Page 90 of The Secret Holiday Kiss

‘I didn’t say that.’ She turned away from Lars. ‘We were discussing Lars’s plans, and—’

‘You said you could work with me from London,’ Lars cut in. ‘We both know you’re too good for this place. What is this? Where the Boy Scouts meet?’ He laughed, and Daisy took a second to process his words, how cruel they were.

‘Lars, that’s not what I said at all.’

‘Not in so many words, but together we could bring something special to Mistingham. You said I was important to you, the last time we met. We are the same in so many ways, professionally and personally. Our combined vision could make a real difference.’

‘That isn’t what I want to do.’ She was trying to stay firm, but her voice wavered under Avery’s hardening gaze.

‘You wouldn’t have to stay here, if that’s what you’re worried about.’ His smile was conspiratorial. ‘I know how much you hate being here.’

‘I don’t hate it. I …’ But maybe she had said that, in one of their earlier meetings, when the old feelings were still swirling and she was unsettled and wanting to focus on Lars’s project, not discuss Mistingham. She had never expected him to turn up here, had never wanted that.

Avery’s smile had gone. ‘I have to get back to work.’ He turned away from her.

‘Please, Avery! I need to talk to you.’

‘Later,’ he threw back over his shoulder, and strode off.

Daisy had to go after him, but Lars was her client, and she … God, she was so angry. She spun to face him. ‘You had no right to talk about Mistingham like that, to discuss our private conversations with Avery.’

‘Why not?’ Lars was unruffled. ‘Why does it matter?’

‘Because this was my home, and the people here are wonderful, and this place is … it’s got everything I need.’

Lars raised an eyebrow, and the truth settled inside her.

‘It’s enough for me,’ she said. ‘It’s more than enough. You could have told me you were coming—’

‘I thought it would be a nice surprise.’

‘—because I don’t have time to show you round. Are you still available for our Zoom tomorrow?’

‘Of course, but—’

‘I’ll see you then, Lars. I’m sorry if you’ve had a wasted trip. Goodbye.’ Before he had a chance to say anything else, Daisy hurried in the direction of the building site. She hoped she could convince Avery that none of the things Lars had said were true.

Chapter Twenty-nine

The barrier stood firm behind the crocodile, because the world was intent on maxing out Daisy’s panic. She had tried calling Avery, had tried texting him, but she’d had no pickup and no reply, and now she was worried.

‘Hey.’

She turned and only just resisted throwing her arms around Omari, who was standing behind her with a paper bag from Dexter’s bakery, the scent of bacon wafting out of it. ‘Hello,’ she said. ‘Could I see Avery?’ She was too stressed for small talk.

He looked furtively behind him, then smiled. ‘I think we can sneak you in.’

‘Thank you.’ Relief flooded through her.

She followed him up to the house. The windows had started going in, and it looked so much more complete than the last time she’d been here, even though that wasn’t very long ago.

‘I’ll go get him, OK? Stay out here.’

‘Of course.’ She wasn’t going to risk bending the rules. Not this time. She waited, rubbing her hands together because it was cold, unable to stand still because she hated the idea that Avery was angry with her.

Omari returned with his boss just behind him, his hoody covered by a hi-vis waistcoat, his hard hat on. Beneath the brim, his expression was stormy. She’d teased him about that only a few weeks ago, but this wasn’t concern or confusion, it was anger.

‘I need to keep working,’ he told her, with none of his usual warmth. ‘Tomorrow is our last day before Christmas, and we’ve got a lot to get done.’