The Arranged Marriage by Emma Darcy Page B

honour to be asked to sing by Isabella King.
    Gina grimaced at the need to sound bright and cheerful, pretending nothing of a disturbing nature had happened... like having taken a lover in the middle of the night and not knowing whether he’d even want to remember it in the morning.
    “Hi! Gina here,” she announced, forcing a lightness into her voice she didn’t feel.
    “Gina, it’s Alex King,” came the strongly spoken reply, instantly spinning her into emotional turmoil.
    The shock of hearing from him so soon when she’d been thinking she might not hear from him at all, left her totally speechless. Her gaze darted to the kitchen clock. It was only a few minutes past ten. Had he just woken and found her gone? Was he calling to say it had been a mistake?
    Her heart seemed to be thundering in her ears. Her chest was so tight, she could barely breathe. Her hand gripped the receiver with knuckle-white intensity. Her mind willed him to say something good, something that would ease this awful tension and give her back the sense of peace and pleasure that had been eaten away by doubts and fears.
    “I understand you felt it was the discreet thing to do...leaving early this morning,” he went on, his deep voice seeming to throb in time with her pulse. “But can we meet today?”
    Meet... today...
    For the life of her she couldn’t get her tongue around a reply. She was dizzy with shock and joy. It seemed he didn’t want to forget that last night had ever been. He wanted to be with her again. But...for what purpose? He might be feeling the need to explain himself, excuse himself...
    “Gina...?”
    She tried to work some moisture into her mouth. Her heart was screaming yes to the meeting, no matter what, but her sense of Tightness cried out for more from him. If he was still tied to that woman, why go so far as to ask for a meeting? Did he mean to test his feelings? Or... her stomach cramped... was he hoping to have a fling on the side?
    “Gina, I’m no longer committed to the relationship I had with Michelle,” he stated in a rush. “I broke my engagement to her after the wedding, when I took her home. There’s no barrier to...” He paused, obviously hunting for inoffensive words. “I mean there’s no reason for you to be concerned about my playing anyone false. Please believe that.”
    He was finished with Michelle Banks! This news was like a star burst going off in Gina’s head.
    “I should have told you so last night,” he said regretfully. “And I apologise very sincerely for any grief it’s given you this morning.”
    Her relief whooshed out in a heartfelt sigh. “Thank you, Alex. It did worry me.” Understatement of the year, but it didn’t matter now. The weight of misery had lifted and her blood was zinging with a bubbling fountain of hope.
    “I would like very much to spend some time with you today,” he pressed. “Could I bring a picnic lunch and take you and Marco out somewhere?”
    Such an invitation, including her son, surely meant he anticipated enjoying their company. “I’d like that,” she answered, trying not to sound over-the-moon eager. “Crystal Cascades is a lovely place for a picnic, and it’s not far from here. I live at Redlynch, on the outskirts of Cairns.”
    “I know. My grandmother gave me your address.”
    Another shock, mixed with a surge of pleasure at this proof there was nothing hidden about his intentions. “You spoke to her about me?” The words spilled out, artlessly revealing her need for any relationship between them to be openly acknowledged.
    “A little while ago. If I pick you up at twelve o’clock, will that suit?”
    “Yes,” she answered dazedly, unbelievably happy at this train of events. “We’ll be ready.”
    “Good! I’ll see you then.”
    A picnic with Alex King! Gina hugged the telephone receiver to her heart. It was really happening. Not a completely wild dream. Alex wanted to be with her and Marco!
    * * *
    A picnic! Alex set the