But they both knew that now wasn’t the time.Mum and Malek’s luggage was already in the open doorway of the bungalow.Their cab would be here very soon.As they approached, Mum came out immediately and made her usual fuss over Karim.
“Here you go, darling.”She handed him a banana, which delighted him.And Libby, too.Their genuine smiles confirmed what Dan already knew—despite what Libby had said last night, she did trust his mother, and leaving Karim with her hadn’t been the problem at all.
Of course it hadn’t.
The cab arrived.Dan shook Malek’s hand and then hugged his mum goodbye.
“Do what makes you happy,” she whispered softly in his ear, then louder, she added, “I’ll message you when we get home.”She turned to hug Libby.“You’ve been a blessing.Thank you so much.I hope we see you again or, at the very least, that we can keep in touch.”
“I’d love that,” Libby said, and her eyes met his briefly over Mum’s shoulder.
There were more “goodbyes” and “take cares.”Mum and Malek got into the car and drove off with Mum still waving through the open window.“See you soon!”
When their cab disappeared from view, Dan’s gaze drifted to Libby beside him.She was holding Karim, who’d now finished waving and was kicking his legs to get down.As soon as she set him on his feet, he pulled her toward the bungalow.
Dan followed them.He hadn’t stepped foot inside since that cringy afternoon when he’d grabbed his stuff and jumped into Libby’s cab.
The bungalow was bigger than the hut, but the huge matrimonial bed sucked up all the space.
Libby looked away from it first.
“You staying here tonight?”she asked.
“I’d rather not,” he said and reached for her hand.“I’d rather talk with you and sort out whatever is going on between us.What you said earlier, about not letting anyone else into your life—”
“Look, Dan, just forget what I said earlier.What matters most is our work.We should concentrate on releasing our next video after Karim goes to bed, rather than—”
“Work?Is that all you want me for?”
“No, you have other uses.”But her words had no punch, and when she let his hand go, he pulled her back and held her in his arms.
“Sex, then?Isthatall you want from me, Libby?”The thought should’ve got him hot, but instead it left him feeling empty.
“I know Isabella cheated on you,” she said.“I know she’s having an affair with Xav Hunter.”
Libby’s words slammed into his brain.“What the…?”He shook his head.
Clearly he’d missed something, because one second he’d been trying to figure out what was going on with him and Libby, and the next… Fuck, where had that come from?And…how?Just how did she know?
“Who told you?”he demanded.
“You did.”
“I—what?When?”
“The day you were sick.You thought I was her.You asked me how I could do it.How I could screw Xav Hunter.”
Fucking hell.He turned away from her, trying to steady his pulse, his irritation, and this prickling, irrational sense of violation.
Man, this was too much!
He’d actually said that?
And she’d known all this time?
He covered his face with his hands, embarrassed.Exposed.
And annoyed.Dammit.He was so annoyed right now.
