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He drew an envelope out of his jacket pocket and placed it on the bookcase. ‘All the details are in there.’ He tapped the envelope. ‘There’s something else, arriving shortly.’ He looked at his watch.
Her eyes widened. ‘You don’t need to do any more for me. I’d rather you didn’t, actually.’
‘Wait and see,’ he advised.
She tried to say it firmly but her lips quivered so she stammered slightly. ‘N-no.’ She clasped her hands and went on all the same. ‘I need to handle this on my own,’ she added barely audibly. ‘It’s also a matter of pride. Don’t ask me why, but it is.’ She gestured, then was struck by a horrifying possibility. ‘Not—not Paul,’ she stammered. ‘I couldn’t—I couldn’t …’
He moved abruptly and for one electrifying moment Alex thought he was going to fold her into his arms, to comfort her if nothing else, to stave off a panic attack, perhaps, but he stilled almost immediately.
‘No, not Paul,’ he said. ‘Actually Paul has left me. He was due to go to America—Harvard—for a semester anyway to further his business studies. He—’ he paused and searched her face ‘—he’s brought it forward a bit, that’s all.’
Alex released a long quivering sigh.
‘But it is a companion, Alex,’ he went on. ‘And—’
‘No,’ she repeated as someone knocked on the door.
Max swore beneath his breath, then he opened the door to reveal the driver who’d brought Alex up from the Coast.
‘Sorry, sir,’ the driver said, ‘but the rain held up the traffic a bit. Here she is.’ And he put a bundle of curly white fur down on the floor. ‘Lady McPherson said to say many, many thanks, her name is Josie and—’ he looked down at a bag he held in his other hand ‘—this is all her gear.’
‘Thanks, mate. Appreciate that. I’ll take it.’
The driver handed the bag over and left. Max closed the door as it started to rain again—and Alex stood transfixed.
‘A dog?’ she said incredulously then, and sat down unexpectedly.
Max nodded and looked at her dryly. ‘What did you expect?’
‘I—I don’t know,’ she stammered, ‘but not this.’
The little dog looked around, eyed Max rather suspiciously, then spied Alex and trotted towards her.
‘She’s a Bichon Frise. They used to be favourites of French Royalty, trust Olivia,’ he said wryly. ‘But they’re a gentle, cheerful, non-hair-shedding breed. She’s about nine months old and well trained.’
Josie sat down in front of Alex and looked up at her out of beautiful melting brown eyes—eyes that would melt a heart of stone.
‘But—but how come?’ Alex had difficulty with her voice as she raised her eyes to his. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘Livvy and Michael usually divide their time between here and the UK, but this time they’re going back to the UK for two years at least. Livvy just happened to mention to me a week or so ago that they were looking for a good home for Josie, therefore.’
‘And—and you thought of me?’
‘I was afraid she might have already been placed but Livvy is particularly fussy.’ He shrugged. ‘I’ve seen for myself how much you love dogs, and you told me you and your neighbour had talked about sharing one, so, yes, I did think of you. She apparently prefers women to men.’
If Alex had felt the pressure to keep her emotions in check before, it was nothing to the surge of love and misery that welled up in her now. Love because Max Goodwin could be so nice as well as setting her alight; misery because he never could be for her …
Josie raised her paw at that point and put it delicately on Alex’s knee, and Alex could have sworn there was a pleading look in those liquid brown eyes.
‘Well—well, sweetheart, in that case how can I say no?’ And she bent down to run her fingers through the little dog’s curly white coat. Josie shut her eyes in sheer ecstasy.
And, although Alex didn’t see it, Max Goodwin watched the girl and dog, and his shoulders visibly relaxed.
‘Th-thank you,’ Alex said tremulously. ‘You’ve really taken me by surprise. She’s gorgeous. I could end up like Nicky and Nemo if I’m not careful.’ She got up.
He smiled perfunctorily and didn’t say anything.
Alex swallowed and knew instinctively what she had to do. ‘So, unless you have any more surprises up your sleeve, I guess it’s time to say g
