‘Good. I want to know what happens in Lyon.’
‘Of course. And stay here as long as you like. I know Niki’s not your favourite person right now, but she will look after you.’
‘Thanks, Jules. And I don’t dislike Niki – we all make mistakes, right?’
Something flickered behind his eyes. I’d meant it as an offhand remark, but I could tell we were both thinking about the mistakes that ended our marriage.
A moment later, he blinked, a soft, sad smile crossing his face before he captured me in a tight hug. ‘Thank you, Ally – for everything.’
Tears pricked my eyes at the finality in his voice. But I would see Julian again – and soon. I let go first and he stood back, giving me one more smile before stepping into the cool night air.
That was one ex-husband sorted. Now what to do about the other one?
23
Thought of the day…
Just when you think you’ve cracked the code,life changes the password.
But that’s okay – winging it is a valid strategy.
After seeing Julian out, I rested my back against the door and exhaled slowly. This was more than physical exhaustion. My heart was exhausted too.
It would take some time to wrap my mind around Julian’s predicament, his proximity to serious trouble – and, by extension,mine. No wonder Tommy had warned me off. And everything he’d said about finding love… My heart ached for Julian, for the vulnerable man beneath the swagger. I just hoped that whoever he gave his heart to deserved it. She’d have me to contend with if she didn’t.
And then there was Tommy…
I pushed off the door and wandered into the bathroom to run a bath. As it started to fill, I generously sprinkled in bath salts and a sensuous aroma rose from the hot water. I inhaled deeply as I slipped out of my dress and knickers.
I was about to step into the bath when I spied the minibar through the doorway.A glass of wine wouldn’t go amiss, I thought. It wasn’t just the food I’d neglected at dinner; after my first sips of Champagne, I’d stuck to sparkling water.
I was crossing the lounge room stark naked when, out of the corner of my eye, I spied someone lurking on the porch. I shrieked, then ran back into the bathroom, grabbing the first thing I could lay my hands on – a fluffy bathmat – and wrapping it around me.
My heart beating so hard I could hear it over my shallow breaths, I peeked around the doorframe and squinted through the large picture window.
Wearing an apologetic smile, Tommy lifted his hand in a wave.
‘You scared the hell out of me,’ I shouted.
A muffled, ‘Sorry,’ came through the glass.
‘Well, come around to the door, you muppet,’ I said, directing him with a wild wave of my hand.
I swapped the bathmat for a robe – far more coverage – and tied the belt on the way to the door. I opened it to find Tommy standing there, the personification of sheepishness.
‘Sorry for scaring you.’
‘What were you doing at the window?’ I asked.
‘Checking to see if Julian was still here.’
‘He’s gone.’
‘Ahh, yep. I figured that out.’
‘Before or after you saw me naked?’
‘About the same time. Are you going to invite me in?’
