Gillian's Island

By Cat Johnson

A beautiful bride, a handsome groom, and a private cruise. What could possibly go wrong? How about a hurricane, one stranded yacht, a few useless, scantily clad bridesmaids and an equal number of horny groomsmen?

In the midst of it all, maid of honor Gillian Marlboro wonders if Jamie Foster could be not only the groom’s best man, but also the man for her. Would the universe be so cruel as to hand her the perfect man and then let them both perish on an island that provides no fresh water and only Mother Nature’s aphrodisiacs for sustenance?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cat Johnson
• Release date: Nov 28, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465998910

Cat Johnson

New York Times & USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author Cat Johnson. Sign up at catjohnson.net/news to get new release and sale alerts.

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GILLIAN’S ISLAND

New York Times & USA Bestselling Author

Cat Johnson

A beautiful bride, a handsome groom, and a private cruise. What could possibly go wrong? How about a hurricane, one stranded yacht, a few useless, scantily clad bridesmaids and an equal number of horny groomsmen?

In the midst of it all, maid of honor Gillian Marlboro wonders if Jamie Foster could be not only the groom’s best man, but also the man for her. Would the universe be so cruel as to hand her the perfect man and then let them both perish on an island that provides no fresh water and only Mother Nature’s aphrodisiacs for sustenance?

Gillian’s Island

By Cat Johnson

Copyright © 2011 Cat Johnson

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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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.

It’s perfect. Julie gazed at herself, then spun to Gillian. Isn’t it?

Mmm, hmm. You look beautiful. Gillian glanced at her own reflection and winced. Puke…um, sage green wasn’t 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. And don’t even get her started on the giant bow making her 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 she’d 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 for getting the dresses done ahead of schedule. I’m so sorry you had to rush. None of us had any idea about this surprise 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. Don’t apologize. I’m 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 wasn’t 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 Scarlett’s 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 particleboard walls. Jules, I’ll pick up our shoes while you and Rob meet with the minister at the church.

Ugh. My cell phone battery’s dead. Can you call and remind him about that? Her sister’s voice came from inside the next cubicle.

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 Rob’s 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. It’s Gillian.

Gilly. Hi. His tone immediately switched from financial consultant to future brother-in-law. You excited? One more day and it’s nothing but fun in the sun.

Fun in the sun? She’d 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. Couldn’t be more excited if I tried. Listen, don’t forget you’re meeting Julie at the church to see the minister this afternoon.

The sound of Rob shuffling papers came through the phone. I’ve got a ton of shit to get done at work before we leave, but no worries. I’ll be there. I have to get out of here by then anyway. The guys are flying in late today and I’m picking them up at the airport. I thought we’d go out for drinks to catch up tonight. You’ll come, won’t you? All shots are only a dollar tonight at the bar near my apartment.

Gillian hadn’t done a shot since college. Besides being a little old for that kind of stuff, she definitely wasn’t going to get drunk the night before going out on the ocean. She had no idea if she’d be seasick, but she definitely was not going to be hung over.

Thanks for the invite, but I haven’t packed yet.

You haven’t? Jeez. You’d better get that done. We leave bright and early tomorrow.

Gillian swallowed her defensiveness. Unlike Julie, Gillian had never been late in her life. I’ll be there on time, Rob. Don’t worry.

"I know. Jules and I can always count on you, Gilly. You do what you need to tonight. There’ll be