Return to Wedding Belles

By Maxine Sullivan

Brooke Martin isn't happy about marrying one of the Jardine sons to help save the Wedding Belles Resort from bad press and declining business. But will saving her job, as well as helping his dear parents to keep the resort, put her at risk of falling for the man who'd once been her teenage love?

The last thing Jace Jardine wants is to return to Raintree Island and marry the wedding planner. Yet a high-profile wedding is the only way to save the luxury resort owned by his parents. Unfortunately, the bride is none other than Brooke Martin, the girlfriend he'd left behind when he'd gone back to the mainland all those years ago.

Can this temporary arrangement survive their past, especially when Brooke has kept a dark secret from Jace all these years?

Previously published as His Island Bride, 2014.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Maxine Sullivan
• Release date: Oct 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215509838

Book preview

Maxine Sullivan

A Tropical Isle Romance

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, magazine and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © 2022 Maxine Sullivan

CHAPTER ONE

H ere’s another one , Jace Jardine said, his arm brushing the potted palm as he stretched across the teak desk and picked up the Sydney newspaper with the headline saying TROUBLE IN PARADISE. Then he sat back in his chair and began to read out loud...

Is the peal of wedding bells ringing a death knell on the Jardine family’s world-famous Wedding Belles Resort on Raintree Island? Six high-profile couples have ended up in the divorce courts shortly after tying the knot there, and now this tropical idyll for lovers on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef may soon be coming to an end. Could nuptials at this renowned wedding resort jinx a marriage before it even begins? Only time will tell.

There was more, but in disgust Jace threw the newspaper on top of the other newspapers from London, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. It joined the various online reviews that one of the resort’s staff had printed up for the three Jardine brothers’ after their arrival from the mainland a couple of hours ago.

The rattan fans whirling overhead were the only sound in the room – that’s if Jace didn’t include the whirling thoughts of everyone deliberating the implications of all this. His parents owned the resort, but it was still a family concern and he was worried. He looked at his mother who sat behind the large desk, her face troubled and tense. Then he looked at his two older brothers who sat on the other chairs opposite him. He was grateful that at least his father wasn’t privy to this. It was important Glenn Jardine continue his physical therapy in his room and stayed away from any of these discussions. Very important.

It’s clear we need to do something about this, Roarke Jardine said with a frown. He took his oldest brother status seriously, as Jace knew he would. We’ve done a damn good job and have successfully marketed Wedding Belles Resort to the world. People travel far and wide to be married here. We have... had... he corrected, his mouth tightening, a good reputation. Unfortunately now we have to work even harder and show them this place isn’t a curse on a marriage.

Seth Jardine, the second eldest brother, nodded with a grimace. I totally agree, Roarke.

Yeah, this is really bad timing, Jace chipped in. We don’t need this right now.

There was silence for a moment.

The question is, boys, their mother, Vivienne Jardine, began, what can we do to fix the situation?

It has to be something fast, Roarke stated, saying what they were all obviously thinking. Something that will put all this gossip to rest. Something that will... He sat up straighter, his face clearing. I’ve got it! Dammit, I’ve got the perfect solution!

Great! Jace said, thankful his brother had come through with an idea and so quickly too. They could count on Roarke to fix things. Tell us what it is then. Don’t keep us in suspense.

All at once Roarke’s gaze cut the distance between them, making Jace suddenly feel a little uneasy. There’s only one thing that can be done fast, Jace, and it’s all up to you. He paused. "You’ll have to find a woman and marry her."

Jace shot off the chair with the speed of a bullet. He didn’t think he was hearing right. No way, buddy-boy. Don’t think you’re going to pull that one on me.

Of course you’ll have to stay married for a couple of years, Roarke continued as if Jace hadn’t spoken. At least until mention of a jinx has been put to rest. He leaned back in his chair looking pleased with himself. And you can help Mum and Dad run the place while you’re here and get it back to its former glory.

Jace stared down at his brother, trying to get his head around this. You can’t be serious? But he could see he was. Deadly serious. "If anyone should marry, Roarke, it should be you. You’re the oldest."

Roarke stayed sitting in his chair, his expression firm. You’re the only one who can be spared from the boatyard right now. Seth and I need to stay in Sydney. We have some important business coming up over the next twelve months.

And I’m the Operations Director for Jardine’s Luxury Boats, remember? Jace snapped. Roarke was the Managing Director and Seth the Production Director. None of them could be spared. There had to be another way.

Roarke was already shaking his head. Jace, look, we all know some of our rivals want to poach Matt away from the company, and that we can’t keep him as Deputy Operations Director for too much longer. He’s been chaffing at the bit to get more experience and is only staying out of loyalty. So why not let him step in and do your job for a couple of years? It would be ideal for him and for us.

Not for me, Jace growled. Did they have any idea what they were asking? Settling down here on the island would be like cutting off his legs. It was a great place to visit once a year, but he’d never wanted to live here, preferring instead the city lights of Sydney and beyond.

Vivienne Jardine shifted in her chair, and Jace spun toward her. He was her youngest son. He was sure he would make Roarke see sense. Mum, back me on this. I think marriage is going too far, don’t you?

An uncomfortable look crossed Vivienne’s still-attractive face. Jace, I’m sorry, but I have to agree with Roarke. We need to save the resort. Bookings have already dropped off and if the business starts to go under... She swallowed hard. It wouldn’t be good for your father’s health, she said, a catch to her voice.

Jace’s gut clenched at the mention of his usually healthy father. The mild stroke had happened two weeks ago during his parents’ visit to a great aunt in Sydney. Raintree Island had a small though excellent medical facility, but they’d all been grateful their father had been close to one of the bigger hospitals.

Mum, you know I’d do anything to help out. Anything. But there must be some other way.

There isn’t, Seth said.

Jace glared at the middle Jardine son. Shut up, Seth.

Their mother put up a hand. No, your brother is right, Jace. We have to put a stop to these wild stories. It’s unfortunate that a lot of celebrity weddings this year have ended almost before they’ve left here. As much as I believe a wedding is for life, maybe it’s a sign of the times. We can’t be blamed for that, and I’m not about to see all our hard work go down the drain. It’s important to your father and me. She blinked rapidly. Now more than ever.

Jace looked at his mother for a couple of seconds, a sinking feeling in his stomach. He was beginning to see there really was no other way. Damn! Needing time to think, he walked over to the large window and looked out.

Raintree Island was a small island, with the resort on one side of the island, and a small town of around seven thousand people on the other side. Nestled amongst the rainforest, Wedding Belles was a two-story hotel with a section exclusive for the family, surrounded by a collection of private bungalows. A large restaurant spilt out onto a terrace, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and further along was the golden sand of a sweeping bay.

The resort hadn’t always been here. This part of the island had been his family’s holiday home ever since he was little. Then eleven years ago, his parents had decided to turn it into a premier wedding destination resort that they would run themselves. They had been sick of the corporate life on the mainland where his father had started up Jardine’s Luxury Boats twenty years earlier, and being happily married, they had moved to the island permanently to make people’s dreams come true.

As young men, Jace and his brothers had stayed in Sydney - Jace to finish university, and Roarke and Seth to take over the boat business with the help of his father’s right hand man. Now their right hand man had moved on and the three Jardine sons were in total charge. Monetarily the boatyard would be able to support the resort in the short term, but in the long term they couldn’t sustain it. The resort had to get back on its feet – or go under.

And he was being tasked with saving it. Saying it was temporary didn’t lessen the fact that a couple of years were a damn long time. Sure, in a year’s time he could probably make a case for travelling back and forth to Sydney, doing more and more work at the boatyard as his father’s health improved.

If it improved.

Knowing he was trapped, he swallowed hard and turned to face the room. I’ll do it.

In an instant, the atmosphere changed to one of great relief.

Thank you, son, Vivienne said huskily.

He shrugged, only because he couldn’t think of anything else to do. He was rarely at a complete loss but this time he was, and it wasn’t just about one thing. It was about a couple of things. The question is now, who am I going to marry?

You’re never short of women friends, Seth pointed out without hesitation.

Jace acknowledged the comment with a wry twist of his lips. He was as conceited as any man who knew that women appreciated his good looks and comfortable lifestyle. Oh yeah, and he figured he was a nice person too, he mused. I’m sure they would jump at the chance, Seth, but I don’t want to tie myself to any of them. Nevertheless, I can’t see any of them living here for a month let alone a year or two. They’d be heading back to the city in next to no time, and that would completely defeat the purpose.

Of course, if they did head back to the mainland, he would have to go with them. Suddenly his hopes rose but as quickly fell. He couldn’t do that to his parents. They needed someone here – him – to help them put the resort back on its feet, not only with putting rumours of a jinxed resort to rest, but to help them physically run the resort now that his father’s health was in the balance.

Brooke would be ideal.

Jace stiffened at his mother’s words. What?

Brooke Martin. She’s lived on the island since she was nine and she’s the resort wedding planner. She’s not involved with anyone either. She’d be perfect.

No. Brooke was the last woman he should marry. And the last person he wanted to see. He’d crossed her path a few times over the years whenever he came here but that had been unavoidable. He couldn’t imagine asking for her hand in marriage.

I know you were an item years ago but —

Let it go, Mum. It isn’t a good idea

Actually I think a reunion romance is ideal. Roarke’s voice cut into the conversation. The press will lap it up.

Jace stiffened. I don’t want any mention of our past relationship known to the media.

Roarke arched a brow. Where’s the harm, Jace? They’ll be more likely to believe the marriage will last if they think you and Brooke have a past together and have consciously decided to take this step.

Jace hated being backed into a corner. And he hated the thumbscrews that were being applied and tightened bit by bit. Was the next step a torture rack?

What if someone leaks your past relationship to the press? Seth pointed out. They’d have to ask why you didn’t mention it and what you’re hiding. It could bring it all tumbling down.

Jace glared at his middle brother. I didn’t say I’d marry Brooke in the first place, he quickly pointed out. They were assuming too much. Far too much. Besides, she hates my guts, remember? She’s not going to agree.

She doesn’t hate you, his mother said soothingly.

He arched a brow. Really? I think you’d better look again, Mum.

Brooke had been his lover for one summer when she’d been seventeen and he’d been nineteen, and her expectation that he would stay on the island with his parents after they opened the resort had been totally off-base. Her declaration of love had him thankful he’d been going back to the mainland. He hadn’t wanted to hurt her, but to him their summer affair had been just a fling, that’s all.

Yet he hadn’t been cold-hearted enough to tell her he wasn’t ready to settle down with her. Even back then he’d known that would have been too devastating on her emotions. Instead, he’d explained that his parents wanted him to follow in his two older brothers’ footsteps and finish university, before getting the necessary experience in the family boat-building business. And that had been the truth. He had felt a strong sense of obligation to his parents who had worked hard to make such a success of the business.

Of course, it hadn’t been the whole truth.

She’d never forgiven him.

Sweetheart, listen, I find none of this pleasant either, his mother said, "but you have to know that Brooke will lose her job if the resort goes under. Then