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He scrolled down. Apparently, the money he’d pumped in had allowed them to create a garden around the mine. Good. She’d like that. Stretching his powerful limbs, he scanned the mail again, as if reading Eva’s words could somehow bring her closer.
And this was the same woman he could cheerfully have given away with two camels and a coop of chickens as part of the deal when he’d first met her at Britt’s wedding—a day that felt like another lifetime now. His life was dull without Eva. He’d seen what it could be like with her, and no other woman could hope to come close. He missed her. Just this contact between them over the internet raised his pulse and made him smile. He couldn’t envisage life without her. He loved her. It was as simple, and as complicated, as that.
He craned forward as the computer pinged again.
From: Eva Skavanga
To: Roman Quisvada
Subject: Future challenges
Are we in danger of seeing you in Skavanga any time soon, or are the conditions here too challenging for you?
From: Roman Quisvada
To: Eva Skavanga
Subject: Mistaken assumptions
Hasty conclusions have never been your strong suit, Eva. Just remain focused on the job, or you’re no use to me.
From: Eva Skavanga
To: Roman Quisvada
Subject: Are you firing me?
From: Roman Quisvada
To: Eva Skavanga
Subject: Firing you?
Hell, no! That would cost me money. Surely you know me better than that by now?
No, but she’d like to, Eva mused wryly, pushing her chair back as she got up from her desk and stretched. Email was a mixed blessing. The instant communication with someone half a world away was useful, but it was a soulless way to chat. She didn’t want to keep staring at a screen that made the distance between them seem even more unbridgeable.
How was it possible to miss one man so much? How was it possible to mess up so badly? Her sisters were right. Her ridiculous pride was the only thing preventing her from speaking to Roman on a personal level—that and her even more ridiculous insecurities.
A gorgeous man with everything going for him, Leila had protested. Someone prepared to save our family business? And he gave you a job. And then Britt had started in, reminding Eva that thanks to Roman’s restoration plans the mining museum was now a solid work-in-progress.
‘You’re a fool if you let him go,’ Leila had flashed with unusual vigour. ‘If your only ambition in life is to become a bitter old shrew, then you’re well on your way.’
As if she needed to be told that. Perching on the sofa by the window, she buried her head in her hands.
Feeling sorry for herself lasted barely ten seconds before she remembered Britt telling her that life was precious and no one should waste a second of it.
It was time to call pest control and put that shrew firmly in its box.
She called Britt. ‘That party tomorrow night to celebrate the revival of the mine?’
‘So you’re coming?’ Britt sounded pleased.
‘Of course, I’m coming.’
‘So...? Look, if you’re ringing me to ask if Roman will be there, I’m afraid I don’t know.’
‘You don’t know, or you won’t tell me?’
Her sister laughed. ‘I don’t know—honestly. I have no idea what Roman’s timetable looks like. He doesn’t share it with me.’
Or me, Eva thought.
‘Just don’t come dressed as one of the boys,’ Britt suggested. ‘The press will be there and they’ll want to see the Skavanga Diamonds dressed to thrill now we’re all involved in the running of the mine. And we could do with a decent family photograph—so no boiler suits, Eva. There are plenty of nice dress shops in Skavanga. I’ll come along and help you pick something out, if you like?’
‘Spare me,’ Eva begged, imagining some interminable session with snooty assistants viewing her disparagingly, and a sister who had better things to do. It was just a shame she had no idea what constituted ‘a nice dress’.
* * *
‘Where is she?’ he asked Leila, slipping the phone between his chin and his shoulder so he could open the door, speak on his cell and heft his case through the fire door without having it slam in his face. He had one thought in his mind, one thought only, and that was Eva.
‘Why should I tell you?’ Leila asked him with more honest curiosity in her voice than outright refusal.
‘I think you know,’ he said, glancing round the room to get his bearings.
