‘You’re going to miss him.’
‘I am. But I’m taking a leaf out of Eva’s book and looking on the bright side. I’m going up next weekend so I’ll see him then.’
It was now or never, she decided. ‘And you’ll see Lucinda too?’
He frowned. ‘Of course, when I’m picking up Ben and dropping him back off again.’
‘And not at any other time?’
‘I doubt it. Anna, why all the questions about Lucinda?’
Anna took a deep breath and plunged in. ‘Yesterday. I came back from the shops earlier than you thought I did. Lucinda was here.’
The confusion cleared from his face. ‘And you heard her asking if we could try again?’
Anna nodded.
‘And did you hear my reply?’
She shook her head. ‘No, I couldn’t face it.’
‘So you didn’t hear me turn her down?’
‘You turned her down?’
‘Of course I did.’ In two strides he was across the room and had pulled her into his arms. She rested her head on his chest, listening to the reassuring thud of his heartbeat, and allowed her breathing to return to normal. He bent his head to the top of hers and kissed her hairline, sending shivers down her spine. ‘Why would I go back to Lucinda when I have you?’
‘So you can be a family again. With Ben.’
‘That would be the only thing that would draw me back to Cheshire, but not to Lucinda. It didn’t work before and it wouldn’t work again.’
‘Really?’ She tipped her head back, searching his eyes for the truth.
‘Yes, really.’ He kissed her tenderly on the lips. Their kiss deepened and he began to kiss her more urgently. She wrapped her arms around his neck, wanting to feel his body as close to hers as possible. Her own body was on fire with need — need that was more emotional than physical. After he led her to his bedroom, she allowed him to undress her, kissing every part of her skin tenderly with butterfly kisses until she could stand it no more and the only thing she wanted was to feel him inside her.
Afterwards, she felt as though a huge tension had been released, until he turned on his side and gently entwined his fingers in hers.
‘You do believe me when I say that I don’t want to get back with Lucinda, don’t you?’
‘Yes, but . . .’ She trailed off, not wanting to voice her fears.
‘Yes, but what?’
‘You didn’t tell me.’
‘No, I didn’t want to worry you. Lucinda asked me to go back to her and I said no. And I thought that if you knew, every time I was alone in Cheshire you’d be worrying about me and her together. Afterwards I felt awful for not telling you, and I made my mind up that I’d come clean today, after Ben had gone home.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes. Lucinda and I are in the past. It’s you I want to be with.’
‘But what about the other things you haven’t told me?’
‘What other things?’
‘About the three of you spending time together.’
‘What? When?’
