‘Are you OK?’ Lily paused in mid cushion hurl, actually looking at him for the first time since he’d come home and realising the stupidity of her question. He looked dreadful—his face as waxy and as pale as the huge lilies arranged in the entrance hall, smudges under his eyes so purple it looked like make-up. ‘Hunter, maybe we should give tonight a miss.’
‘I don’t think so.’ He grimaced, downing a glass of water and promptly refilling it. ‘People are paying a thousand dollars a ticket to see the happy couple.’ He didn’t finish his sentence, just tipped his water down the sink, stalked into the bedroom and promptly peeled off his clothes. ‘Headache or not, I’m expected to turn up smiling—with you on my arm,’ he added, naked, miserable and still impossibly sexy. ‘You’re the draw card.’
‘Why?’
‘Because you landed me!’ He managed a flicker of smile. ‘In case you forgot, I’m actually considered quite a catch.’
‘Perhaps,’ Lily answered as Hunter stalked off towards the shower. ‘But, then, journalists don’t have the pleasure of actually living with you twenty-four seven!’
Slipping on her dress, Lily struggled with the concealed zip at the back and then tied on her lethally high strappy sandals, before staring at her reflection in the full-length mirror. Strange that when everything was crumbling away she’d never looked better. Her dress was chocolate brown, elegant and simple, tapered at the waist, her expanding bust for once buxom, the spray-on tan, the glossy curls all giving the impression of glowing vitality and newly wedded bliss.
Hopefully the cameras, on this occasion, would lie!
‘Thanks!’ Devastatingly handsome in a tuxedo, Hunter stared ahead as the lift descended. ‘For coming tonight.’
‘It doesn’t mean anything,’ Lily attempted. Just because she was there it didn’t mean she was staying, but Hunter misunderstood, his answer just confusing her further.
‘It does to me.’
He actually held her hand as they entered the ball and she actually let him.
United in misery perhaps, but still united—and as they took their seats Lily was stunned at what he’d achieved, understood then the hours of work that must surely have gone into this night and why Hunter couldn’t ever have called it off. Anyone who was anyone was there. Hunter had pulled an impressive A List out of the bag, who were sure to delve very deeply into their bottomless pockets. Lily blinked as she read the raffle prizes on offer and the price of each ticket!
Cruises and cars aplenty, even the privilege of Hunter Myles working personally on your portfolio just one of the goodies on offer.
‘I’ll buy the whole book, thanks!’ Lily let out a shocked laugh. ‘Are people actually buying these tickets?’
‘Let’s hope so.’
‘Hunter!’ Abigail’s perfume was as heavy as her make-up, and Lily felt her stomach tighten as her nemesis placed a possessive hand on Hunter’s shoulder and whispered in his ear. ‘Sorry to drag him away from you.’ Abigail added as Hunter stood up. ‘But that’s what happens, I’m afraid, when you’re sitting next to the host.’
‘I shouldn’t be long. I just need to—’
‘It’s fine,’ Lily interrupted, bracing herself for an evening spent on the outside of Emma and Jim’s love bubble, without even the solace of a single glass of wine. But Emma remembered her manners, disengaging herself from Jim’s loving gaze momentarily and turning to Lily.
‘You…’ she beamed ‘…are the very first to know!’ Thrusting her hand under Lily’s nose, Lily wasn’t sure which was brighter—the gorgeous diamond or Emma’s smile. ‘He asked me this evening! Oh, Lily, I can’t believe it.’
‘Congratulations!’ It sounded so paltry, but it was so, so heartfelt. Lily’s eyes filled up with tears as she stared at the happy couple.
Love really did exist—because here it was for everyone to see.
Despite her doubts, despite her utter refusal to believe in it, somehow, looking at Emma, looking at her cousin Jim, proud and shy beside her, Lily knew she’d been very wrong.
Real love did exist—real love really could last a lifetime.
If it was bridged from both sides.
She loved Hunter.
There and then Lily admitted what she’d long known.
From the second he’d swept into her life she’d loved him, only he’d made it clear from the start that it could never happen and she’d been stupid enough to think she could play along. She’d clicked I accept on the hypothetical twelve-month contract without ever considering the small print—she was the one who had broken the rules.