The old man leaned on the door and fixed her with a gentle smile. “When it comes to Wolfie,” he said. “Persistence is key. That boy has a big heart but a stubborn mind.”
Pippa gulped back hot tears. She was aware of those traits and loved Wolfie for both of them. “Okay.”
“He’s been in some dark places.” Grantham’s lip trembled. “But I think that’s how he recognises when something really shines. That he has to hold on to it.” He nodded at her. “I’m glad you’re in his life.”
“Thank you,” Pippa said. As much as she appreciated the old man’s words, she was desperate to get back to Squires.
Grantham gave another satisfied nod and, with a tap on the door, he stepped back, allowing her to set off. Minutes later, Pippa pulled up to Squires and she could have wept with relief when she saw Wolfie’s car parked outside the house. Grabbing the box of trophies, she let herself into the house, heart soaring when she ran into Wolfie in the entrance hall. But then she saw the freshly packed overnight bag waiting by the door.
“What…? Where are you going?” Pippa lowered the box to the ground. “Work?”
Wolfie shook his head tightly. “No.”
“What is it?” His arched tone sent a chill down Pippa’s spine, and she knew his walls had gone right back up.
“Itis what I saw.” Wolfie let out a strangled laugh. “You and Alex all over each other in full view of the town.”
Pippa briefly closed her eyes, fighting to maintain composure over her internal rage towards Alex. “It wasn’t what it looked like. He tried to kiss me; he certainly wasn’tall over me. Did you not see me push him off?”
“No.” Wolfie’s eyes reddened. “From where I stood you looked pretty happy.”
“Well, that’s not the case. He and I are totally finished, I promise.” She reached for Wolfie, but to her anguish, he veered away from her touch.
“I know. You told me. But I saw you with him, the way he looked at you,” Wolfie shot back. “You have all this shared history binding you together, everyone in this town thought you were going to get married. What will they make of me, giving you a job and then all of a sudden taking his place at your side? Seeing you there, withhim,merely reminded me how much I don’t belong here.”
Pippa could barely believe what she was hearing from him. Only last night he’d made her swear she was his as he gave her the most intense orgasms of her life. And she’d sworn exactly that, meaning every ounce of her vow then as she did now. She fought to retain her composure.
“Wolfie, don’t do this. Of course you belong here. You belong with me.”
He shuddered. “I close my eyes, all I can see is you and him. Staying here, I’ll see that for the rest of my life and I can’t do it.” Wolfie bent down to pick up his bag. “I have to … I need to get out of here, okay?”
“No, it’s not okay!” Pippa snapped. “Please, stay. Talk to me. You can’t let Alex’s behaviour ruin everything between us.”
But Wolfie was immune to her words. “It’s my niece’s birthday tea this evening so I’ve decided to drive over to Cumbria and surprise her.” He pointed to a fat envelope lying on the hall table. “That’s the signed paperwork for the sale of the house. Courier comes tomorrow afternoon around 3. Once those papers leave, that’s it, sale done. I’m out of here.”
“Wolfie, wait—”
“If you’re worried about where to live, Top Stay have agreed you can stay here for another six weeks or so whilst they coordinate their plans,” he went on stiffly.
Panic threatened to overwhelm Pippa. How could he do this to her? “Wolfie, I don’t care about where I live. Please, talk to me.” But it was like she hadn’t spoken.
“I’ll aim to be back to make sure the contracts get picked up, but if I’m not, I trust you can hand the envelope over?”
“No.” Pippa shook her head.
“I’m selling,” Wolfie said. “It’s happening. Once those papers have been sent off, I’m washing my hands of this place. I’m gone.”
“I’m not talking about the papers!” Pippa thought she might be sick with fury. How could Alex’s presumptive behaviour have led to this? “Get them picked up by private jet for all I care.” She moved closer, forcing him to meet her eye. “It’s you I care about. Only you. I thought we had something really special, but if one misunderstanding is enough to make you jack it all in then I suppose you really should get out of here.”
Wolfie spoke in barely a whisper. “Will you be around for the pick-up?”
Hot tears flooded her eyes. “It’s the fair tomorrow. I’ll be out of the house for much of the afternoon.”
“Then I’ll let Grantham know he might need to be here.”
“Wolfie,please.” Pippa laid a hand on his arm, totally unable to believe this was the same man who’d made love to her as if she were the only thing that mattered in his life. Who’d made her feel truly alive for the first time in years. And yet he was ready to destroy all that over something so pointless. “Alex threw himself at me, you must believe me. He thought that just because he helped us out of a pickle by arranging the medics and chucking up some bunting, that I’d come running back to him, but I set him straight.”
“The medics?” Wolfie stopped dead, his eyes boring into hers. “That was Alex, was it?”
