"Bloodthirsty little thing, aren't you? I hope it isn't
genetic. I wouldn't want to think that our children would all have that
unfortunate penchant for mayhem," he crooned in her ear.
"Penchant, my aunt Maude," Cle said between
gritted teeth, straining away from him, but not succeeding too well. "How
dare you tell those people that we are getting married!"
"Why not? It's true. We are being married. I posted the
banns at
ago." Dev took quick hold of Cle's one free arm, kissing the fisted
fingers, his eyes alight. "I would have told you at the time but I was
afraid that you would have thrown a spanner in the works."
"Damned right I would have." Cle glowered at the
laughing Dev.
"Well, there you are. It would have been foolish to
tell you, since you wouldn't have been at all cooperative. Would you like, to
know where the reception is to take place, my love?" Dev let his mouth run
up and down her cheek.
Cle couldn't stop the shiver that ran through her body as
his lips traveled over her cheek. "Reception?" she asked hollowly,
her eyes riveted on him. "What are you talking about? There will be no
reception, no wedding, no..."
"I couldn't agree more. I don't want the fuss either,
but I'm afraid some sort of fuss will be required. Sir Reginald was custodian
of my estate until I came of age and though he is a crusty curmudgeon and
pompous at times, I must have him at my wedding."
"He'll hate me," Cle wailed softly, seeing in her
mind's eye the look of contempt on the face of the tall, imposing admiral, Sir
Reginald Simes.
"Of course he won't hate you. How could he?" Dev
looked at her, a crease of impatience on his forehead. "Besides I don't
know what the bloody difference his opinion will make to our life together
anyway." Then a smile curved his mouth. "There is Aunt Simes, my father's
sister. Aunt Margaret looks like Queen Mary..."
"The ship?" Cle quavered, feeling confused. Dev's
laugh made her jump.
"Not the ship, love." Dev threw back his head, his
laughter unfettered, just as Alistair and Diana walked back into the room followed
by Max and a pouting Jennifer, whose pout lifted when she looked at Dev.
Diana and Alistair had had anxious looks on their faces but
at Dev's laugh, the anxiety was replaced by relief. "Everything all right
now?" Diana asked, eagerly.
"Yes." Dev was still laughing. "But I think a
hot drink will be good for Cle." He sat her down and accepted a cup for
her putting in more sugar than she liked, then handing it to her and watching
her drink, ignoring her glare.
"I was just telling Cle about the reception we'll be
having in the Yacht Club," Dev added.
Cle frowned at him but
he seemed not to notice.
"Both Cle and I hope you will join us that day, both at
the church and at the club," Dev finished kindly, moving his hand quickly
when Cle leaned toward him with the steaming spoon she had just lifted from the
cup. "Careful, darling, I know you would feel devastated if you burned
me," Dev cooed to her. Then he leaned over and smoothed at the lines
between her eyes. "I would hate to see those lines become permanent.
You're so young to have them... and we don't even have children yet. Though
we'll probably have them soon." Dev ignored her gasp and smiled at the
others.
"Ohhhh, that's why you're marrying her. How different."
Jennifer mused out loud. "I didn't think anybody did that any more. Is
that coming back into fashion in the States? Shotgun weddings, I mean?"
"Oh. You, you..." Cle searched her angry mind for
a word and came up blank.
"Don't tease her, Jen," Max insisted. "She
has enough bridal nerves without worrying about that." He looked back at
Cle. "You look slim as ever, love. You must let me know if you can't be in
the show, you know..." His lips pursed, his eyes getting that faraway
look. He didn't notice Dev gripping Cle's, wrist as she took hold of an antique
andiron Diana used as a book end and wresting it from her. "Ummm I could
get Delia to take your place in a pinch."