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He could hear the boys shuffling uneasily, and Carter's whispered, "Oh, man, where doesthat one go?
ThroughCul's nose?" then Blade's terse, "Shut it, Carter."Then the ceremony was rolling on into the scary
part. The part he knew he had no right to.
Rachel listened to the evocative power of the wedding vows, memories of her first wedding skating
through her mind. She'd been filled with an innocent, carefree joy then. She'd been marrying the man she
loved, the man she thought loved her. She'd believed they would be together all their lives.
The failure of that marriage pulled at her, made her stiffen her spine and square her shoulders. When the
time came for her to respond, she did so clearly and firmly. Cullen's replies were firm, too, but quiet,
rasping with the underlying strength that was so much a part of him.
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When the brief ceremony was finished, he held her face between his hands and kissed her with a gentle
purpose that brought tears to her eyes.
A collective sigh sounded from the soldiers, a kind of resigned exhalation from her brothers.
As the warmth of the kiss left her mouth, she began noticing just how many people there were in the
church. Helen was near the front with her mechanic boyfriend, Gerry. Several of Rachel's customers and
some long-time friends of her family had come. Dane was there looking tanned and, after weeks of
outdoor work, remarkably healthy his eyes fixed on Cullen with something like awe and hero worship
all rolled into one. Rachel hadn't formally invited anyone there hadn't really been time and she was
profoundly touched by the unexpected support.
After signing the official documents in the registry, she and Cullen walked out into the softening light of
late afternoon. This time her arm was enfolded by Cullen's. Even though she knew he was only doing
what was expected of him, the warm clasp of his hand over hers was a bittersweet comfort.
As they reached the bottom of the steps, the SAS men lined up, two on each side. Blade barked an
order, and they stood stiffly to attention. A shiver went down Rachel's spine at the sight of the big men
forming an honour guard, their uniforms pristine, chests decorated with what she knew must be some of
the highest military awards in the Commonwealth. As she and Cullen walked between them, they saluted.
Cullen groaned. "I didn't know they were going to do this."
Rachel surveyed the surprising gathering of people outside the church, all of them standing stock-still,
quite a few of them with their mouths gaping at the military display. She smiled with grimsatisfaction,
thinking about the poisonous letter which Dan Holt was now investigating, and of all the malicious gossip
and "advice" she'd been offered. "I'm glad they did."
The long-haired soldier, who Cullen introduced to Rachel as Blade, was the first to shake Cullen's hand,
and after that there was a steady stream of well-wishers.
Blade kissed her on the cheek, and Cole, who'd taken up a position next to her, eyed him coldly. "I
know you from somewhere."
Rachel jabbed Cole in the ribs again. Her brother's tone was deliberately goading. She wouldnot allow
him to start a fight. Cole ignored her, but Blade slanted her a surprisingly reassuring look. Surprising
because he looked at least as untamed as Cullen did.
"I'm Cullen's cousin," he said in a soft, dark drawl that held just a hint of menace. "Cullen's father married
my aunt, Celeste Lombard."
"Lombard," Cole echoed. "That's an unusual name aroundhere. Any relation to the hoteliers'?"
"My family have hotels, among other things."
"Yeah, right," Cole said drily.
"And of course, Cullen," Blade continued in that same soft drawl, "like every other member of my family,
is a shareholder in Lombards."
Cole's eyes narrowed. "Is that so?"
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"Cullen doesn't choose to have anything to do with the running of the company, but he could if he [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]