Gillian's Island

Excerpt:
TEASER EXCERPT
The three women unloaded suitcases onto the sidewalk and then the driver pulled the car away and parked it in the lot nearby.
Jamie swiftly had his arms full as Julie realized who he was and hugged him as if shed known him forever. A quick introduction to the bimbos, uh, bridesmaids followed, after which Jamie was about to help them onboard with the suitcases when a fourth woman came striding across the parking lot. Wearing knee-length shorts and sunglasses with her hair pulled casually back into a ponytail, she walked with purpose directly toward him. Did she know him from school? There was something familiar about her, but Rob hadnt mentioned inviting anyone from school other than Brandon and Reilly on the cruise.
She drew nearer and smiled. It lit up her face and his heart beat faster. He hesitantly returned the smileand she walked past him as if he werent there and went directly to Rob. Jamie hadnt even noticed Rob standing there hed been so entranced with the approach of this woman whom he obviously didnt know.
Jamie swallowed, embarrassed at his ridiculous assumption that her joy had been over seeing him. He took a step back to give them room as they hugged. Then the mystery woman was called away by Julie before he even learned her name. She walked away from him to interact with the three other women further down the dock. He watched her until he realized he was being spoken to.
Huh? Sorry. What did you say? Jamie turned to Rob who grinned wide.
I said thats Gillian.
Julies sister. The maid of honor. Jamie put the pieces of the puzzle together. His gaze settled on her again. That explained why she looked familiar, she reminded him of Julie, but not why she had awoken physical urges deep within him he usually kept well buried.
Yeah. Rob lowered his voice. Youre staring.
Shit. He was. Inexplicably, Robs future sister-in-law had woken him up more than his morning coffee as both his hormones and his imagination kicked into overdrive. The idea of a week at sea with this woman provided much fodder for sexual fantasies.
Jamie shook his head at his own thoughts. He was acting more like Brandon and Reilly than himself. He hadnt bothered to date or do anything else with a woman recently because he simply didnt have the time. Gillian made him want to take the time. Just when hed thought the lower half of him was hibernating, things started to wake up. Though, in his experience, women who looked like Gillian and Julie went for men like Rob, or even Brandon and Reilly, not him. That was a sad but true fact of life. He wrestled his attention away from the walking, talking, blond fantasy that would never come true. At least not for him.
Jamie pushed up the glasses that had slipped down his nose. Im not staring. Im just observing the resemblance between her and Julie.
Rob laughed. Ah, of course. Though Gillian thinks she looks nothing like Julie, and she wont listen when anybody tells her otherwise. They may look alike, but theyre totally different.
His interest piqued. Different how?
Well, Julie starred in all the plays in school, then did some modeling and acting after college. Meanwhile, Gillian was top of her graduating class. Very studious and quiet, always with her nose in a book. She kind of reminds me of you. The implications of that last statement hung suggestively in the air. They had been friends long enough that Rob knew damn well Gillian was Jamies exact type.
Beautiful and smart. He glanced in Gillians direction one more time. Where Julie was model-thin and straight up and down, Gillians hips curved nicely into a perfectly rounded ass. If what Rob said was accurate and Gillian didnt believe she looked like her sister, she was absolutely right. She looked better.
Usually opposed to matchmaking among friends, Jamie was willing to make an exception in this case. Do I smell a set up?
No, of course not. Gillian would never stand for that. I just want all my buddies and all of Julies to get to know each other before the wedding. One big happy party, you know? Thats all.
Jamie didnt believe that for one minute, though he was already fantasizing about getting to know Gillian a whole lot better. Perhaps he did have that swine gene after all.

CHAPTER ONE
Gillian Marlboro stared at the reflection of the angelic blond dressed in ethereal white. Was that really her sister Julie? With the busting-out-all-over bosom spilling out of the neckline?
The lips on the woman in the bridal-shop mirror moved and it sounded like Julie so Gillian figured it must be her, newfound cleavage and all. Wow. That was some amazing dress. Worth every penny of the outrageous price tag.
Its perfect. Julie gazed at herself, then spun to Gillian. Isnt it?
Yes, you look beautiful. Gillian glanced at her own reflection and winced. Pukeum, sage green wasnt really her color. All it managed to do was cast a green glow onto her own blond hair. Not to mention the strapless neckline and drop waist did nothing for her flat-chested, big-hipped figure either.
Dont even get me started on the giant bow making my ass look like the Titanic.
Julie, on the other hand, looked just as a bride should. Like Cinderella in a pristine white gown that cinched in her tiny waist and flared out in a bell to the floor.
Gillian sighed. One day it would be her turn and shed get to be a fairytale princess while Julie waited on her hand and foot. Until then, she rallied her maid of honor enthusiasm and turned to the seamstress. Thank you so much. Again, I apologize for having to make you get the dresses done ahead of schedule. None of us had any idea about this trip.
In fact, if the groom had consulted Julie or Gillian before he made the plans for a spur of the moment getaway during the busiest week of all their lives, they would have talked him out of it.
The seamstress stood behind Julie, unfastening the dozens of buttons down her back. Dont apologize. Im glad I could do it. Not every bride is lucky enough to be whisked away by her groom for a relaxing, romantic pre-wedding cruise.
Relaxed and romantic? Those were not exactly the words Gillian would have used to describe what she felt about the entire wedding party being dragged on this trip. Hectic, harried and impossibly busy came to mind, but she was not the bride. Julie was over the moon with happiness. That was all that mattered.
Finally, the seamstress turned to Gillian. Let me undo the back so you can get out of this.
Thanks. Panic set in as she thought about the ton of things she had yet to do.
When Gillian was finally released from the bondage of the dress that would have put Scarletts corset to shame, she drew in a deep breath and started mentally mapping out her route while she gratefully threw on jeans and a T-shirt inside one of the dressing rooms. She called out her plan through the particle-board walls.
Jules, Ill pick up our shoes while you and Rob meet with the minister at the church.
Her sisters voice came from inside the next cubicle. Ugh. My cell phone batterys dead. Can you call and remind him about that?
How could Julie forget to charge her phone? Gillian stifled the lecture she was tempted to give her sister about her forgetfulness. Instead, she whipped out her cell, hit the preprogrammed button for Robs work number, and listened to the phone ringing. She was thinking how lucky Julie was to have a maid of honor with obsessive-compulsive disorder when Rob answered his office phone with a very official sounding, Hello.
Hey, Rob. Its Gillian.
Gilly. Hi. His tone immediately switched from financial consultant to future brother-in-law. You excited? One more day and its nothing but fun in the sun.
Fun in the sun? Shed settle for one good night of sleep instead of waking up to the to-do list in her head. He really had no idea the amount of stress this spontaneous trip was causing her. Utterly baffled at how clueless men could be when it came to things like the amount of preparation a wedding took, Gillian shook her head. Yup. Couldnt be more excited if I tried. Listen, dont forget youre meeting Julie at the church to see the minister this afternoon.
The sound of Rob shuffling papers came through the phone. Ive got a ton of shit to get done at work before we leave, but no worries. Ill be there. I have to get out of here by then anyway. The guys are flying in late today and Im picking them up at the airport. I thought wed go out for drinks to catch up tonight. Youll come, wont you? All shots are only a dollar tonight at the bar near my apartment.
Gillian hadnt done a shot since college. Besides being a little old for that kind of stuff, she definitely wasnt going to get drunk the night before going out on the ocean. She had no idea if shed be seasick, but she definitely was not going to be hung over.
Thanks for the invite, but I havent packed yet.
You havent? Jeez. Youd better get that done. We leave bright and early tomorrow.
Gillian swallowed her defensiveness. Unlike Julie, Gillian had never been late in her life. Ill be there on time, Rob. Dont worry.
I know. Jules and I can always count on you, Gilly. You do what you need to tonight. Therell be tons of time for you to get to know my friends on the boat. Look, I gotta get to a meeting now. See you tomorrow and dont forget to pack your bikini.
That suggestion didnt even deserve an answer. Bye, Rob.
She shook her head as she disconnected the call. A bikini. As if that was going to happen. No way was she wearing a bikini while on the same boat as Julies part-time model bridesmaids, both of whom, by the way, had been noticeably absent during most of the wedding duties. Gillian managed to grit her teeth and not blow up in anger when they sashayed in just in time for the fun events after shed done all the prep work.
Julie emerged from the dressing room wearing a fresh coat of lipstick and the adorable dress shed worn into the shop and Gillian once again felt underdressed. All set?
Yup. Gillian consulted her watch. Rob is finishing up at work, but hell meet you later at the church. In the meantime, you have an appointment for a manicure, pedicure and bikini wax in fifteen minutes. If you sign a blank check for me, Ill run it over to the catering hall after I get our shoes while youre getting your nails done.
Julies gratitude-filled smile made Gillians stress-induced heart palpitations all seem worth it. Thank you, Gilly. Youre the best sister ever.
Gillian rolled her eyes. Yeah, yeah. Just remember that when its my turn and Im the bride.
Her sister grinned. That may be sooner than you think.
Oh really? Are you giving me a Grow Your Own Groom kit as a gift?
No. Hopefully hes already grown, so no tending required.
Smelling an obnoxiously obvious matchmaking scheme, Gillian narrowed her eyes. Julie, what are you up to?
Nothing. Playing innocent was not Julies best trick, in spite of years of acting classes in college.
Gillian planted her hands on her hips. You swore after the last disaster when you fixed me up with that idiot Rob works with youd stop. No more interfering in my love life. Or lack thereof.
Its not a fix up if two single attractive people happen to be in the same wedding party and decide they like each other. How is that interfering?
Suddenly Robs parting words careened into Gillians brain. Dont forget to pack your bikini.
Add to that the invitation to go out drinking with the guys tonight and the entire situation smelled pretty rotten.
Realization hit Gillian like a hammer blow to the skull, followed closely by dread. Oh, no. Please tell me Rob didnt plan this entire cruise just so Id be forced to spend time with one of his groomsmen.
Of course not, silly. Julie very suspiciously avoided making eye contact.
Gillian let out a huff, not believing her. She certainly hoped this was not a fix up because unlike her sister, shed be going on that yacht sans pedicure or bikini wax, and if she didnt get home to do laundry and pack, without clean clothes, too.
She sighed. There were bigger battles to fight today, such as her ever-growing to-do list. We both better get going.
Youre right. Julie turned for the door, about to leave.
Um, Jules. I need a check.
Julie sat in a nearby chair and rummaged for the checkbook in her purse. Her perfectly trimmed and highlighted hair bobbed as she shook her head. See how Id forget my own head if you didnt remind me?
Exactly. Which is why you shouldnt be trying to fix me up. How can I take care of you if Im busy tending to a husband? Gillian realized her own hair could use a trim, but that wasnt happening before tomorrow. Maybe she could squeeze it in the day before the wedding. Shed have to call and make an appointment before they left on the cruise.
Im willing to bet you could do both. Her sister smiled wider.
Gee, thanks for the confidence. Gillian scowled, suspecting even more strongly her fix Gilly up with a man theory was correct.
I love you, Gilly.
How could she be angry in the face of all that sweetness? She dragged in a big breath. I love you too, Jules.
Gillian had barely said goodbye to her sister outside the bridal shop when her cell phone rang. She grabbed it but didnt recognize the out of town number on the caller ID.
Hello?
Gillian?
Yes.
This is Jamie Foster, the best man.
Oh, hi. Her brain quickly pictured the name and information on her list of Robs wedding contacts. James Foster. Chicago, Illinois. Fraternity brother. Best man. Though somehow his even, cultured voice didnt fit what she had imagined Robs college frat-boy friends would sound like. That was actually a relief.
I called to apologize. I got your email two days ago asking me to RSVP to the brunch the morning after the wedding. Ive been meaning to get back to you, really, but work has been so busy and trying to get everything ready so I could leave Anyway, yes I will be attending. I thought Id better call instead of email in case you dont have time to check your inbox with all the wedding duties Im sure you have on your plate.
Finally, a man who understood what planning a wedding entailed. Gillian had begun to doubt such a man existed. Thank you. Thats very thoughtful of you and please dont apologize. Youre the only one of the groomsmen who bothered to RSVP at all.
What? Brandon and Reilly didnt get back to you? Thats nuts. You are obviously going to have to give the hotel a headcount for brunch.
Exactly, but I guess some people dont think that way.
Well, I certainly do. He drew in an audible breath. Anyway, again I apologize for both my tardy reply and for the rudeness of my friends.
A man who wasnt afraid to apologize. Another rarity. She smiled. Apology accepted. Thank you, and I look forward to meeting you tomorrow.
And I you. See you then.
See you then. With that promise of at least one civilized person on the boat other than herself, Julie and Rob, Gillian disconnected a bit more hopeful.