Page 152 of Joker in the Pack

And more than anything, I loved being with Nye. Breakfast was forgotten as he carried me to the bedroom and reminded me of all the reasons why I never wanted to leave the apartment. Or, in fact, his deluxe king-size. I’ll give you a hint—it didn’t have anything to do with the glorious view from the terrace.

“If I don’t need to move back to Lilac Cottage, what should I do with it?” I mused afterwards.

Nye had given up on the idea of going to the office and brought his laptop into bed, where he was answering emails in between twirling my hair around his fingers and feeding me chocolates. As long as he didn’t hit the video conference button, we were all good.

“Sell it, rent it out, use it as a holiday home?” he suggested.

“I’m not sure a trip to Upper Foxford would be much of a holiday.” But me as a landlord? If someone had suggested the idea a year ago, I’d have laughed, but with the state of my finances, I couldn’t deny the extra money would come in handy. “The rental income could tide me over until I get my business built back up again.”

No way was I going to fall into the trap I’d been stuck in with Edward again.

“Website design?”

“What else?”

“I thought you wanted to open a bakery?”

“That’s just a pipe dream.”

“Why? You could sell the cottage and use the cash to start one.”

I’d never seriously considered the idea, but Nye had planted a little seed and I couldn’t flick it away. “Do you really think that’s possible?”

He reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “You can do anything you put your mind to, and I’d help you to set it up. You only have to ask, babe.”

I knew then that all the trouble and heartache over Lilac Cottage had been worth it. Apart from Nye and Warren getting hurt, obviously. I’d rather have avoided that. But if I hadn’t inherited that place and Tate and Fenton hadn’t played their sick games, I’d never have met the man who completed me.

“Tate did me a favour when he led me to you.”

“Forget him.”

“I will, I promise.” I gave my head a quick shake, wishing I could get rid of those damned memories. “I still can’t believe he pulled the wool over my eyes like that.” My mother’s indoctrination, that’s what it was. “He would have been Lord of the Manor one day, and I couldn’t see past the title or his trust fund. Well, never again. I want to make my own way in life and earn my own money. And I’m going for a plain old Mr. this time.”

Nye’s smile faded, and he turned a shade paler.

“What? What did I say?”

He laughed, but it sounded forced. “You think I’m plain?”

Me and my stupid big mouth. “A sexy, gorgeous, hot, delicious Mr.”

“Better.”

Nye always seemed so confident, but after my thoughtless comment, he was on edge for the rest of the day.Well done, Olivia.I needed to think before I spoke in future.

My new man came with a new set of friends. Janelle had badgered Maddie and me into going on a night out with her and some of the Blackwood girls, although I put my foot down when they suggested a visit to Taurus. Even though Nye had seen the funny side, one of us per month being hospitalised was quite enough.

“We’re celebrating tonight,” Maddie said as I let her into Nye’s apartment.

“Dare I ask why?”

With Maddie, it could be anything from finding a forgotten bottle of wine at the back of a cupboard to winning ten pounds on the lottery.

“You remember that woman at work I was having all the trouble with?”

I nodded.

“Well, she quit.”

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