Page 82 of A Summer of New Beginnings
‘What?’ She felt her cheeks flaming.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone more beautiful.’
‘Hmm. With my messed-up bed hair and lack of make-up. You can’t have a lot to compare me to.’
‘You don’t need to be compared to anyone,’ he said in a gravellyvoice that sent a tremble of desire to her core. ‘You’d outshine them all.’
She went silent, placed her fork down and lowered her gaze. A lump of emotion had tightened her throat, making it tricky to swallow.
‘Zara? Are you okay? Did I say the wrong thing?’
She lifted her chin and forced a smile. ‘Not at all. I’ll be fine… it’s just…’
He stood from his chair and walked round to her side, kneelingdown before her. ‘Hey, come on, just say it. Are you having second thoughts about us?’
‘Oh, goodness, no. That’s not it at all. It’s the opposite, if anything.’
He scrunched his brow. ‘So what’s wrong? You were so happy and now you look like you’re on the verge of tears.’
‘It’s just that in a couple of hours I’m going to have to leave to take the car back to Inverness and then I’m going tohave to get on a plane and go to London. Which means I won’t be with you. I’ll be oversix hundredmiles away. And we’ve only just reconnected. We have so much to learn about each other and I have no idea how we’ll do that if we’re at opposite ends of the country.’
‘I know. It’ll be hard for me too.’ He reached up and stroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb. ‘I don’t know how I’ll cope notseeing you, not holding you. And especially not waking up beside you. But we’ll get through this. I’m in this for the long haul. I don’t care how fast it’s happened. I think when you know it’s right you just know. And this…us… it’s so right.’
She flung her arms round his neck and kissed him with all the passion she felt in the hope that he would still feel her on his lips when she left.
*
After a long, languorous shower together they dried and dressed. Zara borrowed a coat that swamped her and they took Bess to play on the beach. Every time the dog brought the ball back she dropped it at Zara’s feet.
‘I think she’s moreyourdog than mine now,’ Lachy huffed, feigning hurt. His comment was sweet but saddened her again as the time to leave loomed.
Later she checked in with Shelleyand Marco to let them know she would be heading back in time for the later flight, and that she had called and changed her ticket but that they should go ahead and get their flight as planned. It was lovely that they had been so sure she would win the award that they had booked extra time off work, but she felt bad that she wasn’t there with them.
‘Just make the most of your last hour or so withLachy, babe. We’re absolutely fine. We’ve already had cocktails so it’s just as well you’re not flying with us.’ Shelley laughed.
Finally the time Zara had been dreading arrived. Lachy walked her to the little silver car and pulled her into his arms. ‘I’ll call you tonight, okay?’
She nodded, unable to speak.
He tilted her chin and kissed her. ‘Don’t worry, Zara, we’ll get to know each other.We’ll talk as often as we can and I’ll visit you in London. I’m not sure what Bess will make of the city but if she gets to see you, I’m sure she’ll love it. She adores you as much as I do.’ He pulled her to him again and stroked her hair. ‘Just promise me you won’t give up on us.’
She gazed up at him through tear-fogged eyes. ‘I promise. Do you?’
‘I promise with all my heart. Now go on or you’llmiss your flight. Drive carefully and let me know when you’re about to get on the plane.’
‘I will. See you soon, Lachy.’
‘As soon as I can possibly make it. Wild horses couldn’t stop me.’
She turned to walk away and Bess yelped. She turned back and crouched and the dog came running to her and jumped up to lick her face.
‘I’ll be back soon, girl, don’t worry. I promise.’ She hurriedly walkedto the car and climbed in before she could make any other decision. But her heart ached to be leaving Lachy and Bess again. She needed to come back soon.
Very soon.
*
He’d never been a particularly emotional man. There had been exceptions, of course: his mother’s funeral, his father’s funeral, walking away from Zara’s hotel room when she had rejected him, and that precise moment he had to watchZara leave again. He’d only just got her back and now she had to go. There were words on the tip of his tongue but he dared not say them. I love you, Zara. Don’t go, Zara. Move here with me, Zara. But of course they would have to stay unsaid. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her away. Especially not now she held his heart firmly in her grasp.
