Page 92 of The Love Position

He lifted his head. ‘She was twenty-two and still on probation. Thornfield was one of the bosses and it was his word against hers. Daniella was furious. It had taken her so long to get this position, and now, because of me, she’d lost it as well as a positive reference from Conqueror. She said I’d ruined her life.’

‘Isn’t that going a bit far?’

Isaac shrugged. ‘Maybe? But I’d let her down spectacularly. I hadn’t been present in our relationship for a long time. I hadn’t paid attention to her growing unhappiness, and when things came to a head, I ignored what she wanted me to do and got her sacked. After we broke up, I didn’t feel ready for a new relationship, and when I met Guruji, he showed me the peace and freedom celibacy can bring. And anyway, all that aside, it’s safer for me to be single.’

‘Safer?’

‘I can’t take the risk of losing it like I did. I turned into a caveman.’

‘But you’re a completely different person from who you were then!’

Isaac let out a heavy sigh. ‘Sometimes, even after years of yoga, I worry it hasn’t worked and I’m still the same. I can’t take the risk of hurting someone like I hurt Daniella.’

Grief for what he and Daniella had been through in the past, and the future she and Isaac would never have, punched Sophia in the guts.

‘But it’s such a waste!’

‘Huh?’

Tears filled her throat, and her words spilled out unchecked. ‘There are so many horrid men out there, but you’re not one of them. You’re one of the good guys. I’ve never met anyone as kind and calm as you are. Women want and need someone like you.’

I want and need someone like you.

His expression was heavy with sadness.

‘Just because things went wrong with Daniella, doesn’t mean the same thing will happen with someone else. There’s no way my next boyfriend is going to be anything like Marcus.’

‘I hope not,’ Isaac said softly.

Sophia held his gaze, willing him to say more, wishing he would act on how he felt for her.

But he didn’t move, he just kept gently rocking the hammock, then turned to look at the sea.

Closing her eyes, she squeezed them tightly shut, willing the tears away.

If someone as nice as Isaac liked her, then she had to believe there was someone else in the world, as kind as he was, waiting for her.

The trouble was, she didn’t want anyone other than Isaac.

16

The sound of the wind and water ebbed and flowed in Sophia’s consciousness as Isaac rocked the hammock. Her mind drifted, floating along thought paths, then getting lost as fantasy and reality collided to become dreams. Was she falling asleep? Each time she asked the question, the answer slipped away.

She dragged herself into the present moment, her limbs stiff, and opened her eyes to see Isaac smiling at her.

‘Did I sleep?’ she asked, her voice scratchy and low.

He nodded.

She checked her watch. ‘Four hours?’

‘You needed it.’

‘I can’t believe it. I always seem to be dropping off whenever you’re around.’ Sophia glanced at his hand on the hammock, heat rising in her cheeks. ‘Did you rock it the whole time I was sleeping?’

Isaac gave a half shrug. ‘I didn’t want to stop and have you wake up.’

‘But… Your arm must be knackered!’

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