Bought: One Bride

She cringed when she recalled how she’d practically begged him to keep caressing her breast, which was still throbbing inside her dress. Both breasts were throbbing, even the one he hadn’t touched.

What bewildered her the most was how cool Richard had been about it all. Cool and composed. Yet he was the man, wasn’t he? Weren’t men supposed to be turned on more easily than women? Weren’t they the ones who usually lost control first?

Dave had been very impatient at times to get her into bed. Holly had quite enjoyed his lovemaking—when she wasn’t worried about her own performance—but had never even come close to desperation, let alone begging.

Her face flamed with the memory. Was that why she wanted to believe she was in love with Richard? Would she feel better—less slutty—if it was love making her act so…so…

The door of the powder room opened and in walked her hostess, Alanna Diamond.

Richard hadn’t exaggerated when he’d said Mrs Diamond was lovely. She was. A natural blonde, if Holly was any guess, her fine creamy blonde hair was styled into soft waves that framed a face that almost defied description. An angel’s face. Delicate features. Huge green eyes. A soft mouth. And skin that was as fair and silky smooth as the rest of her.

Her dress was not the dress of an angel, however. Made in champagne-coloured satin, it was long and slinky, with spaghetti straps and a neckline that might have looked tacky if she hadn’t had small, firm breasts. Her nipples were prominent, however. Round and hard. Like pebbles.

Age-wise, she was possibly around thirty. From a distance she looked younger, but up close Holly could see life’s experience in and around her eyes.

“Hi there,” Alanna said. “I’m so glad I caught you in here by yourself. I wanted to speak to you about something and I couldn’t in front of the others. Reece would have killed me. Richard, too, I imagine.”

“Oh?” Holly was at a loss.

“Reece told me a few weeks back that he’d put Richard in contact with the Wives Wanted agency and…well…you see, you might not know this, but I was one of Natalie’s girls too, and… Oh, dear! I can see by the look on your face that you’re embarrassed that I’ve brought this up. You’re right. I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry.”

Holly wasn’t embarrassed so much as stunned. Richard had been seeking the services of Wives Wanted? Her Richard, the one who’d just been making love to her in the car? The same Richard whose mother had proclaimed had never even looked at another woman since his wife died?

Holly couldn’t think straight for a moment. If Richard was on the lookout for a wife of convenience, then what was she? A potential candidate, or a sexual stopgap to tide him over till he found the right woman to marry?

She opened her mouth to indignantly deny that she was one of Natalie’s girls, whoever Natalie was. But at the last second, Holly bit her tongue. Whatever Richard’s agenda was where she was concerned, he obviously wasn’t going to tell her the truth.

His mother sure didn’t know her precious son as well as she thought she did.

Holly had to find out what was going on here.

“Please don’t apologise,” she said. “The thing is, I’m not…um…one of Natalie’s girls. I do know about the Wives Wanted agency, though,” she added swiftly. “Richard told me about it the other day. And, yes, he did mention that was how you and your husband got together.”

“Oh, dear, now I feel even worse. I wish Richard had told Reece all this. But you know men. They just don’t communicate the way we women do,” she added with an exasperated shrug of her slender shoulders. “So how did you and Richard meet?”

“I was delivering some flowers to his mother’s house last weekend. He happened to be home on a visit. Mrs Crawford was out and Richard answered the door. I’m the local florist.”

“Oh, how romantic! There again, Reece says Richard’s always been a romantic. He wasn’t at all convinced that Wives Wanted was the right way for Richard to find a wife, but Richard was adamant at the time. Of course, after what happened to Joanna, you could understand why he might not want to fall madly in love again. Oh, Lord, there I go again! You do know his first wife was killed in a car accident, don’t you?”

“Yes. I did the flowers at her funeral, actually. I’ve known Richard’s mother for years. I just didn’t meet Richard himself till the other day.”

“Phew! Thank God I didn’t put my foot in my mouth twice in five minutes. So tell me, what do you think of Richard? I can see he’s very taken with you.”