Ruthless Billionaire, Forbidden Baby. Emma Darcy

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СКАЧАТЬ regained her wits. Fletcher Stanton was scattering them to the winds. All she could think of was how much she wanted to get acquainted with his mouth. They’d drawn level with the last pew in the church before she managed a curious thought that had nothing to do with being kissed by him.

      ‘How did you come by the name of Fletcher? It’s quite uncommon.’

      And rhymed with lecher. Which demonstrated her mind was still stuck in a sexy groove. Being consumed by lust was a terrible thing. Embarrassing, too, if he was only playing with her.

      ‘My mother was smitten by Marlon Brando’s portrayal of Fletcher Christian in the movie of Mutiny on the Bounty. She actually loaded me with both names, just as Celine copped Celine Dion after the singer. What parents inflict on their children out of some personal fancy…’ His grimace was loaded with nasty memories. ‘Why don’t they think of what other kids are going to make out of them?’

      A stab of shame hit her. She’d just been thinking lecher and no doubt he’d been subjected to that at school. ‘What would you name your children?’ popped out of her mouth. ‘If you had them,’ she hastily added, not wanting him to think she was fancying the idea of being their mother.

      ‘Paul, Steven, John…’ he reeled out with a shrug.

      She slid him an arch look. ‘No girls’ names in there. Aren’t they important, too?’

      His eyes glittered a challenge. ‘Do you like yours?’

      Her turn to shrug. ‘It’s okay. It hasn’t brought me any grief.’

      One disbelieving eyebrow lifted. ‘Wasn’t there a TV teen called Tammy who was like an ultra-cute Pollyanna? Your name alone made me think I’d be partnering a bubbly blonde.’

      ‘You’ll just have to hang tough if you’re disappointed.’

      It surprised a short laugh out of him—a laugh that ended in a dazzling grin. ‘I’m hanging quite happily, thank you.’

      She bet he was well hung, too.

      Tammy struggled to lift her mind off how he might look naked.

      ‘Actually my name is Tamalyn, though most people call me Tam or Tammy,’ she said off-handedly.

      ‘Ah! Now that does suit you. It has an exotic ring to it.’

      Exotic? Her heart fluttered. Was that his impression of her? It had to be the mass of curls giving her a different look. If he saw her tomorrow when her hair would be straight again… But today was today and she wasn’t about to belittle what impact she had made on this man. In fact, she seized on the exotic theme and ran with it.

      ‘Tama is the Native-American word for thunderbolt,’ she informed him with a flirty little smile. ‘My mother added Lyn to feminise it.’

      ‘Thunderbolt…’ His mouth twitched in amusement. ‘Am I in danger of being struck down?’

      ‘Only if you don’t treat me kindly.’

      He laughed.

      Bubbles of exhilaration bounced around her brain as they emerged from the church. Fletcher was enjoying her company. He thought her exotic. Life was beautiful. The sun was not only shining on the bride but also on her fifth bridesmaid.

      There was virtually no chance of any further personal conversation while the wedding photographer kept posing them on the church steps, demanding they move here and there for different group shots, though she didn’t mind when he insisted they press closer and Fletcher’s arm curled around her waist, drawing her into standing against him.

      She’d always considered herself of average height, yet he was so tall, her head only reached the top of his shoulder. It gave her a lovely, warm sense of having a big strong man to look after her, which, of course, was what women had wanted in primitive societies. Fletcher Stanton was definitely striking lots of primitive chords in her.

      ‘Mmm…exotic perfume, too,’ he murmured close to her ear, making it tingle with the waft of his breath.

      ‘White Diamonds,’ she told him, glad that Jennifer had insisted on dabbing some of the expensive scent on her.

      His eyes twinkled wickedly. ‘Sounds cold. Should be called Purple Passion.’

      She giggled. Couldn’t help herself. Couldn’t stop.

      Jennifer shot her a quizzical look. ‘What’s so funny?’

      ‘Nothing,’ Tammy spluttered, shaking her head as she tried to regain control of her behaviour.

      ‘Come on, give,’ her friend urged, casting a curious look at Fletcher.

      ‘I think Tamalyn is having a purple day,’ he said with mock gravity.

      ‘Tamalyn?’ Jennifer’s eyes widened incredulously at the rarely spoken name.

      ‘No, no, it’s a golden day. Pure gold,’ Tammy rattled out, bursting into giggles again.

      Fletcher squeezed her waist. She hoped it meant happy agreement with her correction and not an act of exasperation with her hilarity, which had probably destroyed her exotic mystique. But Purple Passion was too over the top and golden described this situation perfectly, as long as Fletcher had a sense of humour.

      ‘You can tell us the joke in the limo,’ Jennifer said, eyes flashing insistently. ‘We’re moving on now.’

      So they were, Celine and Andrew heading down the church steps to their car, guests throwing rice at them. The bridesmaids were to return to the limousine which had brought them to the church, the groomsmen travelling separately in theirs to Boronia House which had been booked for the reception. Having sobered up from her fit of giggles, she flashed Fletcher a smile as she reluctantly stepped out of his hold.

      ‘See you at the next stop.’

      ‘I’m looking forward to it,’ he replied, his eyes simmering with the promise of more fun and games with her.

      Tammy floated on a cloud of delight as she followed her friends down the steps. She and Fletcher were definitely connecting. The attraction was mutual. There had been no sign at all of him being an arrogant pig and she couldn’t imagine why Celine had described him in such terms. Maybe it was a sibling thing—little sister overshadowed by older brother who was outstandingly successful in his field.

      But Celine had also said he offended people and she surely wouldn’t be wrong about that, given their long family history together. It was possible, because it was his sister’s wedding, he had taken her warning to treat his partner kindly to heart and was going out of his way not to offend. Whatever…it was too soon for Tammy to make any judgement on this. Besides, the buoyant happiness she was feeling was too good to question right now.

      Go with it, girl, she told herself, and was grinning her pleasure in the situation as she piled into the bridesmaids’ limousine with her friends. They were no sooner on their way than they all turned their focus on her.

      ‘Wow! Did you get the prize!’ Kirsty started. ‘I’m with the best man but he sure isn’t the best!’

      ‘Yeah…lucky СКАЧАТЬ