honestly didn’t know how to react, blinking her surprise before looking away. She wasn’t used to men of Blake Randall’s ilk coming on to her. They went for the Maddies of this world. Or for stunning actresses like Claudia Jay. Admittedly she looked the very best she could today—thanks to Maddie and her mother bullying her into hours of work at the beauty salon—but she doubted she could compete with the sort of women who usually vied for this man’s attention.
Kate was still trying to work out how to respond when there was a burst of applause behind her. Kate was taken aback to realise that the ceremony was over, and Lachlan and her sister were now legally man and wife.
She waited for a jab of devastation to overwhelm her but it didn’t come. Instead all she could think about was Blake Randall flirting with her.
How odd.
There was Maddie in Lachlan’s arms, being kissed very thoroughly, and even whilst she couldn’t bear to watch at the same time it made her wonder what it would be like to be kissed by that hard, cruel mouth which was once again smiling at her. No, grinning at her.
It was infectious, that grin, as was the wry gleam in his eyes as he nodded his head towards the couple who were still locked together in an exhibitionist kiss.
Without thinking this time, she grinned back, and suddenly lightness lifted her previously heavy soul, making her see that there was definitely life after Lachlan.
How silly she’d been to imagine that the world had stopped turning simply because the man she loved did not love her back. There was still plenty to live for. Her career, for starters. Kate adored acting—loved inhabiting another character’s skin and making her audience believe that she really was that person. It was the ultimate high when she pulled that off. The ultimate adrenaline rush.
The besotted couple finally wrenched themselves apart, and a flushed Maddie turned to Kate to retrieve her bouquet.
‘What a pity Lachlan and I can’t leave right now,’ her sister grumbled. ‘I can hardly wait I’m so turned on. Oh, God, don’t look at me like that, Katie,’ she hissed impatiently. ‘You know how much I like sex. And my Lachlan is just the best at it.’
Kate smothered a groan of despair. Or was it disgust? Whatever it was, that feeling of devastation she’d so valiantly pushed aside was back with a vengeance.
OH-OH.
Disappointment swamped Blake as he caught sight of Kate again, her face having been obscured by the bride turning to collect her bouquet. Gone was her lovely smile, and in its place her former bleak expression.
What the hell had happened in the last few seconds? What had the Barbie doll said to her? Something not very nice, judging by the unhappiness in Kate’s eyes.
Blake knew from first-hand experience that siblings were not always the best of friends—especially those of the same sex. Rivalry and jealousy often raised their ugly heads, making true friendship impossible. His own brother was a case in point. James had always been jealous of him, despite there being absolutely no need. James was the firstborn son, after all, and his parents’ favourite—especially since he’d followed in his mother and father’s footsteps to become a doctor, like them.
On the other hand Blake had been regarded as the black sheep of the family since he hadn’t even gone to university, since he’d done something considered very left field by embracing the entertainment world—first as a DJ, then shooting music videos for a couple of years before finally plunging full-time into making low-budget independent movies.
Both his parents and his brother had given him dire warnings about his future. And Blake found it telling that now he’d made it big they were all hurtfully silent on the subject of his success. Blake had used to let it bother him, but he no longer cared. Or so he told himself. They all had small minds, in his opinion, James the smallest of them all.
Blake rarely saw his family these days, only visiting at Christmas and on special occasions. Now that he’d moved to Los Angeles to live and work he suspected he might not even do that. Just send the occasional card. He no longer kept in contact through social media or email, nor with phone calls, having resolved not to give them any further opportunity to deliver snide remarks about his lifestyle or his movies. Which they did, if given the opportunity.
Blake had no evidence that Kate’s sister had just made some kind of nasty remark to her except for the look on her face. But that wasn’t jealousy he was seeing in her expressive blue eyes. It was hurt. And dismay.
Why her unhappiness bothered him so much he could not fathom. He’d never been a particularly empathetic soul. Perhaps it was because he found her attractive and didn’t like the idea of there being some hidden impediment which would hinder his pursuing his interest in her. Whatever the reason, Blake resolved not to rest until he’d solved the mystery of that unhappiness.
And it was a mystery. Because on the surface of things Kate had nothing to be unhappy about. She was gorgeous! Okay, she didn’t have the in-your-face blonde beauty of her sister. But she was still highly desirable.
Of course being physically attractive was no guarantee of happiness. Maybe she was unhappy because she was still unmarried, despite being the older sister. Though not much older, surely. Blake knew Lachlan’s bride was only twenty-three, which made Kate what? Twenty-five? Twenty-six, maybe? Hardly a marital use-by date in this day and age.
‘Get with the programme, Blake,’ Lachlan said, grabbing his nearest elbow. ‘We have to sign the marriage certificate.’
As the groom ushered him over to where the paperwork had been set up on a side table Blake cast a surreptitious glance back at Kate. She seemed to have gathered herself, and her expression was not wretched any longer. It was, however, utterly devoid of emotion once more—a totally blank mask. How on earth did she manage that? When he was upset everyone knew about it. He didn’t throw tantrums, exactly, but his face always reflected his feelings—as did his voice.
He watched her watching the happy couple sign the register, but her eyes betrayed nothing now. Which was telling in itself.
When it was their turn to step forward as witnesses, he waved for her to go first. After throwing him a closed look, she picked up one of the provided pens and signed quickly, with only the slightest tremor in her hand. He glanced at her signature before he signed his own name.
Kate Holiday, he read, and realised that until that moment he hadn’t known the bride’s surname. So of course he hadn’t known Kate’s. He’d never met the bride’s parents either, or anyone else in her family. Strange, really, given he was the best man.
Blake wondered all of a sudden why Lachlan had asked him to be his best man. He would have thought a young Aussie male with his looks and personality would have had at least one best mate—a pal he’d gone to school with or studied at NIDA with.
Obviously not. Either that or he preferred someone famous to stand by his side at his wedding. A celebrity. Lachlan was very much into celebrity.
It hadn’t occurred to Blake until that moment that he was being used—that this wedding was little more than a publicity stunt, with a trophy bride, a glamorous Sydney setting and a rich and famous best man. Lachlan was no better than Claudia, really.
