Page 3 of His Brother's Wife
Afterward, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He still had not spoken one word to her. He touched her face once more …and then he was gone.
Ama, her legs still shaking, sat down quickly on the bench, blinking. Did that really just happen? Her body answered—god, yes, yes …
She had just fucked Enda Gallo …orhehad fuckedher. Ama gave a disbelieving laugh. She sat there for a further five minutes, then made her way slowly back inside the house. Most of the guests had gone now and Christina was looking for her.
“Have to go, sweets, before I drink this place dry.” She hugged Amalia, then studied her. “Hey, are you okay? You look weird.”
Ama blinked, then tried to smile. “Just tired, babe. Look, promise me we’ll get together for lunch on Monday.”
“Promise.”
She went back into the main ballroom, her heart thumping at the thought of seeing Enda in there. But he was nowhere to be seen. Jackson came over to her. “Our guests have left—would have been nice of you to say goodbye. I hope you’ll be more sociable in the future.”
“Fine.” She didn’t want to argue. “Goodnight, Jackson.”
He caught her arm. “Where are you going?”
“To bed.”
“Toourbed.”
Ama sighed. He would never stop trying, would he? “No, Jackson. Tomyroom. I told you once, and I meant it. I will never,everhave sex with you. Find one of your many admirers—I assume you’ve worked your way through most of them anyway. I’m sure one of them will be up for it.”
Jackson stared at her, his face angry, then stepped closer to her. “You will submit to me one day, little girl, or I’ll break you. I swear I will.”
Ama wasn’t impressed. “Go away,little boy. You don’t scare me.”
She turned and walked out of the room, running lightly up the huge staircase, hoping he wouldn’t follow her. Selima was in her room, packing her wedding dress away. “Dad’s just bringing the car around.” Selima had tears in her eyes as she hugged her sister. “I’ll never be able to repay you for what you’ve done for me, Ama. Never. I just pray you find some happiness.”
Ama held her sister, feeling the tears threatening again. “Go along now. Dad’s probably waiting. I’ll see you soon.”
Selima nodded. “I love you.”
“Love you too.”
Alone, she locked the door and put a chair up against it. She didn’t trust Jackson not to have a spare key. There was no way she was letting him in. Sure, enough, a half hour later, as she walked out of the shower, toweling her long hair dry, the door handle rattled. She smirked to herself as she heard him curse, but he soon gave up.
Amalie sat down on the bed. She was married …and had lost her virginity all in one day. And to two different men.What the hell was I thinking?
She already knew she regretted one of those things …and it wasn’t anything to do with Enda Gallo.
Olivier Gallo drove into town and was at the restaurant fifteen minutes before his half-brother arrived. He stood to hug Enda, who clapped him on the back. “Hey, brother, good to see you.”
“You too.” They sat, and Olivier beckoned the waiter over. “Could we have the drinks menu please?”
“No need,” Enda said in his deep, accented tones, “Red. Third down from the top.”
Both brothers laughed, and the waiter nodded. He knew these Gallo brothers—they had been coming to this restaurant for a few years now and were good tippers. They treated him with respect, unlike their asshole brother Jackson.
The restaurant itself was mid-range and less flashy than the places Jackson liked. It had a frontage, which opened out onto a jetty overlooking of the Bay. They sat outside so Enda could smoke. Olivier grinned at him as he lit up a cigarette. “You ever going to give up?”
Enda squinted through the smoke. “Probably not.”
Olivier grinned. “Fair enough. How have you been? I didn’t get to see you much at the wedding.”
“As I recall, you were doing your best man thing, trying to keep the toddler under control.”
Olivier rolled his eyes. “Mostly for Amalia’s benefit. Poor kid looked shell-shocked.”
