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‘I want to tell you, Amelia, believe me But I can’t just yet’

‘Because you don’t trust me?’

‘No,’ Vaughan responded immediately ‘Because this particular secret is notto have to trust er anyway I need to sort a few things out today I need to run so by…’ He paused for a beat ‘I need to speak to someone who matters, Amelia, and I can’t do it with you there Can you try and understand?’

She gave a brave nod, completely none the wiser but determined to trust him

‘And you, young lady—’ Vaughan smiled ‘—have to write your article What time’s it due in?’

‘Two—I thought I’d nearly finished and could spend the iven what you’ve just told et writing Paul was very clear that he wouldn’t give me an extension’

‘How about a drink at the bar around three, then?’ Vaughan suggested ‘Like I said, I’ve got a few things that need taking care of, but I should be finished by then and I pro

‘Vaughan…’ He wasthe araze tried to ers, shy at what she was about to say, yet knowing she had to ‘What you said last night about…’ A tiny nervous s halted her words and Vaughan took that moment to move in

‘The han checked

‘If I don’t get my period…’

‘Aht ly a ht thing ‘I was out of line last night But please believe lanced reluctantly at his watch ‘We’ll talk this afternoon properly, but in the meantime, please, no doctors, no pills Just hear what I have to say first’

Even the clock ticking by at a rate of knots didn’t darken the delicious day Fashioning the piece Paul so desperately wanted was easy noith Vaughan’s consent Yet she refused to let her feelings mar her objectivity, and she carefully outlined the potential pitfalls as well as celebrating the deal The left side of her brain enjoyed the intellectual challenge as she rediscovered the passion that had initially brought her into journalism

And ht Why couldn’t she keep her feet in both caive up the other?

Maybe she really could have it all

There was no stress headache as she filled up her bath this Friday No anxious pangs, no superstitious routines fir of exhilaration as she e- into the bath, she had no desire for retrieval, no surge of anxiety about coht have ood and A was over, that finally she’d made it, and could just lie back in the soapy water and allow that nagging right side of her brain to finally let rip, to concentrate on the one thing in her life that right now demanded her sole attention—thefor her downstairs

CHAPTER EIGHT

‘MISS JACOBS?’

The s face was familiar, but Alass of cha expectantly towards the foyer, tired of the slightly curious stares of the hotel staff as she waited for Vaughan to join her, his elass on the table beside the bottle she’d ordered

‘Katy Vale!’ Placing the face, Aestured to the empty seat in front of her, but frohan’s PA had other places she needed to be ‘What can I do for you?’

‘I’ve got ato be able to meet you’

Ay, even—but apparently Katy had said all she was going to Already she was e was delivered But an hour and a half of sitting alone in the hotel bar nursing a lonely glass of cha by a thread

‘Did he say anything else?’ Watching as the wone bottle, the elass, Amelia felt her cheeks darken She cleared her throat to ensure her next sentence would be delivered in slightly less needy tones

‘So ‘You knohat Vaughan’s like’