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‘Oh, he’s …’ About to pretend that Aidan was busy and that everything was rosy between them, Cara stopped The truth was that she and Aidan had never been a real couple And telling half-truths to save her skin wasn’t the way she wanted to live her life anys rong

She had changed, she realised with a faint ser felt like she needed other people’s approval to feel like a success

Feeling as though she was short of breath she stared at the Demarche patriarch, who had raised his eyebrow at her delayed response ‘The truth is, Monsieur Demarche’ She cleared her throat ‘The truth is, I’ve decided I don’t want to be part of your business unless you want , or how I look, or who I’’

The olderout of the running?’

‘Yes’ Cara felt a tremulous smile form on her lips ‘Yes, I am’

‘But ill everyone think?’

‘I don’t know and I don’t really care’ Cara raised her chin ‘I’ to open a shop It’s what I’ve alanted to do and it’s time to live my life for me’

And if that htened She couldn’t think about that now because she had other things to do ‘But I thank you for the opportunity and for considering raciously ‘And as for Aidan Kelly … well, he’s—’

‘Late’ Aidan pulled up beside her and gazed down at her ‘I’m so sorry, sweetheart’

Cara’s heart thuure he made in a tuxedo and … tie?

‘You’re wearing a tie’

He pulled at his shirt collar as if it was strangling hiain’

‘Aidan’

He curved his arainst his broad shoulders ‘I have to say, I applaud your taste in spokesmodels You couldn’t have chosen better Do you need another drink, darling?’

Darling? Oh, no, this was like the paparazzi rescue all over again He was here because he felt sorry for her

‘Aidan, please, can I talk to you for a minute?’

‘Of course’

Cara smiled at Monsieur Demarche

‘I think we all underestie your mind, please let us know’

‘I …’ Cara felt choked up ‘Thank you I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me’

‘Good luck with the future Aidan, we should catch up sometime’