They’d gone from one night of hot, sweaty, no strings sex to exclusive fuck buddies to…this.
And Virginia had a sinking feeling that this was going to rock her world far more than Carter already had.
“Is this your wedding photo?” Carter asked. He’d noticed it while she’d been out getting her hair and nails done. He glanced over his shoulder at Ginny. She had one hand on the back of the couch while she slipped her foot into the sexiest high heel he’d ever laid eyes on.
“Mmm?” Ginny looked his way. “Oh. Yes.”
“Why is it still on the wall?” He knew she didn’t have any feelings for her ex. Knew she wasn’t pining after the man, but why had she not taken down the picture of them on their wedding day?
“I, um.” She shrugged one bare shoulder—the thin strap of her dress, the only covering on her bronzed skin, slipping off. “I had the place decorated just after we were married and the decorator put it up. I don’t ever notice it.”
Carter turned back to the picture and studied the woman in the fluffy white dress. “It doesn’t suit you.”
“What?”
“The dress. It’s not you.”
She moved beside him. “Yeah, well, a lot about that day wasn’t me.”
“What do you mean?” Didn’t every bride plan and execute the wedding of their dreams?
“My mother and father paid so things were done their way.” She nodded at the picture. “Including the dress.”
He didn’t understand this Ginny—the one who let others dictate what she should do. “And you didn’t think to argue? It was your wedding.”
Ginny laughed. “And what a waste it was.” She turned towards him. “I’m glad it wasn’t my dream wedding because Colin certainly turned out to be anything but my dream man.”
“And what’s your dream man?”
Her head tilted to the side, her eyes narrowed. “Are you trying to get the inside scoop?”
He just grinned at her.
“Mmm. Well, he’d want a lot of what I want. The usual: house, kids, dog. And he’d want me—love me—with everything he had. I’m not settling for second best ever again.”
“You deserve that and more, Princess. And I’m just the man to help you get it.” Carter reached up and took the picture off the wall.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m helping you.”
“What? How?”
“By removing reminders of a past you never should have endured.” He leaned the frame against the wall at their feet then turned towards her and grabbed both her hands. “You might think this is quick and really it is, but then it isn’t. We’ve known each other over two years now. You’ve told me things I don’t think you’ve told anyone else. We’ve done things I know you’ve done with no one else.”
Her fingers trembled in his and he held them tighter.
“Virginia May Wexworth, I want to marry you. I want to help you buy that house, and make those kids, and choose a dog. I want to love you with all I have and more.”
Ginny’s mouth dropped open, flapped a few times before she snapped it shut again.
Carter grinned. “I want those things, and I’m going to want those same things from now until the day I die. With you. Starting now.”
“Oh my God are you insane?” she breathed out in a rush.
“Yes. Insanely in love with you.”
“But…”
“What?”
“It was meant to be just hot, sweaty sex—”
“Oh, there’ll still be plenty of that.” He grinned.
“Carter.”
He could hear the regret in her voice and he wasn’t about to accept it. Besides, they didn’t have time to really hash this out now. Her guests would start arriving in minutes. “I’m not expecting a yes now, Princess. All I want is your promise that you’ll take this ride with me. I can already see the destination but you’re a little behind me so I’ll wait for you to catch up.”
“This is crazy. We’ve only been together, if that’s even what you can call it, for two weeks!”
Carter couldn’t wipe the grin off his face. “I know. Crazy. Insane.”
“No one even knows I’m divorced.”
“Doesn’t matter what anyone else knows or thinks. This is just between you and me.” He tugged her closer until his cheek brushed against hers in a light caress and whispered in her ear. “C’mon, Princess, get crazy with me.”
A chime echoed through the room. The melodic sound matched the woman beside him perfectly.
“Oh God. They’re here.”
Carter let go of her hands and bent to pick up the picture. “So much for escaping before anyone saw me.”
“That’s not—”
He placed a finger over her lips. “I know it’s not why you were ushering me out. You got a TV in your room?”
“Yes, but I’ve never used it.”
“I’m set then.” He leaned over and planted a kiss on her. “See you after your guests leave.”
Carter didn’t give her time to argue. She’d given him a tour earlier in the day so he knew where he was going. He headed for the hallway and the other side of the penthouse, where Ginny’s bedroom suite was.
Virginia surveyed her surroundings. Her living room was filled with women dressed in designer clothes and diamonds. Of course, there were varying degrees of flash to them. Nella, the veteran of the group, was in her usual impeccably tailored outfit, her diamonds sparkling enough to blind the unsuspecting bystander. But she wasn’t ostentatious. She wore her wealth elegantly—regally.
How would Carter fare under Nella’s upper class gaze? How would he look decked out in a tux at Nella’s Sapphire ball? Virginia shivered. Stupid question. He’d be devastatingly handsome.
She moved her gaze to the flash that was the extrovert of the group, Lana. The older woman wore a skin-tight cherry-red dress that plunged between her breasts and barely covered her rear end. She’d been bragging about her latest boy-toy conquest from the minute she arrived.
Virginia smiled. Lana would certainly be her flirtatious best if she knew a hot young stud was hiding out on the other side of the apartment. At eight years younger than Virginia, Carter was exactly what Lana went for.
Meagan and Jorja were huddled in the far corner, deep in discussion, while the latter kept glancing over at Emma. Virginia didn’t need to hear their conversation to know that Jorja was once again saying something disparaging about the other woman.
Would she herself become the victim of Jorja’s cutting tongue if her secrets were revealed?
On the couch, Camilla chatted with Willow. Both were smiling and it was obvious Camilla was divulging yet another happy moment spent with her new husband. Virginia was happy for the younger woman, even if the sight of her joy filled Virginia with an unfamiliar ache.
Envy? Is that what she wanted? The blissful rush of true happiness with a man? With Carter?
The last of tonight’s group, Sienna, Christa and Emma, were refilling their glasses while Lana regaled them with her latest exploits. Youth and the eternally youthful. While Christa’s work was understated, Lana’s was easily discernable.
Were her looks what attracted Carter? Her money? Colin had coveted both once he’d discovered who she was. Virginia frowned at the thought. How had she not realised that before? Shaking herself free of that depressing revelation, she let her gaze wander the room once more.
They were an eclectic group and even with the occasional animosity, catty sniping and new attendees, they’d been gathering for dinner the first and third Thursday of every month for years. Women came and went and the varying personalities hadn’t managed to ruin any meal Virginia could remember. And she’d been coming since she’d turned eighteen and her mother dragged her along.
Of course the women, other than Nella and Lana, were different now. Her mother had long since given the dinners away due to the lack of attention given by her favourite life observers—the paparazzi.
Virginia
stood by the wall of windows that overlooked the harbour, her back to the magnificent view. Next to her Darla was talking, but if someone asked her what they were discussing Virginia would be hard pressed to tell them. Her mind kept wandering to the man in the other side of her apartment.
“Virginia,” Darla snapped.
Heads turned in their direction. Virginia smiled to show there was nothing wrong. “What?”
“You haven’t heard a word I’ve said.”
“Oh, Darla, I’m sorry.” Virginia placed her hand on her friend’s arm. “The lead-up to Christmas is such a busy time I’ve found my mind wandering a lot. Please, go on.”
“I was telling you that Julian’s new wife is pregnant again.”
“Already? Then again, dogs in heat usually can’t keep their tails down.”
“I know, right?” Darla smiled and sipped her champagne. “I hope she has huge stretch marks on her stomach and her breasts sag.”
“Don’t forget a stretched vagina,” Virginia murmured.
Darla grinned. “Well, of course. But I’d want Julian to suffer some horrible reminder too. Shame pregnancy doesn’t make a man’s penis shrivel—not that he can afford to lose anything.”
“You know it’s not healthy for you to keep dwelling on that arsehole.”
“I’m not.” Darla frowned. “Well, I wasn’t until I heard they got married before the ink was dry on the divorce and now she’s pregnant again.”
Her friend sighed and Virginia decided enough was enough. Time for an intervention. “First thing tomorrow morning I’m setting up an account at Exclusively Yours and you’re getting back up on that dating horse.”
Darla gaped at her. “No.”
“Yes.”
“Virginia—” Any argument Darla was going to make was interrupted.
“Virginia?” Nella called from over near the foyer. “Where is your wedding photo?”
Virginia froze. She hadn’t thought anyone would notice the missing picture. “Ah…”
“It’s always right here.” Nella pointed to the newly bare wall. “Are you having it reframed?”
“Um, no. I, um…” God, what should she say?
Of its own accord, her gaze moved to the hallway Carter had disappeared down not ten minutes ago. He’d asked her to be crazy with him and she couldn’t deny she wanted to. With everything she was she wanted to embrace this new relationship, no matter how wrong they seemed for each other.
“Well?” Lana asked, moving in front of her. The woman was always able to detect the slightest whiff of scandal, and no doubt her nose for trouble was twitching right now.
“Well, I, um.” She glanced at Darla. Out of everyone here, her friend would be the only one upset by Virginia’s coming revelation. “I’m divorced.”
“What?”
“Since when?”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Virginia couldn’t make out who asked what. They all spoke at once.
“It didn’t work out and we parted amicably.”
She wouldn’t reveal any more than that. The details of her shockingly short marriage and quickie divorce would remain a closely guarded secret lest it find its way into the papers.
Darla grabbed her arm. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me. And here I am carrying on about my own divorce like I’m the only one to ever suffer through such horror.”
Virginia smiled. “Darla, you have every right to talk about it if you want to. I guess I was never affected deeply enough to speak of my own, which says a lot about the marriage, I think.”
“But still.”
“No. It was actually a relief to end it.” Virginia could tell Darla would want more details when they were alone, but for now she wanted to divert her friend and the other women. “Time for dinner. Please bring your glasses with you.”
She made her way to the dining room where the meal was waiting for them. She’d set up the sideboard buffet style. Virginia smiled when she spotted the tray of smoked ocean trout that Carter had added to the menu. He had a good palate; the succulent fish paired with the baby spinach and rocket salad and vegetarian lasagne would be delicious.
The man had depths she hadn’t reached yet and suddenly Virginia wanted to sink to the bottom and discover every little thing about him right now.
“What has that smile on your face?” Darla asked.
“Oh.” Virginia lowered her voice and leaned closer so only Darla would hear. “I’ll tell you later. Actually, hang around after everyone else goes. I want to introduce you to someone.”
Time to get a little crazy.
Virginia
by Rhian Cahill
Epilogue
Virginia sipped at her champagne and tried to appear interested in the conversation going on around her. Not that it was possible with her nerves so jittery.
Other than the initial arrival, where multiple cameras clicked away to capture the glamour and glitter that dripped from the attendees of the Sapphire Ball, she’d never been nervous about this annual event.
Not even the knowledge she’d have to face her publicity-hungry parents managed to put butterflies in her stomach—the likes of which she had now.
No. Only one person could get her nerves in a tangle of dread and anticipation.
Carter.
They’d been dating over a year. And while that included being seen together in public they hadn’t rubbed shoulders with the who’s who of Sydney’s social elite yet.
Until tonight.
And he was late.
At this point Virginia wished she hadn’t accepted her plus one invitation. Not that she was worried about how Carter would behave, never that, the man had chameleon-like abilities and could fit into any situation with ease. And he did it with a class and genuineness the majority of people here lacked. But even if he didn’t she wouldn’t care.
She liked Carter for Carter. Rough edges and middle-class upbringing and flaws. All of him.
Her fear stemmed from him seeing her—this Virginia—for the first time. Tonight she had in place the cool, confident façade she’d perfected over the years. The one she hid behind. The one she’d never put on in front of Carter.
Would the real Virginia repulse him?
“Oh my!”
Virginia glanced at the woman beside her. Margaret? Marjorie? Monique?—not that the woman’s name mattered—her breathy exclamation and the exaggerated hand fanning in front of her face had drawn the attention of their small group of socialites.
Everyone turned, like a choreographed routine, to see what Margaret/Marjorie/Monique was looking at.
All the air left Virginia’s lungs. The butterflies in her stomach turned into peacocks—strutting and flapping in their full-blown glory. And her heart stopped.
Carter.
Like she’d never seen him.
He wore a tux. No. He owned the tux.
It was as though the garment had been specifically designed for him, not made, designed. Armani had to be missing a model because he was currently striding across the room, every eye on him, as he made his way to her.
Carter’s gaze held hers. Not once did he look away and the twitch of his lips told her he was thinking the most scandalous of things. It made wicked images flash through her mind and she struggled to stand still—to keep her expression neutral.
That was proving difficult when Carter walked with such commanding presence—such purpose—that every person in the room stared. All sound ceased as though everyone waited with bated breath, with electric anticipation, for him to reach his prey.
“Dear Lord, he’s coming this way,” someone to Virginia’s right murmured.
Virginia smiled.
For the first time in her life she didn’t care that she was about to be the centre of attention. Didn’t care that people would be whispering behind her back. Definitely didn’t care that the minute he stood in front of her the whole room would know she was his.
She held her breath. Counted the ste
ps Carter took until he stood so close he’d breached her personal space. Virginia didn’t need space when it came to him. Not any more.
“Carter.” His name was a soft sigh of air through her lips.
He smiled down at her. “Virginia, as usual, you steal my breath.” Holding out his hand, he said, “Come dance with me.”
Virginia frowned at the use of her full name, but slipped her hand into Carter’s outstretched one. Their fingers instantly entwined and she forgot her momentary confusion.
But when he pulled her into his arms and began to move to the music she knew something was wrong. He never called her Virginia, always Ginny or Princess, and he never held her at a distance when she was in his arms. She bit her lip, worried over mentioning her concern.
“Sorry I’m late. I left the boys in charge as soon as I could.”
The reminder of why they hadn’t arrived together, that it wasn’t stepping into her world that kept him away, had Virginia relaxing against him. “No problem. Business always comes first.”
“No, Virginia. You always come first,” he whispered in her ear. “In and out of the bedroom.”
A shiver wracked her. Carter always knew what to say to have her teetering on the edge of arousal, but she forced the lust aside. For now. “I’m glad you’re finally here.”
“Now that I am here, when can we leave?” His hand drew circles on the small of her back sending a wave of goose bumps up her spine.
Virginia laughed. “The evening has barely started.”
He sighed. “I know.”
“We only have to stay a few hours. Can you manage that?”
“Of course I can. It’s not my thing, and I’d prefer to be alone with you, but I promise not to embarrass you in front of your friends.”
She pulled back to look at him. “First, there are very few people here I would call friend. And second, you could never embarrass me no matter what you did.”
“Oh, I think you’d be plenty embarrassed if I did to you what I’m dying to.”
Virginia arched one eyebrow.
Carter grinned. “In fact I think we’d scandalise everyone here if I had my way.”
Secret Confessions: Sydney Housewives - Extended Edition Page 4