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He looked down at the list of ‘more suitable’ candidates in front of him. On paper some looked promising, but his heart wasn’t in it. He thought how long it had been since he’d eaten a decent alfajor. How long since he’d played poker. Or had sex. How long since he’d been made to laugh, or argue or defend himself in the presence of a sharp and amusing mind.
And that was when it hit him, harder than an opponent’s wheel flying off during a practice lap.
He didn’t want a housekeeper. He didn’t want someone to replace Carly, because she was irreplaceable. He wanted... He closed his eyes. He knew what he wanted but it was a big ask. Too big an ask, surely, after what he had done. He flinched as he remembered the way she had looked at him, with that hesitant expression on her face. How she must have met nothing but coldness in his eyes in return. But that hadn’t stopped her, had it? She had taken a deep breath and told him she loved him—even though it must have taken an almighty leap of courage and faith to do so. She had hung on in there and said what she needed to say. She had conquered her own insecurity and told him that he was a loveable man. She had done that because she thought he needed to know. And how had he reacted? He had treated her declaration with contempt and acted as if she’d said nothing at all.
He shook his head as the door opened and he saw Diego’s swarthy features set in a questioning look.
‘Shall I show in the first applicant, boss?’
But Luis was already rising to his feet and shaking his head.
‘No,’ he said fiercely as a powerful sense of resolve washed over him. ‘Forget the interview
s.’
‘But—’
‘I said, forget them. I have something I need to do.’ His heart was pounding as he slid his phone into his pocket and reached for his jacket. ‘Somewhere I need to go.’
He drove down to Southampton in his bright red car, only just staying inside the speed limit. The sky was low and the air filled with drizzle and, even though it was only late morning, all the cars on the motorway had their headlights turned on so that shafts of golden light cut through the sombre greyness.
The medical school was situated in a green swathe of land on the edge of the city and it was nearly lunchtime by the time Luis finally parked up. He turned up the collar of his leather coat as hordes of students streamed past him and as he looked into all the unknown faces he wondered why the hell he hadn’t bothered to call her first.
You know why you haven’t called her.
Because she might just have told you to go to hell, and you just might have deserved it.
He made his way to some reception office and saw the girl behind the desk turn very pink when he asked where he might find a first-year student called Carly Conner.
‘We’re...we’re not really allowed to give out that sort of information,’ she stumbled.
He leaned over the desk and used a smile which had never failed him. ‘Do you think your medical school would like a substantial donation?’
She nodded.
‘Then why don’t you tell me where I might find Carly Conner?’
He was informed that the first-year medical students were on their way to lunch and the girl hadn’t finished giving him directions before he was weaving across some courtyard towards a cafeteria, which was packed with crowds of students.
And that was when he saw her.
At first he almost didn’t recognise her, because she looked different. As if she belonged. She was laughing and talking to a small nucleus of people, a bag loaded with books slung over her shoulder.
He felt the clench of his heart as he stood stock-still and watched her and maybe somebody noticed him because suddenly heads were turning in his direction. Across the crowded courtyard he saw the colour drain from Carly’s face as she looked up and met his gaze.
She didn’t move and, at first, neither did he. He felt as if the blood had frozen in his veins and he would be stuck to that spot for ever. And then he began walking towards her, his legs feeling heavy and wooden and somehow disassociated from him.
The students with her had formed themselves into a protective semicircle and Luis automatically picked out some young Adonis with hair like buttered corn and eyes of startling blue, who seemed to be unconsciously squaring up his shoulders as Luis approached.
She tilted her chin as he got closer and now he could see why she looked so different. She had changed in ways which were both subtle yet startling. Her hair was still long, but now it was weaved into a complex plait which hung down over one shoulder. And she was wearing make-up. Luis swallowed. Not much, just a lick of mascara and a slick of something which was making her lips gleam. She looked...amazing.
In her jeans and short jacket she somehow managed to fade into the crowd and yet to stand out from it. And instantly, he understood why she had refused to take the expensive clothes he’d bought her, for she would have no use for them here, in her new life. His heart clenched as he thought of the yellow and white spotted dress still hanging in the wardrobe of his French home. Of the space beside him in a bed which had never seemed empty before she had gone and left it.
‘Hello, Carly,’ he said.
Her expression was wary as she looked at him. She didn’t look exactly overjoyed. In fact, that was an understatement. Her face had grown pale and tight and her eyes were cool.
‘I’m not going to ask why you’re here,’ she said in a low voice. ‘Because obviously you’ve decided you wanted to see me, but you really might have given me some warning, Luis.’
