Page 96 of Filthy Rich Temptation

‘I hope so.’

‘I know so. You should be so proud of all you’ve achieved.’

‘Now you really are going too far.’

‘No.’ I lift her chin, holding her gaze to mine. ‘I once told you I’d believe in you coming back – stronger, smarter, more beautiful than ever – until you could. And you did it. Now I’ll be proud of you, until you can be proud of yourself.’

And then I kiss her before I say the one thing there’s no coming back from.

Because this is about her – always has been, always will be.

My feelings don’t come into it.

17

SADIE

I’m alone in the house.

Isla’s taken Lottie to visit her grandkids in the village, and Theo’s gone for a run along the beach. I wanted to go with him, but I’ve neglected my site enough as it is – putting time with Lottie first, and, if I’m being totally honest, Theo too.

It’s been almost two weeks since we came to Pembrokeshire, and I’m not afraid to admit that they’ve been the best two weeks of my entire life. Every day has been its own little adventure, for me just as much as Lottie.

And I’m pretty sure it’s been the same for Theo.

There’s more colour in his cheeks, he’s quicker to smile, quicker to laugh… If I’m glowing, then he’s… what’s the male equivalent?

Sunshine wrapped in stubble.

My laugh echoes through the quiet, and I realise how strange it feels to be alone.

I haven’t been since we got here.

By night, we share a bed, unable to get enough of each other.

By day, we play like your everyday tourists. Knights and princesses in the castle. Hide and seek in the forest. Football on the beach. Crabbing in the rock pools. Eating more ice cream than any adult should ever admit to. And laughing until our bellies ache – purely from the laughing, not the ice cream.Yeah, right.

We make the happiest of trios, and I know what people must think when they see us. Because I see it too, when my guard is down and I’m not thinking too hard.

A family. A real, honest-to-God family. Just one more happy group in a sea of summer families.

And every time I remember we’re not, my chest aches. It’s not intentional. It just is.

That’s the other reason I didn’t go running with Theo this morning. We need space.Ineed space. Because all those outings… all those nights tangled in his sheets… all those blurred lines… They’re starting to feel real.

Dangerously real.

The temptation to want, to hope, to believe it could be something more… it’s getting harder to ignore.

Because Theo is everything I’d ever want in a partner.

Everything I’d ever want in a father for Lottie.

He’s funny. He’s kind. He’s patient and thoughtful.

Smokin’ hot, and downright filthy when he wants to be.

The way he looks at me. The way hetouchesme. The way he knows exactly when to be gentle and when to be anything but.