Zoe wanted to point out that he could have met with the man online, but she had to trust Alex had his reasons not to. Still, it was a long way to go when he didn’t have to, and she couldn’t help but feel that he’d met up with Virginia too and was choosing not to say so.
‘V came to lunch with us,’ he added, as if he’d read her mind. ‘All three of us went to lunch together. She thought I could do with the moral support, and she also knew the details of the case because we’ve looked at it together, and she said she’d be able to present them with a legal slant that would be more useful.’
‘Right. And what’s the outcome?’
Alex rubbed at his neck as he sat down. ‘I want to say good. Their case isn’t very strong – it looks as if they’re trying it on to see what sticks. We should be able to fight it.’
‘How much do you think it’s going to cost?’
‘That’s the bit I don’t know. I suppose it depends how much of a fight these people are prepared to put up and how long they hold out for before they fold. Our guy is putting together a response. I’ve got to pay him for that, and the rest I’ll have to find as I go along. V says she’ll do what she can to keep costs down – she’ll take on some of the legwork and pass along what she’s found to her colleague so that he doesn’t have much to do.’
‘Hmm…’
‘What does that mean?’
‘It’s good of her to help. Not many would go to these lengths, even if you are an old friend.’
‘I don’t know what your friends are like, but it’s a good job we’re not having to rely on them.’
‘I’m only saying.’
‘I’m not keeping anything from you. That’s what you think, isn’t it?’
‘I don’t know what to think. I only know you’re spending a lot of time with her, and I understand you have to protect your business, but it seems to me you’re enjoying her company too much for it to be just that.’
‘I’m not going to apologise for enjoying her company! She’s funny and interesting. You’d say the same if you gave her a chance.’
‘I’m not jealous!’
‘If you’re not jealous, then why do you make it so obvious you don’t like her?’
‘Because I don’t like how you are around her. You’re different.’
‘Don’t be stupid.’
‘You are! You’re not like how I know you. You’re trying to be someone else, and when I see it, I don’t know which one is the real you – the one you show to me or the one you show to her – and it makes me realise I don’t know you at all. I put all my faithin you – inus…I moved in with you, and now I don’t know if I can trust you. If I can’t even feel safe in our relationship now, how can I feel safe when it’s properly tested?’
‘You can feel safe! I would never hurt you!’
‘You say that now…’
‘It’s true!’ He got to his feet and took her into his arms. ‘I want to spend the rest of my life with you – I said it before, and it’s true. We’ve got plans, right? All I want is to settle down with you, do the wedding, grow the business…whatever is going to make you happy will make me happy.’
Zoe looked up at him. ‘And nothing will change that?’
‘Of course not!’
‘Even if I told you I couldn’t have kids…’
His forehead creased. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Would you still feel like this if I said that to you?’
‘Yes!’ He paused. ‘Are you?Areyou saying that to me?’
‘I don’t know for sure, but it’s a possibility.’
He led her to the table and made her sit, crouching at her feet to be in her eyeline. ‘What’s going on?’
