Nicola Marsh - What the Paparazzi Didn't See

‘Not a problem. I have a suite upstairs.’ He winked. ‘You could recover up there.’

Guess that answered Liza’s question about how she’d go about celebrating with Wade.

The old Liza would’ve laughed off his flirtation and changed the subject.

The new Liza who wanted to kick up her heels for the first time in for ever? Surely she couldn’t pass up an opportunity like this?

‘Is that an invitation or a proposition?’

‘Both,’ he said, capturing her hand between his, the unexpected contact sending a buzz shooting up her arm. ‘Am I in the habit of picking up women I barely know at parties? No. Do I invite them back to my place? Rarely.’

He raised her hand to his lips and brushed a soft kiss across her knuckles, making her yearn for more. ‘Am I hoping you’ll say yes to spending the night with me? Absolutely.’

Liza had a decision to make.

Do the sensible thing, the responsible thing, as she’d done her whole life.

Or celebrate her new life, starting now.

‘Do I accept offers to spend the night from guys? No.’ She squeezed his hand. ‘Have I had a one-night stand before? Never.’ She slid her hand out of his. ‘Do I want to spend tonight with you?’

She took a steadying breath and laid her hand on his thigh. ‘Absolutely.’

THREE

LIZA LITHGOW’S STYLE TIPS

FOR MAXIMUM WAG WOW IMPACT

The Shape

The key to WAG wow is making the most of what you have.

Learn how to show off your best assets and how to visually change the body parts you’d rather hide.

Always, always, dress to suit your shape.

PEAR

1 Wear dark colours on the lower half of your body.

2 A-line skirts that skim the hips and bottom are flattering.

3 Accessorise with scarves, necklaces and earrings to draw attention to the upper half of your body.

4 Avoid light coloured trousers or anything too tight on your bottom half.

BUSTY

1 Go for flattering necklines with tops and dresses: turtlenecks, shirt collars, boat necks, V necks.

2 Go for high-sitting necklaces as they draw the gaze up.

3 Avoid baggy tops with no shape as they can make you look heavier and avoid anything too tight across the chest.

SHORT

1 Dresses ending above the knee are best.

2 Wear fitted tops and trousers (straight or bootleg).

3 Avoid cropped length pants as they make legs look shorter.

TALL

1 Wear different colours top and bottom to break up the illusion of length.

2 Wear horizontal stripes.

3 Wear well-fitted layers that skim the body.

4 Adding a wide belt can help create a nice shape.

5 Avoid wearing pants that are the incorrect length.

Remember, the key to appearing confident in the clothes you wear is to be comfortable.

How many times have we seen women tugging up their strapless bodices or tugging down their micro-minis? It’s not a good look.

When you strut into a room, being confident in your body and the look you’ve created is half the battle!

As Liza stared out over the lights of Melbourne glittering below, she had second thoughts about her decision.

Was she really in Wade’s suite, about to indulge in her first one-night stand at the ripe old age of twenty-eight?

She still had time to bolt. She’d thought it rather cute when he’d mentioned making a quick trip to the convenience store across the road, and it reinforced his assertion that he wasn’t in the habit of picking up women or expecting to have sex his first night in Melbourne.

But while he was buying condoms, she was mulling over reasons why this might not be such a good idea after all.

She maintained strict independence for a reason. Depending on anyone for anything inevitably led to heartache.

Not that she’d be depending on Wade for anything, but letting her guard down came with a price. It left her vulnerable to feeling, and having her defences weakened, even for a short time, made her skittish.

She’d loved her dad. He’d abandoned her without a backward glance.

She’d depended on her mum. She’d eventually left too.

She’d thought sweet, easygoing Jimmy would always be there for her. He’d done a runner too.

No, it was easier maintaining aloofness, not letting anyone get too close. And that was exactly what Wade would be doing shortly...getting exceptionally close.

Ironic, it wasn’t the prospect of some stranger seeing her naked that had her half as anxious as the thought of being intimate with him and enjoying it too much.

She’d never been a needy female and had tried to instil the same independence into Cindy despite her physical limitations, yet there was something about how much she wanted to be close to Wade tonight that terrified her.

She could blame it on her impulsive need to celebrate and do something completely out of character.

Or she could admit the truth, albeit to herself. That she craved a connection, even if only physical, for just one night.

The soft swoosh of the key card in the lock had her fingers clenching on the windowsill.

So much for escaping.

He entered and her tummy fell away in that uncharacteristic swoop that signalled she really wanted this guy.

She tingled all over from it, her nerve endings prickling and putting her body on notice, a heightened awareness that made her want to rub against him, skin to skin.

Then it hit her.

She’d never been so attracted to any guy before. Not even Jimmy, whose body she’d known in intimate detail from the time they’d lost their virginity together in the back seat of his car at seventeen.

Because of the clothes she wore and the persona she presented to the world, guys assumed she was an easy mark. Even while she’d been dating Jimmy and Henri—albeit platonically in his case—guys had hit on her.

Fellow soccer and basketball stars who assumed WAGs were up for anything. Commentators and managers and agents who thought WAGs would do anything for stardom and recognition, including accept outlandish proposals.

The whole scene had sickened her and, while she’d seen enough hook-ups at parties in her time, she’d never been remotely interested.

What made Wade Urquart so special that she wanted to rip her clothes off the moment his sizzling-hot gaze connected with hers?

‘Glad you’re still here.’

He closed the door and slid off his jacket, where she caught sight of a tell-tale box bulging from the inside pocket. What looked like a surprisingly large box for what she’d envisioned as a brief interlude.

Her skin tingled again.

‘I contemplated making a run for it.’

‘What stopped you?’

He stalked towards her, stopped less than two feet away.

‘This.’

She laid a hand on his chest, felt the heat from his skin brand her through the expensive cotton of his shirt.

He didn’t move as her palm slid upward. Slowly. Leisurely, as she savoured the contours of hard muscle, desperate to feel his skin.

He watched her, his gaze smouldering as her fingertips traced around his nipples, his breathing quickening as her fingers skated across his pecs, along his collarbone and higher.

When her hand reached his neck, she stepped closer, bringing their bodies less than an inch apart.

She could feel his heat. She could smell his expensive citrus aftershave. She could hear his ragged breathing.

She’d never wanted anything as badly as she wanted Wade at that moment.

With a boldness she’d had no idea she possessed, she tugged his head down towards her and kissed him.

The moment their lips touched Liza forgot her doubts, forgot her past, forgot her own damn name.

She couldn’t think beyond their frantic hands and loud moans. Couldn’t get enough of his long, deep, skilled kisses.