The Man Ban by Nicola Marsh

Author:Nicola Marsh [Marsh, Nicola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2021-07-27T00:00:00+00:00

39

The last thing Harper felt like doing after landing back in Melbourne was visiting her mom, but Lydia had left a message for her while she’d been in flight, and Harper didn’t like the way she’d sounded.

Her poised mother rarely made demands, so the urgency in her tone imploring Harper to visit ASAP meant when the taxi dropped her home she dumped her suitcase inside, grabbed her car keys, and headed for the house she’d grown up in, in Glen Waverley. She only lived a few suburbs over, in leafy Ashwood, and the trip took less than fifteen minutes. She parked in front of her childhood home, a brick veneer California bungalow, and traipsed up the path, wishing she’d taken the time to check her appearance.

Nobody did the imperious head-to-toe sweep like Lydia Ryland.

While she loved her mom, growing up she’d hated the scrutiny. Lydia wouldn’t overly criticize, but Harper would feel her silent disapproval if her skirt was too short or her top too revealing. Having fabulous hair courtesy of her mom made up for it somewhat, but ever since her diagnosis, Harper had become increasingly self-conscious.

Which made her invitation for Manny to stay over in her hotel room last night all the more significant.

Not that she hadn’t been aware of the pitfalls. She’d turned out the lamp, and they’d made love twice before she woke early and slipped into the bathroom. It hadn’t been a big deal because they had to check out at nine to head to the airport, and finding her showered and dressed hadn’t fazed him.

They hadn’t been able to get seats together on the flight, which gave her time to brace for their farewell. Crazy, because he’d said he’d call, and while she had no intention of making this into anything more than it was—a fun fling—she might or might not see him again.

But that hug at the airport had almost undone her. Being in his arms felt . . . right. And he had this way of holding her that conveyed so much more than words could. Silent strength. Dependability. Security. Things she craved in a man but had never been able to find.

Until now.

She’d cursed her independence as the taxi pulled away, and had almost told the driver to stop so she could take Manny up on his offer to drive her home. But that wouldn’t have been conducive to getting her head back in the game of being home and making sensible choices, focused on building her business, so she’d managed a half-hearted wave while a tiny piece of her broke.

Harper had barely climbed the porch steps when she spotted a giant cellophane-wrapped basket in front of the door. It had a stuffed giraffe in the middle, a bottle of expensive champagne on one side, and a monster box of chocolates on the other. Her mom’s new man had good taste.

She knocked before squatting to pick up the basket, and when the door opened, she presented it to her mom.

“From your secret admirer.

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