Page 19 of Where There's A Will
“Mmm, not my finest moment.”
“You think?”
“I broke it off with her soon after because she couldn’t hold a candle to you.”
My heart stopped. Hugo had rarely been complimentary to me when we’d been together. It was kind of nice to hear, even if about four weeks too late.
“Is that true?”
He reached across the table and took my hand. “Montana, I was a fool. We’d been together a year and that night should have been memorable…”
It had certainly been memorable, but for all the wrong reasons,I thought. I didn’t pull my hand away immediately; my ego was interested to hear what else he had to say.
“I’ve been beating myself up for the past month, regretting everything that happened. You’re a hard woman to get over, Montana Casey, and I’m here to try and win you back. I’ve missed you.”
I shook my head, wondering if I’d had too much to drink and I was hearing things.Hugo wanted me back?
In the past month, I couldn’t deny that I’d missed him too. We had spent most of our time when not at work together, either out with friends or on our own, or going around to each other’s apartment. It was strange being single again, coming home to an empty place, only really having Bree to talk to. Until last night, when Will stopped by. I shook that thought away. Will wasn’t here in front of me, right now, telling me that he wanted to get back with me.
“Say that again,” I said slowly. If I made him repeat it, maybe it was true.
Hugo grasped my hand a little bit tighter. “Montana, I want us to be together again. I did something I shouldn’t have and I regret it deeply.” His tone was sincere, even as he released my hand. He dipped into his pocket and brought out a robin-egg-blue-coloured box. “I should have given this to you on our anniversary, and because of my stupidity I didn’t get the opportunity. I hope you’ll accept it now.”
My eyes widened in disbelief.A Tiffany box? Oh. My. God.
Hugo slid the package across the table, his dark-chocolate eyes never leaving mine.
I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking as I untied the white silk ribbon. The little blue box contained a silver necklace—two hearts woven together with a tiny diamond between them. My hand flew to my mouth as I gasped. It was the most beautiful thing Hugo—or anyone—had ever given me.
Hugo’s face broke into a small smile at my reaction. He seemed almost embarrassed as he asked me if I liked it.
“Like it? Hugo, I love it!” I wanted to jump up, go around to his side of the table and throw my arms around him. Then I remembered I was in the middle of a speed-dating event and it wasn’t exactly appropriate.
Desperately, I looked over in Bree’s direction to try and catch her attention, but she appeared to be engrossed in conversation with her current suitor. Then I moved on to see Will, who was leaning back in his chair, seemingly uninterested in the pneumatic blonde sitting opposite him, though not looking in my direction.
“I’ll do anything to make it up to you.” Hugo reached for my hands again, this time taking both of them in his. His expression was earnest as he stared at me in anticipation. “Is there any chance for us to get back together?”
“Hugo, I…”
He held up his other hand, not letting me finish. “You don’t have to say anything right now. But I know how much you want to travel, so I wondered if you would do me the honour of coming away with me? Another thing to say I’m sorry.”
His question left me with a myriad of confusing emotions. He had cheated on me—I couldn’t forget that in a hurry and I wasn’t sure I was able to forgive him either. The fact he acknowledged my wanderlust and he wanted to make things up to me was a start though.
All those signs could only be pointing to one thing, one location. My dream.
I needed to talk to Bree. She would never forgive me if I acted without her sage advice.
But then the bell rang and our five minutes were up.
“Well?” asked Hugo. “What’s your answer? Will you come away with me?”
I couldn’t answer him at first. Bree gestured she was going to the restroom and there was no sign of Will.What the hell was I going to say?
Stalling for time, I fiddled with the necklace Hugo had just given me. “I don’t know, Hugo, it all feels a bit sudden.”
One of the organisers came over to our table. “Everything okay with you two lovebirds?” She glanced at the table where we were still holding hands. “Looks like we have a match here!” She grinned and gestured to her colleague, who joined us almost immediately.
I snatched my hand back and stood up. “Yes, Hugo. Yes, I will go away with you.”
