Page 97 of A Fresh Start at Bramble Cottage
The enquiry was ignored as Rufus snuffled off down the side of the cottage to the back garden. It was clear that she didn’t stand a chance of catching him, at least not without resorting to bribery.
Armed with a couple of biscuits from the kitchen, she set off in pursuit. She found him bouncing around happily in the long grass. He regarded the proffered biscuit with suspicion.
“Here, boy — look. Come and get it.”
The little dog crept closer then darted away, inviting her with a play-bow to join in his game. As she reached to grab him he darted to one side, barking happily and setting off to zoom around the garden again.
“Oh, for goodness’ sake . . .”
“Ah. I thought this was where I’d find you.”
She turned sharply. Tom was standing there. He spared her the briefest glance, then hunkered down on his haunches to call to Rufus.
Vicky felt her heart racing, her mouth too dry to utter a word. He was here — but in seconds he would be gone, while her mind was still spinning between the pain of losing him and boiling anger at the way he had dumped her so casually.
He clipped on Rufus’s lead and stood up, his eyes unreadable. “So you’re still here then?”
She blinked, startled by the question. “Where else would I be?”
“Aren’t you selling the cottage and going back to London?”
“You know I’m not. Why would you think that?”
He arched one dark eyebrow. “Your fiancé told me.”
“Jeremytold you?”
“I came over after we’d delivered Violet’s calf — and what a surprise, there was your fiancé’s car on your drive. I knocked, and there he was, in his shirtsleeves, very much at home, the remains of your cosy supper for two on the table. And delighted to tell me that you were together again, all nice and cosy. He said that you were upstairs getting ready for bed.”
Vicky stared at him, appalled. “He... ? Of all the... it wasn’t true! I had no idea he was coming down.”
“Oh?”
“I’d broken off my engagement weeks ago. I’d already decided I was going to do that when I found out he’d been screwing my stepsister, the dirty lying scumbag — I actually caught them at it. There was no way I’d ever take him back after that.”
His dark gaze levelled on hers. Did he believe her? He had to believe her...
“And I was upstairs making up the bed for him in the spare room. He’d had too much to drink — he did that deliberately so he couldn’t drive home.” She drew in a long, deep breath and let it go. “I didn’t sleep with him.”
“You didn’t?” The start of a smile was lifting the corner of his mouth.
“Of course I didn’t. How could you even think that?”
“Oh.” The smile widened, warm with relief. “It looks like I jumped to the wrong conclusion — again. We both seem to make a habit of that.”
She laughed a little unsteadily. “We do, don’t we?”
“I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?”
Something was constricting her throat, but she forced her voice past it.
“I . . . might.”
“Please?”
He opened his arms, and she walked straight into them. Happiness was bubbling up inside her like champagne, and she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, resting her cheek against his hard chest.
She wanted to tell him that she loved him, but it still felt a bit precarious. She would tell him — soon. But for now... She lifted her face, smiling up at him as his mouth came down to hers in a long, deep, tender kiss.
