“You don’t? Ash was drunk and horny and wanted sex with any man around. It’s a trait that runs in the family.”
Anjuli gasped.
Shit. Where in bloody hell had that come from? Insecurity, he was honest enough to realise. Twice she’d asked him to make love to her, both times because she was drunk. “I’m sorry, that was uncalled for.”
Her voice was devoid of emotion. “I’m moving back in with Ash when she gets out of hospital, until she’s okay on her own.”
Rob frowned. “I’ll come by the manor after I’ve seen Mac.”
“Don’t. I—uh, I called a halt to work this morning,” she said in a rush. “I can’t deal with the renovation as well as manage the pub and visits to hospital.”
“You don’t need to live on-site. I can update you every few days.”
Did she whisper something? Sounded like “oh God.” “I can’t continue with the house, not right now anyway. Just...trust me on that.”
Considering everything he’d discovered, it was a hard ask. “I’m no’ happy about Craig and Ash either, but Castle Manor has nothing to do with them, or Mac. I’ll manage the rest of the work and—”
“If you must know,” she interrupted. “I’m...bored of the project and need a break from all that banging around. I’ve decided to finish the house next year, maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Running a B&B doesn’t seem as easy as I thought.”
What the hell? “We had a deal, in case you’ve forgotten.”
“I’m putting the house on hold and...and that’s final.”
Anger and disbelief made his words taste like ashes. “You said you wouldn’t walk away.”
“You’ll get the money I owe you.”
“It’s not about the money. It’s about my time and effort, and your promise to see the restoration through.”
“I’ve made a lot of promises I can’t keep,” she said quietly.
Slowly, determinedly, Rob kept his voice even. “Are you leaving Heaverlock and going back to singing?”
“No.”
“Then why—”
“What I do with my life is my own business,” she interrupted. “I’ve been trying to tell you that for months but you won’t listen. I think it’s best we see each other as little as possible.”
“If that’s the way you want it I’ll post you an invoice for the balance due.”
“Great.”
“That’s settled, then.”
* * *
Nothing was bloody settled.
As soon as he landed in London he phoned Mac. “Craig and Ash had a one-night stand, not a full-blown affair. Anjuli told me.”
“Don’t ever mention her name to me again,” she said savagely. “Stay the hell away from that bitch and her family. You are going to take the project in America, aren’t you?”
He couldn’t answer, but at least the long flight had helped to make one decision. He would do as Anjuli asked and keep away. Whatever had existed between them now meant nothing and he wasn’t going to spend his life waiting for a woman who’d always run away.
As for Boston, he was hungry for a new challenge and eager to get to his drawing table, but Mac’s world had collapsed and his nephews were suffering. They didn’t understand why Craig had left and they needed him more than Mac did. Ben was crap with kids. He had no patience and was at the end of his tether dealing with the rambunctious boys. No, he couldn’t leave. Not now. As soon as he got back to Heaverlock he had to dedicate himself to Mac and the boys. They took precedence over everything and everyone else.
“Don’t stay here for her,” Mac said.
“I won’t.”
“If you talk to her, sleep with her or even think of getting back together with her you can kiss goodbye to any relationship with me and the kids.”
Rob considered Mac’s threat during his connecting flight to Edinburgh and on the drive home with Ben. He didn’t doubt Mac meant what she’d said. Damn it, he loved those boys of hers. Hell, they were the only kids he’d ever be close to if Ben continued to shun marriage and fatherhood.
What a fuck-up Craig and Ash had created. He banged his hand against the dashboard.
“New car, little bro’.”
“Right.”
Ben came to a stop at the turnoff to Halton Forest. “The word around Heaverlock is that Craig is enjoying the Carvers’ company.”
“Not Anjuli’s,” Rob gritted out through his teeth.
Ben glanced at him sideways. “True. She spends so much time with Damien I’ve changed my bet on the two of you getting back together.”