‘I think we do,’ she said.
‘Why don’t we see how things go? Take each day as it comes.’
‘That sounds like a plan,’ she said, nodding, her heart warming at his earnest expression. ‘How about dinner tomorrow? I’ve got the day off.’
‘Erm… tomorrow’s not that convenient. I need to work most evenings because that’s when the people I interview are available, so dinner is off the table, but we can always meet fora drink later after I’ve finished. Except Saturday, I’m afraid I’ve already made plans to meet some friends.’
‘Okay,’ she said. ‘Although I could come along if you wanted me to? Nice to meet some of your friends.’
‘Mmm, slightly awkward. They’re friends of Alicia’s. They’re quite possessive of her memory and I haven’t mentioned you to them before. It might be quite a shock for them. I wouldn’t want to upset them.’
‘Okay,’ said Rebecca, realising he was thinking of their feelings. He cared about that sort of thing. A lot of men wouldn’t. She could be conciliatory on this occasion. There’d be other chances to meet them, she was sure.
‘Why don’t we go for dinner at the beginning of next week? Say, Tuesday, after my deadline, and I can devote myself to you instead of worrying about my work. We can go somewhere really special. Make a proper date of it. I want to spoil you. Do things properly. It will be our first official date.’ He beamed at her. ‘In the meantime, let’s spend as much time together as we can.’
Her expression softened.
‘I’m not very good at the hearts and flowers stuff.’
‘You don’t need to be,’ said Rebecca, thinking of the roses he used to buy for Alicia. It didn’t bother her. She wasn’t the hearts and flowers type either. Loyalty and stability were much more important. Her parents’ marriage had lurched like a floundering ship as her father had indulged in one flirtation after another, never quite overstepping the mark into a full-blown affair but never far short. No wonder her brothers were so selfish. They hadn’t exactly had a positive role model. In contrast, Will would be there for the long haul.
‘But I know we’re right together,’ he said, taking her hand.
‘There’s something I need to clear up,’ said Rebecca. ‘The night of the ball.’
Will had the grace to look a little shamefaced.
‘That was just a one-night stand. It didn’t mean anything. I’d had a bit to drink. She really came on to me?—’
‘But what about me?’ she asked, hating the plaintive note in her voice. But Felipe’s words had come back to her and now they were lodged at the forefront of her mind.A man knows when a woman is in love with him.
‘What do you mean?’
‘You knew I had feelings for you. It hurt.’
‘Please, don’t be like that, Rebecca. I promise you, she wasn’t important. It really didn’t mean anything. I was lonely. It was a once-only thing.’ He shrunk into himself. ‘I hate to say it, but… I just needed… a release. An outlet. I guess.’ His smile was rueful and chagrined. The encouraging squeeze of his hand, as if willing her to understand, spiked her temper.
‘That makes it worse.’
‘Why?’
‘Because it should have meant something to you, enough to make it worth hurting me.’
A frown clouded his face and she saw that he understood. His mouth opened and shut, but he didn’t manage to say anything because what could he say in his own defence?
Rebecca swallowed. This wasn’t how she’d envisioned this evening going at all.
‘I need some air,’ she said, rising and striding out into the garden and over onto the lawn.
She stopped at the edge of the grassy bank that fell away down into the vegetable garden. Her head was in a whirl and she didn’t seem to be able to make sense of anything. The words she had longed to hear for so many years now fell short. They didn’t quite add up.
Will came to stand by her. ‘I’m sorry, Rebecca. You’re right. I was a bastard that night. I can’t change the past, but I can be better in the future and I can say I’m sorry. And it won’t everhappen again.’ He took her hands and turned her to face him. His expression radiated sincerity and concern.
‘Rebecca…’ His eyes darkened. ‘Please believe me when I say that you brought light into the darkness and sunshine into my heart.’ He paused, his gaze locked on hers with entreating eyes. ‘Without you I am blind and lost. I’m not sure I can live without you.’
Her heart turned over, both at the romantic words and at the sincerity in his eyes and the entreaty in his voice. What gorgeous words for her. It reminded her why she’d always loved him. Will was so unlike the men she’d grown up with. Artistic, creative and genuine– he was a world away from the boorish antics of her brothers. He was kind and gentle and didn’t tease her constantly or laugh at her or belittle her. This was what she wanted in life.
She slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
