“Boss?” It’s the security guard from the main door. “Ms. Weston is here for you. Shall I bring her through?”
I exhale, my shoulders dropping. “Yes, show her through.”
I stand and walk around my desk, hands going into my pant pockets. A few minutes later the door opens and Lavinia steps through. My security guy closes it behind her.
“Lavinia. This is a surprise.”
She walks to me, sweeping me into a double-cheeked kiss.
“I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d drop in.”
She walks to the two sofas facing one another and places her handbag down on the floor in front of one as she takes a seat.
“Would you care for a drink?” I walk to the cabinet where I keep everything and reach for the fridge to get out some water or juice.
“Some of that will do.”
I turn and follow her line of sight to the crystal decanter on top of the cabinet.
“It’s after lunch.” She laughs nervously.
“I didn’t say a word.” I offer her a small smile as I fix two glasses.
I turn and hand her the glass of brandy. She shifts as though she’s making room for me on the couch next to her, but I move around the coffee table and take a seat on the couch opposite her instead.
She takes a large gulp from her glass.
“I came to congratulate you on your engagement.”
“Thank you.”
She fiddles with a diamond tennis bracelet on her wrist, a Beaufort design from last year, before taking another large gulp of brandy.
“I understand why I had to hear it from someone else. We aren’t… we’re not as close as we once were. I’m not the one you confide in anymore.”
I bite back my retort that she has never been the one I confide in. That one night we had. Thatmistakehas completely skewed her interpretation of our friendship. If I could erase that night I would. She was there when I felt alone. But I’ve never confided in her. Not once. I never told her about Elaina’s affair, or about how my entire life felt like a lie some days. How I was never in love with my wife in the way the world believed.
“I would have told you myself,” I say. “Just like I would have told you that Hallie and I were dating. But we both agreed to tell our families first, and I haven’t seen you since Sullivan’s viewing evening.”
Her lips lift into a small smile. “I figured out there was something between you both that night.” She brushes some invisible lint off her skirt. “You’ve chosen well. Halliday is a lovely young lady. I hope she will make you happy.”
I take another drink, my grip on the glass tightening at the way Lavinia slides the word ‘young’ in.
“She already does. I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”
Lavinia’s brows shoot up before she recovers herself. “Good, that’s wonderful.”
I allow a few seconds of silence to stretch between us. She’s on edge. Her eyes keep darting around the room and she’s fidgeting, her fingertips drumming against the side of her almost empty glass.
“Was there something else on your mind?”
I know Lavinia well enough to know she won’t mention the evening she came to my place and suggested we spend another night together. Especially now she knows I’m engaged. If she had wanted to discuss it, we’d have done so already. I haven’t pushed it because that seemed like the gentlemanly thing to do.
But looking at her now, I wonder if it was a mistake not to clear the air sooner.
“I just wanted to see you to…” She sighs. “To make sure you know what you’re doing.”
I clear my throat to stop myself from speaking too harshly.
