THE next morning, Louisa woke, feeling all warm and cosy, to find herself sprawled all over Dominic. Her head was on his shoulder, her arm was round his waist and her fingers were curving down over his hipbone. Her legs were tangled with his; and his arms were wrapped tightly round her.
‘Good morning,’ he said softly.
She felt herself flush. ‘Have you been awake for long?’
‘Long enough to enjoy you sleeping. You’re delectable. And I love the way your skin feels against mine.’ He shifted so he could kiss her. ‘All’s very right with my world this morning.’
So he’d stopped panicking about being Oliver’s best man? Good. Hopefully he was finally starting to forgive himself.
‘Does your hair take hideously long to dry?’ he asked.
‘Not if you have a hairdryer I can borrow.’
‘Good.’ He kissed her again. ‘Because I really need to introduce you to my shower.’ Three seconds later, he scooped her out of bed and carried her into the shower, laughing.
This was something she would never have done with Jack. And yet, with Dominic, it felt right. The intensity in his eyes when he looked at her, the sheer desire on his face: they sent a thrill through her. And was she deluding herself, or was it more than just desire? Could Dominic feel the same way about her that she felt about him? Did he love her back? The possibility shimmered in the air.
They spent longer in the shower than Dominic had planned and it was a rush to get her hair dried, but finally they made it downstairs. Louisa was glad to help out with all the last-minute tasks and checking to make sure that all the arrangements for the wedding were going smoothly. The flowers were breathtaking—the bold, clean lines of the calla lilies softened by the pretty star-shaped flowers of the tuberoses—and the marquee was filled with staff, setting the tables and checking the table plans and putting the place-holders in the right places.
Milly sent Dominic off with the dogs, saying that he needed to burn off some of his energy before he drove her insane with all that pacing around; and Louisa was drafted in to help amuse the five-year-old flower girl and three-year-old pageboy, telling them stories and teaching them new songs.
And then finally it was time to get ready for the ceremony. Dominic stared as Louisa emerged from the bathroom in her dress. ‘You look fantastic,’ he said.
‘Don’t sound so surprised,’ she said drily.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to insult you. What I meant was, apart from last night, I’ve only ever seen you either in uniform at work or wearing jeans. You look lovely.’
‘Thank you. You look pretty amazing yourself,’ she said. Formal dress suited him; and when he gave her a shy smile her heart skipped a beat.
‘Do you have a wrap or something?’ he asked. ‘The church can get pretty chilly.’
She nodded, and fished out the lilac pashmina. He draped it round her shoulders. ‘I really like your hair like that, too.’ He dipped his head and kissed the back of her neck; the touch of his lips against her skin made a shiver of desire ripple all the way down her spine. ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘There’s just something about you that I can’t resist.’
The compliment made her glow, and she tucked her hand into the crook of his arm as they left the room and headed downstairs.
‘You look fabulous, Louisa,’ Milly said. ‘That colour really suits you.’
‘Thank you. You look lovely, too,’ Louisa said, meaning it.
Milly was wearing a suit in sky-blue silk, with a matching hat and a corsage of tuberoses. She took another corsage from the box resting on one of the little tables in the hallway and pinned it to Louisa’s dress.
‘Thank you. They smell gorgeous,’ Louisa said, breathing in the heady, exotic scent.
‘Don’t they just?’ Milly smiled. ‘So clever of Mina to choose them.’
Milly handed her a buttonhole for Dominic, a single calla lily, and Louisa carefully pinned it onto his lapel.
Roderick emerged from the kitchen. Milly cuffed his arm and wiped the tell-tale crumbs from the corner of his mouth. ‘Honestly, men! Do they never stop eating?’ she asked, rolling her eyes.
‘I was hungry,’ Roderick protested, ‘and you know what it’s like at weddings. It takes ages before anybody gets fed, what with the photographs and the receiving lines and all that hanging around.’
‘Just behave,’ Milly said—and Louisa could see exactly where Dominic had got his irresistible little-boy grin.
Oliver was the last to arrive in the hallway, wheeling himself down the corridor.
Louisa saw the stricken look in Dominic’s eyes, and slipped her fingers through his, squeezing his hand gently. ‘Smile,’ she said softly. ‘Everything’s just fine.’
He gave her a grateful glance and did so.
‘So are we all ready now?’ Milly asked, deftly pinning on Oliver’s buttonhole.
‘I’m nervous,’ Oliver admitted, ‘but I’m ready. Because Mina’s about to make me the happiest man in the world when she walks down the aisle to me.’
Everyone else was looking at Oliver, but Louisa was looking at Dominic—and she saw him flinch. And, as they walked to the church, she noticed his steps starting to drag as they drew nearer.
‘I think I need a breath of fresh air,’ she said as they reached the beautiful old building. ‘Dominic, would you mind…?’
‘Of course,’ he said, and stepped to the side with her. ‘Are you all right?’ he asked quietly.
She waited until his parents and Oliver had gone inside. ‘I’m fine, but you’re not. Talk to me.’
He rested his head against the cold stone of the porch. ‘This is all so wrong. Oliver should be walking down that aisle, not wheeling himself down it. How can I possibly be his best man when I did that to him?’
‘We talked about this last night. It was an accident. Oliver’s come to terms with the situation,’ Louisa said softly. ‘Now you need to do the same. There’s nothing you can do to change it, so just try to make the best of it. Do you know what he said to me last night? If life gives you lemons, you have to make lemonade. And he’s right. Look at the good bits. Your family’s lovely. They adore you—including Oliver—and that’s why he asked you to be his best man. Nobody else will do. And today’s a really, really special day.’
‘You’re right,’ he said, taking a deep breath. ‘It’s Oliver’s day, and I need to put the past and the might-have-beens out of my head. And thank you for stopping me acting like a selfish jerk.’
‘You’re welcome,’ she said.
He was still holding her hand when they walked into the church. It was full of white flowers, and the sun shone through the stained-glass windows, dappling the flowers with rich jewelled tones. The perfect winter wedding: all they needed was a tiny sprinkle of snow after the service, to act as confetti, she thought with a smile.
The tiny church soon filled up, and then the organist started to play the Trumpet Voluntary. All chatter ceased and everyone stood up, turning round to look at Mina. She looked amazing, walking down the red carpet in the aisle on her father’s arm, the bridesmaids and flower girl and pageboy behind her. She joined Oliver at the top of the aisle; the vicar made the introductory speech, and when it came to the vows Oliver hauled himself out of his wheel-chair. Clearly it was a struggle for him—Louisa could see the flash of pain across his face—but he was obviously determined to say his wedding vows to his bride while standing on his own two feet.
Louisa held Dominic’s hand really tightly, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the congregation as Mina and Oliver made their vows and he kissed her before lowering himself back into his wheelchair. She could see Dominic blinking back tears when he returned to the pew after handing the rings over, and the lump in her throat grew even bigger when a woman started playing a violin solo and then a man with a gorgeous tenor voice started singing Louis Armstrong’s ‘Wonderful World’ while Mina and Oliver signed the register.
The next few hours passed in a blur. Photographs, the champagne reception, a gorgeous meal and then the speeches. Dominic gave a very funny speech that had everyone laughing. But then he grew serious.
‘I’ve always looked up to my big brother, right from the first moment I was able to toddle along behind him. Oliver’s an amazing man, full of courage and strength and kindness, and I couldn’t have wished for a better role model. I’m incredibly proud of him.’ Dominic’s voice cracked slightly. ‘And I love him very, very much. So I’d like you all to join with me in wishing him and my new sister-in-law every happiness for the future.’ He raised his glass. ‘The bride and groom.’
When Louisa glanced over at Roderick and Milly, she could see them both wiping away a tear as they raised their glasses. And there was a suspicious sheen in everyone else’s eyes, too, as they raised their glasses and echoed Dominic’s toast.
‘That was a beautiful speech,’ she whispered to him, ‘and you’ve really done your family proud.’
He said nothing, but held her hand very tightly through the rest of the speeches. Particularly when Oliver looked him straight in the eye during his speech and said, ‘And I’d like to thank my best man. He’s given me more than he knows, over the years, and I couldn’t have asked for a better brother. I’ve been truly blessed in my family—and I’m so glad I can share that blessing with the love of my life, too.’
It was a public declaration from both of them. But would it be enough to break through the barriers Dominic had put round his heart? Louisa wondered. He’d heard his brother’s speech, but had he listened to it—really listened to it—and understood that it was time to let the past go?
His face gave nothing away; and now wasn’t the time or place for her to ask.
And finally it was time for the first dance.
Louisa had half-wondered if they’d skip the dancing, but clearly Oliver had other ideas. And when Dominic ushered her away from the table, she realised that the marquee led into the ballroom, where a band was set up at one corner.
They began to play the first notes of a song she recognised.
‘“You Raise Me Up”. What a fantastic song for a first dance,’ she said. ‘The lyrics give me goose bumps every time.’
It was a very, very, very slow dance, but Oliver and Mina managed it. And at the end of the dance, everyone cheered the bride and groom. Dominic had his arms wrapped round Louisa and was holding her really close; she could feel the tension running through him.
‘You’re supposed to dance with the chief bridesmaid now,’ Louisa reminded him gently, ‘while your mum dances with Mina’s dad and her mum dances with your dad.’
‘Yes, of course.’ He shook himself.
‘Go and be the gorgeous, charming man you are. For Oliver and Mina,’ she said softly.
‘As long as you promise to dance with me for the rest of the evening.’
She brushed a kiss against his lips and smiled at him. ‘Absolutely.’
Dominic did exactly as Louisa had suggested. He danced with Mina’s sister, chatted normally to her—and he was able to be charming, and all because he knew Louisa was waiting for him. With her, he felt different. He felt like a better person, not just the man who’d changed his brother and his family’s life for ever. When he’d listened to the words of the song Oliver and Mina had chosen for the first dance, he’d realised that they fitted the way he felt about Louisa, too. She made him more than he thought he could be.
When the song ended, he noticed that his brother was sitting down; not so unusual, but there was a tightening round his eyes that made Dominic suspect Oliver was in an awful lot of pain. Quietly, he went over to him. ‘Are you all right?’ he asked, concerned.
‘I just got married. I’m more than OK. And I had the first dance with my beautiful bride. That was the one that mattered.’ Oliver smiled at him. ‘I know what you’re worrying about. Don’t. All that physio and work in the swimming pool paid off. I’m not going to be stuck in bed for a week, recovering.’
‘You’re in pain right now.’
Oliver shrugged. ‘It’s worth it.’
Dominic took his hand. ‘Oliver, I’m so—’
‘Shh,’ Oliver said. ‘I know. And I’m fine—really, Dominic, I’m fine. I’ve been training with my physio for that dance for months, so I haven’t knocked myself up. And I’m still going to carry my bride over the threshold tonight, except she’s going to be sitting on my lap as I carry her.’
Guilt squeezed Dominic’s heart.
‘Dominic, listen to me. I’m not sitting here thinking about what I don’t have—I’m sitting here, truly thankful for what I do have. This is my perfect day. I’ve just got married to the woman I love most in the world, in the place I love most in the world, with all the people I love around me. And I’m about to start a new career as a GP. I’ve got so much ahead of me, so much good stuff to come.’ He paused. ‘The past is the past. It’s time you let it go, little brother.’
‘How can I?’ Dominic asked.
‘Listen to your girl. She talks a lot of sense.’
‘She talks a lot, full stop,’ Dominic said wryly.
Oliver laughed. ‘Then, between the pair of you, I bet it’s hard to get a word in edgeways.’
‘She lets me be silent, too,’ Dominic mused. And it was true. With Louisa, he’d discovered that he could be himself. She knew the worst of him, and yet she hadn’t pushed him away. If anything, she’d drawn him closer.
‘She’s lovely. And I’m glad you’ve found someone, Dominic. I’ve hated seeing you slowly shutting yourself off from people these past two years.’
‘She’s special,’ Dominic said softly. ‘Really special.’
‘Be happy. That’s all I want for you,’ Oliver said, ‘to be as happy as I am. Now go and dance with your girl before we both get maudlin.’ Oliver smiled at him. ‘And, just for the record, I meant everything I said in my speech. I’m proud of you.’
‘I love you, Oliver,’ Dominic said.
‘I know. And I love you, too.’ Oliver returned his hug, then patted his back. ‘Go and dance with lovely Louisa. And stop worrying about me. Really.’
The band was playing ‘The Way You Look Tonight’. Another song with more than appropriate words. There really was nobody like Louisa in the room. And the way she looked tonight…that’d stay with him for a long, long time.
Dominic went to claim his dance with her, and found himself singing along with the song.
‘Why, Dr Hurst, I didn’t know you had such a nice singing voice. Or that a die-hard rock fan like you would know the words to a Sinatra song.’ Her eyes were sparkling.
‘I grew up with this stuff.’
‘My parents are more into the Beatles,’ she said, ‘though Mum once admitted that she had a crush on Andy Williams.’
‘“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”. That’s one of Ma’s favourites, too, though I prefer the Muse version,’ he said reflectively. ‘It has better guitars.’
She laughed. ‘You would say that.’
Then the band switched to another slow number, Dominic drew Louisa close, swaying with her to the rhythm of the song. She wasn’t wearing her wrap, so her shoulders were bare except for the two tiny straps. Unable to resist, he dipped his head and kissed her shoulder. Her skin was so soft and she smelled so sweet.
She gave a breathy little sigh and moved closer; and he felt his control fraying past the point of no return. He needed her, and he couldn’t help himself; he traced a path of kisses up the sensitive cord at the side of her neck, drawing her closer still, and then finally his mouth was right where he wanted it to be, jammed over hers. Her arms were round his neck and she was kissing him back, her mouth warm and sweet and promising.
Heaven.
It took him a while to realise that the band were playing a more up-tempo number. He had no idea how long he’d been kissing Louisa on the dance floor; the only thing he knew was that he didn’t want to stop—and he didn’t want an audience.
‘Louisa,’ he whispered as he broke the kiss.
She looked dazed. ‘Hmm?’
‘There’s something I need to tell you.’ And he knew where, too. ‘Let’s go,’ he said. ‘Somewhere a little quieter. More private.’
She gave him the most sinful smile. ‘What a good idea.’
It was all he could do not to turn caveman, haul her over his shoulder and carry her upstairs to his bed. But they left the ballroom discreetly. He led her down a corridor and out through a side door into the formal garden. ‘Look up,’ he said.
‘Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen stars that bright.’ She smiled. ‘And a full moon, too. It’s pure silver.’
And the soft light made her look incredibly beautiful. He took off his jacket and slipped it round her shoulders.
She looked concerned. ‘You’ll be cold, Dominic.’
‘I’m with you. So I’m warm where it matters.’ He took her hand and placed it over his heart. ‘Right here. Feel?’
‘Yes.’ She smiled at him.
‘I love you, Louisa,’ he said softly. ‘I love everything you are. And it’s not just that I’m being all sentimental after seeing my big brother get married. I’ve known it for a while—it was just a matter of finding the right place and the right time to tell you. And that’s here and now. I love you.’
‘Oh, Dominic.’ Her eyes glittered in the moonlight. ‘I love you, too. I never expected to feel that way again, but with you it’s different. You make me feel…’ She shook her head. ‘I can’t explain it. Not properly. But everything sparkles when you’re around.’
Gently, he drew her back indoors, then scooped her up and carried her up the stairs. The second he’d closed his bedroom door behind her, he let her slide down her body until her feet were back on the floor and then kissed her again, this time more passionately. And then he realised that his curtains were still open. Unwilling to relinquish her, he danced with her to the window, humming ‘Can’t take my eyes off you’, and shut the world out.
And then he had the sheer pleasure of undressing her, very slowly. He unzipped her dress and drew a line of kisses all the way down her spine as the material parted beneath his hands, then hung her dress over the back of a chair to stop it creasing.
Louisa undressed him just as slowly, stroking the skin on his chest and his midriff as she undid his shirt, and causing his blood pressure to spike as she released the button on his trousers.
He removed the final scraps of her underwear, loving the contrast between the roughness of the lace and the softness of her skin, then scooped one arm under her knees, picking her up so he could kiss her and carry her over to his bed.
She breathed his name as he laid her against the pillows, her face filled with desire and something else he knew now he could dare to name. And he knew that he felt it, too. He could let himself love Louisa. He could be himself with her. Give her all that he wanted to be.
He paused to slide on a condom, then knelt between her thighs. ‘I love you,’ he said as he eased into her. ‘I really, really love you.’
‘And I love you. You amaze me,’ she said. ‘I love who you are. Your gentleness and your strength. Even your stubbornness.’
He laughed. ‘I’m not the only one who’s stubborn.’
‘Mule. That’s me,’ she teased.
He kissed her. ‘You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever met—and you turn me on in a big way, my lady.’
‘“My verray, parfit, gentil knight”,’ she quoted. ‘Do you have any idea how gorgeous you look, dressed up like a medieval prince?’
‘Any time you want me dressed up in my armour, honey, just say. As long as you take it off for me again. And grant me some very special private favours.’ He pushed deeper into her.
‘Oh, yes.’ Her expression went starry. ‘And that velvet cloak. I love that cloak. I’ve had some seriously X-rated fantasies about you in that cloak.’
‘Good. Tell me about them,’ he said softly. ‘Because I think I’d enjoy acting them out.’
‘Kiss me,’ she whispered, and he dipped his head. Her mouth was so sweet, so soft and giving. So hot. And how good she felt wrapped around him like this; the feel of her skin against his made his blood heat.
He felt her body begin to ripple round his, and he broke the kiss. ‘I love you, Louisa,’ he whispered.
‘I love you, too.’ And he could see it in her eyes, at the exact moment that they both tumbled to a climax.
Afterwards, snuggled in bed beside her, he said, ‘I don’t think I’ve ever, ever been this happy.’ He drew her close. ‘I don’t want tonight to end.’
‘Neither do I.’ She pressed a kiss into his chest. ‘But I have to go home tomorrow.’
Back to real life. Yeah, he knew that.
But she’d said the words he’d needed to hear. She felt the same way as he did.
And he could risk a future with her.