need to relocate her factory into larger space.
‘Where’s your shop?’ Alex was asking.
‘Where the old café used to be, up from the pub on the corner. The shop next door recently became vacant so I extended and combined the two.’ Her voice died away.
‘Have you been there long?’
‘About eight years. I started out on a small scale working from home, then tried the markets. Luckily it’s gone ahead from there.’
Why was she telling him all this when she had no desire whatsoever to inform or impress him?
‘Are you still working for the Rosten Group?’ After a moment’s pause her question seemed to escape of its own volition and Alex hesitated, too, before replying.
‘In absentia. I do some freelance work for the company now and then. But I’ve taken a break from the full time rat race,’ he finished and a heavy silence fell between them until he swung the car into the driveway of Shea’s house.
She barely suppressed a sigh of relief that she could at last escape. ‘Thank you for bringing me home,’ she began but Alex was already out of the car and striding around to open the passenger side door for her. She climbed out and repeated her thanks.
‘No worries,’ he replied lightly.
‘Well, I’ll say goodnight.’ Shea started walking towards the front door only to pause when she realised Alex had joined her. She gazed inquiringly at him and in the glow from the outside light Norah had left on for her, she saw him grimace slightly.
‘I told you I wanted to see Norah,’ he said, and Shea stood her ground.
‘It’s late. Norah’s most probably in bed,’ she began, and Alex held his wristwatch to the light.
‘Norah in bed at this hour? I seem to remember she never used to go to bed before midnight:
He was right, but Shea wasn’t inclined to tell him so. ‘Wouldn’t it be better if you came back in the morning?’
‘Better for whom?’ he asked softly. ‘For Norah? Or for you?’
‘I—’ Shea swallowed. ‘I really don’t know what you mean,’ she got out, and Alex continued to hold her gaze.
‘I think you do, Shea. Something tells me you aren’t that pleased to see me.’
‘Should I be?’ The words slipped out before she could draw them back and she made herself continue to the foot of the stairs. ‘Eleven years is a long time. People change,’ she said as she retreated.
‘They do that.’ The edge to his voice made her step falter. ‘But it doesn’t necessarily take eleven years,’ he added flatly.
Shea stopped then, her hand going to the railing to steady herself, and she heard him sigh.
‘Look, Shea, we used to be friends. Can’t we simply try to be that again?’
His deep voice struck more raw and tender chords. ‘Can’t we try to be friends?’ Didn’t he realise each word was a sabre thrust opening old wounds that had taken years to heal?
‘Friends?’ Shea bit off a sharp incredulous laugh as she turned back to face him.
‘Would that be so difficult?’ His eyes burned into hers across the few feet separating them and then he ran a strong hand through his fair hair.
And Shea’s eyes were drawn to the movement, to the line of his forearm, the long sensitive fingers enmeshed in thick strands of hair. Almost mesmerised, she watched as he then shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, drawing the material tautly across his thighs, and she felt her stomach lurch in that old familiar way.
For all those long years that section of her emotions had lain dormant. No man since had stirred her in that purely physical way. Not even Jamie.
No! Not again! She wouldn’t allow him, or any other man, to have such a hold on her again. Physically or emotionally.
Yet her blood raced through her veins, her traitorous senses paying no heed.
‘I’d have thought we could both act like rational adults after all these years,’ Alex was saying.
Rational adults? Shea clutched at her composure and her chin rose. Did he really think their ages had anything to do with it? If they were seventy she’d still feel the same. It was called betrayal.
‘Look, Shea—’ Alex stopped and sighed. ‘OK, let’s leave it that you’re not overjoyed by my return. Although why—’ He made an irritated movement with his hand. ‘No matter. The fact remains that I am here and I plan to stay here for some time.’
Shea’s heart twisted painfully. Well, she told herself brutally, if she’d been subconsciously harbouring any illusions about this being a flying visit home he had just nipped them in the bud. She’d simply have to get used to having him turn up now and then. She’d have to steel herself. And her heart. Especially her heart. Because she knew if she let him get close to her and he ran true to form, she’d never survive it all the second time around.
‘We’re pretty much family,’ he continued with a shrug. ‘We’ll have to see each other occasionally.’
‘I’m sure we can manage to keep those occasions to a minimum,’ she said with an evenness she was proud of. ‘You’ll be working, I take it, and so will I. If we’re careful we needn’t see each other at all.’ She made herself hold his gaze and his jaw tightened as his eyes narrowed.
‘I’d prefer not to orchestrate any sidestepping. I think we should just behave as normally as possible.’
Shea could almost laugh at that. Normally? What did he mean? ‘Normal’ for Alex and herself had been spending every moment together, talking, laughing, making love. However, as she was trying to decide how to answer his comment, Norah called from the hallway.
‘Is that you, Shea?’
‘Yes. It’s me,’ she said and climbed the remaining stairs to the door. But Alex was there before her.
‘And she’s brought a guest,’ he said into the opening.
‘Alex!’ Norah’s hand went to her throat in surprise. She shot a quick, startled look at Shea.
‘Hello, Norah,’ Alex replied with a faint touch of uncharacteristic reticence in his deep voice.
Then Norah’s eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled. ‘Alex,’ she repeated softly, a catch in her voice, and she opened her arms welcomingly.
Alex stepped into them, lifted her off the ground and swung her around before setting her back on her feet. ‘I wondered if you’d recognise me after all this time. Or if you’d want to.’
‘As if I wouldn’t,’ she admonished him. ‘And I’ve known you too many years to forget your face now.’ Norah patted his cheek and looked into his eyes. ‘But, Alex. You’ve changed.’
‘That’s
