Full circle

by Margaret McDonagh

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

Rebecca Harrison had just become engaged to her boyfriend, Tim, and was feeling happy and content. But when she visited her brother, Damian, and his wife, Jo, she was thrown into confusion ? Martin Reid was there. The last time she had seen Martin had been at Damian and Jo's wedding, three years before. On that day she had told Martin she loved him, but had been heartbroken when he rejected her. Why, when her life was at last settled, was Rebecca now beset by doubts?

Release date: June 12, 2014

Publisher: Accent Press

Print pages: 94

Sample

Chapter One

Rebecca Harrison smiled happily to herself. It was a long time since her life had been so contented. The adjustments had taken three hard years, but now she was back on course, in control of her destiny. Rebecca acknowledged the fact with satisfaction and a certain amount of pride.

At twenty-one, her life was before her, and she had everything she wanted. Along with a loving family, good friends and a stable career, she now had a fiancé of — she glanced at the slim gold watch on her wrist — fifteen hours and thirty- seven minutes exactly. The solitaire ring glinted in the spring sunshine and was an unfamiliar weight on her finger. She twisted it experimentally.

Returning her attention to the road, she approached the twin gateposts that marked the entrance to her brother's cottage, and turned into the driveway. The gravel crunched beneath the tyres as she drew to a halt in front of the wisteria-clad façade of the whitewashed, thatched cottage.

It had been a pleasant drive down to the wilds of Dorset from her Surrey home, and she was looking forward to the surprise her arrival would bring to Damian and his wife, Jo.

Smiling, Rebecca fluffed up her dark hair and nodded encouragement to her reflection in the driver's mirror.

‘The past is in the past, where it belongs,’ she told herself, her voice strong with determination.

She collected her overnight bag from the back seat and went to the front door where she gave the old horseshoe knocker a firm but jaunty rap. Damian opened the door, and before he could speak, she threw herself into his arms and was enveloped in a bear-like embrace.

‘Rebecca!’

‘It's so wonderful to see you!’

Eight years her senior, her brother had been her rock, her anchor in troubled waters, first when their parents had died in a flying accident, and more recently in the last difficult years. Damian was always there for her and she loved him to bits.

‘What are you doing here?’ he exclaimed as he released her and stepped back a pace. ‘I thought you were too busy to come down for weeks.’

She grinned impishly. ‘I had a change of plans. Besides, I'm never too busy for you, and it is your wedding anniversary. I come bearing gifts.’ Rebecca sobered as she glanced at her brother's face, disconcerted by the slight frown that drew his dark brows together. ‘Have I put my foot in it? Are you and Jo planning something romantic?’ Anxiety brought a huskiness to her voice.

‘No, no, it's not that —’ Damian smiled and drew her indoors. ‘You just surprised me, that's all. Anyway, I'm on call over the weekend so we hadn't planned to go out. Come on through. You're just in time for food, as usual!’

Reassured of her welcome, Rebecca laughed and followed him to the kitchen where Jo was tossing a salad. More sister than sister-in-law, Jo's marriage to her brother had not upset their closeness as Rebecca had once feared. Instead, she had added a wonderful new dimension to their small family.

‘You look positively glowing,’ Jo greeted her with a warm hug. ‘Why didn't you let us know you were coming?’

‘Spur of the moment decision. I hope it isn't inconvenient?’

‘Of course not, it's wonderful to see you. It's just that we well, we —’ Jo broke off and glanced at her husband for help.

Damian's brows knitted together in another frown. ‘We have someone staying for a few days, that's all. There's plenty of room though.’

‘Why don't you go upstairs and freshen up?’ Jo suggested. ‘Lunch will be ready in about five minutes.’

Rebecca went upstairs to the lilac- hued spare room and sighed in contentment at the view of the glorious countryside beyond the window. It looked fresh and green, the air full of scents and the sound of the varied local bird population. It was no wonder Damian and Jo had settled so happily here, she thought with a twinge of envy.

After a hasty freshen up, she returned downstairs to join the others for lunch. As she walked along the hall, she heard voices in the sitting room and her steps faltered. Rebecca shook her head. No, she must have been mistaken, but just for a moment she thought … It couldn't be, but one of the voices had sounded painfully familiar.

A lump formed in her throat as she forced herself to enter the room. Her gaze slid past Damian and Jo and came to rest on the other occupant of the room. He was standing by the window, the sunlight behind him making it difficult for her to see his face, but with dread and panic, she knew she had not made a mistake. Martin Reid was unmistakable.

Faded jeans encased his long, lean legs, and his black sweatshirt added to his dark and almost sinister appearance. His hair was cut shorter than she remembered, but was just as ebony, thick and rakish as ever, And his eyes. Although they were shadowed, she knew that under the straight, black brows, they would be watchful and intense, the colour changing from midnight blue to steel grey with his mood.

That he inspected her as thoroughly, Rebecca had no doubt. She could feel the effect of his, gaze upon her and a knot of tension formed in the pit of her stomach.

‘Hello, Becky.’

As he stepped towards her, she moved away, maintaining the distance between them. The husky timbre of his voice sent a shiver of awareness down her spine. His sensuous mouth that promised so much, curved in a half smile as she licked her dry lips and cleared her throat.

‘Martin. I didn't k-know you were h-here,’ she stammered, furious that the very sight of him had the power to rob her of her self-control.

His dark lashes flicked up and she was subjected to the full force of his gaze. He regarded her in silence, and with every second that passed, Rebecca felt electricity charge the air.

When Jo rose to her feet and announced that lunch was ready, Rebecca sighed with relief and gratitude. She needed a moment to pull herself together. The shock of Martin's presence had rocked her to the core. Just when she had been so happy and contented and positive her life had taken a turn for the better, fate had intervened. Later there would be time to analyse her thoughts. For the time being, she had to act normally and pretend that seeing Martin again meant nothing to her.

It was difficult to present an unconcerned façade when she sat a short distance from Martin on the other side of the pine table. Each time she glanced up, it was to find his gaze upon her, the expression in his eyes unfathomable. Her appetite had deserted her, and she thought each mouthful would choke her.

‘What's that on your finger?’

Martin's voice snapped her from her reverie, and she set down her knife and fork with studied care. Three gazes rested on her.

‘That was part of my surprise.’ She smiled tremulously at Damian. ‘I wanted to tell you in person. Last night Tim asked me to marry him and I said yes.’

She saw Martin's eyes turn from blue to glint steel grey and swallowed down a wave of apprehension. It was none of his business. Whatever he thought was no concern of hers.

‘I'm very happy for you.’ Jo smiled and squeezed her arm. ‘You never hinted this was in the wind!’

‘We've been going out together for some time. It can't be that much of a surprise.’

Damian leaned across and kissed her cheek. ‘So long as you are happy, that's all that matters.’

‘When is the wedding?’ Martin asked with a brief lift of an eyebrow.

Rebecca gritted her teeth and forced a smile. ‘We've not set a date yet, but probably in the autumn.’

‘Don't forget to send me an invitation,’ Martin said.

‘If I thought you would come —’

‘Becky, I wouldn't miss it for anything,’ he mocked softly and raised his glass in a brief toast.

She returned her attention to her plate to evade his probing gaze. To her relief, Damian claimed his interest, and while they talked, she cast several secretive glances at Martin. He had changed in the three years since she had seen him. His face was thinner, more harshly angled than before, the strong jawline more prominent in a way that only served to give him a more masculine attractiveness. And heaven knew, he had always been far too good looking for any woman's peace of mind.

He also appeared to be more distant, more reticent, and she detected, too, an air of cynicism, as if he had seen too much, done too much. She wondered where he had been and what he had been doing in the last three years.

Rebecca reined in her thoughts in disgust. Her days of allowing Martin to invade her every thought and dream were long gone.. . .