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‘OK Can I take you out to dinner when I’m back?’

Given how sick she’d felt in the cafeteria earlier that day, going soood idea But she could hardly say that without explaining why—and she needed to discuss this face to face, not over the phone ‘That’d be lovely,’ she fibbed

‘Good My flight gets in at four Give h customs and catch the train back from the airport…I’ll call for you at seven’

‘OK’ And by then she would’ve worked out how to tell him the news ‘I’ll see you the day after tomorrow’

‘The day after tomorrow,’ he repeated ‘And, Maddie?’

‘Yes?’

‘I…’ He stopped, and said, ‘Sleep well’

‘You, too’ Though she didn’t think she would somehow

Lord, hesorted out in his head He trusted Madison So tonight he’d talk to her and explain why he’d kept her at a distance He just had to hope she’d understand why he hadn’t been able to bring himself to discuss it before—and then he’d produce the s in his pocket He’d ask her to marry hio away and he could get on doing what he wanted to do for the rest of his life

Loving her

He rang the doorbell to the flat and waited; rather than buzzing him up, Madison appeared at the doorway And she didn’t look herself She looked tired, pale and worried

What on earth had happened in his absence? He hadn’t been away long Three and a bit days That wasn’t enough tio pear-shaped

Was it?

‘Hello, Maddie’ He leaned forward and stole a kiss ‘Are you all right, kardia mou?’

‘Just had a bit of a rough day’

It sounded like rather more than that to hio soood’

She bit her lip ‘Actually, Theo, I’ to eat’

He frowned ‘Are you co?’

‘No-o’

But she didn’t sound too sure ‘Maddie, what’s wrong?’ he asked

She took a deep breath ‘There isn’t an easy way to say this And o and sit in the park across the road?’

‘Sure’ Unease prickled down his spine She definitely didn’t sound herself—or look that pleased about seeing hiain Had she had ti with him would be a mistake?