Page 68

‘Fine. But I am getting on this flight. You’re not bumping me because of this.’

Grabbing her bag, Holly shifted to the side. She knew people were staring at her. Watching them, but she couldn’t move any further. Her legs wouldn’t let her. It had been less than two weeks since she had seen Giles. Half a month. Having him there, within touching distance, caused an ache to spread through her chest. It didn’t help how much he had changed, either. His face was dark with stubble – which was a long way from his normal, clean-shaven look. No doubt it was a request, or rather a demand, from Sienna.

‘You can go back home now, Giles,’ Holly said, her teeth gritted in anger. ‘I’m not abandoning my daughter, and as for the cowardly comment, I think you need to take a good hard look in the mirror there.’

His hand hung by his side. Holly used the moment to grab the passport. This time, it slipped out of his grip with ease. ‘Go back to Sienna, Giles. You have a wedding to plan. And I have a future to build.’

She was partway through turning around when he spoke again.

‘The wedding’s off.’

‘What?’ There it was again. The jolt in her heart. Like it had suddenly forgotten how to beat properly.

‘We got into a big argument, and she ended things.’

‘An argument?’ Holly said. ‘About what?’ She had a horrible feeling she already knew the answer.

‘About children in the wedding. She wanted to have all the little kids as flower girls and page boys, then not invite them to the reception, or something. It all escalated, and she walked out.’

Holly nodded. That sounded like an incredibly Sienna thing to want.

‘I’m sure you can fix things if you want to.’

He nodded. ‘I’m sure you’re right. But it was a while ago now. When we got back from Anglesey.’

‘What?’ That was almost two weeks ago. Why hadn’t he said something?

‘I think I was spoiling for a fight, if I’m honest,’ Giles continued. ‘You know, giving her a reason to break up with me.’

Silence followed.

‘So it’s over?’ Holly said, not sure why she couldn’t stop swallowing.

‘It is,’ Giles said.

A flicker of hope formed in Holly’s heart, but she quashed it before it could catch light.

‘But it doesn’t change anything, does it? You told me yourself, love isn’t always enough.’ A new throbbing began behind her ribs, while the heat of tears burned behind her eyes. ‘When I wrote you that letter, you weren’t even with her, but you still didn’t want me.’

‘Of course I want you! I want to be with you more than anything.’

‘But you?—’

He stepped towards her.

‘I messed up, Holly. I wanted to put things right between us, but I needed to do right by Sienna too. After everything I did to her, she was owed a bit of respect. Believe me, the minute it was over, I wanted to drive straight over to you, but that wouldn’t have been right. Not after calling off the engagement. That’s why I stayed away. Because I knew I’d have no restraint if I saw you. Besides, I’d been horrible to you in Anglesey. I was trying to work out how to apologise. But then I got your letter and it was perfect. So perfect. I just felt… inadequate. Like I’d never be deserving of your love. So I thought it would be better if I pushed you away. That maybe, if I believed you hated me, I could stop loving you quite so much. But it didn’t work. Not at all.’

‘Giles, I?—’

‘Oh screw this,’ he said.

Without another word, he swept her into his arms. It was a kiss that belonged in the movies. In a happily ever after. A kiss that told Holly everything had suddenly fallen into place and nothing would ever be in doubt again. As he pulled her closer, she felt the fear fly out of him too. This was how it was meant to be. This was always how it was meant to be.

A chorus of cheers went up behind them, and when they broke apart, a hearty blush coloured Holly’s cheeks. Giles, on the other hand, wore a grin that stretched from ear to ear. Still holding her hand, he lifted it up to his lips as if she was going to place a kiss there, only to hesitate.

‘You took your ring off,’ he said.

‘I did. Before Anglesey.’