Page 72 of A Summer of New Beginnings
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Back in the hotel room Zara’s emotions were in turmoil. She was ecstatic that the contract for representation was only a signature away, meaning that, thanks to Loretta’s connections, the competition shortlisting was back on. But disappointment and sadness came in waves too.Whyhad Lachy lied to her? Was it simply because what they had shared meant absolutely nothing more than some cheap thrillwith a stranger? Was it that he wasn’t ever expecting to see her again? Was it that his fiancée lived miles away and he fancied a quick shag? Was it all of the above?
She realised that it was stupid to feel so hurt by his lies when there had been no promises made; no agreements to take things any further and no future in their relationship. But nevertheless she had seen something in his eyes.She had felt a connection and thought he had felt it too. Was that why he hadn’t been able to wave goodbye? Was it guilt for being unfaithful? Probably. At least that was something to make him bloody human.
As it was late and she hadn’t felt hungry since the afternoon tea and the bizarre chain of events, she ordered a light snack from the room-service menu and flicked on the TV for backgroundnoise while she went over the contract once more. She couldn’t hold this stuff against Loretta. It was nothing to do with her business and she seemed genuine and professional.
A knock at the room door indicated that her food had arrived so she went to answer it, pinning her hair up as she walked. Without paying much attention she opened the door and said, ‘Could you just put it by the TV, please?I’ll eat it there.’
‘Icouldbut I’m pretty sure these aren’t edible flowers.’
Zara turned quickly to find Lachlan Grant standing there, that handsome face of his smiling as if everything were perfect and he weren’t a complete and uttershithead. ‘What thehellare you doing here?’
His smile quickly faded. ‘I… I heard that you were in Inverness, through… ermfriendsand I thought I’d stop byand say hello… so… hello.’ He laughed nervously as she glared at him but didn’t speak. ‘Look, the thing is, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. I know what we had was meant to be a one-time thing but I can’t accept that, Zara. I felt something other than just a simple attraction to you. When we… when we were in bed together it was… I’ve never felt that way before and I’ve been tryingto pluck up the courage to contact you. But the way I felt wassointense – and a bit scary, if I’m honest – that I was afraid of being rejected. I mean, there was the huge possibility you didn’t feel any of it and it was just my overactive imagination and a little dash of wishful thinking.’
He held up his free hand as the other still clutched the beautiful bouquet. ‘And before you say no, Iknow we live in two completely different locations with totally different lives, but I don’t want that to stop us from seeing if this couldbesomething.’ He stepped closer and she could smell the intoxicating scent of his cologne. The same cologne that he had been wearing on the day they had slept together. The day he hadliedto her about being single.
But as she gazed up into his deep, chocolate-browneyes sadness washed over her and tied her in knots. Why did he have to be such a bastard? He’d seemed so caring and funny and so bloody gorgeous. And this was like something from a romance movie and right about now she should be jumping into his arms telling him that,yes, she wanted to see where this could lead. That she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him either. Then they would tumbleinto bed together and seal their relationship the way it had started. But the truth remained. She was back with Josh and he was still with Saskia. He had beenengagedto Saskia when they’d had sex and if he could be unfaithful to her living in the same country, he could certainly be that way when Zara lived so far away. Hewasa liar. A handsome, intelligent, sexy-as-hell liar. And they were tena penny in London. She didn’t have to come all the way up here to Scotland to find one.
He smiled again and looked at her with such hope. ‘Do you think this could be something too, Zara?’ he whispered.
‘It alreadyissomething, Lachy,’ she said with a shaking voice. ‘It’s over.’ She stepped back and closed the door before walking over to the bed and sitting down. All alone.
*
‘Zara! Zee! Wakeup! You’re inThe Bookseller!’ Marco shouted from the hallway where he must have just collected the mail.
She yawned and rubbed at her eyes, wishing he could’ve just left her to sleep.
He burst into her room. ‘Look! This is such a gorgeous photo of you. I’m glad they used this one. You looked way too serious in the other one.’
She sat up and took the magazine from him. The headline read:
Bateman Welch New Acquisition
Marco flopped onto her bed, took it back and read, ‘“Loretta Bateman at Bateman Welch is delighted to announce her latest acquisition for representation. Zara Bailey is a travel journalist who recently cycled the North Coast 500. Ms Bateman said of Miss Bailey, ‘“She has a raw talent for emotional and thought-provoking writing that will leave readers gripped and salivatingfor more.” Ooh, salivating, Zee, I like that. She’s right too. I bloody loved that bit on the beach where you didn’t know what Evangeline was going to do. Would she report the murder or would she fall into Harrison’s arms…?’ he said dreamily.
She was relieved to have finally had the courage to allow her friends to read her book. Shelley had read it in one night and had telephoned her at two inthe morning to shout at her for making herugly-cry. Jake had taken the phone from Shelley and apologised that his girlfriend was inconsolable.
Shelley had snatched the phone back and said, ‘If you don’t win that bloody award, I’m going to bomb their offices, Zee.’ Then she had paused and followed this with, ‘Well, obviously notbombthem with a real bomb, but I’m very tempted to go and wipesnot on their cardigans. I’ve got plenty of it, thanks to your effing book. Which is bloody amazing, by the way.’ She had then descended into more sobs.
‘Hi, it’s Jake again. I really am sorry about this. I told her to wait until morning but she refused. I’ll get her to bed now.’
Zara cringed. ‘Thanks, Jake, I’m sorry too.’ Zara had tried her best not to laugh at Shelley’s reaction but it hadsecretly made her so happy that the emotion had translated off the page for those in her life who meant the most.
Back in the present and Marco stood from her bed. ‘I’ll go make coffee.’
‘Good plan. I need something strong to wake me up officially, seeing as you failed unofficially and I’m still half asleep.’
He walked to the door and turned. ‘Look, I know it’s only been a week but are youokay about the whole Lachy thing now?’
Zara shrugged. ‘I have no choice, do I?’
‘Did you not want to hear him out? I mean, there may have been an explanation. And he may be single now.’
‘No, Marco. I’m with Josh now. And anyway, if Lachy was unfaithful with me behind his fiancée’s back he could just as easily do the same to me. I’m not prepared to risk that.’
‘But you’ll accept that Josh didit?’
Marco’s words stung and for a split second she wanted to slap him. But how could she when he was right? ‘It’s different, Marco. Josh and I weren’t engaged. He hadn’t even told me he loved me at that point.’
‘That’s hardly the point though, Zara. How do you know that Josh won’t cheat again?’
Her eyes widened and she raised her hands. ‘I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. It’sdifferent, that’s it. End of. Get used to it,’ she told him angrily.
Marco nodded and half smiled. ‘I just want you to be happy, you know, Zara Bear.’
Seeing the concern in his expression melted her a little and she reached out to touch his arm. ‘I’m sorry, Marco, I know you do. But look at you and Toby. You can be happy enough for both of us for a while, eh?’
He gave her a sad smile and lefther alone again. Alone to dwell on the fact that whilst one side of her life was coming together, the other side had fallen apart before the foundations had even been laid.
