Pippa forced a casual smile. “I’ll work something out.”
“Right, wow! Who’s the lucky buyer?” Alex asked.
Wolfie’s stare was unforthcoming. “When it’s official, it’ll be public knowledge.” He turned to Pippa, a sliver of concern warming his face. “Please don’t worry,” he said. “I won’t throw you out on the street.”
Pippa’s heart did a funny little skip at his tenderness. What on earth didthatmean?
“Anyway.” Wolfie turned to leave. “I should leave you both to … whatever this is.”
Pippa leapt to her feet, desperate to ensure Wolfie knew the truth. “Alex isn’t staying,” she blurted.
“None of my business,” Wolfie shot back as he left the room.
“I can’t believe he’s selling this place,” Alex said once Wolfie had gone. “The town will be in uproar. He must be so dense not to know that.”
“It’s really none of the town’s business,” Pippa echoed Wolfie’s words, although the hypocrisy of her statement was not lost on her. After all, had she not made the sale her business the moment she’d learned about it? But now she knew a little more about Wolfie’s motivation, she felt supremely defensive about anyone else weighing in on the decision. In fact, knowing what she did made it all the more obscene for Alex to pry. “You don’t know him, so don’t act like you do.”
Alex’s mouth twisted, the way it always did when he was thinking.
“What?” Pippa asked.
“Are you really just the custodian?” he asked.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Pippa turned on him.
“Hey, whoa, calm down.” Alex put his hands out to placate her. “It’s an obvious question. You’re here, by yourself. He’s also here and, come on, I mean, the guy looks like he models underwear as a side hustle.”
“It may seem an obvious question to you, but you don’t have any fucking right to ask it!” Pippa cried. God knows what Wolfie thought about Alex being here, but for Alex to start throwing accusations around about a situation he literally knew nothing of made Pippa want to scream.
“You’re right. I’m sorry, okay?” Alex said.
Pippa eyed him murderously. She ran a hand through her hair, suddenly needing Alex to be very far away. “Look, I have a lot of work still to get on with and I desperately need a shower, so can you say what you have to say and then go?”
“Crikey.” Alex looked down at his feet and shook his head. “You never used to be so blunt with me.”
Pippa lifted her chin. “Well, you never used to make huge life-changing decisions without me, so I guess we’re even.”
Alex winced at her tone. “Fair.” He set his mug down on the coffee table and gathered her hands in his. “Let me show you how much I’ve missed you. We’ll spend quality time together. Dinner … coffee … we could even take a trip to that lovely B&B up in Lancaster again … however you want to do this.”
“Do what?” Pippa asked.
Alex’s mouth flapped and he waved an arm between them. “This. Me, you. Getting back together. Whatever it takes.”
Pippa gazed at the man she’d once loved with all her being and a trickle of revulsion curled around her heart. “Do you really think after what you did that a few dinners, and a weekend in a bed and breakfast somewhere will make up for it?” Her voice was icily calm.
“I know. I was a total idiot,” Alex said, his eyes red. “Blinded by ambition and my stupid self-centredness. I know I can’t demand you take me back, and I get that there are no guarantees but please, let me try. I’m willing to stick around for however long I need to.”
Pippa looked at him curiously. “What about Kent?” Surely, he was needed there.
Alex shifted. “It can take care of itself for a while,” he said. “You’re more important. I’m not leaving here until—”
“No.” Pippa lifted a trembling hand. “I can’t give you what you want,” she said. “You almost destroyed me and there’s no coming back from that.”
“You say that now,” he assured her. “But if you could just let me show you how sorry I am, you might feel differently.”
“You can show me all you want,” she said softly. “But it doesn’t mean—”
“You’re worth the shot, Pip,” Alex interrupted tearfully.
