Page 103 of The Forbidden Fling

When they pulled away, breathless—Faye’s fingers still tangled in her hair, Diana’s lipstick staining her mouth—Diana’s chest loosened. She was weightless, soaring up in the blue sky, looking into those gorgeous irises.

Faye brushed a strand of hair behind Diana’s ear, her voice soft. “But what about Molly?”

She smiled. “She’s the one who convinced me to come here today.”

“Molly?”

“Yes.”

Faye raised an eyebrow. “The woman who told us both to go rot in hell?”

“The one and the same. My daughter.”

“Wow.” Faye sat back, shaking her head. “I didn’t see that one coming.”

“Me neither.”

“That’s surprisingly cool of her.”

Diana laughed. “Yeah, it undoubtedly is.”

“So I can do this?” Faye’s fingertips grazed Diana’s thigh, and then she gripped it more forcefully, giving it a squeeze. “And Molly isn’t going to come around the corner with a machete and murder me?”

Diana shook her head, heat curling in her centre under Faye’s touch.

“And this?” Faye drew her thumb delicately across Diana’s cheekbone, tracing the mole she favoured before leaning in close to capture her lips. She squeezed her thigh again, fingertips inching closer to where Diana missed them most, sending an ache pulsing between her legs.

A huge cheer erupted, jarring them both from their bubble. They turned to see a red-faced Riley carrying Ella up the last of the steps before placing her down unceremoniously on the stone flags. The guests whooped and hollered as Riley bent over, trying to catch her breath.

The singer called out, “Everybody, please welcome the newlyweds, Mrs and Mrs Murphy!”

Diana stood, offering her hand to Faye. “Come on, we can make up some more later.”

Her eyes twinkled. “I’ll hold you to that, Dr Thompson.”

A hot shiver ran down Diana’s spine. These months apart had stirred a new fieriness in Faye. One she really enjoyed.

With their fingers laced together, they walked back to the wedding party. They’d barely broken the outskirts before a loud scream came from Carla.

“Finally! Yes!” She ran up to them, wrapping her arms around them both, and turned to the man trailing behind her. “I told you. Pay up.”

The man sighed, though his smile betrayed his amusement as he slid the euros into Carla’s waiting hand. Diana recognised him but couldn’t think where from. She didn’t know many people with a man bun.

Faye pointed an accusatory finger. “Hang on. Raul… What’s going on here?”

Carla slipped her arm around his waist, and he tugged her closer, planting a kiss on her forehead.

“Finally!” Faye echoed back. “I’m so happy for you both.”

Ah, yes. The man from the hotel.

Of course Faye knew them. Faye made friends wherever she went. She was a ray of sunshine. A ray of sunshine Diana didn’t ever want to be without ever again.

After a few more minutes while Faye and Carla caught up on the details of their relationships—and Diana and Raul exchanged pleasant chitchat—they took their respective seats at the tables. Ella had seated Faye and Diana together—of course she had, the little matchmaker—with fellow graduates of the Sandy Springs course.

The speeches were short and sweet, but Faye shed a few tears when Riley thanked Ella for showing her how to live and love again with her whole heart. Ella dropped her head in her hands when one of the bridesmaids stood to retell some of her less flattering stories. Winnie, the blonde bridesmaid in the stunning green dress, had the guests in stitches reciting a particular date when Ella inadvertently went to the cinema with a woman and her boyfriend, having to sit through the entire film while they made out.

Light acoustic music played while the food was served—a combination of local delicacies: baked bacalhau with onion, garlic, and cream potatoes; seafood rice, a soupier version of risotto with fresh catches from the island; and a selection of freshly baked fruit tarts with mangoes and oranges.