That the yearning for his doubts to disperse and that barrier to vanish was even stronger than his desire to prove that he wasn’t a boring man had been?
It might take time, but perhaps Angus would find it was possible to embrace something he’d spent his whole life refusing to believe in. He might even become someone that Tilly might consider choosing. She might have been the antithesis of any woman he’d had on his radar as a life partner but she was also the only person whose company had ever made him feel this alive.
This happy.
At least he was confident that she was pleased he’d chosen to extend his time in Provence.
And that was even more significant because she knew him now. Possibly better than anyone had ever known him because he hadn’t felt the need to hide anything. He’d had the freedom to be whoever he wanted to be during that time together and he had discovered that who he really wanted to be might have been hiding in plain sight all along – in his heart, rather than his head.
He’d been able to say goodbye to Moira this time with genuine affection – friendship, even – and the conviction that her presence in his life had been a blessing. Even the way she’d ended any possibility of a meaningful relationship was something he could appreciate now. He wasn’t about to forget what she’d said that night about what it should feel like to be in love with someone.
‘Someone that makes anywhere in the world suddenly feel like the most exciting place on earth – as if you could never get enough of it. Orthem.’
Yes… the excitement was most certainly there.
The anticipation had built from the moment Angus walked out of his office, leaving Moira in charge of any administrative tasks, and headed home to pile his cases into a taxi and get back to the airport. It had, admittedly, been tinged with nerves when he’d been waiting to hire the much more sensible rental car that was a practical SUV, but it had morphed into something totally new when he’d arrived at La Maisonette to find that Tilly was there to welcome him.
The ground beneath his feet suddenly felt different.
The air he was breathing felt different.
All the possibilities and pleasures that life could offer suddenly seemed bigger and brighter and… almost within touching distance.
As Angus had taken Tilly into his arms and kissed her, her knew that this was exactly where he wanted to be.
Where he wanted to belong.
Because it was more exciting than anywhere else on earth.
* * *
‘Perfect timing.’ The man waiting for Tilly in the parking area close to the entrance to the clifftop medieval village of Èze was nodding as he checked his watch. ‘We’ve got forty-five minutes to get up to the Jardin Exotique d’Èze and get set up for the finale.’
‘Sorry, I meant to be here before you, Marc.’ Tilly lifted the cool bag from the back of her van. ‘I had a last-minute phone call that I couldn’t escape.’
Because Sophie hadn’t been about to let her escape.
* * *
‘He’s come back to Provence? To be with you?’
‘No… well, not entirely. He just likes it here.’
‘He likes you. That’s the reason he’s come back. He likes you a lot.’
‘Peut-être.’
‘And you like him. Are you in love, Tilly?’
‘Peut-être…’ Emotion had made Tilly forget to speak English. Not that it mattered when this was Sophie. ‘D’accord, ouais…’
‘Is he in love with you?’
‘Peut-être.’This time Tilly’s change of languages was a deliberate form of distraction.‘Perhaps. I don’t know. I don’t think he knows…’
‘I’m going to talk to Luc. We need to come back as soon as possible. I have to meet this Mr McLeod.’
* * *
