AllFreeNovel
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“I’m okay. If there’s one thing I can say about Kevin, it’s that he had the place running efficiently. He hired great staff.” She winced. “The ones who actually worked here anyway.”
“Are you going to stay here?” He tightened his arms around her back.
“Yes.” She frowned. “I told you that. I’m happy here. I don’t have any plans to leave.”
Not yet, he thought, recalling the conversation. She’d said she wanted to stay around for now but wasn’t sure of her long-term plans. “I meant here,” he told her, brushing the thoughts aside. “Will you continue to live here?”
“Oh.” She glanced around the small space. “There’s a flat above the clubhouse. I could move up there eventually, but I don’t have the headspace to think about it now.”
Or maybe she was just waiting until she’d decided how long she was likely to hang around for, Hugh thought.
“Besides,” she said cheerfully, “this place has grown on me.” She leaned in so her nose brushed against his. “Is my clutter making you nervous?”
“No.” He raised his hand to push her hair from her face, wishing he could silence his racing thoughts and just enjoy being there with her without panicking about the future.
The feel of her lips lightly caressing his stilled his thoughts entirely. But only for the briefest moment.
“I forgot to tell you what I did this morning,” she said in a rush, pulling back abruptly.
“What?” he said, while his lips yearned for more contact.
“I got up really early and played nine holes.” She sagged in his arms. “It was the best thing. The sun was just rising and the dew was glistening on the grass. Everything was silent and I could hear the sound of waves in the distance.”
“You played golf?” he said dumbly.
“Yes. Without needing painkillers, or ice packs, and with absolutely no pain.”
“That’s great.” Automatically, Hugh untangled himself from her and took a seat on the chair at the end of the bed, not bothering about the array of clothes which adorned it.
“It was so great.” Allie perched on the end of the bed. “My trainer called me yesterday—”
“Your trainer?”
“My golf trainer … from when I was competing. It seems that Bella had mentioned that my shoulder was finally healing, so she got in touch. It’s a little annoying that she doesn’t bother to contact me until she thinks there’s a chance I might resume my golf career, but whatever.”
“Do you think you will?” Hugh asked, his mind spinning once again.
“I don’t know, but she got me thinking about it, hence why I was out on the course this morning. It just felt so brilliant. Golf was such a massive part of who I was, and I’d honestly given up on being able to play.”
“That’s good.” He frowned at how unenthusiastic he sounded. “I’m happy for you.”
She reached for his hand. “Sorry, I must sound completely self-involved. I haven’t even asked how you’re doing. How’s everything with Emmy now?”
“Better,” he said, but couldn’t think of anything more to say on the subject. All he could think about was all the articles about Allie online, and all the photos of her with celebrities. What were the chances she’d stay in Hope Cove long term? How would she be satisfied with a quiet life after the jet-set lifestyle she’d had before? As the small room seemed to shrink further, he got up and paced to the kitchen units in the far corner.
“Hugh,” Allie said, straightening her spine. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know.” He stopped his pacing and folded his arms across his chest, then unfolded them and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m just not sure … I mean I keep thinking about us .”
“What about us?”
“I’m trying to figure out how things are going to work out.” He shifted his weight from foot to foot, ignoring his instinct to flee without even bothering to attempt to explain what was going on his head. “It was just supposed to be fun,” he went on. “And now you’re so busy with your job and I have Emmy to think about ...”
Allie tilted her head. “Things are a little more complicated now, but everyone has jobs and kids. Those aren’t reasons not to be in a relationship.” She shook her head. “Not everyone has kids. Obviously. I just mean that you having a child isn’t that big of a deal.”
“Maybe not for you.”
“That’s not what I meant. Of course Emmy is a big deal, but in terms of our relationship.”
