Page 27 of Bride Under Contract

‘I know you must—’ Arif started, but Carter stopped him right there.

‘You have no idea how I feel.’

‘That’s just it—you refuse to feel!’ Arif said.

He was perhaps the only person on the planet who would speak so bluntly to Carter, but they had known each other since they were both still called Ulat. They had spent summers together before tragedy had struck as well as after.

Arif picked up the teething ring and held it out to him. ‘You won’t even touch it?’

‘You should have left it there...’

‘Why?’

‘Because that’s where it belongs. With him. Undisturbed.’ Carter was not a suspicious person, but in this he was certain. ‘I think it should be returned.’

‘That is for you to decide.’

‘On the anniversary,’ Carter nodded, relieved it was about to be sorted, but Arif had misunderstood what he meant.

‘I have a conference on the exact date, but if you want me to take you in, then I shall cancel it.’

‘I meant for you to return it.’

‘No.’ Arif shook his head. ‘It is your property.’

Carter watched as he returned the teething ring to the pouch.

‘I shall have it packed along with your things.’

‘Fine.’ Carter refused to plead, and just stared at Arif. ‘I’ll be in touch.’

He walked out, refusing to look back, ready to board his boat and get away. But he had to wait for his things, and as well as that he needed to breathe before facing that journey.

Damn you, Arif...

He strode past the deserted dining room and out to the boardwalk, then leant against the wooden rail and stared up at the dark near-moonless sky. He did not want to be here. God knew if Benedict turned up now then he’d be tempted to just sign over the place if it meant he could get the hell out...

Then he heard a sharp, panicked intake of breath and, turning around, realised it was Grace walking towards him and that he’d scared her.

‘It’s just me.’

Grace put her hand to her chest and exhaled in relief, but her heart was still hammering.

‘What are you doing out here?’ he asked.

She shrugged and went to walk on, still hurt by his dismissal, but she didn’t want to look churlish. ‘I messed up with the tour,’ Grace admitted. ‘I knew the times had changed tonight, but I thought dinner was before we went out.’

‘It’s a new moon,’ he explained.

She frowned, not understanding.

‘Didn’t Felicity tell you?’

‘Probably,’ Grace said. ‘I wasn’t really listening.’

She certainly wasn’t about to admit she’d spent most of today trying not to think about him.

Now, standing in the oppressive, humid air, she saw the tension on his features.

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