Husband Stay (Husband Series Book 2) by Louise Cusack

Author:Louise Cusack [Cusack, Louise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Flirt Press
Published: 2016-04-12T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“…and they’re always late paying their bills,” Doug said. “So that’s a real downside. But if you’ve got a buffer of money, you can ride it out.”

I smiled—a fake smile to cover the fact that I was actually bored, which was the last thing I would have expected, despite the fact that Jill insisted on calling him Doug the Dud since they split up. I’d always imagined he was more interesting, although usually it was Jill who’d done most of the talking whenever I’d caught up with the two of them.

I’d certainly expected he’d try harder on a first date. But he’d turned up in board shorts and a tee shirt, as if he’d just walked off the beach. Worse, he had stubble. And I hated facial hair. He appeared to be in holiday mode, and maybe that’s what his trip to Sydney was about. But then, why be all coy with me over the phone?

“So,” I said, over-brightly. “There’s a lot involved in the building industry.” I had to say something, but the last thing I wanted was more detail.

Luckily, he chose that moment to pick up his menu, as if the conversation was over. He actually looked relieved to be given a break, and I suddenly realized that to him, our conversation might feel like a Spanish Inquisition. But I’d only been trying to fill the empty silences by asking questions. He hadn’t asked me a single thing.

“Lobster rolls.” He looked up and frowned. “Is that like a salad roll, with lobster?”

I shook my head. “You might need to ask. I’ve never been here before.”

“Oh, I don’t like seafood. I was just wondering what you’d eat.”

I stared at him from across the tiny white table, trying to ignore the sound of chatty patrons and trendy waiters in their ocean blue uniforms bustling around us, because I had a dilemma going on inside.

The Angela of a year ago would have been thrilled that he’d remembered my solitary mention of liking lobster, and I would have easily said Anything with lobster is fine by me, but the Angela I was right in this minute didn’t actually feel like lobster. It was too rich and I didn’t want to feel sluggish when I had a busy afternoon in the studio planned. I’d rather have a light salad or soup.

Doug waited patiently while I licked my lips, wondering what I’d do. In the end I just said, “I’ll check the menu myself and see what I feel like.”

“Oh, okay.” He frowned again and looked back at his menu, maybe realizing—as I did—that things were awkward between us.

I’d been ready for the fact that there might be no chemistry, but the idea that we could have nothing in common apart from our connection to Jill alarmed me. While pushing Jack away, I’d pulled Doug close in my expectations, and it was suddenly blindingly clear that I shouldn’t have.

I’d always liked Doug, but that liking had been associated with Jill, how he was

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