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God, no, she knew that well enough already. She didn’t—
His hand curved around her elbow and her head emptied, her body being propelled forth under his encouragement.
Outside, Colin stood, rear door of the car open and at the ready. He’d got his instructions well enough, and no sooner were they inside than he was in the front and pulling out into traffic.
‘You didn’t need to do this,’ she said, her sights fixed on the outside world speeding past, her hands gripped together on her lap.
‘I wanted the opportunity to apologise.’
Surprise had her eyes sweeping to his. ‘What for?’
‘This morning. I was short with you.’
He shook his head, the movement sending a lock of hair across his forehead and drawing her eye to the crazy state of the remainder. A sign of much hand-thrusting that day, she was sure.
Sadness consumed her. He should’ve gone.
She looked away before he could read her. ‘It wasn’t my place to get involved. I shouldn’t have interfered.’
‘Be that as it may, you were right.’
Her chest tightened, her throat with it, and she straightened her spine. ‘I was?’
‘Yes.’
He reached out to brush some escaped hair behind her ear and her breath caught. A red-hot shiver ran to her core, a warmth taking up camp there that she was powerless to prevent.
‘I didn’t like hearing it but, yes, you were right. I need to go.’
‘Then why are you still here?’ she asked, relief at his decision drowned out by the over-familiarity of his touch.
Don’t soften. It’s good that he’s going but it doesn’t change who he is to you. Who you are to him. Business partners. No more.
‘Why delay by taking me to the station?’
‘Because you need to make your train and I needed to apologise. Don’t worry—I’m leaving straight after. My grandparents already know I’m coming.’ His eyes turned inward momentarily as a smile played about his lips. ‘It felt good to tell them. And I have you to thank for that.’
He studied her, eyes unwavering. The air was charged with an unidentifiable emotion and she struggled to say, ‘I’m glad.’
‘Me too,’ he said softly. ‘I would have left earlier but there were things I needed to take care of—and then there was you. I couldn’t go without apologising. And, though I hate to admit it, building up the nerve has taken some doing.’
‘Chicken?’ The realisation ripped through the heavy mood, making her feel strangely light-headed.
He grinned that grin. ‘Something like that. I’m not one for admitting I was wrong.’
She returned his smile, his honesty making it impossible not to. ‘Fair enough.’
‘But there’s something else I need to discuss before I disappear off.’
Her skin prickled, her smile becoming forced, ‘Something else?’
He nodded, and the deepening sincerity in his gaze held her captive as he reached out.
‘The truth is, I’ve not been myself all week because of you.’
His fingers brushed the nape of her neck and the red-hot shiver sparked anew, multiplying fiercely.
‘Trying to act like nothing happened between us has been torture. Knowing you’re there, just down the corridor, and I can’t have you—it’s all I can think about.’
