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‘I ought to go’

‘No’ He rested his cheek against his hair ‘I’ve missed you this last week’

Had she heard that right? ‘You missed me?’

He nodded ‘I’vetourist with you’

He ed in a breath ‘Theo About this friendship thing I’m not sure I can do it any more’

‘Neither can I’

She pulled back slightly so she could look hi, exactly?’

He surprised her by ade and children I don’t want to take the risk of losing someone I love, the way my father lost my mother’

‘Even though your dad was brave enough to take that risk with your stepmum?’ she asked softly

He inclined his head ‘I guess I’m a coward’

‘No Just bla that wasn’t your fault’ She reached up to stroke his face ‘Plus there’s the fact that s now that we couldn’t do five years ago, let alone thirty-five Maybe if you’d been born now, the obstetrician could’ve made a difference for your mum’

‘Maybe’ He dragged in a breath ‘I’ve reallywithout you…I’ve hated it’

‘You said you could only offer me friendship,’ she reminded him

‘I was trying to be unselfish Giving you the chance to find so you deserved but which I couldn’t give you’ He looked rueful ‘But I think I’ve learned that I’ht That sometimes I can be very stupid’

‘So where does that leave us now?’

‘I want you, Maddie,’ he said simply ‘And you’re the only woman I’ve ever met who’s made me want to break my personal rule’ He raised her hand to his ainst the palm ‘You know that phone call I made?’

She nodded

‘It was to a florist’s—I’d ordered so For you But after the day we’ve had, it didn’t seeive them to you, so I put the to s Strawberry soup as a starter, pilaf with almonds and cinnamon and apricots for the main course—Oh, and crèiven that you order backwards, I should’ve said that all the other way round’