“Are you okay?” He ignored the detectives.
“Yes. They’ve arrested Phillip’s fiancée.”
He sat down on the bed next to me. “I heard from Killian about ten minutes ago. And then I heard from Phillip.”
I raised my brows. “Phillip has your number?”
“Let’s discuss that later. There’s no bail – I think I overheard.”
“No bail. She’s made a few accusations around Ms Wood manipulating her fiancé, but nothing substantiated. We’ve spoken to Mr Preston. He was unaware of Miss Guilder’s grudge.”
“It wasn’t anything to do with my ex-sister-in-law?” I had thought about her. Eliot’s sister hated me, blamed me completely for what had happened.
“Nothing. We did interview her. She was actually quite upset with what had happened.” Croft glanced at James. “We’ll leave you to it. Maybe arrange to come in the next few days to give you some more information.”
I nodded. “I’m interested to know more. You’re sure it’s her?”
James nodded. “She’s confessed and the evidence makes it clear. You can stand down your security. Keep getting better.” He smiled and headed out of the room, Croft following him.
Jack’s arm went around my shoulders and he edged closer to me. “It’s over.”
“Shame.”
He laughed and looked at me, confused. “Shame?”
“I won’t have a reason to keep you here.”
“Do you need to have a reason?”
“Do you need a reason to stay?”
The smile that had been there faded, his eyes darkening. “I only need one reason to stay. You.”
“Stay permanently?”
He moved my hair away, his touch tender and careful. “I need to speak to Lauren. We need to talk more about it, but I know I don’t want to go back home. Not unless you come with us.”
A champagne cork went off inside me and I began to fizz. Even on the days when I’d gotten married I hadn’t felt like this, how a child should feel at Christmas.
And then I fell flat.
“What about Rebecca?”
His hand was creating trails across my back. “What about Rebecca? I doubt she’ll want to move in too.”
“But how will she feel about her daughter moving in with her dad’s girlfriend?”
There was a quiet chuckle. I felt annoyance that he was amused while I was fretting.
“Rebecca never expected me to live like a monk. Lauren’s nearly sixteen; it won’t be the same as if she was nine or ten and in another two years she’ll be moving in to dorms.” He looked at me curiously. “Rebecca’s landing tomorrow for Robert’s funeral.”
“Oh.” I fought for what to say. “Does she want to stay here?” The words were out before I’d really thought about them.
Jack laughed. “She’s staying at mine while we stay here.”
“Is that where she usually stays when she’s in England?”
He kissed my shoulder. “Sometimes. When she’s visited I’ve sometimes stayed at my parents so she can have time with Lauren without me around. A couple of times I’ve slept on the couch and she’s used my bed.”
