Page 105 of The Jealous Girl

I moved closer, my arms already reaching to give him a hug.

‘Let me just jump in the shower first,’ he said, pulling away from me as my fingers brushed his arm.

I recoiled instantly.

He was being thoughtful, I told myself, as I watched him saunter off to the bathroom. He’d been around horses all day, he just wanted to freshen up before he hugged me.

I rubbed my hands up and down my arms, suddenly feeling cool.

I couldn’t quite recall the last time he had given me a hug.

37

NOW

Late August

Thursday

Sending Ryan away had been one of the hardest things I’d ever done. But we couldn’t just slip back into how things had been.

Could we?

And yet, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

I glanced at the phone on the passenger seat beside me. I’d lost count of how many times I’d picked it up and started to call him since he’d left. The half-written messages I’d deleted. And then, finally, when I’d plucked up the nerve to call him this morning, it had gone straight to voicemail.

Maybe it was for the best. This wasn’t a conversation to be had on the phone. I needed to see him. Not just because of last night – because of everything.

What I’d done. What I’d found.

The break-in. The sales agreements with my signature.

Atlas.

I should have told him last night. I should have showed him the documentation. Demanded answers.

But it hadn’t seemed the right time.

And then he’d said he missed me…

Everything had become a blur after that.

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel as I pulled into Blackwater Stables.

It probably wasn’t a sensible idea, coming here. I knew what Denise thought of me. She’d be furious to see me here.

Even more so when she realised there was a chance of me being back in her son’s life for the third time…

A small smile tugged at my lips at that thought.

I’d done everything I could to be helpful and amenable. And she’d thrown it all back in my face.

I no longer cared what she thought about it. With Charlotte out of the way, there was little she could do to stop Ryan and me being together.

If that’s what we wanted.

I let that thought settle.