‘How civilised.’
He grinned, but it quickly morphed into a grimace. ‘My ribs arereallygoing to hurt tomorrow.’
‘Well, at least they didn’t hit you in the face,’ I said. ‘Jonny’s going to have a corker of a black eye.’
‘I should have done that a long time ago.’
‘Is it true what you said, or were you just winding Jonny up? Did you leak that story?’
He nodded.
I shivered. ‘Why?’
Nick leant forward, trying to slip his jacket off, swearing under his breath.
‘What are you doing?’
‘You’re cold,’ he said, like that explained everything. ‘I’m giving you my jacket.’
‘Can you just answer the question? Leaking that story – that would have cost you your job with Hands Down. And after Marcie, it’s like you’re self-destructing.’
‘I did it for you.’
‘Excuse me?’
‘Those pictures you rang me about. They were of Lucy and Jonny. I begged the picture editor atThe Postnot to run them. But they wanted another story in return.’
‘Why would you do that?’
‘It’s like you said, Lucy’s life would get turned upside down if the tabloids found out she’d come between Jonny and Jeanette. The world’s press would be on her doorstep, never mind the bile she’d get from the fans.’
‘That’s noble of you, Nick, but why risk your job for Lucy, someone you barely know?’
‘I did it foryou, Zoë.’
I frowned. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘I saw how protective you are of everyone at the magazine. You treat them like family. If one of them hurts, you hurt. You’re loyal, courageous and honourable, and I’ve never met anyone like you.’
Where was this coming from?
He saw my confused look and shook his head wryly. ‘For a smart woman, you’re being a bit slow.’ He looked away briefly, then back to me. ‘I love you, Zoë. I love everything about you.’
