Page 46 of The Husband Diet
‘What, he’s showing up tonight with you and the baggage – no offence to the kids – in front of his whole school? That’s practically professional suicide. Man, he must really have the hots for you, girl.’
The doorbell rang and I jumped. ‘It’s him! Be a star and let him in. And behave yourself! He already thinks I’m weird.’
‘Relax! I got it,’ Paul said as he sauntered gracefully down the stairs.
I listened as he opened the door and said in an exaggeratingly polite voice, ‘Hello! You must beJulian! I’m Paul – Erica’s best friend.’
I cringed because wily Paul had lowered his voice and now they were speaking in soft tones. That was all my kids’ principal needed – a pass from his students’ very fairy godfather on my behalf. I didn’t need a pimp – I could push my own goods. But only if and when I was ready.
I strained to listen, without success, and glanced in the mirror, feeling just a bit guilty as I removed some lip gloss – Paul always exaggerated – and took another look. Dress? Clung perfectly in the boob area, keeping away from the bulges. Hair? Still fresh from this morning. Eyes? Still green, only prettier, with some artfully applied eye shadow that made them look huge. That was the only huge thing I wanted tonight. Except for maybe, umm… No. No thinking about sex. I wasn’t going on a date – this was my children’s Thanksgiving play. Had I absolutely no shame?
With a deep breath, I scooped up my dainty clutch, so far from my everyday Mary Poppins leather bag, and floated down the stairs to find two gorgeous Latino-looking men at the kitchen table deep in conversation, like they’d known each other forever.
Julian looked amazing in an elegant dark grey suit, a light grey shirt and no tie. That was him. Elegant but casual. He reminded me a bit of Vince. Not that I’m attracted to guys who look like my brother, mind. We’re weird in my family, but notthatscrewed up.
Maddy and Warren were already at the school, so it was just the two of us in the jeep. Convenient, you’d say. I couldn’t be more nervous.
‘Take care of my doll, Julian, and bring her back in one piece. Or not – whichever way the evening may take you.’ Paul giggled.
I turned to spear him with my evil eyebrow, but he just beamed at us and gave me a smack on the rump (oh, God, he was doing his best to embarrass me tonight) and shoved us out my front door.
*
Being alone with Julian in his jeep was like skating on thin ice with red-hot blades. I knew I was going to go under, capitulate. I made a superhuman effort to drag my eyes away from his strong hands as he caressed the wheel. Sinewy hands. Definitely not a wimp’s hands. These were hands that had worked hard. I wondered what it would be like if those hands touched me again, and the thought that he’d actually ripped my pants to shreds simply because I asked him made me shiver all over.
He turned to look at me. God, those longlashes.
‘Cold?’ he whispered.
No, just horny, I imagined answering and shivered again.
He turned a dial and soon it was nice and warm.
‘Thanks,’ I whispered, and he smiled, his eyes lingering on mine, before he turned his attention back to the road.
*
Even in the theatre hall, during the play, Julian kept stealing me glances in the dark while I fought not to turn round and meet his eyes, which I could almost feel calling me. I clapped as hard as I could at the right times to show him I was totally swept away by the children’s performance, when actually I can’t remember a single scene (except for when Maddy and Warren appeared onstage).
After a smashing success and rounds of applause, Julian extricated us from the crowd of mums wanting to linger with him (who wouldn’t?) and drove the four of us home.
As the kids chattered non-stop, he glanced over at me again, only for longer, the ocean in his eyes flipping my stomach. And I felt a deep, deep shiver coming up from my insides.
‘How about a quick bite?’ he whispered so the kids wouldn’t hear.
Actually, I’d have preferred a slow-burning, full-out tasting, but that wasn’t what he meant.
I turned to look at him again. ‘Don’t you want to go to your own home and get some peace and quiet? I mean, haven’t you had enough of us for one evening?’
‘Never,’ he said and grinned his boyish grin.
‘Food it is, then,’ I answered with a smile, and the kids in the back shouted a big ‘Yay!’
The kids sat at the next table, but I kept a trained eye on them.
‘Your children are adorable,’ he said, a twinkle in his eyes as he watched them.
So are you, I wanted to add, along with drop-dead sexy. ‘Do you have any yourself?’ I ventured.
