Page 56 of Nigel

“I am leaving.”

“Dammit, justlisten,” Lionel ordered in his calm, authoritative voice. “Welove you and we want what’s best for you. Remember how againstMaria you all were, when I brought her home?”

She noddedreluctantly.

“Well then.”Taking a deep breath, he closed his hand over hers and squeezed. “Theguy is super wealthy and in the past, you had a problem with peoplewith all those resources. And now you are doing a three sixty. Wehave to wonder.”

“Okay. Fine.”She removed her hand from his. “I am not leaving. I tried torun away from what I felt. In fact, I was so damned frightened by theintensity of it that I bailed and said some things that cut him deep.

He is still singlebecause of someone he lost to violence when he was just twenty. Idon’t feel comfortable telling you the details of it, becausehe confided in me.” She took a sip of the water. “Heloves me.”

A smile touched herlips. “I cannot understand the why of it, but he loves me andthat is something I am absolutely certain about. I love him too.

Right now, I amsitting here with you morons, when all I want is to hear his voice,to be with him. He wanted me to go with him to the UK and I shouldhave gone. I should have just packed a damn bag and gone with him.

I am in my fortiesand falling in love for the first time. Do you know how that makes mefeel?” The tears were sheening in her eyes and she did notcare. “I just want to be with him.”

There was silence atthe table for a minute or two before Jeffry spoke.

“You can stillgo. Book a ticket and be with your man,” he said gruffly. “Ihad that, the intensely passionate love with Jackie and I lost her.Even after all the years, I am still yearning for her.

No one and I mean noone has ever been able to take her place.” He reached for herhand and squeezed. “I am happy for you and if Nigel Hawthorneis the real deal and if he keeps that expression on your face, I willwelcome him with open arms.”

“Jeffry isright,” Lionel said quietly. “I love Maria and I wouldnot want to change that for anything in this world.”

“We are happyfor you honey.” Leaning over, Kyle kissed her on the cheek.“But if he hurts you, he answers to us.”

“I think he isintimidated by that,” she said with a laugh. “Lord. Inever thought I would be this damn emotional. Look at me blubbering.”

“Not so toughnow, are you?” Jeffry asked mockingly.

“I can stilltake you any time,” she told him.

“Children,let’s get through the meal. I have work to get back to.”

*****

“We justlanded.”

“And you usedyour one phone call to reach out to me,” she teased. She haddecided to finish up and take an early day. She was exhausted, wrungdry, emotionally as well as physically. And she needed the time aloneto think things through.

She was by no meanshaving second thoughts, but everything was spinning so fast that shefelt dizzy.

And she missed him.She was going back to her place, when all she wanted to do was tosnuggle in his arms.

“Something likethat. How was lunch?”

“I managed toconvince my brothers that you were not into me for my money.”

His soft laughterwarmed her heart. “I was worried they would be thinking alongthat line. Did you assure them that it was the sex?”

“I figured thatwould not go over too well.” Hefting her pocketbook over herleft shoulder, she left the office and closed the door behind her,nodding to her assistant.

“You are rightof course.”

“What are youdoing now?”

“Getting in thevehicle that is going to take me to the flat. It’s raining.”

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