“I know I sounded like a bit of an ass back then—”
“A bit?”
“All right, a complete ass. I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’ve been ratty for too long as it is.”
“You’ve had good reason. But things can change now, Rachel. You can still go to Lancaster.”
“If they accept me.”
“Are you joking? Of course they will. And you’ll sort the housecleaning. Maybe Meghan can help—”
“Meghan’s going into childminding.”
“Or Lily—”
“No. That’s the last thing I want Lily to do. She can do her course and help with Mum.”
“Something will work out. You could just do fewer houses.”
“Maybe.” But she’d liked the idea of going into business with Claire, of sharing something like they once had. Of being friends again, and better this time. Stronger. Partners. “I’ll figuresomething out.” She leaned her head back against the sofa, away from Andrew’s arm. “Sorry to blub.”
“You deserved a good cry.”
She gave him a watery smile, and he touched her chin again. “And where do I fit into all of this?” he asked quietly.
“In Macclesfield?”
“Wherever I am.”
“Let me guess. You have a job coming up in Papua New Guinea.”
“Nope.”
“Burma?”
“No, I’ll be working in Macclesfield for a few more months. And after that...” He shrugged. “I could limit myself to the UK if I had a reason to.”
Rachel felt her stomach dip, the way it did when she was on a roller coaster. It was not an entirely pleasant sensation. “Do you have a reason?”
“You tell me.” Andrew rested his gaze on her, everything about him so steady and sure. So trustworthy, if she could summon the strength to trust him.
“Maybe,” she allowed, and he laughed wryly.
“You’re good for my ego, Rachel. You keep me from being arrogant.”
“That’s something, then, because I always thought you were a bit pompous.”
“I know you did.” He put his hands on her shoulders, and Rachel’s breath hitched. “Maybe, eh?” he said, and then he leaned forward and kissed her. Rachel closed her eyes, savoring the sweetness of his mouth against hers, his breath warm and minty, his lips soft and yet hard at the same time. It had been a long, long time since she’d been kissed, and this so tenderly.
He pulled back a little, smiling. “Still maybe?”
“You’ll have to do better than that if you want a yes,” Rachel said, and grinning, Andrew did.
Chapter thirty-two
Claire
