“One said ‘I’ve done a bad thing and you deserve better’. And the other said, ‘But I’ve fallen in love with you’.”
The buzz of sounds in the room blurred, and I pressed the phone even harder against my ear. “He loved me then? I’d only known him a handful of days.” I sounded as though I didn’t believe her, but I knew very well that I’d fallen for him before we’d even had sex. Every interaction since that moment had been me trying to protect myself by pushing him away. And he must have assumed that I’d seen that text, that I knew how he felt, when I hadn’t at all.
“Doug was too goodie-goodie for you, Jinx.” she added. “I knew you felt like you didn’t fit with him because you’re too flawed. But Finn’s as crazy as you are.”
“I know.”
“So fight for him.”
Easy for you to say!
“Thanks.” I hung up the phone and turned back to the table, my heart-rate kicking up.
Fight for him.
Jesus, what are you saying?
I’d never fought for a man in my life. But, I’d also never been head-over-heels desperately in love with a man either. And just looking at that soft honey-blond hair of his and those deliciously broad shoulders—even before I saw that slow, sexy smile—I knew he was worth embarrassing myself for. So I nodded to myself for a couple more seconds, gathered up whatever courage I might have, and walked over to the half-empty table and stood across from him.
He looked up slowly and had no way to hide the shock in his expression as our eyes met and I trembled in reaction. I wavered toward him, as if my body had a mind of its own, and my hands tingled with the desire to touch him. A few heartbeats later, I could feel heat throbbing between us. There were other couples at the table, but all I could see was my handsome Finn, staring at me with those hungry eyes that I knew just wanted to undress me.
“Finn,” I said softly. He wouldn’t have heard my voice in the noisy room, but he could read my lips.
I saw him say, “Jill.”
We stared at each other, and I belatedly realized there was no way I could say what I wanted. He’d never hear me.
He took his arm off the chair beside him and stood, looking beautiful in a trendy black tux. I could see it was a struggle to drag his attention away from me, but at last he leant down to speak to the woman beside him and for the first time I looked at her. She was even older than Katinka. Late forties for sure. But groomed to perfection.
Fuck. Was this his ‘type’? The older woman?
I swallowed in a suddenly dry throat and watched as the woman smiled up into his eyes, then pulled him down to kiss his cheek before waving him off.
My teeth gritted together so hard my jaw ached. I desperately wanted to say Get your beautifully manicured claws off him! Instead, I watched him walk around the table, preparing my rehearsed I know you think I’m a bitch speech. But he took the initiative, his large warm hand enveloping mine before he led me away from the tables, and I just went, as if I was in a dream, my heels feeling like they were floating on air. We walked beside the wall and out onto a beautiful terrace that overlooked the sparkling city lights. It was magical, and I had a sudden stab of anxiety, wondering if this was all a dream because it was way too perfect.
Then he led me to the corner of the terrace beside a stand of potted palms, turned me in his arms to face him, and just as I opened my mouth to say I love you—because really, that was the most important thing—he kissed me.
Like he meant it.
For some reason that shocked me, but within seconds, my sweaty apprehension morphed into a liquid warmth that zinged all the way from my lips down to my breasts that were hard against his chest, and further south to where my legs were growing weak.
His hands slid over my shoulders and one cupped my nape as he slanted his lips across mine to explore my mouth with that delicious tongue of his. I felt like I was in hot, wet heaven. His other hand slid to my waist, holding me hard against him, and I could feel his growing erection pressing into my belly. I kissed him back with everything I had, and the world went away. There was only Finn, a gentle buzzing in my ears, and my happy heart singing At least he still desires you. That’s a start.
Finally, he brought the kiss to a gentle, lip-brushing close, and it was all I could do to keep breathing. My breasts felt as if they were going to explode out of my dress, they were so tender.
His forehead pressed against mine and he whispered, “I thought I’d never do that again.”
“I want you to do that forever.”
He pulled back and looked into my eyes, and I saw every vulnerable doubt shining in his. And I couldn’t, just couldn’t let him suffer any more.
“I’m a fuckwit,” I said. “You know that.”
He nodded solemnly.
“And I’m scared that you’ll hurt me.”
“I won’t.”
“You might,” I argued, but I hurried to add, “Because misunderstandings happen. Only, now, I know you won’t mean to. So I know I can survive that. I trust you, Finn.”
He gazed at me silently, and I had no idea what he was thinking.
“I mean, I really trust you. I’ve met Lizzie…” His eyes widened. “…and I’m okay with it all. We’re friends. Hell, she asked me to be the Godmother of her baby. Your baby.”
“Her baby,” he corrected. “It won’t know…” He shrugged, the tux moving deliciously across those broad shoulders.
“Okay.” I nodded. “That’s not my business.”
“Then what is your business, Jill? Why are you here?”
He was trying to look cool, but I saw him swallow and his jaw was tensed as though his teeth were gritted—as though he was expecting the worse.
Couldn’t blame him.
So I said as plainly as I could, “I’m in love with you, Finn. I’ve been crazy jealous that Lizzie is having your baby because I desperately want that to be me. I don’t care if you’re rich or poor. I don’t care who your family is, or who you’re dating.” I paused to point back toward the ballroom.
“My Aunt Nancy. Lizzie’s mother.”
I wanted to sigh in relief, but he was still holding his breath.
And I suddenly realized that talking wasn’t the answer. I could tell him I loved him till the cows came home, but…what if he didn’t believe me? All my life I’d been told that actions spoke louder than words. Maybe it was time to walk that talk.
So I did the craziest thing I could think of—something I definitely hadn’t rehearsed. I took his hands and, as gracefully as I could in six inch heels, I lowered myself to one knee and said, “Phineas Walters, will you marry me?”
Several emotions chased themselves across his expressive face, but the one that remained was infinitely tender. “I will,” he replied reverently, and hauled me up into his arms for a kiss that wiped every other thought from my brain. I barely heard the people around us clapping, because all I cared about was this man.
My future husband.
The husband I intended to sit for the rest of my life.
- T H E E N D -
Acknowledgements
This book isn’t based on real events (I wish!/thank goodness!) however, the female friendships are based on my own experience of having “a tribe” as a teenager, and having new girlfriends come into my life in the decades since. These wonderful women have, at various times of my life, kept me sane, made me laugh, dried my tears, and occasionally slapped me upside-the-head when I needed it. So if the friendship between Jill, Angela, Missy Lou and Fritha feels real to you, you can thank my girlfriends, because they were the inspiration.
Mandy Salai and Sali Benbow-Powers were my supergirl Beta Readers who helped hone Husband Sit, as did editor Matrice and fellow authors Helen Lacey, Lesley Millar and Helen Bianchin. I’d like to shout-out to Kylie Scott who, over dinner and drinks at a Romance Writers of Australia conference, suggested that the heroine should fall in love with her first husband sit, rather than just sex him, which effectively switched the book from
straight erotica into a romance before I’d even written it. Good call!
As always, the support and encouragement of the members of Romance Writers of Australia and my other writing buddies inspires me, promotion work by Nas Dean is very much appreciated, and the patience of my man deserves a medal.
The biggest thank you, however, as always, goes to readers. You have no idea how much writers depend on you, feel grateful to you, learn from you, and strive for you. You are the oxygen that keeps our careers breathing – so thank you, thank you, thank you!
About The Author
Louise Cusack lives in Australia, in a tiny fishing village on the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. She’s a long-time vegetarian and caffeine addict with an obsession for finding the tiniest shred of romance in any story (and wallowing in it) alongside an unholy addiction to any franchise that begins with the word Star (Wars/Trek/Gate - you get the idea). There’s something about a man in uniform…in space.
Her own novels are about curious women who get themselves into unlikely situations—whether that’s an everyday woman from our world falling through a portal into a sepia kingdom, an amorous mermaid who gets herself stranded on dry land, or more recently, a perfectly ordinary house-sitter who finds herself husband sitting instead!
Louise doesn’t care what genre she writes in so long as the characters are endearingly real, the heroes are scorching hot and the sex is good!
Further novels in the series:
HUSBAND STAY
Biological clock vs mind-blowing sex. Stardom is the last thing on her mind.
Angela Lata only ever wanted two things out of life: a singing career and children. So she’s entitled to a little craziness after discovering that her cheating husband had a vasectomy before their wedding. Still, that’s no excuse to succumb to sexy man-whore Jack, even if he is so gorgeous she can barely breathe in his presence. Hadn’t she learned anything from her girlfriend’s example? The best way to get over one man is NOT to sleep with another.
The trouble is, Angela has never had good sex, let alone great sex, and on the eve of her diva dreams coming true, Jack promises her both. All it takes is one night with him to ruin her completely. Every date afterward suffers in comparison, and with her biological clock ticking loudly and her career not living up to her expectations, what she needs is father material, not pleasure-on-tap.
Tradition meets testosterone in a clash of expectations as unlikely lovers struggle to uncover what they really want from life – and each other.
Click here to PRE ORDER now, RELEASING 13 April, 2016
HUSBAND HEEL
An ex trophy wife with a score to settle. Domination is the best revenge.
Rose Bay socialite Louella Parkes has done everything expected of her for fifteen years – the perfect hostess and the perfect wife with the perfect life. But in the wake of her husband’s shock announcement and her subsequent divorce, all bets are off. The future is wide open and suddenly Louella knows exactly what she wants – the control she relinquished for status all those years ago.
She embarks on a secret dominatrix lifestyle that she hides from her girlfriends, because her companion on this journey into debauchery is the last person they’d expect. From Bentleys to bondage, Louella discovers what really turns her on, until things go too far and she’s forced to decide between love and ultimate control.
Fearless exploration equals breathtaking sex in this voyage of discovery that will shock, delight, and have you questioning – what is control?
RELEASING: 15 June, 2016
HUSBAND ROLLOVER
She’s spoilt by a buffet of men. He’ll need every trick to keep her coming back.
Fritha Wynde is a free spirit, sleeping with whoever grabs her fancy, especially if the grab feels good! She has work that she loves, friends who will let her wear rainbow-colored bridesmaid dresses, and girlfriends’ babies to cuddle. There’s not a thing about her life that she wants changed, until trouble walks into her feel-good teahouse, Bohemian Brew.
Trouble is a six foot two restaurant critic – Max – who has the audacity to ridicule the Banchee Tea, her signature brew, in his annoyingly sexy Brit accent. It’s time to retaliate and a low blow is in order – below the belt to be exact – but when Max discovers how delicious Fritha is, he’ll do anything to have her, including rolling over and playing dead.
Prude meets promiscuous in the fourth book of the Husband Sit Series, bringing all four girlfriends together as Fritha tortures the one man who grabs her fancy along with her heart.
RELEASING 17 August, 2016
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