‘You still are.’
‘Thanks.’
‘I mean it. I’m not just saying it. I used to call in everyday for something.’
‘But not anymore?’
‘No…’
‘Maybe when you’ve reached your target weight? I’m sure Biscuit would love to see you.’
Nora barked out a laugh. ‘You’re a trier, I’ll give you that.’ She became thoughtful for a moment. ‘I hope you don’t mind me asking, but when did your marriage break up?’
‘Twelve years ago. You’d think I’d be over it by now.’
Her eyebrows rose. ‘You’re not?’
He poked his tongue into the side of his cheek as he considered his reply. ‘Actually, I am. I don’t love my ex anymore, if that’s what you mean, but I don’t seem to have moved on since I moved out. Or rather, was kicked out.’
‘It wasn’t amicable?’
‘You could say that.’ Elijah tried not to think about all the shouting, the crying, the recriminations, the accusations. Therehad been fault on both sides, his and hers, but she’d always laid the blame squarely on his shoulders.
‘You’ve got a son, haven’t you?’
‘Yeah, Cameron. He’s twenty-two.’
‘It must have been hard on him.’ She paused next to a low, flat outcrop of rock and lowered herself onto it.
Elijah sat next to her, Biscuit between them like a chaperone, and puffed out his cheeks. ‘It was. Luckily, he follows me in that he loves his running – much to his mother’s annoyance. It’s the one thing we had in common, the one thing we could do together.’
‘I see.’ She didn’t elaborate. She didn’t need to, because he could tell by the sympathy on her face that she understood.
He hadn’t been naïve enough to think that their running days would last forever, but he’d hoped they’d have lasted a while longer. ‘You’ve not got any kids, have you?’
‘Never met the right man to have them with, and didn’t fancy giving motherhood a go on my own. Never been married either, and although I’ve had a couple of long-term relationships, nothing lasted. I had great fun on the way though, lived my best life.’
‘You sound as though it’s all over.’
She dropped her gaze. ‘Nothing lasts forever, does it? Things change.’
He wanted to ask what, but with a note of finality she said, ‘I don’t know why I’m telling you all this,’ and he guessed the subject was closed.
‘Because you want me to feel sorry for you and withdraw my application to adopt this gorgeous chap?’ he teased, putting his arm around the dog and pulling him close.
Biscuit gave him a slobbery wet lick on the chin, his expression happy. He clearly preferred it when the humans were discussing less weighty matters.
‘Hey, you, get your hand off my dog!’ she cried, and Biscuit licked her as well, making her giggle. It was a pretty sound, and one Elijah would like to hear more often.
With her arms around the dog, she looked happy and relaxed, and he found he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He hadn’t been kidding when he’d told her he thought she was perfect. Her face glowed and her hair shone in the afternoon sun, and when her lips parted in a smile, he wanted to kiss them.
What would she taste like, he wondered? Were her lips as soft as they looked? And would she close those lovely eyes and melt into him when he held her?
‘What are you staring at?’ she demanded, jerking him out of his thoughts and as he flailed around for an explanation, she asked, ‘Have I got dog slobber on me?’ She pointed to her face.
Relieved, he said, ‘Just a smidge,’ and wiped an imaginary streak off her cheek with his thumb. She was so close he could smell the warmth of the sun on her skin and the perfume she wore. His thumb tingled, and he closed his fist around it and looked away, fearing she might see the flare of desire in his eyes.
Biscuit made a soft sound in the back of his throat and wagged his tail, and Elijah was glad of the distraction the dog provided.
