What the Paparazzi Didn't See

by Nicola Marsh

  ‘Sounded like a guy.’ Cindy finished chewing and started making smooching noises.

  Uh-oh. Shar had said they’d been busy in the kitchen when she’d arrived home but what if Cindy had seen that kiss?

  ‘You should have a boyfriend,’ Cindy said, her wobbly grin endearing. ‘A proper one this time, not like those loser sports guys.’

  Liza loved that about Cindy, her insightfulness. Most people saw the wheelchair and her physical disfigurement and assumed she was brain-damaged too.

  While many people with cerebral palsy did suffer a degree of brain injury, Cindy had been lucky that way and she often made pronouncements that would’ve shocked most scholars.

  ‘I’m too busy with my new job to date, sweetie.’

  A half-truth. For the guy who wanted to date her happened to work right alongside her.

  It could be convenient...if she were to lose her mind.

  No, having Wade practically invite himself in sixty minutes ago reinforced she was doing the right thing in keeping things between them platonic.

  She didn’t want to let him into her life, into Cindy’s life, when there was no future. While Cindy never talked about their folks abandoning them, it would have to hurt. The last thing she needed was Cindy bonding with Wade only to have him head back to London.

  She wouldn’t do that to herself—uh, to Cindy.

  ‘I have a boyfriend.’

  Liza smiled, having been alerted to Cindy’s latest crush via Shar. ‘You do?’

  Cindy nodded. ‘Liam Hemsworth. He’s hot.’

  ‘Personally, I prefer Chris.’

  ‘No way.’ Cindy popped another choc chip in her mouth. ‘Though I guess that would work out well. They’re brothers, we’re sisters. Perfect.’

  Liza laughed as she opened the oven door and popped the muffins inside. ‘Tell you what. You do another ten hamstring stretches and I’ll watch The Hunger Games with you again.’

  ‘Deal.’

  As Cindy manoeuvred her wheelchair into the next room Liza pondered her sister’s observation.

  You should have a boyfriend.

  While she didn’t need the complication, for a second she allowed herself to fantasise what it would be like having Wade fill the role.

  EIGHT

  LIZA LITHGOW’S STYLE TIPS

  FOR MAXIMUM WAG WOW IMPACT

  The Home

  While WAGs lead a busy social life, they do occasionally entertain at home. And even if they don’t, what better way to unwind after a hectic game or a rowdy after-match function than kicking back in their cosy abode?

  Here are a few tips to make your home entirely livable:

  Make your entry-way inviting. When your guests enter your home it’s the first area they see. The entry-way should make a statement, give a hint of what’s to come and draw the guest into the rest of the house. Pictures on the wall are the easiest way to dress up your entry-way. Same with floor coverings. Hall tables are a nice addition as you can dress them with signature or eclectic pieces.

  Experiment with glass. Glass instantly adds sparkle to a room. Experimenting with shapes and heights (vases, bowls, objects) is fun, and keeping them in the same colour palette is advisable. Varying shapes in like-coloured glass can be eye-catching.

  Mix it up. Every object in your home doesn’t have to be an heirloom. If you like quality pieces, mix them up with a little kitsch. It’s okay to have your favourite collection alongside that priceless vase. The whole point of collecting is to have a passion for it, finding items you really love, so why not show them off? They’re a great conversation starter too.

  Keep window dressings simple. Whether you go for curtains or blinds, keep them simple. Don’t let them overpower your furniture. Subdued tones work best but that doesn’t mean you need to skimp on quality. The simpler the curtain, the better quality the fabric should be, like linen, silk, cotton or satin. Understated elegance is the key to setting off your room.

  Layer your bed. Your bed is usually the focal point of your bedroom and should be treated as such. Layering different fabrics on and around the bed (from a fabric headboard to lush linens) creates an inviting room. When layering, avoid clash of texture and colour by keeping it simple. Muted tones in green, blue and white work wonders.

  Wade’s week had been progressing exceptionally well.

  Danni had completed the first draft of Liza’s biography, the pre-orders were phenomenal and he’d managed to sneak another dinner with Liza, albeit for business.

  This time she’d driven herself so had avoided his plans for more than a goodnight kiss on her doorstep. He didn’t know whether to be peeved or glad she was so focused on her new job.

  Considering he’d had his doubts about her when she’d secured this job, and her motivation behind it, he had to admit she’d impressed. Her dedication, her punctuality and her fresh ideas had given him new perspective on an industry he’d thought he knew inside out.

  She was the complete professional and almost made him feel guilty for constantly picturing her naked. Almost.

  They’d been too busy to catch up beyond snatched marketing meetings in the office, and for a guy who normally had his mind on the job twenty-four-seven he’d found himself being seriously distracted.

  Those tight pencil skirts she wore? Disruptive, despite their sedate colours and modest below-knee length.

  Those fitted jackets? The epitome of conservative fashionable chic.

  Those blouses? Muted colours with barely a hint of cleavage.

  But whenever she entered his office he had an immediate flashback to the night he’d seen beneath the clothes and he’d be hard in an instant.

  He’d dated occasionally in London but no woman had affected his concentration like Liza. Ever.

  When Danni had emailed him the first draft of her biography he’d sat up all night devouring it on his e-reader. His obsession with her should’ve been satisfied. Instead, the more he discovered about her, the more she piqued his curiosity.

  She’d delivered exactly what he wanted in terms of a tell-all, a juicy tale highlighting behind-the-scenes gossip in the soccer and basketball worlds.

  She’d changed names to protect the innocent but he knew readers would devour the catfights and hook-ups and pick-ups, trying to figure out which real-life star and WAG inspired her stories.

  This book would sell but her lack of personal details disappointed. She’d glossed over her childhood and teenage years, focusing on the glamorous drama that kicked in when her high-school boyfriend hit the big time.

  He should’ve been glad, for she’d provided the page-turning hot gossip that sold books. But he’d be lying if he didn’t admit to wanting to know more—a whole lot more—about the woman behind the fake tan and designer handbags.

  If he had insight into what made her tick, he might understand her continued aloofness.

  Her lack of enthusiasm at pursuing anything beyond a one-night stand surprised him. Not from ego, but for the simple fact they still shared a spark. More than a spark, if the way she’d responded to his kiss seven days ago was any indication.

  So why was she holding back?

  It wasn’t as if he was after anything hot and heavy. He’d been upfront with her about exploring a relationship while he was in Melbourne so anything too deep and meaningful wouldn’t scare her off.

  She’d refused. But her kiss said otherwise.

  She wanted this as much as he did, which begged the question, why
weren’t they out at a movie or dinner or at his place right now?

  Instead, he had to face his worst nightmare.

  With impeccable timing as always, Babs knocked on his door and he braced for the inevitable awkwardness that preceded any confrontation with his stepmum.

  Ridiculous, considering she couldn’t be more than ten years older than him, if that.

  ‘Wade, darling.’ She breezed into his office and made a beeline for him.

  ‘Babs.’ His terse response didn’t deter her from planting an air kiss somewhere in the vicinity of his cheek.

  Thank goodness. He preferred it that way. The less those Botoxed lips got near him, the better.

  ‘Thanks for seeing me.’ She took a seat without being asked. ‘From what I hear we have a lot to catch up on.’

  ‘Really?’

  She hated his monosyllabic answers, which was why he did it.

  ‘You’re stalling the inevitable.’ She waggled a crimson-taloned finger in his direction. ‘It’d be best for all of us if Qu Publishing sold sooner rather than later.’

  His fingers dug into the underside of his desk. ‘I beg to differ.’

  She wrinkled her nose. ‘You always did.’

  With a calculated pause, she leaned forward and he quickly averted his gaze from her overt cleavage spilling from an inappropriately tight satin blouse. ‘It’s what your father would’ve wanted.’

  Low blow. Incredibly low. What did he expect? The woman was a gold-digging piranha and probably had already spent the money she’d anticipated from Qu’s sale.

  ‘My dad would’ve wanted to see his family legacy live on.’ He forced a smile, knowing it would never reach his eyes. ‘I’m surprised you wouldn’t know that.’

  The corners of her mouth pinched, radiating unattractive wrinkles towards her nose. ‘We’d both be better off without a struggling business dragging us down. Digital publishing is the way of the future. Paperbacks are redundant.’

  Showed how much she knew. Sure, the digital revolution was a boom for readers but, from the extensive research conducted by online companies over the last five years, there was room in the expanding market for tree books, as he liked to call them.

  ‘I have figures to prove you wrong there.’ He tapped a stack of documentation on his desk. ‘Including record pre-orders for Liza Lithgow’s biography.’

  ‘That tart?’

  Wade would never hit a woman, would never consider it, but he sure wouldn’t mind clamping a hand over this vile woman’s mouth and dragging her out of his office.

  ‘Who’d want to read about her fabricated life?’

  He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of asking what she meant.

  ‘All those WAGs are the same. Fake, the lot of them. Happy to be arm candy for what they can get.’

  Pot. Meet kettle.

  Wade had heard enough.

  ‘I’m not selling, Babs. The board isn’t selling. They’ve agreed to give me three months to take this company into the black and they’re men of honour.’

  More than he could say for her. She wouldn’t know honour if it jumped up and bit her on her nipped and tucked behind.

  Her eyes narrowed, took on a feral gleam. ‘You’re pinning the success of this entire company on one book? Not a smart business decision. All sorts of disasters could happen before it hits the bookstores, like—’

  ‘I really have to get back to work,’ he said, standing and heading for the door, which he opened in a blatant invitation for her to get the hell out of his office.

  She stood and strolled towards him, deliberately taking her time. ‘I’ll be at the next board meeting.’

  ‘I’m sure you will,’ he said, resisting the urge to slam the door as she stepped through it.

  ‘What you’re doing is wrong and your father would be appalled at the risk you’re taking—’

  This time he gave in to instinct and slammed the door.

  * * *

  ‘There’s a book launch I want to suss out tonight,’ Wade said, barely glancing up from his paperwork. ‘We’re going.’

  Liza bristled. She didn’t take kindly to orders, least of all from the man she could happily throttle given half a chance.

  He’d been bugging her all week, using subtle charm and sexy smiles to undermine her. She’d weathered it all, had focused on work in the hope he’d forget this ridiculous challenge of trying to woo her.

  He hadn’t, until today. Today, he’d been brusque and abrupt to the point of rudeness and no one seemed to know why.

  She should’ve been happy. Instead, a small part of her missed his roguish charisma.

  ‘We may have other plans,’ she said, in a manufactured sickly sweet voice.

  He glanced up, the frown between his brows not detracting from his perfection. ‘A rival company is releasing a soap-opera starlet’s bio. Pays to scope out the competition, get a few ideas for what works at these shindigs and what doesn’t.’

  Liza hated the hint of deflation she felt that his command had been pure business and not a burning desire to spend some time in her presence outside work.

  Crazy and contradictory, considering that was the last thing she wanted and she had gone to great pains to avoid any out-of-work contact since that kiss on her doorstep.

  But a small part of her, the part of her that reluctantly dredged up memories of their scintillating night together, yearned for a repeat.

  Needless to say that part of her didn’t get a look-in these days.

  ‘Surely you’ve been to heaps of book launches? What’s so special about this one?’

  With an exasperated sigh, he flung his pen on top of the towering stack of paperwork threatening to topple.

  ‘I’ve heard they’re trying an innovative giveaway. Buy the book, get a download of another free.’ He pushed aside the paperwork with one hand and pinched the bridge of his nose with the other. ‘I want to see how well it’s received by readers who prefer to hold a tree book.’

  ‘Tree book?’

  His mouth relaxed into a semi-smile. ‘Paper comes from trees. Paperbacks? Tree books.’

  ‘Cute,’ she said, a broad term that could be applied to his terminology or the man himself when he lost the ‘shouldering the weight of the company on my shoulders’ look.

  He’d been grumpy all day but she’d weathered it, assuming he had profit margins to juggle or worry about. The fact he’d cracked a half-smile? Big improvement.

  ‘My dad used to call them that,’ he said, interlinking his fingers and stretching overhead. It did little to ease the obvious tension in his rigid shoulders.

  ‘He built an incredible company,’ she said, surprised by his rare information sharing.

  While Wade seemed content to interrogate her, his personal life was definitely off-limits.

  The snippets she’d learned about the enigmatic CEO had come from colleagues, co-workers who’d given her the lowdown on Qu Publishing.

  A company founded sixty years ago by Wade’s grandfather, a company that had produced many best-sellers under Wade’s dad, but a company that had floundered when Wade’s stepmum had entered the picture and Wade had left to start his own company in London.

  While no one would directly disparage Babs Urquart, Liza saw enough glowering expressions and heard enough half-finished sentences to know Babs wasn’t well liked.

  Apparently they blamed her for Qu’s downfall. And so did their boss.

  ‘
You started out here too?’

  His lips compressed, as if he didn’t want to talk about it. ‘Yeah. I left after a few years, started my own company in London.’

  ‘Bet your dad was proud.’

  ‘Yeah, though we lost touch over the last few years.’ Pain flickered in his eyes and she wished she hadn’t probed. ‘Caught up infrequently. Snatched phone calls.’

  He shook his head, the deep frown slashing his brow indicative of a deeper problem. Looked as if she wasn’t the only one with parental issues. ‘I resent that distance between us now. He had a heart condition. Didn’t tell me ’til it was too late.’

  Appalled, Liza resisted the urge to hug him. ‘Why?’

  Wade shrugged. It did little to alleviate the obvious tension in his rigid shoulders. ‘Guess he didn’t trust me to be there for him, considering I’d deliberately distanced myself from him.’

  Liza didn’t know what to say. She despised trite platitudes, the kind that Cindy copped from ignorant, condescending people.

  And it was pretty obvious Wade had major guilt over his relationship with his dad, so nothing she could say would make it any better.

  But she knew what it was like to be let down by a parent, knew the confusing jumbled feelings of pain and regret and anger.

  ‘Kids and parents grow apart. Maybe it wasn’t so much a lack of trust in you that he didn’t mention his heart condition and more a case of not wanting to worry you because he cared?’

  Wade’s startled expression spoke volumes. He’d never considered that might have been his dad’s rationale.

  ‘So you’re a glass-half-full kinda girl?’

  ‘Actually, I’m a realist rather than an optimist.’ She had to be, because it was easier to accept the reality of her life than wish for things that would never eventuate. ‘And whatever or whoever caused the rift between you, it’s not worth a lifetime of guilt.’

  His steady gaze, filled with hope, didn’t leave hers. ‘I should’ve been there for him and I wasn’t.’