FORGOTTEN LOVER, Carole Mortimer [chrysanthemum read aloud TXT] 📗

‘No,’ his tone was firm. ‘I’m not proud of the fact that I took advantage of your love last time—’

‘It wasn’t taking advantage if we both wanted it!’

‘I was older than you, and I wasn’t free. I should have had more control. But after I’d loved you the first time I didn’t want to spend a minute away from you.’

‘That’s how I feel now,’ she pouted.

He smiled, kissing her gently on the lips. ‘We have the rest of our lives together this time, let’s not spoil it.’

She knew he was right, but it didn’t make parting from him any easier. She kissed him goodnight with so much longing that he almost relented, although he finally managed to put her away from him.

‘One week,’ he murmured against her mouth. ‘One more week and you’ll be mine.’ His arms tightened about her. ‘You’ll be Mrs Jerard Daniels.’

‘Oh, Jerard!’ she said shakily.

‘I love Tony, you know,’ he told her huskily. ‘I don’t want there ever to be any doubt about that.’

‘There isn’t.’ She had seen him with her son enough to know of his real affection for him. ‘And I love Vicki too.’

Jerard grinned at her. ‘So it’s all nice and tidy.’

‘Our love isn’t tidy,’ she chided. ‘I find it breathtaking.’

‘So do I.’ Against he kissed her. ‘I’ll find it even more breathtaking when you’re my wife, I’ll have to keep pinching myself to make sure it’s true. I have to go now, Velvet. But I’ll see you tomorrow?’

‘Try and stop me,’ she said eagerly.

‘I never want you to stop, Velvet,’ he told her seriously, his gaze holding hers mesmerised. ‘These last few weeks when I thought I’d lost your love for ever have been hell for me.’

‘Me too,’ she blushed.

‘In a week’s time we’ll never be parted again. It’s going to be the longest week of my life.’

There were so many last-minute plans to take care of that contrary to Jerard’s belief the time simply rushed by. So much so that by the Friday she was just relieved that they only had to meet her parents, her brother and his family from the airport, all of whom had decided to come for the wedding.

Simon came to the airport too, taking Nigel, Jenny and the children back in his car, leaving her parents to ride with Jerard and herself. He was an instant hit, she could tell that, charming her mother until she blushed prettily and impressing her father with his business capabilities.

She knew her parents were concerned about the short time she and Jerard had apparently known each other, and she hastened to reassure her mother as she helped her unpack once they reached her flat. Her parents, brother and his family were taking over her flat for a couple of weeks, and while it was going to be very crowded tonight it should be a little easier once she and Tony had moved out tomorrow.

‘He’s fascinating, Velvet,’ her mother gave an approving smile. ‘And he has such a charming little girl.’

And Vicki was charming; the tantrums had totally stopped, and there was a new confidence about her. She had been so excited about the prospect of meeting a new grandmother, a new uncle and aunt, and her two cousins. And she and Tony were inseparable, something that caused Jerard and Velvet great amusement. Jerard had joked about what a good older sister she was going to make to any other children they had too. It had never occurred to Velvet that she and Jerard would have children together, and just the thought of it gave her a warm glow. She felt it would also show Vicki that not all things bad happened at hospitals.

‘And he’s marvellous with Tony,’ her mother added enthusiastically.

‘I gather you like him,’ she teased.

‘He’s wonderful, Velvet. Your father and I can see how much in love you both are.’ She squeezed her hand. ‘We so want to see you happy again.’

‘I am.’ She blinked back the tears.

‘Then that’s all your father and I wanted to know.’

‘Hey, this is going to be a wedding,’ Jerard said softly from the doorway. ‘And I won’t allow anyone to cry at our wedding,’ he told them.

‘We’re just happy, darling,’ Velvet told him as she went to join him, her happiness now complete with her parents’ approval.

Their wedding day dawned bright and sunny, the ceremony was simple but beautiful. Jerard looked so handsome, his eyes never leaving her face as he solemnly made his vows to her, the love and sincerity in his voice telling her that he meant every word.

‘You see,’ Carly was telling Paul as Velvet joined them at the small reception they were holding at Jerard’s mother’s house, ‘there’s nothing to it.’

‘To what?’ she smiled at them.

‘I’m trying to persuade him that getting married isn’t so bad,’ Carly explained ruefully. ‘So far I’m not making much headway.’

‘Maybe because you haven’t let me get a word in edgeways,’ Paul drawled. ‘If you had you might have heard me agree.’

‘His girl-friend gasped. ‘I—I might?’

‘Definitely,’ he nodded.

‘Really?’

He raised his eyebrows heavenwards. ‘What does it take to convince you?’

‘A wedding!’

‘Well?’ Velvet challenged Paul.

He shrugged. ‘Suits me.’

‘I was a witness to that, Carly,’ she grinned.

Jerard appeared at her side, his arm going possessively about her waist. ‘Time we were leaving, darling,’ he told her deeply.

Now that the time had come for them to be alone together she felt so nervous she shook with it. Not that she was in the least afraid of Jerard, or of being married to him, but as far as she was concerned this would be her first night with any man, the Jerard of the past and being married to Anthony all a blank to her, and she felt as nervous as any young virgin bride, despite being a mother to Tony.

Their goodbyes were tearful, almost as if they were going to another country, and not just a couple of miles down the road.

‘All right?’ he asked once they had managed to get away from the two tearful