Summer Sins

Hayley felt her heart tighten painfully. All of a sudden she realized that quite possibly she had been in love with Jasper since she was sixteen. How could she tell the cheerful little housekeeper that the marriage was not only not good—it was going to be over in twenty-three days?

Lucy greeted Hayley warmly when she came into the salon later that morning. ‘So how did the pretend honeymoon go?’

‘It was … good …’

Lucy’s finely arched brows rose slightly. ‘You didn’t do it with him, did you?’

Hayley averted her gaze as she inspected the appointment book. ‘Do what?’

‘You know what. Slept with him. Had sex. Got down and dirty with him.’

‘So what if I did?’

Lucy groaned. ‘I knew you wouldn’t be able to help yourself. God, Hayley, are you crazy or something? It’s not a real marriage. He’s going to move on as soon as he can.’

Hayley swivelled her gaze to look at her friend. ‘I thought you were starting to like him? You said he was a big improvement on Myles.’

‘I do like him, what woman wouldn’t? He’s charm and hot sex personified but it doesn’t mean you should have taken things that far with him.’

Hayley let out a heartfelt sigh. ‘I know, but I just couldn’t help it.’

‘Don’t tell me you’ve fallen in love with him. That would be about the stupidest thing you’ve ever done.’

Hayley didn’t answer.

‘Shoot, Hayley,’ Lucy said. ‘You have, haven’t you?’

‘I know it’s stupid and crazy and all of those things, but I’ve loved him for years.’

‘So why were you planning to marry Myles if you really loved Jasper?’

Hayley gave her a rueful look. ‘That was another stupid and crazy thing I did. You were right when you said you thought I was looking for security. I think I knew deep down I could never have Jasper so I settled on second best.’

‘But you’ve got Jasper now, albeit temporarily,’ Lucy commented.

‘Yes.’

‘So what are you going to do?’

‘I don’t know … stick it out, pray for a miracle, and hope he falls in love with me.’

‘But what if he doesn’t?’ Lucy asked, her expression full of concern. ‘He’s not good marriage material, Hayley. His little black book is not little—it’s the size of an encyclopedia. He’s already left one woman in the lurch. I couldn’t bear to see that happen to you.’

‘I’ll be fine.’

‘You are on the pill, aren’t you?’ Lucy asked. ‘You sorted out that trouble with the last one you were trying didn’t you?’

‘Um … yes … that’s all sorted.’

Lucy pursed her lips thoughtfully. ‘And you’ve been using condoms, right?’

‘Mostly.’

‘What do you mean “mostly”? For God’s sake, Hayley, Jasper Caulfield’s been around more blocks than a New York city cab driver.’

‘I know what I’m doing,’ Hayley said. ‘If anything … happens I’ll have to face it alone. I know that. I’ve always known that.’

Lucy gave her a big squishy hug. ‘Just be careful, Hayley. I don’t want to see you get your heart smashed to pieces. Look what happened to Miriam Moorebank. It was years before she found a nice guy to marry her. Men don’t like women with the sort of baggage that wears nappies.’