February is the traditional month of love, when Cupid gets busy. So here is a timely short Valentine's treat. Curl up on the sofa, make a mug of something soothing, maybe have just a little chocolate nearby and take a break with one of our favourite writers, Rebecca Winters!

The Bridesmaid’s Proposal

Rebecca Winters

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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CHAPTER ONE

“MIRROR, mirror, on the wall. Who’s been the biggest fool of all?

“You have, Reese Bringhurst. But not after today!”

Wavy black hair framed the oval of her face with her well-shaped nose and wide, passionate mouth, the kind the camera loved.

Unfortunately, too many weeks of crying into her pillow every night had taken its toll. A little more base to cover the blotches of red, a touch more liner to accentuate the haunted China-blue eyes staring back at her, and her stage makeup was perfect.

It ought to be.

For two years she’d been applying it herself before leaving for the TV studio to play the minor role of Carly Shaw on a daytime soap. But today it was vital she do a flawless job. It was her wedding day on the set … and her swan song.

When the writers of Laguna Nights found out she was leaving the show, they’d decided to marry her off to her romantic lead, Alex Kieris, who played the part of Fabio Andretti.

Of course it meant the timid Carly would have to step out of character for the first time in her screen life and do something bold, like ask Fabio to marry her. But the writers didn’t worry about things like that.

It would provide the perfect surprise ending for the innocent Carly, who, for a whole year, had fought against her attraction to the older, worldly Fabio because she believed he and the beautiful, cunning Melissa were in a relationship.

According to Phyllis, the director of the show, Carly would be killed off in a tragic disappearance in the jungle surrounding Cancun on their behind-the-scenes honeymoon. Her body would never be found. That way they could bring back another Carly at a later date if they wanted to.

For now it would be the fictional end of the fictional Carly. As for Fabio, the black-haired, black-eyed Adonis who’d received more fan mail in the last year than anyone else on the show, the writers would find him a new love interest to frustrate the out-of-control-manipulative Melissa.

Reese got up abruptly from the stool of her dressing table. “It’s time for your real life to start. Say goodbye to Carly. In a little while, she’ll no longer exist.”

And she would never see her costar again …

Don’t think about him, Reese.

She couldn’t afford to remember the dozens of times he’d kissed the daylights out of her while the cameras had been rolling.

It was imperative she forget those torrid love scenes on the beach with the director orchestrating every gasp, move and sigh.

But most of all, she had to stop dwelling on the many times off camera when she and Alex had talked quietly about life while they’d been waiting for their scenes to be taped.

During those stolen moments, they would discuss their favorite books, music, art. He would give her glimpses into his childhood spent in Athens where he had been raised by his grandparents. Reese had wanted those conversations to go on forever.

For those who didn’t know, Alex was of Greek origin. He had come to America after his grandparents died. At twenty-five he’d gained U.S. citizenship. Apparently he’d done all kinds of work, even some local television in New York before coming out to the West Coast.

Though he acted the part of a flashy, cocky, self-important Italian on the screen, he wasn’t like that in real life. Quite the opposite in fact. He was very patient with her while she asked endless questions about Greece and its history.

Many were the times she’d been so fascinated by what he said, she’d forgotten where they were until the director had suddenly called out, “Places, everyone!” To her chagrin, those precious moments would be gone.

Alex would once again take on the persona of the seasoned charmer Fabio, who attempted to pursue Carly at every turn. For the last year on the show, it had been his mission in life to try to seduce the vulnerable, somewhat shy twenty-three-year-old with his experience and gorgeous male body.

Then six months ago Reese’s aunt Lilian had passed away unexpectedly from an aneurysm. From that time on Alex had been aware of her grief and had encouraged her to talk to relieve the pain. He’d turned out to be a wonderful listener.

So wonderful in fact that their talks had caused something to change for Reese. She couldn’t separate fantasy from reality. When the cameras were rolling and they got into those embraces where she would give in to Fabio before pushing him away, she might be kissing Fabio as the script dictated, but she found herself trying to reach the elusive Alex.

He was the person to whom she responded. She wanted their on-screen relationship to continue after they called it a day at the studio.

When she had realized what was happening, she had known it was time to leave the show. Without hesitation she had phoned her agent, who, after the proverbial weeping and wailing over a bad, bad career move, had taken care of the legalities.

To her surprise it had sent a minor shock wave through the cast and crew. She was no superstar. Far from it. Yet she and Alex had been voted the favorite couple at the soap opera awards. That had brought up the show’s ratings.

In front of everyone, Phyllis had flat out told her she couldn’t leave. Did she want more money? What? Phyllis hadn’t accepted it, and had urged her to think about it some more over the Christmas break.

It was very flattering to be asked to reconsider her decision, but Reese was in love with Alex. Painfully in love. Seeing him again after being separated for the holidays, she could no longer stay with the show and be kissed by him week after week when she knew he had no interest in her off screen. Rumor had it he was in a committed relationship with an older woman. That didn’t surprise Reese.

Certainly it would take a more mature, sophisticated woman than Reese to attract Alex and hold him. She would only be hurting herself to keep showing up for work wishing for something to happen between them when it couldn’t possibly come true.

Though Alex was always congenial, both off and on camera, there was a remoteness about him at times. She knew he’d just come back from spending Christmas in Greece. No doubt the woman he loved lived there. If he’d been forced to endure a longdistance relationship, it would explain why his private life seemed to remain so mysterious.

She stifled the sob in her throat and checked her watch. Nine a.m. Time to go.

Dressed in her usual T-shirt and jeans, she left the Burbank condo her aunt had willed to her, and hurried down to the underground garage. It was only a couple of miles from there to Television Central in Los Angeles.

Her last trip to the studio. Everything she did today would be for the last time.

Before long she drove into the huge parking lot packed end to end with cars. After getting out of her aunt’s old car, she sprinted on long, shapely legs past three sets of guards on her way into the building.

They called friendly greetings to her. As she turned and waved to each of them her ebony hair glistened in the rare January sun. The smog was almost nonexistent this morning, a good omen for what would be the most painful day of her life.

Though she’d known the loss of her parents in her early teens, and more recently had lost her aunt, she’d been forced to come to grips with their deaths. But Alex was alive, and the knowledge that he was involved with someone else was killing her.

More than ever she realized she had to remove herself completely from the acting scene if she hoped to get Alex out of her system.

“Good morning, Reese!”

Jerked back to a cognizance of her surroundings, she smiled at her favorite security man standing next to the metal detector.

“Hi, Bob.”

“Before you go inside, do you think you’d have time to autograph this for my daughter?”

She slowed down. “Of course. Is it for Julie or Chris?”

“Chris. She never misses your show.” He handed her the latest copy of Soap Craze.

To make it easier for her, he’d opened it to the page featuring some of the cast of Laguna Nights. He used his finger to point to the picture of her in Fabio’s hard-muscled arms.

There was Alex again. Big as life. As long as she came to this studio every day, she couldn’t escape him.

“Sign there, will you? It’ll make her day.” Bob handed her a pen.

Hard to believe Reese’s signature could make anyone’s day, but it was a phenomenon she would never complain about. Being an actress had brought in a terrific income, and she could never complain about the great working hours.

But she’d promised herself she would finish college.

After today’s show, she was going back to school full-time at the University of California in San Diego to get her undergraduate degree in American History. It would take five more semesters. Then it was on to graduate school.

Anything to stop thinking about Alex, who was eight years older than her twenty-three. He was a self-made, hard-working man turned actor who because of his origins brought a fascinating dimension to his role as her would-be lover.

An awful emptiness stole through her at the thought of never seeing him again. This had to end. Thank heaven it was her last day. Their last taping.

Aware Bob was waiting, Reese signed the picture with a flourish, then handed everything back to him. Pasting another smile on her face, she hurried inside past the main foyer filled with pictures of famous television celebrities from the past. Her aunt’s face made up part of the collection.

Lilian Jaynes, the elder sister of Reese’s mother, had been one of the soap greats on Laguna Nights, playing the role of Kathryn Shaw right up to the week she died.

At fourteen, Reese had gone to live with Lilian after her parents had been killed in a car accident. Then halfway through college, just before she had turned twenty-one, she had got the surprise of her life. Her aunt had talked the producer into letting Reese audition for the part of Kathryn’s long-lost daughter Carly on the show.

Reese knew the storyline well. So often she and her aunt had laughed over the ridiculous scenarios the writers thought up.

Carly Shaw had been stolen by her father when she was a baby. Kathryn hadn’t been able to find them. When he’d died, the twenty-year-old Carly had searched for her mother and eventually found her so they could be united.

The role of Carly had had immense appeal for Reese because she’d loved her aunt and it would be easy to play the part of her daughter on the set. But acting hadn’t been Reese’s interest. She’d only auditioned for the part to please her wonderful aunt. She had never dreamed anything would come of it.

Amazingly, Phyllis had listened to them read together and loved their interaction. She’d pronounced it a match made in heaven.

So Reese had taken time off from school to play the part. She had a hunch her aunt had used her considerable influence to get Reese hired so the two of them could spend more time together. Reese had been deeply touched by her aunt’s desire to stay close to her and give her the love that her parents no longer could.

Lilian had been widowed early in life and never had children. As a result, she’d doted on her only niece. Theirs had been a loving relationship. Very special.

But now that her aunt had passed away, it was time for Reese to grow up and move on. Though she’d lost the people she’d loved, she’d never known anything but love from the three of them. Reese realized how lucky she was.

She was resolute in her determination to put this part of her life behind her; what she needed to do was get today’s taping over with and concentrate on the many blessings in her life.

Forget Alex Kieris, she told herself as she entered the large hallway. It divided set thirty-one from set thirty-two, where another soap was being filmed.

Like running an obstacle course, she dodged a dozen waiting actors, and avoided the huge props and deconstructed sets being rolled from storage to stage and back again. The show’s publicist wanted to talk to her, but she had to decline until after the taping.

With little time to lose she continued working her way to the other end of the hall. Wardrobe was up the stairs.

It was a good thing Reese always did her own hair and makeup before she came to work. She needed to change into her bridesmaid outfit pronto.

Patsy, the magician who dressed her and made everything work, was waiting for her. “Glad you decided to drop in. I was starting to get nervous. Heavy traffic?”

“The worst!” That was as good an excuse as any.

Reese averted her eyes before slipping out of her top and jeans. Patsy was right there to lower the sea-foam chiffon dress over her head. Like froth, it swept around her legs to the floor.

A matching broad-rimmed hat and three-inch pumps completed the outfit, bringing her height to five feet eight inches.

Costuming had made that decision. She was maid of honor, and she and Fabio, the best man who stood six feet three, would look better walking down the aisle together if she were taller.

“Your basket of flowers. The marriage license is rolled up and stuck in there with the roses.”

“Real white roses?” Reese lowered her head to smell the marvelous fragrance.

“Yeah. They just arrived.”

Reese turned to leave.

Patsy called her back. “Here’s the ring to give the groom.”

“Oh—can’t forget that.” She slid it on her pinky. “You’re a miracle worker, Patsy,” she said, taking it from the other woman. “I’m going to miss you.”

“We hate to see you go, but a person’s got to do what they’ve got to do.” She put her hands on her hips. “You look scrumptious, but you’re acting all quiet and jumpy. Something’s wrong.”

A small cry of surprise escaped Reese’s lips because Patsy could sense anything at all.

“Hey? Are you okay? Do you have a headache? I can get you some water and painkillers.”

She shook her head. “That’s so nice of you, but I’m fine, Patsy. Just keyed up. You know. The last day on the set.”

“I thought so. If you need anything, just let me know.”

I need for this day to be over.

CHAPTER TWO

REESE thanked Patsy one more time, then headed for the door. She walked down the stairs as fast as her heels would allow. The first thing she did was check the call sheets outside the stage. Virtually everyone in the cast was on camera today for the big wedding scene.

The main couple on the show, Miranda and Carlo, was getting married for the second time. Carlo had asked Fabio, his nephew from Italy, to be his best man.

Kathryn Shaw—Carly’s mother—and Miranda had been best friends. After Kathryn’s sudden tragic passing, Miranda had treated Carly like another daughter. But by doing so, she’d alienated her own only daughter Melissa, who hated her mother and had been fathered by Miranda’s first husband. He was in prison for embezzlement.

Melissa was in love with Fabio and so jealous of Carly, she’d tried to kill her several times. She’d adamantly refused to be the maid of honor at her mother’s wedding. Thus Carly had been chosen.

Off the set, Elaine Hirsh, who played the part of Miranda, was a wonderful friend and support to Reese. When her aunt had died, Elaine and her husband, along with Alex, had been right there to comfort her and make sure she wasn’t alone.

The whole cast had honored Lilian’s memory both on and off the set, but it was Elaine who’d taken Reese under her wing for real. Since the funeral they’d grown very close and had shared many private confidences despite their age difference.

Elaine knew the real reason Reese was leaving the show. Because she could remember how painful it was to be in love and not be able to do anything about it, she was the one person who hadn’t tried to dissuade Reese from her plans. In front of the others she’d applauded her decision to go back to the university and get her degree.

“Hey, Reese!”

She looked over her shoulder and saw twenty-eight-year-old Leah headed toward her in one of those slinky dresses that made the most of her voluptuous figure.

“That’s quite an outfit Wardrobe has put you in.”

“I wouldn’t be caught dead in it otherwise.” They smiled at each other. “It’s the pits you’re leaving the show. You have no idea how much I’m going to miss trying to kill you off.”

Reese chuckled in spite of her pain. “You’ll be getting your last chance today.”

“True, but as usual I won’t succeed, and you will get to fly off into the sunset with the breathtaking Fabio.”

“Don’t envy me. On our honeymoon, I get lost in the jungle, never to be seen again. You’ll have Mr Irresistible all to yourself.”

Her married friend grinned. “Don’t I wish. So what’s the real deal on Alex?” she asked, lowering her voice. “Is he taken? Like in for keeps?”

“Who wants to know?” Reese questioned noncommittally.

“Sally. She’s had a crush on him forever.”

Sally and a dozen other actresses.

A shiver ran down Reese’s back. She rearranged the flowers in the basket she was carrying, making sure the certificate lay on top for easy access.

“I don’t honestly know, Leah. Rumor has it there’s another woman, but he doesn’t share anything about his personal life with me.”

“Well, if you don’t know, nobody else does, that’s for sure. Since your aunt’s funeral, he has seemed a lot more attentive around you. I thought maybe he confided in you.”

“Afraid not. My aunt gave him some acting tips when he first came on the show. He liked her a lot, and knows I’ve missed her, so he’s been a good listening ear. That’s all.”

“That’s not all. Take a look at him in that tux.”

“I’m looking.” Reese had already sensed him coming before she’d actually caught sight of his tall, fit, male physique.

“So is every woman on both sets. Sally needs to cool it. You can tell he hates fawning women.”

That was exactly why Reese was leaving the show, before she made a fool of herself over him as Sally was doing. With his dark attractive features and olive skin, her heart couldn’t take much more.

“He’s headed our way. Lucky you,” Leah quipped. “If I were you, I’d make the most of that final clinch he gives you in the vestibule. After today’s taping, there’s not going to be any more of that to look forward to.”

Thank you for reminding me.

“All the emotion he puts out is strictly for the camera.”

“Come on,” Leah baited her. “Admit there were times when the temperature heated up between you two.”

“I admit he made our love scenes look passionate, but that’s because he’s a good actor.”

“Whatever you say.” Leah emphatically didn’t believe her. At Alex’s approach, the skin prickled on the back of Reese’s neck.

“Good morning, ladies. Brushing up on your lines?” he asked in his deep, cultured voice. He spoke with a slight Greek accent but saved his deep Italian accent for the camera.

Somehow Reese found the courage to lift her guarded blue gaze to his. “It can’t hurt. I’d like my final performance to go without a flaw.”

His black eyes gleamed. “You always do perfect work. It has made my part easy.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s true. You’re Lilian Jaynes’s flesh and blood. She was a master actress. So are you. When your fans find out you’ve left the cast of Laguna Nights, there’ll be mass mourning.”

But you won’t mourn over my absence. Reese would only have been a blip on the screen of his life.

“They’ll get over it as soon as the writers find you a new love interest.”

“Word has it they’re going to let me grieve for a few weeks, then I’ll take up my original vocation as an Italian monk. Without Carly Shaw, I no longer want to live in the world.”

“You made that up.”

On occasion Alex could be a tease. Maybe this was one of those times. If Patsy had been able to tell Reese was uptight, surely it hadn’t escaped Alex she was more nervous than usual this morning. No doubt he was trying to get her to lighten up.

But to her surprise he lifted his hands in defense. “I swear I’m telling the truth. Ask Stan. Melissa’s going to pretend to be a priest and smuggle herself inside the monastery to make my life hell.”

If that was true, then lucky, lucky Melissa. An ache passed through Reese’s body more intense than before.

His eyes narrowed on her face. “You were supposed to laugh. Are you having seconds thoughts about leaving the show?”

Her head reared. “None!”

“You don’t have to pretend around me. You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t have some misgivings about walking away from all your friends here.”

“Of course I’ll miss everyone, but acting’s not for me. When Aunt Lilian died so suddenly, I’m afraid any thespian tendencies inside me died with her. If my aunt had done something else for a living, the idea of being an actress would never have occurred to me.

“Let’s face it. My chance to play Carly Shaw on a soap opera was an absolute fluke. To be honest, I’m eager to get back to the university. In retrospect, two years away from the books makes me want to jump right into my studies again.”

“Still planning a graduate degree in Archaeology afterwards?” he inquired.

“I don’t know. My parents were hoping I’d follow them into their field, but I’m also thinking Anthropology. Maybe I liked this stab at acting as much as I did because I’ve always found people and their behavior fascinating.” Especially yours, Alex Kieris.

“Carly, Fabio, Melissa—church scene coming up next!” the stage manager announced.

Alex’s gaze swept over her. “Let’s go do it, shall we?”

They walked the short distance to the vestibule of the church where Carly and Fabio would link arms for the walk down the aisle ahead of the bride. Melissa took her position behind the back door where she could eavesdrop on their conversation.

When they were in place, Alex whispered, “Smile, Reese. It’s our wedding day. All the grief and misunderstandings between us are about to come to an end. In a few minutes we’re going to give the viewing audience a twist they’re not expecting.”

“It’s a twist with a sting,” she murmured, hoping he couldn’t hear her heart clogging up her throat.

He cocked his dark head. “That’s true. You’ve been on the show a year longer than I have. After losing Lilian, the fans are going to have a doubly hard time letting you go.”

He unexpectedly reached out to adjust her hat. At her questioning glance he said, “Just making sure the rim doesn’t get in the way of my kissing you at the altar. I don’t understand why they gave you a hat to wear.”

With a grin he said, “In Greece a bride wears a garland of flowers so the poor grooms don’t get injured before the honeymoon even starts.”

Reese had been right. The woman waiting for him in Greece was on his mind.

“This is L.A., and I’m the bridesmaid, remember? Normally I’m not the one who gets kissed at the altar.”

“You are this time! I may just remove your hat at the appropriate moment, so don’t be surprised.”

“You mean inappropriate, don’t you?” she teased, trying to put on a happy, carefree face so she wouldn’t give herself away completely. “After all the stunts you’ve pulled on me that weren’t written in the script, I don’t think there’s anything you could do that would shock me.”

His eyes glinted black fire. “I have to admit you’ve been a real sport to put up with me for the last twelve months. It’s proof of your great acting talent that every time I blundered, you covered for me without missing a heartbeat.”

That was where Alex was wrong. Around him her heart had stopped beating more times than he would ever know. It was the reason she was leaving the show now instead of putting off her studies for another year.

School seemed to be her only salvation. Being forced to immerse herself in her studies wouldn’t cure her broken heart, but if she wanted to obtain decent grades she wouldn’t have the time or luxury to wallow in pain. At least that was what she was telling herself right now.

He reached for her left hand.

“What are you doing?”

“Wardrobe handed me this gold band to put on your finger. Let’s make sure it slides on easily, otherwise I’ll have to put it on your baby finger.”

Baby finger … She loved his little language mistakes.

“You did say you wanted our last scene to go without a hitch.”

Biting her lip, Reese clutched the basket in her right hand while he checked the fit. She willed her body not to shake.

“Perfect sizing.” He slipped it back off. “But your hand feels like ice,” came the unexpected comment before he chafed it with his to warm her up.

“I have poor circulation.” She snatched her hand away.

“That’s news to me. I never noticed the problem while you were putting sunscreen on my back during our beach scenes.”

Before she could find a logical response, the pre-wedding march music started to play in the background.

“Places, everyone! Action!”

With those words, the two of them became Carly and Fabio.

Reese immediately slipped into the role and peered at Fabio from beneath the rim of her hat. “Is it true you’re going back to Italy after the wedding?”

His black eyes narrowed. “Why do you ask?”

Reese’s whole body throbbed with pain. “Just answer me, dammit!” she cried in a hushed tone, her eyes filling with tears.

He put out a finger to catch a drop, then rubbed the moisture around with this thumb. “Tears. From you?” he mocked. “I didn’t think it was possible.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

“Did you ever give me the chance, bellissima?”

“I’m giving it to you now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t listen to her!” Melissa broke in on them with a maniacal look in her eyes. “I heard her tell Miranda she was in love with you, but she was lying! All this time she’s been sleeping with Carlo.”

Carly gasped. “That’s not true and you know it,” she whispered, enraged.

“Give me a break—” Melissa fired back. “Think about it, Fabio. That’s why you’ve never been able to get Carly in your bed.”

“You’re wrong, Melissa. The only reason I haven’t slept with Fabio is because I knew you were in love with him. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“Ooh. You really know how to play hardball, don’t you?” Melissa’s furious gaze switched to Fabio. “The only reason she’s hitting on you now is so she can get her hands on your portion of the Andretti fortune.”

“There is no fortune, Melissa,” Fabio declared with quiet menace. “I gave it to the church when I entered the priesthood.”

“I wouldn’t want it anyway!” Carly cried. “Money means nothing without love. How can you stand there and accuse me of such lies? Carlo’s old enough to be my father. He’s always been in love with your mother. They’ve been like parents to me. Don’t listen to her, Fabio.”

“Don’t listen to her, Fabio,” Melissa mimicked brutally. “Get ready to die, Carly!”

Melissa pulled a gun from the thigh holster beneath her dress. But before she could shoot it, Fabio wrenched it from her hand.

“I might have known you’d try to ruin your mother’s wedding day,” he said with cold fury. “My uncle told me how their first wedding ended in disaster because of you, but you’re not going to get away with it a second time. Get out of here, Melissa!”

Two ushers seating people rushed into the vestibule. “What’s going on? The guests are waiting.”

“Escort this woman from the church and call the police to pick her up for threatening Carly with a deadly weapon.”

While one of the ushers dragged Melissa, who went kicking and screaming, the other one relieved Fabio of the gun.

After he disappeared, Fabio turned to crush Carly in his arms. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.” She struggled for breath. “Fabio—you didn’t believe her, did you?”

“What do you think? According to Carlo, she’s been unstable for years. Maybe she’ll finally get the psychiatric help she needs.”

“She was actually going to kill me.”

“Don’t think about that now.”

“How can I not?” she cried. “Oh, no—the wedding march has started up!”

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