Page 128 of Never Too Late to Date

‘Do people still say that?’

‘Not sure. But we still do.’

It hit her again that there wasn’t going to be any ‘we’ once he went off on his travels.

‘Great news about the tour.’

Christian turned towards her. ‘Is it?’

Her heart hammered in her chest. ‘Don’t you want to go?’

‘I’ve not agreed to anything yet. It was only a preliminary chat.’

‘I see.’

His eyes met hers, and she was powerless to look away.

‘I want to stay more, much more, than I want to go… But only if you want me to.’

‘What do you mean? What’s it got to do with me?’

His blue eyes were hypnotic.

‘Suze. I have absolutely no interest in going on tour. I’ve already turned it down. I was trying to smoke you out. Do you seriously think I’d let you go, now I’ve found you again after all these years?’

‘I don’t know…’

‘Why do you think I agreed to go to Athens in the first place? All that way for one night?’

Suzie shook her head.

‘Because I knew damned well that you’d be there. I’d seen your name on the bill, and I asked Frank to keep my appearance a secret because I didn’t want to scare you off. Of course, all that cloak-and-dagger stuff appealed to his weird side.’

She could scarcely believe what she was hearing.

‘Yes, it would do.’

‘As soon as I saw you, all the old feelings came rushing back, feelings that had never gone away, feelings I’d had to push deep down…’

Suzie held her breath.

‘I never expected to find that I had a son I knew nothing about. A son we’d created together out of love. I was angry at first, bloody angry, but the more I thought about it, the more I realised you were right. It would never have worked out back then. We both had to do what we had to do to get to this point.’

Suzie let the breath out bit by bit as he reached for her hand.

‘I love you, Suzie Sessions. I always have, and I always will. Other people may have passed through my life, but it was never the same with anyone else. Hand on heart, it’s always been you for me.’

The silence that fell was sudden and deep. It was what she’d wanted to hear since the moment she’d seen him standing at the side of the stage, terrified that he’d never forgive her for keeping his son away from him. But could she trust him now? Had he really changed that much?

‘Suze. Don’t leave me hanging.’

‘Can I ask one question?’

Christian sighed.

‘Of course. This guy’s just cut out his heart and laid it on the table for you but ask anyway.’

‘Can you promise me that it’s not just because you’ve acquired a son and a future grandchild that you’re so keen to stay?’