Too late. It had been too late the moment he’d set eyes on her, too late the minute he’d allowed her to stay. Kissed her. He’d let down his guard, done what he’d sworn he’d never do. He’d fallen hopelessly, ridiculously in love and where once he would have thought that made him a fool, he now knew that it made him a better man.
The thought made him smile and he was just going to her, to tell her that, when Morgan appeared on the doorstep. He instinctively took a step forward to protect her, but she had it covered, her voice clear, calm, composed.
‘Miles? This is unexpected.’
‘I’m here to apologise, Tash. I’ve been made a fool of.’
‘Really?’ She didn’t step back to let him inside.
‘That idiot Toby has gone.’
‘Gone?’ That rattled the cool.
‘He’s signed a contract to play professional rugby in Italy. It seems that’s where he was last month. Not on a tour, but having trials, medicals, negotiating a deal. When his parents found out they were furious so they cooked up this scheme to cause a crisis, get rid of you and force him to forget the sports nonsense and put the company, his family first. He arrived at the reception not knowing what the hell was going on, but his mother cried and he was cornered.’
‘Why on earth couldn’t they just let him be happy?’
‘Families, inheritance...’ He shrugged. ‘You know how it is.’
‘Yes...’ she said. ‘Yes, I know.’ She cleared her throat. ‘Was Janine involved?’
‘She and Peter were always...close. Let’s just say that she’s currently seeking alternative career opportunities.’
‘And what about Morgan and Black?’ she asked.
‘There is no Black. That is the second reason I’m here. I’m looking for a new partner, Tash. I would like it to be you.’
Darius didn’t wait for her answer. He’d just heard the sound of hell freezing over and he’d felt the chill to his bones.
He hoped to escape unnoticed but Laura was in the kitchen, loading up a trolley with sandwiches, cakes, scones.
* * *
‘Darius! How lovely to see you. Does Tash know you’re here?’
He shook his head. ‘She’s busy.’
‘Is it going well out there?’
‘There seem to be a lot of people. Can I give you a hand?’
‘I’ve got it covered. Why don’t you take a last look around while the house is looking at its best? The way it must have been when you lived here.’
‘It might have looked like this, Laura. Polished within an inch of its life, flowers everywhere, but it never felt like this. It had no heart. You and Derrick, your family, Natasha...’
He stuck his hands in his pockets, stared up at the ceiling, struggling to find words that would convey how they’d transformed this place. Made it somewhere he wanted to come, could walk in and not feel that he was somehow wanting. A want he’d understood when he’d learned the truth. He was a second-best replacement for the boy who’d died in the womb.