And ironically the reason she loved Xan was also why she was unhappy. In marrying her because she was pregnant, he was doing what he believed he had to do for their child’s benefit. He didn’t love her, wouldn’t miss her if she was gone, wasn’t marrying her for the right reasons, so how could she celebrate her wedding day? Even worse, he had not laid a finger on her since she had left the island, had stolen not so much as a single kiss, which scarcely suggested that she was the most sexually desirable of brides.
They arrived at the London church and she walked down the aisle on her brother’s arm, wondering if her friend, Joel, was in the church. Joel had been acting oddly with her from the day he received the wedding invitation, phoning her up to demand to know when she had met Xan and why she hadn’t mentioned that she was seeing someone. His apparent annoyance had been unfair when he had been up in Scotland and out of contact for weeks while he worked on a portrait commission. Elvi supposed that Joel’s reaction was proof that some people really didn’t like surprises.
Meeting Xan’s mother, Ariadne’s beaming smile as she reached the end of the aisle, Elvi went pink. Xan’s family had greeted her with open arms and she was very grateful for that, even if she recognised that their hostility would not have made a dime of difference to Xan, who ruthlessly walked his own path. She finally let her attention focus on the tall Greek man awaiting her at the altar, the fine dark grey suit outlining his broad shoulders and lean, powerful physique, a ripple of compelling awareness shimmying through her before she even connected with his dazzling amber-gold eyes and the lush black lashes that so effectively framed them. Her tummy shifted and her heartbeat quickened as her mouth ran dry, liquid heat snaking wantonly up through her pelvis.
She wanted Xan, wanted him as she had never known she could want any man and it still unnerved her, that needy wanting, that treacherous hunger that transcended all barriers and had nothing to do with her brain. Her colour heightened, her legs weak, she swayed a little and he rested a steadying hand against the shallow indentation of her spine, the heat of his light hold leaving her insanely aware of his masculinity. Not cool, so not cool, she castigated her disobedient body as the ceremony began.
Xan threaded a slender platinum ring onto her finger, his touch sure, his responses firmer and clearer than her own, no hint of nervous tension in his demeanour. He was her husband now, she registered in awe, turning away from the altar with her hand resting on his arm. It was done now: they were married. Because she had conceived, not for any other reason, she reminded herself wretchedly, feeling like a ball and chain foisted on him, telling herself off for that fanciful thought. After all, they were both equally responsible for the contraceptive oversight that had led to conception.
All Xan’s family had made a special effort to attend their wedding, even Delphina and Takis, who had cut short their honeymoon to spend a few days in London. On the steps, Elvi smiled and smiled until her face hurt with the effort of putting on a good show. Joel had come to the wedding, she noted with relief, seeing her best friend in the crowd, his mobile face unusually stiff and expressionless. Disapproving? Like her own family, he probably assumed she was rushing into marriage too quickly but then she hadn’t told Joel that she was pregnant. Just then she wondered if Xan’s family were aware of her condition and she asked Xan once they were in the limo travelling to the hotel for the reception.
His lean, darkly handsome features tensed. ‘I saw no reason to mention it. The baby’s our business.’
Relieved, Elvi nodded agreement, wondering if his family would have been as welcoming had they known the truth or whether she would have been downgraded to the level of a calculating hussy, who had entrapped Xan. Whatever, it scarcely mattered, she conceded ruefully, because they would realise that she was pregnant soon enough.
After the meal was served they circulated. She saw her mother chatting to Dmitri and noted Xan staring.
‘What’s going on there?’ he asked drily.
‘Nothing as yet, but give them time,’ Elvi said lightly. ‘I shouldn’t imagine Dmitri went to the trouble of offering my mother his house and setting her up with a job for no good reason.’
‘You don’t mind?’ Xan queried.
‘Mum’s been on her own a long time. Does it bother you?’
Xan ignored the question, deep within his own thoughts. He blamed Dmitri for not sharing his doubts with him concerning Sally Cartwright’s guilt. Had he known there were grounds for doubt, would he still have offered Elvi that iniquitous arrangement? He knew he was splitting hairs and was grimly amused by the fact. After all, no honourable man would have offered Elvi the option Xan had.
Joel signalled her from across the room and she left Xan’s side with a warm welcoming smile. ‘Thought you weren’t sure you could come,’ she greeted her old friend. ‘I’m so glad you could make it after all.’
Joel dealt her a comprehensive appraisal, taking in the diamonds glittering in her ears and outlining her slender throat. ‘You look amazing,’ he told her thinly, curving an arm to her spine to guide her out to the bar, which was quieter. ‘I’m glad sour grapes didn’t keep me away—’
‘Sour grapes?’ she queried, not getting his meaning as he drew her into a secluded corner.
Joel sighed. ‘You never did work it out, did you? You didn’t notice what was right in front of you. I wanted you to turn to me when you were ready for a relationship but obviously I missed the boat—’
Elvi turned pale in shock and frowned at him in dismay. ‘You don’t mean that—’
Joel studied her in frustration. ‘I always wanted you, even when we were at school...that’s how far back it goes for me,’ he admitted ruefully. ‘When you didn’t pick up on my signals, I told myself that it was because you were still immature and too wrapped up in your family but I’ve always loved you—’
Her tender heart was pierced by the vulnerable look in his eyes. ‘I’m so sorry, Joel. I didn’t realise—’
‘You don’t come to a wedding to tell the bride that,’ Xan intoned harshly from behind Elvi and she spun round in consternation, disconcerted by his arrival.
‘There’s no harm in telling her,’ Joel argued defiantly. ‘After all, when you mess up, I want her to know I’m here waiting for her—’
Elvi froze in disbelief as Xan pressed her back out of the way with one arm and punched Joel with the other. Stunned by Xan’s behaviour, she staggered back as Dmitri appeared out of nowhere to band his arms round Joel and restrain him when he tried to throw himself at Xan. There was a tough exchange of words between the men, but when Elvi went to Joel’s side to apologise for the bridegroom’s behaviour and check that her friend was all right, he told her angrily to leave him alone and he stalked out.
‘What on earth did you think you were doing?’ Elvi demanded of Xan.
Xan didn’t have an answer for Elvi. Thumping the pretty boy with the dimples and curls had been instinctive and if his security team hadn’t prevented further violence Xan would have enjoyed hitting him again. And again. How dared the little twerp? Who the hell was he anyway? Who had invited him? What sort of relationship did he have with Elvi? Xan wanted answers too.
‘Who is he?’ Xan bit out in a raw undertone.
‘Joel is my best friend...and you hit him!’ she condemned.
‘Your best friend is a man?’ Xan countered in disbelief. ‘Well, that ends now. I’m not putting up with that kind of nonsense. You’re my wife...you’re mine. You don’t let other men come onto you like that!’
Elvi