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The evidence in the mirror was as plain as the pimply skin on her face. She had stopped breastfeeding a couple of months ago, so her skin was starting to clear up, but there was no doubt why she would be kryptonite to any healthy man’s libido. No wonder Tad had recoiled in horror when she made a move on him. Hells bells, she looked like a teenage nightmare.
“Hey, are you okay?”
Muscling in on her reflection was her gorgeous, curvy sister-in-law Lili, who with her unblemished olive skin and mane of dark hair looked like a young Sophia Loren. Fortunately, she was as beautiful inside as she was out, so Jules couldn’t find a single reason to hate her.
“Yeah, just taking a break.”
“We can be a bit much,” Lili acknowledged with a sympathetic smile. “Must be great to have some peace and quiet at your own place. Though I’m not sure I’ve forgiven you for leaving me alone to absorb all your brother’s attention.”
“You love it,” Jules said, knowing that her sister-in-law was being nice but that she craved privacy with Jack while they tried for a baby. Ten months married, her brother was antsy about Lili not being pregnant yet and especially competitive because his brother and sister-in-law were expecting twins. If Jules could facilitate more spontaneous sexy times by not being around, then she was happy to help.
If she could find her place in the meantime, all the better.
The door flew open and in stomped Cara in a whirlwind of barely boxed energy. She stood with hands fanning her hips, drawing all eyes to her huge baby bump.
“So, what’s eating at you?” she asked Jules. Not known for her subtlety, Cara was fond of striking to the heart of the issue, and for once, Jules appreciated it.
It’s time to make things happen.
Getting a place of her own was step one, and Jules had taken care of that a month ago when she’d moved into Shane’s old flat above DeLuca’s. The thought of what she needed to do next scared her silly, but she had to step up. And she was going to need the support of her friends and family, starting with the women before her.
She sucked in a bolstering breath and pushed it out quickly. “I’m going to start dating.”
Cara’s sapphire blue eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “That’s fantastic! Any help you need, I’m your woman. Seriously.”
“This is going to be so much fun, girl,” Lili added with a sly smile.
Jules sighed in relief. She had known that they would be supportive, but hearing it spoken aloud warmed her heart.
Cara was already tapping on her phone. “There are so many options. We’ll just set up a few online profiles and watch them come begging.”
“You’ll need a photo. A glamour shot.” Lili squared off her fingers, lining Jules up in her imaginary viewfinder. “We’re gonna make you look so fine.”
This was moving faster than she expected but it felt so good to be doing something. How long had it been since she felt anything remotely close to glamorous? Or proactive? It was time to stop being a coward and grab life by the balls, preferably ones that were attached to a hot guy who would treat her the way she deserved.
The girls chattered on about what needed to be done to get Jules ready for liftoff. Salon appointments, shopping excursions, her “requirements in a mate” list. Jules suppressed a manic giggle. Oh, God, she was doing this.
And her brother was going to hate it. Not idly, she wondered how someone else might feel but she quickly boxed that up and dumped it in her brain’s attic.
Imagining Jack’s reaction checked her glee a little, but she’d worry about that later.
“Can we keep it on the down-low for the moment? Somehow I don’t think my brother’s going to be as cool with it as you are.” She placed her palm on the handle of the restroom door and pulled it ajar.
Cara snorted. “Like it’s any of his business.”
A familiar worry crinkle bisected Lili’s brow, but her concern soon morphed into a conspiratorial wink. “Don’t worry about Jack. I’ll break it to him gently later on.”
Smiling her thanks, Jules opened the door wider and—bollocks—found her brother standing scarily still with head cocked and brow as dark as an Atlantic storm.
Of course.
“Break what to me gently?”
Three
Starting out on the back foot wassonot how she wanted this conversation to go down. No one said a word as the air, already shimmering with tension, was sucked into the vortex of Jack’s disapproval.
“Is someone going to explain what needs to be broken to me gently?” Her brother threaded his arms across his chest in one of those I’m-not-budging moves.
