To Be a Bridegroom by Carole Mortimer

Author:Carole Mortimer [Mortimer, Carole]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-01-06T16:13:26+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

Stazy couldn't stop shaking once she reached the powder room, dropping down onto one of the stools in front of an array of mirrors, although her own reflection held absolutely no interest for her; her thoughts were all inwards. That man.

It was the same man whom she'd spotted at the wedding. The man she had seen across the room that evening as she'd danced with Jordan. The man whose presence there had made her flee so abruptly then. . .!

Now she had learnt his name was Ben. . .!

But, as she had told herself after the wedding reception, once she had calmed down, it was ridiculous to believe it was him. There must be hundreds of men his age called Ben, dozens of them doctors too. It couldn't be the same Ben. It just couldn't be. Life wasn't as neat as that. It couldn't be that cruel!

Stazy took a deep breath, knowing the minutes were quickly passing while she reasoned all this out in her head. But she couldn't stay hidden in here for ever. She would have to go back to the table and face them very soon.

But what if he was the man she knew? What would she do then?

Nothing, came the flat answer. He didn't know her. And her name was different—she gave thanks at that moment to whatever instinct had made her change it when she'd moved to England!

But it wouldn't be the same man, she told herself firmly. It couldn't be!

'Just keep telling yourself that, Stazy,' she muttered to herself as she checked her appearance, adding blusher to give colour to the paleness of her cheeks, refreshing her red lip-gloss, pulling a brush through her hair to give it, at least, the vitality she lacked herself at the moment.

She had received a shock, that was all. But it was all in her imagination. Although Stazy still wished Marilyn's 'brilliant' Ben was any other man than the man she'd spotted at the wedding reception last weekend. . .

Her three companions were seated around the table as Stazy made her way back across the restaurant, her progress slow—because she was still reluctant to come face to face with Ben. Even if he didn't turn to be who she thought he was, the man had still given her a tremendous shock!

Jordan and Ben stood up when she arrived at the table, Jordan looking at her concernedly, Ben's gaze merely curious. No doubt the latter was curious, because he was interested in Jordan's female companion in the same way all the Hunter family had been!

'All right now?' Jordan whispered close to her ear as he pulled back her chair for her to sit down.

'Fine.' She gave him a bright smile—probably over-bright, judging by the way his eyes narrowed on her sharply. 'Sorry about that.' She turned back to the older couple, still not quite able to look Ben in the face, her gaze passing over him unseeingly.

'Ben, this is Stazy Walker.' Jordan introduced her as he resumed his own seat.

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