Romance for Cynics. Nicola Marsh

left it all behind.

      She hadn’t wanted to be reminded of her foolishness. Had she been so wrapped up in the frivolity of her indulgent lifestyle that she’d been oblivious to her husband’s indiscretions? Or worse, had she used her privileged life as a deliberate distraction from the warning signs?

      She hadn’t thought so at the time, or during the many months after she’d dissected the disastrous fallout, but on the odd occasion when she allowed her mind to drift she wondered if she’d been blinded to the truth by the glitz she’d grown to love.

      The consultant hurried back into the room and thrust a pair of sparkly stilettos at her. ‘Here, try these.’

      Lucy had a distinct Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz moment as she slipped on the sparkly crimson heels. If only she could click her heels and vanish back to the staid normality of her life before she’d discovered the truth about Pops, the threat to Gram’s house and the craziness of agreeing to pose as Cash’s girlfriend.

      ‘What do you think?’ The consultant fussed around her, smoothing non-existent creases and adjusting the zip. ‘You’ll make quite the impression in this outfit whatever the occasion.’

      The occasion would be the Valentine’s Day ball and a most welcome conclusion to her week-long zaniness posing as Cash’s girlfriend.

      Once her obligations were done, she could throw herself wholeheartedly into his landscaping job.

      But as she stared at her startling image in the mirror, she had a thought. How would she interact with Cash after this week was done? Would they revert to their previous cool relationship or would the week of forced proximity and faked romance change things?

      Ideally, she’d go back to ignoring his overtures and he’d go back to making millions. In reality, Lucy knew a week of spending time together, sparring and joking, would blur the boundaries.

      ‘Shall I start packaging your choices?’ The stylist picked up her clipboard and started ticking items off her list. ‘Just to clarify: you’re taking the jade waffle-knit jacket, the aubergine skirt suit, the black pencil skirt, the tribal print dress, the quilted puffer jacket, the floral flip skirt, and the formal sheath you’re wearing.’

      This was the time for Lucy’s sanity to return. She should bolt from the store while she had the chance. Instead, she found herself reluctantly nodding. ‘Yes, thanks.’

      The woman’s eyes glittered at what would be healthy commission. ‘And the shoes to complement the outfits? Black patent leather kitten heels, the knee-high boots and the crimson evening stilettos?’

      ‘Those too,’ Lucy said, her resigned sigh earning an odd look from the stylist.

      ‘You get changed while I start putting these purchases through.’ The stylist wiggled a card out from a stash on a nearby table. ‘And if you’re interested, our in-store hairstylist is offering seventy-five per cent off all services to customers who spend over five hundred dollars here.’

      Considering Lucy had just spent double that on replenishing her wardrobe, she definitely qualified. Lucy thanked her, took the card and slipped back into the dressing room to change back into her jeans and ‘I HEART DIRT’ T-shirt.

      She’d come this far in her lunacy. Why not go the whole hog and get her hair done too?

      Feeling chirpier than she had in ages, she hummed the latest pop song under her breath as she changed, surprisingly eager to see Cash’s expression when she met him at the PR firm’s head office to launch the fundraiser later today.