“Are you suggesting we have a honeymoon, but don’t bother getting married? I could live with that,” I mused.
“I was thinking less of a holiday and more of a permanent thing. My firm has an office in London and there’s some interest in me doing a couple of years over there. I also mentioned it to a few clients I know who are into the art scene. They think there would be definite interest in your artwork over there.”
“Seriously?”
John gave me a stern look. “Seriously.”
“What about Shout?”
“What about them?”
“They don’t have an office in London.”
“So take a sabbatical from advertising, Scarlett. Work on your art. There’s plenty of ad agencies in London if you still want a job like that.”
He was right. The possibility of spending some time – all of my time – on my art was incredibly attractive, but I needed to be practical. “I’m not sure I can afford—”
“We can afford it.”
“Right.” He was actually offering to make this happen for me and it was his way of reminding me I was part of a team now. God, I loved him more than I could say. I toyed with the black diamond ring on my finger, overwhelmed.
John lifted my chin with his finger. “Many great adventures, remember? It’s not until mid-next year anyway. It’s almost a year away. So just think about it.”
“I will,” I said, meaning it. I looked back down at the ring. For all my unconventionality, some of the lessons from my childhood had stuck fast. Like being financially stable and responsible when it came to my career. I’d often toyed with the idea of moving and working overseas but then I had been promoted to the position of Creative Director. Leaving the security of that behind seemed nothing short of frivolous.
The diamond sparkled at me in the sunshine and I smiled to myself. Maybe it wasn’t frivolous at all. Maybe it was what life was all about. Hope. Taking a chance. Dreaming big. Being myself.
And with John by my side it suddenly didn’t seem so farfetched anymore. Maybe, just maybe, I could give my art career a decent shot. Not that I’d tell him that. Yet. I didn’t want him to get a big head.
Another thought occurred to me. “That’s good it’s not until next year,” I told him.
“Why?”
“It will give us time to sort out Cate.”
John looked unsure about the change of topic. “Should I even ask?”
“Probably not. All I’ll say is it’s time she settled down and found a decent man.”
He threw his head back and laughed.
“Shut up,” I told him. “Why are you laughing?”
“Oh man,” John breathed, recovering from his outburst. “That’s priceless. Coming from you, of all people.”
“I don’t like your tone.”
He grabbed my hand and made a show of checking the ring on my finger. “You’re a changed woman, Scarlett Wong. You know that, don’t you?”
“It’s your fault,” I complained.
“I had nothing to do with it,” he said with a big grin on his face.
“Liar!” I shoved him. Hard. Frustratingly, he didn’t move an inch.
Still smiling, he caught my arms and rubbed his thumbs across my bare skin, making me shiver. “What? Don’t you like the changes?”
“What was wrong with the old Scarlett?” I teased. “She was smart and sexy.”
“She still is.”
“And talented and accomplished,” I continued.
John rolled his eyes.
“I also seem to recall a very switched on guy I know saying she was one of a kind. I think his exact words were ‘She’s like no one else I’ve ever known.’”
“True,” he admitted. “But I don’t remember the old Scarlett being so full of herself. Maybe I want her back, after all.”
Before I could open my mouth to protest, he pulled me to him and kissed me.
Because he was my perfect man, he knew it was the best way to shut me up.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the team at Momentum for embracing Scarlett’s story. A big thank you to Haylee and Joel for your continued support of the City Love girls. Sincere thanks to Tara for the expert edits which always push me to be the best I can be. A special thank you to Ashley for his management of the process, particularly the cover art. Thanks for sticking with me! Visually portraying Scarlett’s story was no easy task. And as always, thanks to Michelle and Patrick for all the great PR work you do.
Sarah, Donna and Jo – your ongoing support while I write this series means so much. Thanks for always taking the time to read what I write and for being honest with your feedback.
Adam and Ryan – thanks again for sharing me with my fictional world. I’m so glad you’re not old enough to read adult books yet, Ryan, or you’d be asking why Mummy writes the f-word so much when you’re not supposed to say it. I’m not sure you’d believe me if I told you it was all Scarlett and I had to do it to be true to her voice . . .
Once again I can’t write a book without acknowledging all the wonderful support of my fellow writers and the Romance Writers of Australia.
And finally, f-words aside, this book was in part inspired by my son, Ryan, and the schooling journey we’re undertaking together. There’s no harm in dreaming big for our children, but let’s try to remember it’s their dreams we’re supporting, not ours.
About Wish List: City Love 4
Could the wrong man on paper be the perfect man in real life?
Cate Harmon likes lists. While this may serve her well as a financial planner, her girlfriends think that creating a checklist for her ideal man is going a step too far. But she has one, and she's sticking to it.
Cate has always dreamed of starting a family and settling down and yet she's the only one of her close knit friendship group still unattached. But that doesn't mean she's going to lower her standards.
Enter Dave, a reformed bad boy with gorgeous hair and eyes the wrong color. Dave doesn't tick any of the boxes on Cate's list. It's unthinkable that she would develop feelings for him, and yet ... Cate finds herself being drawn to Dave in a way she's never felt before.
Will Cate confront the reasons behind her list? Or will she risk losing a man who could be better than any list she could ever dream up?
This romance where opposites attract is perfect for fans of Rachel Gibson, Susan Mallery, Victoria Dahl, and Susan Elizabeth Phillips.
For more information, please v isit momentumbooks.com.au/books/wish-list.
About Belinda Williams
Belinda is a marketing communications specialist and copywriter who allowed an addiction to romance and chick-lit to get the better of her. She was named a top ten finalist in the Romance Writers of Australia Emerald Award in both 2013 and 2014.
Her other addictions include music and cars. Belinda’s eclectic music taste forms the foundation of many of her writing ideas and her healthy appreciation for fast cars means she would not so secretly love a Lamborghini. For now she’ll have to settle with her son’s Hot Wheels collection and writing hot male leads with sports cars.
Belinda lives in Sydney and blogs regularly about writing and reading here: www.belindawilliamsbooks.com
Also by Belinda Williams
The Boyfriend Sessions: City Love 1
The Pitch: City Love 2
First published by Momentum in 2015
This edition published in 2015 by Momentum
Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd
1 Market Street, Sydney 2000
Copyright © Belinda Williams 2015
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written
permission from the publisher.
A CIP record for this book is available at the National Library of Australia
Modern Heart: City Love 3
EPUB format: 9781760300906
Mobi format: 9781760300913
Cover design by Danielle Hurps
Edited by Tara Goedjen
Proofread by Laura Cook
Macmillan Digital Australia: www.macmillandigital.com.au
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