Page 150 of Final Betrayal

‘Will you stop talking for a minute?’

She clamped her lips tightly shut and felt her eyes widening in disbelief. Had he really said what she thought he’d said?

‘I’m serious,’ he told her.

‘I don’t know what to say, Boyd. This is so sudden …’

His voice sounded more determined. ‘I’ve been thinking about asking you for the last year. I wanted to ask you many times, but I never had the courage.’

‘So what changed?’

‘When that crane came down, I stared death in the face and woke up.’

‘Is that from Shakespeare or someone?’

He rolled his eyes and put an arm either side of her, his hands on the counter. She could feel the heat from his body and it charged through her own. She didn’t know where to look.

‘I know this isn’t the most romantic setting, but it’s so difficult to get you on your own without an audience, and to get you in a good mood.’

‘This is my good mood?’ She tried to still the racing in her heart. ‘Christ, Boyd, you don’t know me at all.’

‘I think I know you better than you know yourself. So, is it to be or not to be? And that is Shakespeare.’

‘You crack me up.’ Should she run or should she stay? Oh God, she didn’t know what to do.

‘I’m serious.’ He didn’t take his eyes off hers.

‘Jesus, Boyd.’ Emotions churned so quickly, she felt them tumbling around in her stomach. An ache spread across her chest and she didn’t know if it was physical or emotional. What did she want? She had no idea.

‘Say something,’ he said, tugging at his clean-shaven scarred chin.

‘I … I don’t know what I want. Thank you. Oh God, Mark, thank you for asking me, but I need to think about it.’

‘What do you need to think about? We’re not getting any younger. Life is dangerous and unpredictable.’

‘I’m dangerous and unpredictable.’

‘You’re right there.’ He smiled and her heart thumped a little faster.

Yes, she wanted Boyd. But did she want him all the time? Every day. Every minute of the day? She needed time.

‘Okay. Take time to think about it,’ he said.

She took his hands in hers and squeezed. ‘Thank you.’

‘I love you, Lottie.’

She didn’t answer. Just stared at him. He took a deep breath, feathered a kiss on her lips, then turned and picked up his jacket from the back of the chair. She heard the soft thud of the door closing.

She stared at the empty space he’d left in his wake. Alone, she sat down and thought of all she had wanted to say to him and hadn’t.

She hoped it wasn’t too late.

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