She felt Aidan’s laugh vibrating against her ear. ‘And that’s what you like?’ He smoothed a lock of hair behind her ear and she put her arms around him, snuggling closer. She could hear the steady beating of his heart at her ear. His lovely steady heart.
‘He must have had something going for him,’ Aidan prompted.
‘Yeah.’ She smiled, dredging up happy memories of Rob. ‘He was funny and charming… at first anyway. Good looking. He was fun to be around.’
‘Okay, that’s enough. I’m sorry I asked,’ Aidan said, but she could hear the smile in his voice.
‘I thought he was God’s gift.Hethought he was God’s gift. Everyone fancied him. I was the envy of all my friends when he picked me.’ Her smile faded.
‘Sorry. I shouldn’t have brought him up.’
‘No, it’s fine. I just wish I’d got wise to what he was really like sooner. That it wasn’t normal, you know, to live in a state of tension the whole time, walking on eggshells, trying to gauge what sort of mood he was in.’
‘That sounds awful.’
‘We used to fight a lot too. Not just petty stuff either, like you and Astrid – proper brawls. He had a scary temper.’
‘Did he get physical?’ He frowned in concern.
‘No. But the threat was always there whenever he got angry. In a way, I wish he had because that would have been the end of it. I wouldn’t have stuck around for a second time.’
‘Christ!’
She shrugged. ‘It’s fine. I gave as good as I got.’ She lifted her head and shifted it to his shoulder so she could see his face. ‘I can’t regret being with him because?—’
‘Then you wouldn’t have Jack,’ he finished for her and she nodded.
‘I just wish I’d picked better, for Jack’s sake – that he could have had a nice dad. It was my choice to be with Rob. I got what I bargained for. But Jack deserved better.’
‘So did you.’
‘I’m not some delicate flower,’ she said, bristling. ‘I can handle myself.’
‘I know you can. But even the most robust flowers need looking after.’
‘What time is Sheena bringing the kids home?’ Lou asked later as Aidan got dressed. She’d just thrown on her clothes from yesterday. She’d shower and change when she got home.
‘After lunch. She’ll drop Jack off at yours.’
‘I could stay here if you like, with them both. Maybe we could all have a sleepover,’ she said teasingly.
‘Thanks, but Elena will be back later.’ He finished buttoning his shirt and turned to her. ‘Actually, about that.’ His expression was serious and Lou’s heart plummeted. ‘Much as I’ve loved having you for a sleepover, I don’t think we should?—’
Here it comes, she thought. The brush-off.It was great shagging you last night, but don’t get the idea it was anything more than a bit of fun.
‘Yeah, you’re right,’ she interrupted quickly. Better to say it before he did – less humiliating if she got in first. ‘It shouldn’t happen again.’
Aidan reared back, eyebrows raised. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Yeah,’ she said, less certain now that he’d been going to say the same thing. ‘I mean, we work together.’
‘I didn’t think you had a problem with that.’
‘I don’t.’ She forced a light laugh. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to have you up for sexual harassment in the workplace or anything.’
Aidan frowned, looking confused. ‘Okay.’
‘I mean, isn’t that what you were about to say?’
