What the Paparazzi Didn't See

by Nicola Marsh

  He didn’t know if she’d show.

  His message had gone through to the answering service on her mobile and her terse ‘will think about it’ texted response an hour later didn’t bode well.

  But he’d turned up at The Martini Bar anyway, hoping she’d take a chance.

  For if there was one thing he was sure of in this godforsaken mess, it was her love.

  She hadn’t said it. Matter of fact, neither had he, considering she’d been too busy busting his balls and throwing his offer back in his face.

  But he’d seen it in her eyes. The adoration, the tenderness, the agony at the thought of never being together.

  He’d been through it all, a gamut of emotions ranging from devastation to optimism.

  No more.

  He might be going with his gut on this one but he’d applied logic to making it happen.

  Every contingency plan had been put into place.

  Now all he needed was for Liza to say yes.

  He nursed his Scotch, swirled it around, instantly transported back to the night they’d met, the night they’d shared a drink here, the night that had set him down this rocky road.

  For a guy who never let emotions get in the way of anything, he’d sure botched this, big time.

  He took a swig of his drink and glanced at his watch. Nine p.m. on the dot. Liza was a no-show.

  He’d give her ten minutes and then he was out of here.

  As pain lanced his heart he thought, Who are you trying to kid?

  He’d probably end up sitting here all night if there was the remotest possibility she’d walk in the door.

  As if his wish had been granted, he saw her enter, lock eyes with him and pause.

  She looked stunning, from the top of her glossy blonde hair piled in a loose up-do to her shimmery turquoise dress to her sparkly silver-sequined sandals.

  Guys in the bar gawked at the doorway and he wanted to flatten them all.

  He stood as she made her way towards him, torn between wanting to vault tables to get to her and sit on his hands to stop from grabbing her the moment she got within reach.

  The nearer she got, the harder his gut twisted until he could barely stand.

  ‘Hey.’ She hesitated when she reached him, kissed him on the cheek before taking a seat opposite.

  ‘Thanks for coming.’ He sounded like a dufus but he sat, relieved she’d made it. ‘Didn’t think you’d show.’

  She held her thumb and forefinger an inch apart. ‘I was this close not to.’

  ‘Why the change of heart?’

  She glanced away, gnawed on her bottom lip, before reluctantly meeting his gaze. ‘Because you deserved better than the way I treated you the last time we parted.’

  ‘Fair enough.’

  He liked that about her, her bluntness. She might not have been completely honest with him the last few months, but her ability to call a spade a spade when it counted meant a lot.

  He hoped she’d continue in that vein for the rest of the evening; he’d settle for nothing less than the truth.

  ‘Drink?’

  ‘Anything but a martini,’ she said, managing a wan smile.

  ‘Sure? Because I kinda like what happens when you drink martinis.’

  The sparkle in her eyes gave him hope. ‘Soda and lemon for now.’

  ‘Spoilsport,’ he said, placing the order with a nearby waiter before swivelling back to face her.

  ‘I was going to call you,’ she said, her hands twisting in her lap before she slid them under her handbag. ‘To apologise for the craziness after you asked me to move to London.’

  ‘Not necessary—’

  ‘Yeah, it is.’

  The waiter deposited her soda on the table and she grabbed it, sculled half the glass before continuing. ‘You caught me completely off guard. I mean, I knew you’d be heading back eventually but I didn’t expect it to be so soon, and then you asked me to come along with Cindy in tow and I kinda flipped out.’

  ‘I noticed.’

  She matched his wry smile. ‘I’ve never had anyone care about me that much to include Cindy in plans.’ Her fingertips fluttered over her heart. ‘It touched me right here and I didn’t know how to articulate half of what I was feeling.’

  That made two of them. He knew the feeling well. Bottling up true emotions, preferring not to rock the boat, seeking other outlets for his frustration rather than attacking the root of the problem.

  If only he’d confronted his dad sooner, had a talk man to man, rather than skulking off to London with his bitterness. The last few years would’ve been completely different.

  ‘So I want to say thanks, Wade. Your offer means more to me than you’ll ever know.’

  ‘But?’

  Her gaze dropped to her fiddling hands. ‘But ultimately my decision stands. I can’t move to London to be with you.’

  ‘Thought so,’ he said, stifling a chuckle at her confused frown at his chipper tone. ‘Which is why I’m changing the parameters of the offer.’

  Her frown deepened. ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘I’m staying in Melbourne.’

  Speechless, she gaped at him until he placed a fingertip beneath her chin and closed her mouth.

  ‘I’ve installed my deputy as CEO in my London office. He’ll run the place and answer to me.’

  He sat back, rested an arm across the back of his chair, bringing his hand within tantalising touching distance of her bare shoulder. ‘I’m taking over the reins of Qu Publishing. Finishing what my father started all those years ago. It’s what he would’ve wanted.’

  Another revelation he’d had while instigating steps to remain in Melbourne. It had been as if an invisible weight had lifted from his shoulders, the guilt he’d harboured in relation to the gap between him and his dad—by his doing—evaporating once he’d made the decision to run the company.

  He knew it was what his dad wanted. How many times had they discussed it, before Wade had got jack of Babs and her influence over his father and had moved to London? Many times, and he’d seen his dad’s shattered expression the day he’d told him of his plans to relocate and start a new business.

  It had haunted him and, while they’d never broached the subject again during their brief catch-ups over the years, he’d sensed his dad’s disappointment.

  Yeah, the decision to stay in Melbourne was the correct one.

  Now he had to convince Liza of that.

  ‘My offer still stands. Move in with me. Give our relationship a chance.’ He touched her shoulder, slid his hand along the back of her neck and rested it there. ‘I love you, Liza, and from a guy who’s never said those three little words before, trust me, it’s a big call.’

  Tears shimmered in her eyes and he scooted closer, swiping away a few that trickled down her cheeks.

  ‘A resounding yes would be great right about now,’ he said, cuddling her into his side.

  Her silence unnerved him but he waited. He’d waited this long to meet the love of his life, what were a few more minutes?

  She sniffled, dabbed under her eyes, before easing away to look him in the eye.

  ‘But Cindy—’

  ‘The parameters of my offer have changed somewhat.’ He cupped her chin. ‘I’m asking you to move in with me. Just you.’

  Her eyes widened and she started to shake her head but his grip tightened.

  ‘I’m blown away by your dedication to your sister, truly I am. I’ve never met such a self-sacrificing person. But I think you’re using Cindy as a crutch. Hiding behind her. Afraid to go out into the world and take chances.’ His thumb brushed her lower lip. ‘Ultimately, sweetheart? That’s not going to help either of you.’

  Anger flashed in her eyes before she wrenched away. �
�Who do you think you are, telling me what I feel and how I’m running my life?’

  ‘I’m the guy who loves you, the guy who’ll do anything to make you happy.’ He laid a hand on her knee, surprised and grateful when she didn’t shrug him off. ‘If you’ll let me.’

  She glared at him a moment longer before she visibly deflated. Her shoulders sagged and her head drooped, and he moved in quickly to support her with an arm around her waist.

  ‘Cindy wanted to go to London.’

  She spoke so softly Wade had to lean closer to hear.

  ‘It made me realise that maybe I’ve cosseted her too much.’

  She shook her head and a few tendrils of hair tumbled around her face. ‘I’ve spent most of my life trying to protect her but now I’m wondering...’

  When she didn’t speak, Wade said, ‘What?’

  She dragged in a breath and blew it out. ‘I’m wondering if I did more harm than good, sheltering her the way I have.’

  ‘You love her. It’s natural you’d want to protect her after your folks ran out.’

  ‘It’s more than that.’

  She glanced up at him, her forlorn expression slugging him in the guts. It took every ounce of his willpower not to bundle her into his arms.

  ‘I think I used her. I liked having her dependent on me, because that way she couldn’t abandon me.’

  As her folks did.

  Liza didn’t have to say it, it was written all over her face: her fear of being alone.

  ‘Is that why you’re not doing cartwheels over my offer now? Because you think ultimately I’ll abandon you too?’

  She glanced away, but not before he’d seen her shock at his perceptiveness.

  ‘I won’t, you know.’

  He grabbed her hand and placed it against his heart, beating madly for her, only her.

  ‘I don’t let people into my heart easily. I’ve never had a long-term relationship. It took me a while to trust you. I even pushed away my dad through sheer narrow-mindedness. But once I give it, it’s all yours.’

  He added, ‘For ever.’

  A tremulous smile shone through her tears. ‘You’re incredible, the most amazing guy I’ve ever met, but I’ve never depended on anyone before. I’d be no good at it. I’d muck up and you’d get sick of me and then—’

  ‘Say it.’

  ‘Then you’d leave me,’ she said, so softly his heart turned over beneath her palm.

  ‘There’s no guarantees in life but how about this? I promise to love you and cherish you and look after you to the best of my ability. How’s that?’

  ‘Pretty damn wonderful.’ She beamed and he could’ve sworn the bar lit up like a bright summer’s day.

  ‘So no more secrets, okay?’

  Her face fell. ‘Then in the event of full disclosure, I need to tell you what happened in your office that first day.’

  He had been curious but hadn’t wanted to push for answers. With a little luck he’d have plenty of time for that: the rest of their lives.

  ‘The WAG lifestyle? Why I put up with being arm candy for Henri when we weren’t in a real relationship?’ She winced. ‘For the money. We had a signed agreement. I was building a sizable nest egg for Cindy’s future in case anything ever happened to me.’

  Yep, she was back to the abandonment issue. Considering what she’d been through with her folks he could understand that.

  ‘That night we met? When I said I was embarking on a new life and wanted to celebrate? I was stoked to be putting my old life behind me. It had taken its toll and I was tired of faking it for everyone.’

  Her fingers clenched, creasing the cotton of his shirt. ‘My investment was maturing the next day and I had grand plans to tie up some of it in a guaranteed fund for Cindy in case of my death, and use the rest to modernise our place and buy her the best equipment. With that kind of monetary security, it was the beginning of a new life for me. I could finally pursue a career in marketing, my dream, and put the past behind me.’

  A few pieces of the puzzle shifted and he had a fair idea what she was going to say. She would’ve never agreed to the publishing contract after vehemently refusing it unless she needed the money. Which meant...

  ‘What happened to your investment?’

  Her eyes darkened to indigo, filled with pain. ‘My financial adviser absconded with the lot. Scammed millions in client funds.’

  He swore. Several times.

  ‘Yeah, I totally agree. The police are investigating leads but the likelihood of recovering my cash? Slim.’

  ‘That’s why you did an about-face with the publishing deal.’

  She nodded. ‘I needed that money as a safeguard for Cindy. It was the only way.’

  He hesitated, glad they were talking things through but needing to know all of it, however unpleasant.

  ‘I’ve seen how much you love Cindy, so you’re not ashamed of her.’ He grimaced. ‘Sorry for saying that. So why did you really leave her out of your bio?’

  ‘I always thought it was fear of her spasticity worsening and resulting in permanent deformities if her emotions careened out of control with the probable media circus.’ She smoothed his shirt and let her hand fall, only to clasp his and squeeze. ‘In reality? I think it’s because I’m overprotective to the point of stifling. I’ve tried so hard to make up for our parents’ shortfalls I’ve gone the other way and become smothering. I truly didn’t want Cindy exposed to any media or ridicule, which can still happen for disabled people even in this enlightened day, so I cut her out of the story.’

  ‘Did you ever stop to think how she’d feel if she knew that?’

  Her brows arched in horror. ‘I was doing it to protect her—’

  ‘I know, sweetheart, I know.’

  Maybe he needed to quit while he was ahead.

  ‘You still haven’t answered my original question.’

  The corners of her mouth curved up and he had his answer before she spoke.

  ‘I’ll have to chat with Shar and see if she can become a permanent live-in carer. And I’ll need a raise to cover it. Plus I still want to spend as much time as possible with Cindy.’

  ‘Anything else?’

  ‘Just this.’

  She surged against him, grabbed his lapels, dragged him closer and kissed him.

  The teasing wolf whistles of nearby patrons faded as her lips moved on his and he wished he’d had the foresight to book a suite.

  When she finally broke the kiss, he grinned. ‘That’s a yes, then?’

  ‘You bet.’

  She cupped his face and stared unwaveringly into his eyes. ‘And I love you too. How did I get so lucky?’

  ‘We got lucky.’

  He kissed her again to prove it.

  EPILOGUE

  LIZA LITHGOW’S STYLE TIPS

  FOR MAXIMUM WAG WOW IMPACT

  The Indulgence

  Being a WAG can be demanding.

  Always looking your best to avoid incurring the wrath of ruthless paparazzi.

  Constantly being scrutinised by the public.

  An expectation to attend all functions with your sports-star husband/boyfriend.

  An expectation to support his team.

  Turning a blind eye to the women slipping their phone numbers—and worse—into your partner’s pocket.

  But at the end of a long day—heck, at the end of a long season—it pays to indulge in whatever makes you feel good.

  Scented candles in the bathroom—lights off—and a long hot bath.

  Glass of quality champagne.

  A raunchy romance novel designed to distract.

  A classic chick flick.

  Expensive chocolate.
r />   Aromatherapy oils:

  clary sage (good for relaxing)

  chamomile (calming)

  grapefruit (clears the mind)

  geranium (balancing and harmonising)

  rosewood (uplifting)

  neroli (calms the mind)

  marjoram (encourages sleep)

  vetivert (reduces tension)

  Liza hopes you’ve enjoyed her WAG wow tips.

  While she may have left her WAG days behind, she regularly indulges in the above recommendations.

  Though she’s rarely alone in the bath, what with Wade to keep her company...

  ‘Wow, check this out.’

  Cindy pressed her face against the glass pod of the London Eye, where they were perched on top with an incredible view of the city spread before them.

  ‘Amazing, huh?’ Liza slung an arm around Cindy’s shoulders and squeezed.

  ‘Sure is.’ Cindy tore her awestruck gaze away from the view long enough to glance up at Wade. ‘Thanks for bringing me, Wade. You’re the best.’

  ‘No worries, kiddo.’ He dropped a kiss on the top of Cindy’s head and Liza was sure her heart flip-flopped. Could she love this guy any more?

  ‘Hey, what about me?’

  Cindy rolled her eyes. ‘You already know you’re the best.’

  ‘And don’t you forget it.’ Liza tweaked Cindy’s nose before leaving her sis alone to enjoy the view.

  When Wade crooked his finger, she happily moved into his embrace.

  ‘You’re incredible, you know that?’

  He smiled and nodded at Cindy. ‘So I’ve been told.’

  ‘Well, I’m telling you again.’ Liza snuggled tighter, content in the knowledge there was no better place to be than Wade’s arms. ‘The way you put this trip together, checked out disabled facilities at all the hotels, did a reno on your apartment for Cindy to stay. Not to mention pulling together the digital companion novel to my bio highlighting cerebral palsy and the needs of carers to raise awareness...’