She’d always thought Alessi kept his relationships short-term. ‘That’s a long time.’
‘Especially by Greek standards,’ Alessi said, and took a breath. He never went into the past with women but he was starting to hope for more of a future with Isla, and for Alessi that meant being honest. ‘We were about to get engaged. Neither my parents nor hers have ever forgiven me for calling it off.’
‘You were young.’ Isla tried to keep things light. ‘Surely that’s better if you weren’t sure you were ready.’
‘I was ready,’ Alessi said, and watched as Isla’s glass paused just a little before she placed it on the table. He was close to sharing, closer than he had ever been. He liked her take on things, he actually respected her directness and the slight detachment that came from Isla. She offered a rare perspective and he wanted more of that now. ‘Apart from the reunion, do you keep in touch with Talia?’ Alessi asked.
‘A bit,’ she said. ‘Just social networks and things … Why?’ She smiled. ‘Do you still have a thing for her?’
‘God, no,’ Alessi said. It was the truth.
He looked at Isla—the fact that she and Talia were loosely in touch was enough of a reason not to tell her the truth about that time.
Or an excuse not to.
Isla would never break a confidence, he knew that.
Alessi knew then how serious he was about Isla because in more than a decade he had never once come close to telling another woman the truth behind that time.
But not here.
Not yet.
‘How serious did you and Rupert get?’ Alessi asked. ‘Did you ever speak of marriage?’
‘No.’ Isla let out a short laugh. ‘Rupert and I …’
Alessi watched as she suddenly took great interest in the dessert menu, which two minutes ago Isla had declined, and he was suddenly glad he hadn’t revealed all.
Yes, he knew her a bit better but despite her apparent ease, Isla still revealed very little. ‘Shall we go?’ Alessi suggested, and Isla nodded.
‘It seems strange not to have to wait for the bill.’
‘We still have to account for our time.’ Alessi smiled and rolled his eyes as his mother made her way over, insisting that they come upstairs for coffee, but Alessi declined.
‘I have work at seven,’ he said, determined not to let his family push things, while determined not to hide. ‘So does Isla.’
He drove her back to her apartment and they chatted along the way. ‘Do you miss Isabel?’ Alessi asked.
‘I do,’ Isla said, ‘though it sounds as if she’s having an amazing time in Cambridge …’
‘How come she went?’ Alessi asked. ‘It was quite sudden.’
‘It just came up,’ Isla said, and gave him the same answer that she had to Sean. ‘Who wouldn’t kill for twelve months’ secondment in England?’
‘It had nothing to do with Sean?’
‘Sean?’
‘I just picked up on something.’ Alessi glanced over. ‘When he first started, I was down on MMU and Isabel was blushing and avoiding him as much as you would have avoided me tomorrow had I not dragged you out today …’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
She did, Alessi was sure, but her trust was worth his patience and so he kissed her instead.
His kiss was more intimate than last night, Isla thought. It tasted not so much of passion but of promise and possibility. His mouth was more familiar and yet more intriguing because it pushed her further along a path she had never been on with a man.
Here they could end their amazing weekend.
Right now she could climb out of the car and go up to her apartment. Both of them could gather their thoughts, ready to resume normal service on Monday.
It was Isla who pulled back. ‘I don’t want anyone at work to know …’
‘Of course,’ Alessi said, and then guessed the reason they were still in his car, rather than her asking him up. ‘Oh, yes, you share with Darcie.’ He hesitated, wondering if asking her back to his for a second night was too much, too soon, yet it was Isla’s boldness that took him by delighted surprise.
‘She’s on call tonight.’
It was new, it was delicious, it was a weekend that didn’t have to end just yet as Isla invited him just a little bit further into her life.
FOR A WOMAN who had never dated, Isla got a crash course and the next two weeks were blissful. Even the hard parts, like attending Archie’s funeral in the hospital chapel, were made better for being together.
‘Thanks for everything you did, Isla,’ Donna said as they said their farewells after the service. ‘Especially with Jessica.’
‘How is she doing?’ Isla asked.
‘She’s upset, of course, but she really does know that none of this was her fault. She’s so glad that they had that lovely evening together and that last day.’ Donna turned to Alessi. ‘Thank …’ she attempted, then broke down, and Alessi gave her a cuddle.
‘He was such a beautiful boy,’ he said. ‘I am so sorry that there wasn’t more that could be done. You made the right choice, Donna. He got a whole day of being loved and cuddled by his mum and dad and big sister.’
Isla, who never cried, could feel tears at the backs of her eyes as Donna wept and nodded and then pulled away. ‘I need to get back up to the unit for Elijah.’
‘Go,’ Alessi said. ‘I will see you up there soon.’
He walked up towards Maternity with Isla. He’d felt her standing rigid beside him during the service and had noted that not a tear had been shed by her.
‘Awful, wasn’t it?’ Alessi said.
‘Yep.’
‘Does nothing move you to tears, Isla?’
She halted and turned to face him. ‘Excuse me?’
‘I’m just commenting …’
‘What, because I don’t break down and cry I’m not upset?’
‘I never said that,’ Alessi answered calmly. ‘I was just asking if anything moves you to tears. Babies’ funerals are very difficult.’
‘I
