Strictly Business (Heads or Hearts), page 15
‘Mmmm,’ she murmured, the warmth spreading through her as she watched the flare of heat in his eyes. ‘My husband tells me all the time.’
‘Glad to hear it,’ he said, straightening once more. ‘So he should.’ He turned his attention to the glass she was holding. ‘What are you drinking?’
‘Angels’ Tears.’
He looked surprised. ‘Not a Screaming Orgasm?’
Her eyes sparkled cheekily. ‘I don’t need to buy one. My husband serves them up at home any time I want.’
This time the smile they exchanged was highly charged. But then she set down her glass and gave his arm a gently reproachful shove. ‘Maybe coming here wasn’t such a good idea, Liam. If you keep flirting like this I’ll have to take you home to bed and that would be a terrible waste of a night out, especially as I’m breaking-in new baby-sitters.’
He grinned. ‘So what are you saying? You want me on my best behaviour?’
‘No,’ she admitted, looking sheepish.
‘We can talk about this afternoon’s board meeting if you like.’
‘Not tonight.’
‘That’s a relief. I’d much rather –’
The barman arrived then and asked for Liam’s order and he chose a beer. They waited while the frosty glass was filled and Alice glanced at her left hand, at the slim gold wedding band and the beautiful engagement ring, an emerald surrounded by diamonds. She smiled, remembering that it had been a perfect fit the very first time Liam had slipped it on her finger.
‘Cheers,’ Liam said, clinking his brimming glass against hers. ‘Happy Birthday, darling.’
‘Happy Birthday, Liam.’
They shared a light, flirtatious kiss.
‘You know,’ Liam said after he’d taken a sip of his drink. ‘For years I used to dread this day.’
‘Too many bad memories.’
‘Yeah.’ He stared at his beer for a moment and then looked straight at Alice. ‘You’ve brought the balance back into my life, birthday girl. Apart from every other way that you’ve made me happy, you’ve given me a host of reasons to always feel good about this anniversary.’
She placed her hand on his. ‘And you must know that you’re my all-time favourite birthday present.’
It was so hard to believe now that there’d ever been a time when she was afraid to risk a second chance at marriage. From the day she and Liam exchanged their wedding vows, surrounded by family and friends on a tropical beach at sunset, her second marriage had been different from her first in every way.
Of course, that was partly because pregnancy and the birth of twins had played such a dominant role in their newly married lives. But She and Liam had accepted the mantle of parenthood with whole-hearted enthusiasm.
And they’d managed snippets of precious time alone, too, thanks to an abundance of willing baby-sitters – Julia, Zara, Mary-Ann and the aunts, as well as a paid housekeeper. Even Jack wanted to be involved. He’d totally forgiven Alice for not giving birth to boys and every Saturday morning he pushed his twin cousins in their double stroller while he jogged along the Esplanade.
But tonight Liam’s parents were doing the baby-sitting honours. They were rapt in their new grandchildren and had travelled north to Cairns so many times in the past fifteen months that they were seriously thinking about selling up their farm and moving here permanently, especially as Julia and Jack were so settled now.
‘Were the girls asleep when you left?’ Liam asked.
‘Your father was still singing nursery rhymes to Cate, but your mother’s very proud of herself. She got Lily to sleep in five minutes flat.’
Liam laughed. ‘That’s got to be a record. Well done, Granny Conway.’
‘Of course now your mother’s hoping Lily will wake up again, so she can have another cuddle.’
‘Well... if, by some miracle, the girls sleep right through, there’ll be plenty of chances for cuddles in the morning.’
Puzzled, Alice frowned at him. ‘You sound as if you don’t intend to be home in the morning.’
Her husband’s eyes sparkled. ‘Much as I adore being woken at six a.m. by my sweet little daughters, I need their mother to myself tonight.’ The light in his eyes deepened. ‘All night and till well after breakfast.’
Her insides felt hot and tight. ‘You’ve planned something.’
The light in his eyes deepened as he pulled a key from his pocket and dangled it in front of her. She tilted her head in an attempt to read the name engraved on the platinum tag.
‘Does that say Cupid something?’
‘Uh-huh, this is the key to Cupid’s Cave, the honeymoon suite at The Stapleton. It’s brand new, has a bed the size of a small cottage, French champagne on ice, a spa overlooking the ocean, gourmet room service. In the industry they’re claiming it’s the best honeymoon suite in the southern hemisphere.’
‘Wow! I’m getting steamy just thinking about it.’ A whole night alone with Liam was a luxury in itself.
Liam set the key on the bar and with a teasing smile, he said, ‘Of course we could always go dancing.’
Alice grabbed the key. ‘Not tonight. We can’t let the newlyweds have all the fun. Come on, darling, let’s go.’
About The Author
Barbara Hannay
I’ve been a professional writer for more than twenty-five years. I’ve written for three different publishers, including Penguin Books Australia and am now enjoying independent publishing as well. I live in North Queensland where many of my books are set and I love gardening and cooking, drinking cold rosé, singing in choirs, chatting to my grandkids and listening to classical music (which you may have guessed if you’ve read my books).
I share these interests in my newsletters, so if you like the occasional recipe or gardening tip, as well as info about future releases, you might like to sign up for my newsletter at www.barbarahannay.com.
To keep in touch, you can also like my Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraHannayAuthor/
Books By This Author
The English Jillaroo
The English Jillaroo: Downton Abbey meets the Outback.
When Charlie Bell starts work on Matt Lockhart’s outback cattle station, he has no idea she’s actually Lady Charlotte Bellamy. Charlie’s hoping for an exciting Aussie adventure and she’s certainly not looking for a future husband. Back in England, her parents have already lined up a suitable marriage for her in a bid to save their crumbling estate.
Charlie copes well with the rigours of the outback. Red dust, a runaway horse and a lurking crocodile are all in the mix. But she also falls for Matt - hard.
Now, when her time as a jillaroo comes to an end, she’s left with an impossible choice. Should she follow her heart or her sense of duty?
The English Jillaroo (originally published as Charlotte’s Choice) is the first book in Barb’s Heads or Hearts romances.
“The story is funny and charming, the Aussie outback is awesome and Barbara Hannay has a lovely writing style...” Amazon review
Return to Warrapinya
Return to Warrapinya: An Australian Outback Second Chance Romance
One failed marriage. A couple from opposite ends of the globe. Should they risk another chance at love?
Cara is nervous about revisiting Australia, but she has agreed to take her small son to meet his father – her ex-husband.
It’s been five years since Cara last saw Luke. He’s as attractive as ever, her emotions are in turmoil and their reunion brings back so many memories – some incredibly happy, others hopelessly complicated.
But their little boy adores his father’s outback property, and now that Luke has his family again, he longs to keep them together.
The time has come for a massive decision. Should this girl from Manhattan give her marriage a second chance?
Return to Warrapinya is the second book in Barbara Hannay’s Heads or Hearts series. Don’t miss this deeply emotional novel, winner of the coveted Romance Writers of America’s RITA award for Best Traditional Romance.
Best Laid Plans
‘This might be too hard, Will. Friends don’t usually jump into bed together.’
Lucy and Will have been best friends since their school days, but they’ve chosen totally different lifestyles. While Lucy has remained in Willow Creek, working as a country vet, Will’s career as a geologist has sent him wandering all over the world. Now Lucy’s biological clock is ticking loudly and she’s already suffered an IVF disappointment..
When Will returns to be best man at the same wedding where Lucy is bridesmaid, they reconnect. As friends. And in the days that follow, they come up with a possible plan. Why shouldn’t they try for a baby together? As friends.
But perhaps friendship sex isn’t quite so simple...
Best Laid Plans is the third book in Barbara Hannay’s Heads or Hearts collection. Don’t miss this heartwarming, small town, best friend to lovers romance.
Lost and Found
Oceans and secrets have kept them apart...
Young lovers Mary and Tom plan to elope, but their escape is blocked by Mary’s control freak father.
They never dream it will be eight long years before they see each other again. By then, Mary is living in the US with her military husband Ed and her young son Ethan, and her world is turned upside-down when Captain Tom Pirelli of the Australian SAS arrives on her doorstep.
Now, in the midst of heartbreaking news, she has to make a seemingly impossible decision – but will Tom forgive her when she reveals the truth?
Don’t miss this deeply emotional, second chance romance in Barbara Hannay’s Heads or Hearts collection.
The Wife's Secret
Two different dreams
Since their bitter divorce, Lisa and Rolf have forged new and separate lives. Rolf has moved out of Beacon Bay, while Lisa has remained in the tiny tropical town, a pillar of her community.
One violent storm
When a cyclone brings a massive tree smashing into Lisa’s roof – into the home Rolf built and where they raised their family - their son, Dave, convinces Rolf that he must do the repairs. Tensions abound when Rolf arrives with glamorous stage star Renata, along with a pretty young publicist who stirs up complications for Dave and his new restaurant.
Is the damage beyond repair?
Their combined efforts to rebuild the community see them confronting old wounds of their own, but will Lisa be brave enough to risk her heart again, especially if that means revealing the one guilty memory that has haunted her for decades?
Set on the picturesque coastline of Queensland’s tropical far north, this is an uplifting story about resurrecting hope and unearthing love, even through the most turbulent of times.
Barbara Hannay, Strictly Business (Heads or Hearts)
