‘Oh? Yes. Perhaps it is. I’ll be returning to Woking soon.’
‘Returning to…? You will?’ The smile slid from his face.
She forced a smile on to hers. ‘Yes. It was always my intention to only spend a few weeks here. Just to see the place and to get it done up. I’m thinking of renting it out. If you find you don’t like living with Tom, and you’re interested, just let me know.’
‘Oh I’m interested, Lara. But not in renting your cottage. Do you really have to leave?’
She looked him in the eye. ‘I don’t have a reason to stay.’
He held her gaze. ‘Don’t you? Are you sure about that?’ He stepped closer.
‘Yes. I’m sure. I’ll miss this place, of course, because I’ve grown genuinely fond of it. And I’ll miss breakfast at Bonnie’s Diner. And Maud. I’ll miss Tom, too. Obviously.’
‘Just breakfast, and Maud, and Gramps?’ He took another step towards her.
She swallowed the lump in her throat. ‘And everyone else I’ve met. I’m taking Nicodemus with me. I live in the upstairs flat so I’m hoping he won’t mind not having direct access to the garden.But as he spends most of his time curled up on my bed, I don’t think it’ll be too much of a wrench. Please don’t come any closer.’
That sounded like a whimper to Lara’s ears, but it brought an odd sort of smile to his face and a sparkle to his eyes.
‘Why not, Lara?’ he asked, his voice dripping with passion, or so it seemed to her.
Or was that just her wishful thinking yet again?
‘Because … because you have a girlfriend!’
He raised one brow. ‘I don’t. Not anymore.’
‘You don’t? Seriously?’
‘I don’t. Honestly.’
‘Since when?’
He took a slow breath and inched closer.
‘Since I ended it, once and for all.’
‘You did? And she … she accepted it? She didn’t threaten to harm herself or anything? It’s really over? You’re … you’re single?’
A flicker of concern flew across his face, and he sighed and shook his head.
‘She did make threats. But I held firm and explained that I hoped she wouldn’t do anything to harm herself in any way, but that I couldn’t be held to ransom. Or be blackmailed into staying with someone I didn’t love. I suggested, as gently as I could, that she might need to see someone to help her deal with her feelings. I told her I would not take any calls from her and that if she continued to call and text, I would block her number. That sounds cruel, but I spoke to Doctor Cliff, Doctor Caroline Cliff, about the situation several days before and she advised me that usually, in her experience, people who made these sort of threats were rarely serious. It was the ones who didn’t express such intentions we should worry about. But that in any event, I mustn’t let this stop me from doing what was best for myself. Toxic relationships never benefit anyone. And thankfully, shewas right. I had a couple of calls and then silence. I’ll admit I was worried so I contacted a mutual friend who told me my ex had met someone else. So yes, she’s accepted it and yes, it’s really over. And yes, sadly, I’m single.’
‘Sadly? You regret it now she’s got someone else?’
That made her cross. Or maybe just jealous.
‘No! Sadly – because I’d rather not be single.’
‘You … you’re one of those guys who doesn’t like being on his own?’ That was a surprise.
‘What? No.’ He shook his head, ran a hand through his still wet hair and took a long, slow breath once again.
‘I think it’s time I just told you how I feel. Because I think I might be making a mess of this. I found the strength to finally end it with my now ex, once and for all, not just because I’d been trying to for a while, but also because you can’t be in a relationship with someone, any sort of relationship, when you’re constantly thinking about someone else. Wanting to be with someone else. Know you’re falling for someone else. Have fallen for someone else. Deeply. Can you? I can’t. And you can’t … I mean I couldn’t … expect someone to want to be with me if they thought there was another woman in my life. Romantically speaking. Ifyouthought there was another woman in my life. There isn’t, Lara. There’s only you. At least, I’d like it to be only you. Does that make sense? I’m not sure I explained that as clearly as I’d intended. I’ve been trying to build up my courage to come and tell you all this for days now, but it was only when I saw you on the beach today, that something made me think if I didn’t tell you right now. Today. I might lose the chance. Worse still. I might lose you. And I couldn’t bear to lose you, Lara. What I’m saying is … I want to be with you. Do you want to be with me? As my girlfriend? And by that I mean–’
‘Yes! Yes! Absolutely. Why didn’t you just ask me that part sooner?’
‘I wasn’t entirely sure you’d say yes,’ he said huskily.
