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‘But I told you why . . .’

‘So, all the time I think you’re being so open with me, and telling me your soul secrets, you’re lying to me every hour of every day.’ Fox was keeping his tone light because he was holding Willow, even though his words stung. He bobbed the baby up and down against him, and Robyn suddenly wanted her back in her own arms.

‘I have been open with you,’ Robyn insisted. ‘I’ve told you things I’ve never told anyone.’

He scoffed.

‘It’s true,’ Robyn promised, desperate to make him believe her. ‘In fact, I thought we were getting close, becoming something to each other, maybe more than just fun and games . . .’ She reached out her hand towards him, but dropped it as he shook his head.

‘I can’t even trust that, because I heard what you said to Finn.’

Robyn felt a snake of anxiety in her guts. This was all going wrong. Her thoughts were a jumble as she tried to think what he was referring to.

‘What did I say to Finn?’

‘He asked if there was anything between us. And you said, no. Nothing. At. All.’

Robyn’s head jerked at the words. She had said them, it was true.

‘How?’ She felt so exposed, so unsure.

‘The baby monitor,’ he said. ‘I heard you over the baby monitor. Not a nice way to find out actually, Robyn.’ He half laughed but it had no joy in it.

She felt the ground tilt beneath her, everything suddenly making sense. When he heard her say those words, and saw her with Finn and Willow like a little family, he’d stopped answering her messages. He’d stayed away.

‘So now you see why I don’t think you’re particularly honest,’ Fox said. It was like a body blow. She couldn’t bear for him to think badly of her. It was true, she had kept important things from him, and the only way to be fair to him now was to be honest, completely and utterly honest about everything.

She strode closer, moving quickly, only wanting to be near him, standing close enough to touch him, but she held back.

‘Fox,’ she said, but he averted his eyes, focusing on the crown of Willow’s head.

‘Fox,’ Robyn repeated, urgently this time, and he raised his gaze to her.

‘You’re right. I haven’t been particularly honest.’ She saw the gold glint in his eyes in triumph and she continued, before she lost her nerve. Before she lost everything.

‘If I had been honest, I would have told you that I’ve dreamed about you since the moment I met you last year.’ She closed her eyes in the strength of the memory of those dreams, those that woke her in the nights.

‘How when I found out I was pregnant, I played online games every evening, looking for Silver007. How over the last three months, I’ve seen you for the person you are. Loving, giving, funny, and fiercely loyal.’

Fox blinked at her, his chin resting gently on Willow’s head.

‘So why did you say that to Finn? That I meant nothing at all?’

‘Because Finn is just a man I used to know, and it’s none of his business. He was in my past, and I truly hoped that you might be in my future.’

‘So you lied, again.’

‘I did.’

Robyn took a deep breath, pressing one hand to her heart and the other to his, connecting them physically. Her stomach flipped at the contact. Her breath caught and her voice shook with emotion as she let everything out.

‘Because if I’d been completely honest, I would have told him, and I would have told you, that I love you, Fox. And I feel a connection with you like nothing I’ve felt before. I am so deeply in love with you that I want to be with you. However scary that is, I want to build a life. Together. With you.’

A moment passed. Two. The only sound was the sound of her breathing. Even Willow seemed to be waiting.

Finally, Fox pressed his lips to Willow’s hair, before passing her back into Robyn’s arms, avoiding her eyes.

He turned, pulling his collar higher and ducking his chin.