I happen to think Samantha will do you proud…if you let her.”
“Samantha?” His eyebrows shot up. “Since when has Sam become Samantha?”
“You’ll see,” Elizabeth replied knowingly, piquing curiosity.
“A glass of champagne for you, Mum?” Jared asked.
“No, thank you. I just came to check that you’re all ready and nothing’s amiss.”
“Do we pass inspection?” Nathan asked with an amused, confident smile.
For a moment, he reminded her so strongly of Lachlan on their wedding day, she choked up, nodding her approval to cover the emotional block.
“What am I going to see?” Tommy drawled, his voice laced with scepticism. “Has Miranda waved some magic wand over Sam?”
“Could I have a private word with you, Tommy?” Elizabeth asked.
“I’ve got the ring.” He patted his trouser pocket. “I know all the duties of a best man. You can trust me to carry them out. And despite whatever barbs Sam chooses to sling at me, my speech thanking the bridesmaid will be all you’d want it to be. Does that cover it?”
“Not quite. Please…just a few minutes of your time,” Elizabeth insisted, gesturing to the adjoining lounge room.
With a much put-upon roll of his eyes, he heaved himself off the bar stool, then wickedly broke into a song and dance. “‘Oh, we’re going to the cha-a-apel, going to get ma-a-arried…”’ And to his brothers’ huge merriment, swept Elizabeth into a dance hold and whirled her into the adjoining room with all the panache of the playboy image he’d cultivated.
And what did that cover? Elizabeth had often wondered. She didn’t believe he had a lust for many women. To her mind, it was more a restless search for someone to answer needs that Sam wouldn’t or couldn’t answer. Or a pride thing, proving other women found him readily desirable. But it wasn’t giving him what he truly wanted. Elizabeth was certain of that.
“So…” he said, bringing her to a halt beyond ready earshot of the others. “…what’s on your mind?”
She caught her breath, wishing she didn’t have to dampen the devilish twinkle in his eyes. But she loved Tommy too much to let him hide his deep-down needs behind a wall of frivolous fun.
“It’s Nathan’s wedding day,” she started.
He made a mock frown. “I truly am aware of that fact.”
“Yes…well, I’d like it to be a very happy occasion. No bickering or snide little cracks.”
He raised his eyebrows in a show of innocence. “I am the very soul of pleasure on tap.”
“Then show that soul to Samantha for once, Tommy. You heard Nathan. He won’t ask it directly of you but I shall. Give the fighting a break. Be kind, generous…”
His face closed up.
“Tommy, I am just asking you to treat her as you would any other woman. Don’t mess this up.”
“Mess what up?” he demanded coldly.
“This day. You’re older than she is. And God knows you’ve had enough experience of women to handle the situation with finesse. She’s nervous. She’s afraid…”
“Afraid?” His eyes flashed derision. “Sam’s never been afraid of anything.”
“You think I’m a fool, Tommy? You think I’m just talking to hear myself speak?”
He glanced away, breath hissing out between his teeth.
“I’m telling you she doesn’t have her usual armour today,” Elizabeth drove on. “I’m telling you she’s vulnerable. And if you hurt her, Tommy…it would be very, very wrong.”
“I have no intention of hurting Sam,” he grated.
She reached out and squeezed his arm. “I hope you take very great care not to. For your sake. And hers,” she said quietly.
His gaze swung back, eyes blazing a fierce challenge. “You think it’s all my fault?”
The banked passion behind those words told Elizabeth more than Tommy had ever told her…the long-burning frustration of his relationship with Samantha Connelly. But there was nothing to be gained by placing blame anywhere. Raking over the past wouldn’t help. She had to appeal to the man he was now, the man who still wanted what could be…if the ground was shifted.
“No,” she answered, her eyes holding his with love and understanding. “I simply trust you’re big enough…and I know you are, Tommy…to rise above it today. To give of yourself without asking or expecting a return or a reward. Just to give…because giving is what today is about.”
His mouth twisted into a wry smile. “Okay. You have a deal. For what it’s worth.” His eyes gently mocked as he added, “But you must know Sam’s bound to make tatters of any gift from me.”
“Then the fault will indeed be all hers. Thank you, Tommy.”
“Oh, I’ll be having the pleasure of being a martyred saint,” he rolled out in an Irish lilt, a resurgence of devilment in his eyes.
She smiled. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”
His face softened. “You don’t have to. You’ve always been on my side when I’ve needed you. And to simply say thank you is totally inadequate. But thanks all the same, Mum.”
Elizabeth had never had any hesitation in throwing family money behind Tommy’s enterprises, the small planes and helicopter charter business which he’d called KingAir, the wilderness resort that bore the same name as the cattle station, King’s Eden, since it had once been a part of it.
He’d had a great need to prove himself, away from Nathan’s big shadow, Nathan who was born to be the cattle King and wear his father’s shoes. Tommy had to be his own man, and he was, very much his own man now, solidly successful in his business life.
But his personal life…he envied the love Nathan had found with Miranda. Elizabeth had seen it in his eyes on the night of their engagement party and knew he craved the same kind of love…to be accepted and respected and loved for the person he was inside.
“Let’s have a happy day, Tommy,” she said, knowing he would respond to her appeal for peace with Samantha.
“Sure, we will. The happiest of days. Especially for Nathan.”
For you, too, Elizabeth willed. “I must go back to Miranda. Everything else is in order?”
“Running like clockwork. Don’t worry. We’re onto the countdown now and everything will go brilliantly.”
“I hope so.”
He tapped her cheek in tender affection. “It’s all right. You have my promise. I’ll keep smiling in the face of the tiger.”
“Thank
