A Secret Between Friends: A New Zealand Sexy Beach Romance (Treats to Tempt You Book 6) (22 page)

“She’s here.” Finn had been on watch, and he crossed the room now to announce Genie’s arrival to the guys at the bar.

Niall’s heart immediately doubled its rate. He took a deep breath and blew it out slowly, trying to stay calm.

Beck grinned. “Boy, you’ve got it bad.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Dude, she can’t fail to be impressed considering what you’re wearing.”

Niall glanced at his reflection in the mirror above the bar. He wore a tuxedo complete with bow tie, to the vast amusement of everyone present at
Between the Sheets.
“If this doesn’t work, nothing will.” He tugged the jacket, trying to resist the urge to wipe his sweating palms on his trousers. If it didn’t work, he was going to feel like twelve kinds of idiot. But nobody could fault him for trying.

He looked across the busy bar for a first glimpse of her. It was Valentine’s Day, and lots of couples were out having a cocktail to celebrate. Beck had been kind enough to rope off the small room to the side, in which all of Genie’s friends and family were waiting for her to arrive. Niall had contacted them personally, and they’d all been intrigued enough to come. Sinead and Garret were there, and so were Josie and Billie, Danny and his sister Tess, and lots of their other friends.

Shit or bust
, he thought. It had to work. He couldn’t bear to think of a life without her after the misery of the last few days.

Someone moved aside in the doorway, and then she was there, looking over her shoulder as she talked to Jonah. Niall caught his breath. She looked stunning, slim and shapely in a fantastic green dress, her hair hanging around her shoulders like a beautiful blonde curtain.

She walked a few paces into the side room, leaning on her cane, turned her head, saw the people waiting, and stopped. Her lips parted, and to his dismay she immediately took a step back. Jonah was waiting, though, and he bent and whispered something to her, a careful hand on her back stopping her from fleeing. She shook her head, her gaze scanning the room, and then her eyes fell on Niall.

He saw her abrupt inhalation, and the widening of her eyes. Taking that as encouragement, he mumbled, “Here goes,” to Beck and crossed the room to her.

“Fuck,” she said. “What the hell are you wearing?”

He’d hoped for a slightly more effusive compliment, but he didn’t let it deter him. He gestured down himself. “You said you wanted to see me in a suit.”

Her lips curved a tiny bit, but she didn’t say anything. Then she glanced across at the waiting crowd. “What’s going on?”

In answer, he held out a hand. She looked at it, but didn’t take it.

“Want me to give her a fireman’s lift?” Jonah asked him.

The muscles at the corner of her jaw bunched as if she was gritting her teeth, and she pursed her lips. “I could kill you both with my thumb,” she muttered, but she put her hand in Niall’s.

Tightening his fingers on hers, he led her across to the others.

She paled visibly as she saw Sinead and Garret, but Niall ignored them and steered her to a place in front of the bar. Beck had poured her a cocktail, and he pushed it over to her, giving her a wink in return for her glare.

Niall picked up his own drink and turned to the others. “Ladies and gentleman,” he called, raising his voice above the conversation. He waited for everyone to quieten. “Thank you for coming. I know I’ve been a bit mysterious, but I wanted to gather you all here for a special announcement.”

Curiosity flickered on everyone’s faces, except for Finn, Beck, and Jonah, who knew what was going on.

“As you all know,” Niall continued, “Genie was wounded in a bomb blast in Afghanistan in which my sister, Ciara, died. We didn’t know much about the accident except that Ciara was still in the truck when it exploded as Genie claimed she has no memory of the day.”

Her eyes snapped up to his face and she tried to pull her hand out of his. He tightened his grip, though, refusing to let her go.

“I’ve recently discovered the truth of that day,” he continued. His voice rang out across the room. Everyone had fallen quiet. “Ciara and Genie were in the truck with two other soldiers. After the bomb exploded, the truck was fired upon by at least two gunmen.”

“No,” Genie said, but he ignored her.

“Genie managed to climb out of the truck. Under fire, she went back to try to rescue her wounded colleagues. She managed to get the two soldiers nearest to her clear of the wreckage before the truck exploded.”

Everyone gasped. His mother pressed a hand to her mouth.

“She’s going to receive a New Zealand Gallantry Star,” Niall said, “one of the highest awards a soldier can get in the New Zealand Army.”

All the blood had drained from Genie’s face. She snatched her hand away from his. “Why are you doing this? I don’t want this.”

“I don’t care. You did an amazing thing, Gin, and people deserve to know you’re a hero.” He said the word on purpose, knowing it would provoke her. He wasn’t mistaken.

“I’m not!” She practically yelled the words. “I didn’t save Ciara, the one person I was closest to in the whole world. How does that make me a hero?”

“Why didn’t you save her?”

She said nothing for a moment, her chest heaving. Everyone was silent.

“She was at the bottom of the truck,” she whispered.

“You didn’t get to Ciara because you rescued the two soldiers nearest to you first,” he said. “It wouldn’t have made sense to climb over them to get to Ciara. They were your friends as well.”

A tear ran down her face, and for the first time she looked across at Sinead. “I thought I had more time. I’m sorry.”

Behind them all, a woman spoke. “I’m sorry you couldn’t get your friend out, too, but I’ll never be able to thank you enough for what you did for my husband.”

Genie spun around. Behind her stood a woman, heavily pregnant. Next to her stood Stephen, holding her hand.

Releasing it, he walked forward a few paces to stand before Genie. His eyes were full of warmth.

He saluted, smiling. “Lieutenant.”

Genie’s lip trembled, but she saluted back, spine stiff, soldier straight. Niall had never been more proud of her than he was at that moment.

Then she burst into tears.

“Aw.” Stephen put his arms around her, and she buried her face in his shirt and sobbed. Beside him, his wife wiped away tears from her own face. With the tension broken, everyone cheered, clapped, and whistled, then began talking at once.

Niall blew out a long, slow breath, struggling to rein in his own emotion. He wanted to pull Genie into his arms and hold her, but instead he remained where he was and met his mother’s gaze across the room.

Sinead was also crying as she walked over to join them. As Genie tried to compose herself, Stephen murmuring to her, Sinead leaned against Niall, and he put his arm around her.

“It doesn’t change the fact that she talked Ciara into enlisting,” she whispered.

“I know. But Ciara loved her job, Mum, and it’s not fair to her to say otherwise. She was a soldier—she knew the risks. It was just one of those things. The other soldier Gin rescued would have come as well tonight if he could, but he’s still in hospital. I spoke to him on the phone.” The guy had cried as he talked about what Genie had done for him, but Niall didn’t add that.

Sinead wiped under her eyes. “She was incredibly brave.”

Stephen smiled at Genie as she finally pulled back. “She was. Without her, my baby would be born without a daddy.”

His wife also gave her a hug. “We’re having a girl,” she said. She exchanged a look with her husband, who nodded. “We’ve decided, we’re going to call her Ciara. I wanted to call her Genevieve, but Stephen said you’d say ‘fuck no’ if I told you that.”

They all laughed, including Genie, even as she wiped away her tears. “I would have. He knows me well.” She rested a hand on the woman’s bump. “That’s such a wonderful idea. Thank you so much.”

She looked up then, finally meeting Sinead’s gaze. “Ciara would have loved it, don’t you think?”

Overcome with emotion, Sinead just nodded, and then the two women hugged. Over his mother’s shoulder, Genie met Niall’s gaze for a moment. Then she closed her eyes.

He turned away and gestured to the whisky bottle behind Beck, not trusting himself to speak. Luckily, his best mate didn’t need any further prompting. He poured Niall a double and threw in some cubes. Niall took it, swirled the liquid over the ice, and took a big swallow.

“All right?” Beck asked.

Niall nodded and ran a hand through his hair. The whisky seared down to his stomach, reassuring and comforting.

Beck leaned on the bar. “You did a good thing there.”

“I hope so.” He looked ruefully at his suit. “Not sure this was a good idea, though.”

Beck glanced past him for a moment, and then looked back, smiling. “Oh… I think you could have done a lot worse.” Reaching behind him, he flicked a switch on the music system. Bic Runga’s
Honest Goodbye
began to play, the haunting waltz sending a shiver down Niall’s back.

The shiver didn’t stop when he turned to see Genie standing there, waiting for him.

“Was this all your doing?” She gestured around her.

He nodded and finished off his whisky. So much for the first part of the performance. It could have gone a lot worse, he thought, holding out his hand. Now he just had to see how the second half would go.

Genie took Niall’s outstretched hand. To her surprise, her friends and family moved back to leave a large square in the middle of the room. He led her into it and, turning her to face him, he slid his right arm around her waist.

“It’s a waltz,” he said, taking her cane away and giving it to Jonah. “Ready? We’ll go slow.”

Her jaw dropped, and then she started to laugh. “Okay.” With his hand warm in the middle of her back, his left hand holding her right tightly, he began to guide her around the room.

They danced for a while without saying anything, just smiling at each other, occasionally glancing over at those watching them when they cheered or called out a comment. Genie found it difficult to tear her eyes away from him, though. She’d guessed he would look good in a suit, but the truth was so much better than her imagination. He looked like James Bond, not at all uncomfortable as she’d thought he might, as if he’d been born to wear it.

But it was the look in his eyes that took her breath away. They shone with love, with respect, and with admiration, and that, more than anything, was what won her heart.

The song came to an end, changing to a slower, more romantic love song, and Niall let go of her hand to slide his arms around her. “Hello,” he said, kissing her temple.

She looped her hands around his neck. “Hi.”

“Are you okay?”

She nodded, glancing over at Sinead, who was watching them both with a gentle smile on her face. “Yeah. I’m good.”

“I’m glad. I was worried you might be angry with me.”

She sighed. “Angry? Seriously, Niall. Nobody’s ever gone to so much effort for me.” She grinned. “And on Valentine’s Day as well. You’re such an old romantic.”

He smiled, and she wondered whether he’d finally kiss her, but he didn’t. He hesitated, and then he said, “I want to talk to you about what happens now.”

She glanced across at all the people still watching them, and her face grew warm. “Wouldn’t you rather wait until we can go somewhere more private?”

“I can’t wait. I love you, Gin—I think I always have, from the moment you first moved in with us, with your blonde plaits and the endearing way you used to stamp your foot.”

She pulled a face. “I did, didn’t I?”

“You did, and I loved it even though it drove me mad.”

Lowering her gaze, she fiddled with his bow tie. “I’ve always loved you, too—you know that, right?”

He blew out a long breath. “I hoped. But it’s nice to hear you say it.”

She looked up then, into his eyes, the emotion that had been bottled up for so long now refusing to leave her. “I should have said it before—I’m so sorry. I love you.”

“I’m glad, and I hope that if she were here, Ciara would be glad too.”

“I hope so.” Genie wiped under her eyes and sniffed.

“The thing is…the last few weeks have been great, but it’s not enough.”

Her eyebrows rose, and her heart swelled with hope. “What do you mean?”

“I want more,” he said simply, and shrugged. “I want you. Forever.”

She inhaled sharply. “Really?”

“Really.”

“I…want you too. Forever.”

He stopped dancing, although he didn’t lower his arms. His green eyes were alight with wonder. “I don’t expect you to leave the Army—I know it’s important to you, and whatever you want to do, we’ll work it out. I’ll come with you, or I’ll stay here and see you when you come home. I just want you to be mine.”

He traced a hand down her spine, and she shivered as she remembered he’d drawn the word on her back.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “I’d already decided I was going to leave. I…was worried what people would think of me if I left when I’d been injured. I didn’t want people to think I was a coward.” The look in his eyes made her wince. “Don’t glare at me.”

“Genie…”

“I know. Anyway. I want to leave. I’ve loved being a soldier, and there are things I’ll miss, but I’m ready for…other things.” She swallowed. Should she say what was truly in her heart? “I need to know—you said you broke up with Tamsin because she was pushing you to have a family. Is that something you’d consider, with me?”

He took a deep breath, dropped his hands, and stepped back. Fumbled in his trouser pocket for a moment. Extracted a small velvet box. And dropped to one knee.

Genie gasped and clapped her hands over her mouth. Sinead squealed, as did many of the women watching.

“Genevieve Sharpe,” Niall said, opening the box and looking up into her eyes, “You’re the most wonderful woman in the world, and I’m so proud of you, I could burst. I want to be with you forever, I want to have kids with you, and I want to marry you. Will you do me the honor of being my wife, and wearing this ring so I don’t have to write the world
MINE
on your back for the rest of your life?”

Tears ran down her face. “Yes. Yes, oh God, a thousand times yes.”

He took out the ring, and she lowered a hand so he could push it onto her finger. Then as he got to his feet, she flung her arms around his neck and sobbed for the second time that evening.

People swarmed around them, giving their congratulations, some of them touching her shoulder, or leaning in to kiss her hair, even though her face remained buried in his shirt.

Niall spoke to them, kissing the women, joking with the guys and shaking their hands. All the while, though, his other arm remained tight around her, warm and reassuring.

After a while, he maneuvered her a few steps away to a quieter part of the room.

“Hey, you.” He kissed the top of her head. “Look at me.”

“I can’t. My face is all red and blotchy.”

He chuckled and tucked a finger under her chin to lift it. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

“And you’re a terrible liar.”

He smiled and ran his thumb across her bottom lip. “I’m so proud of you.”

“I didn’t do anything anyone else wouldn’t have done,” she said, her voice hoarse. “Ciara would have done the same if she were in my position.” Her eyes watered again. “I’m so sorry I didn’t rescue her.”

“We were told she died in the blast,” Niall said, tipping his head to kiss away her tears. “It probably wouldn’t have mattered anyway.”

“I loved her like a sister. It’s upsetting to think she didn’t want us to be together.”

“She was jealous, that’s all. She loved us both, and she felt that if we dated she’d be left out, and she was probably right. But I’m sure she would feel differently if she knew what you’d done to try to save her.”

“I hope so. I did try.”

“I know.” He kissed down her cheek, then touched his lips to hers. “She knows, wherever she is. I don’t think she would have stayed angry with us. She’s watching us now, wishing us well.”

“I hope so.” She touched his face. “I’d like to carry on with her bucket list. Do everything on there, with you. Would you do that with me?”

“Of course. I’m your fiancé. You can order me to do anything you want now.” He grinned.

She nibbled her bottom lip. “Anything?”

He glanced around to make sure nobody was listening before he moved a bit closer to her. “Why, do you have some ideas?”

“Might have.” She let her lips brush against his. “I’ll tell you later. They’re not suitable for public consumption.”

“Okay. We’ll keep them a secret. Between friends.” He grinned.

Suddenly overwhelmed, she tightened her arms around his neck and pressed her cheek to his. “I love you, and I can’t wait to be your wife. But will you always be my friend?”

“Of course,” he whispered back. “Will you always be mine?”

MINE.
She shivered at the thought of the word on her skin, remembering the possession in his eyes, and the way he’d claimed afterward. She was his now. They would exchange rings and say “I do,” and she would never be lonely again.

I miss you, Ciara,
she thought.
I hope you are happy for me, wherever you are.

“Always,” she said, and kissed him.