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He stared at her for a long moment and then seemed to shake himself. ‘Why didn’t you tell me this before?’
‘Because it isn’t something we broadcast,’ Ally said simply. ‘Charlie knows. She’s always known who her real mother is, but we just don’t talk about it unless we have to.’ It was too painful.
For a long moment Sean was silent and then he let his breath out in a hiss. ‘OK. That explains a lot, but not why you were still a virgin at twenty-eight.’
She blushed hotly and looked away. ‘That’s my business.’
‘Maybe it was until last night.’ He tucked a finger under her chin and drew her face round to look at him, his eyes searching. ‘Now it’s very much my business, too. You’re a beautiful woman, Ally. Why didn’t some man lock you away with him years ago?’
She gave an embarrassed laugh, trying to suppress the rush of pleasure she felt that he still thought she was beautiful.
‘Blame it on the fairy tale.’
He frowned. ‘The fairy tale?’
‘You know…’ She gave a shrug which was more casual than her feelings. ‘Boy meets girl, one true love, happy ever after—that sort of thing.’
He nodded slowly. ‘Right. And that’s what you believed in?’
‘Until Charlie came along…’
‘But she was Fay’s.’
‘Yes, but I saw what a rat Rob was and…’ She stared down at her hands and gave a wry smile. ‘And I was actually going out with someone when it all happened.’
‘Don’t tell me,’ Sean’s voice was harsh. ‘He vanished into the sunset as well.’
Ally nodded and gave a light-hearted shrug that hid the pain. ‘In a trail of dust. His exact words were No way do I want to be saddled with a screaming baby who isn’t even mine.’
‘So you gave up on your dream.’
‘Well, I was certainly disillusioned.’ The trouble was, she hadn’t given up on the dream. Not entirely. Which was why she’d always avoided the countless matchmaking attempts that had come her way. She’d always been convinced that somewhere out there Mr Right existed. And then she’d met Sean. She glanced sideways at him and their eyes locked.
Her heart missed a beat as she remembered everything that had happened between them, how it had felt. Her voice was barely a whisper. ‘You regret it, don’t you?’
Even if the answer caused her pain, she needed to know. She just wasn’t the sort of person who played games. She liked things to be honest and straightforward.
He hesitated just a moment too long. ‘No…’
Disappointment slammed through her body. ‘Obviously it didn’t live up to expectation.’
He used a word that shocked her, his eyes suddenly angry. ‘You know that isn’t true.’
‘Do I?’ Her gaze met his, her eyes clear and honest, his wary and uncomfortable. ‘Then what’s the problem, Sean? And don’t tell me there’s no problem because ever since we woke up this morning you’ve treated me as if I was a major embarrassment.’
‘Dammit, Ally, you know what the problem is!’ he muttered under his breath, and closed his eyes briefly. ‘You’d never slept with a man before, for goodness’ sake. It was hardly casual for you, was it?’
‘Oh, I see now.’ She gave a short laugh and stared out of the window to hide her pain. ‘We’re back to that dreaded word commitment. Ally hasn’t slept with a man before, so if she slept with you it must mean she’s already booked the church.’
‘Ally—’
‘No. Don’t say any more.’ She clicked her seat belt in place with shaking hands and stared straight ahead. ‘I’m tired and I need a shower. Just take me home, please, Sean.’
He didn’t move. ‘We haven’t finished talking about this—’
‘Yes, we have.’ How on earth did her voice sound so casual when she was breaking up inside? ‘We always knew we wanted different things, Sean. Now let’s forget it. It’s no big deal.’
And pigs might fly…
