Page 75 of No Going Back

“Maddie and Guy just got engaged. Isn’t it wonderful?” Ros wrapped her new husband’s arm around her waist.

“Sorry, it’s all my fault.” Guy delivered his apology with a rueful smile.

“Nonsense. It’s a bonus, seeing you two get together officially today. The best wedding present you could have given us.” Simon was genuinely delighted.

“Well, we’ll still try to keep a low profile,” Maddie insisted.

“And I need to introduce her to everyone—there wasn’t time before the ceremony. Now go and enjoy the attention.”

With her hand enclosed in Guy’s, Maddie allowed him to lead her away. “Are you really going to introduce me to everyone?”

“I may be guilty of a slight exaggeration there. I’m not sure I know all the guests, but the ones I would especially like you to meet are… I guess you could call them extended family. Your family too, now. Not to mention the fact that, since you’re going to accept Alex’s offer, you’ll be working alongside them as well. One thing you should be aware of—they’re all members of the club.”

“They’re in the lifestyle?”

Guy nodded. “But don’t worry. This is a social occasion, and no one’s on protocol today. Come on—we need to make a start on the champagne and canapés.”

As he introduced the cluster of guests, Maddie was able to put faces to the names for whom she’d made reservations at the hotel as part of the service she’d provided for the wedding. She doubted she’d ever seen a more attractive or charismatic group of individuals.

“It’s lovely to meet you all. Guy’s told me so much about you all.”

“And none of it good, I’ll bet.” The man identified to her as Ryan Quinn winked and grinned before taking a sip from his glass.

“Oh, I couldn’t possibly say.” Reassured by the warm welcome she’d been given, Maddie allowed a small, mischievous grin to flirt with her lips.

“I hope you’re all duly impressed with the arrangements for today. Maddie is the events manager for the hotel, and responsible for putting everything together.”

She blushed at the sheer pride in Guy’s voice. “I can’t really take any of the credit for today—it’s my job, after all. Ros did all the hard work—I was merely the facilitator.”

Which was entirely the wrong thing to say, if her fiancé’s expression was any indication. Something told her, later in the evening, her backside might regret her mouth’s lack of restraint. It was only when she looked back at the people around her that she remembered they were in the lifestyle too. The Doms among them were regarding her with knowing looks. Maddie groaned.

“Quite.” Guy’s tone was dry, with a noticeable lack of humour. “Alex, I thought I saw Beth before. Everything all right?”

“Fine—she’s just gone to check on Charley. Our daughter, Maddie. Almost six months old now.”

The Lombards weren’t the only guests taking advantage of the professionally staffed crèche facility Ros had requested. Several couples had brought children with them, some of them quite young, and the crèche provided a peaceful haven for when the festivities became too exciting.

Maddie put on a brave smile. Mention of the Lombards’ baby reminded her for a moment of the child she’d lost. Guy’s arm around her, drawing her into his side, told her he remembered too.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realise the conversation would take that direction,” he murmured.

“It’s okay.” She laid her hand over his. “Things like this are always going to happen. It was a long time ago—I can deal with it.”

“Have I missed anything?”

The new voice belonged to yet another stunningly beautiful woman—the mysterious Beth, given the way she went directly to Alex. Maddie could only marvel at how far from a harried, relatively new mother she appeared to be. Like the blonde woman—Stacie Fraser, if she recalled correctly—she too wore a necklace that had the look of a collar. The Quinns had thrown her for a moment, until she realised that in that relationship, Fiona was the Dominant, even though there was no doubting Ryan’s alpha masculinity.

“How’s Charley?”

Beth rolled her eyes and glared at her husband. “Charlotte is fine. She’s out for the count at the moment. I’ve asked the nurse to let me know when she wakes up, then I can bring her down.”

“Let me know, and I’ll go and get her.” Alex kissed his wife.

And that was how Guy would have been. Every inch the proud father, if their daughter had lived, if their relationship hadn’t failed, if, if, if… How she hated that word.

“Come back to me, kitten. Remember what we said about not being able to change the past?”

“I remember.” Maddie closed the door on the memories and regrets. “Why don’t we make today a new start?”