LIAM PUT THE phone down, looked round his gleaming office and waited for the expected exultation to kick in. He’d won the Beaumont contract. Mission accomplished.
But the news felt...flat. Of course he was pleased—knew on a professional, practical level that his company was safe, was on its way up, and that did give him a deep sense of satisfaction. But the sense of victory he would have felt just weeks before was lacking. Now all he wanted was...to call Ava, to share the news. But he wouldn’t because there would be no point.
Ava would say all the right things but... It wouldn’t be real. He started to pace the office, in the hope that the monotonous strides would dull the ache of missing Ava. Because even though in the past two weeks they had seen each other, the meetings had been a true charade, a mockery of their previous closeness and camaraderie.
In truth it hadn’t even felt like Ava—oh, the beautiful, perfectly dressed, perfectly poised woman had looked like Ava, sounded like Ava, but she had not been his Ava. His pace increased. Ava was not his, had never been his, could never be his.
He should be glad that she didn’t love him, glad that she had been spared that hurt. Glad that she was able to continue to play her part now that the ‘fun’ was over. Yet perversely he wasn’t... Because there was nothing to be glad about. A part of him wanted to go and find her, tell her he loved her. But how could he take that risk? He who knew his inability to navigate relationships. He couldn’t figure out how to be part of a family in any sense. Not as a son, a stepbrother, a husband.
Yet now he recalled Ava’s words.
‘Do something about it. Stop being scared. I know I’m right. They wouldn’t feel you were intruding, they’d welcome you in. It’s your family unit.’
What if she were right? Before he could change his mind he picked up the phone.
‘Mum?’
‘Hello, Liam.’
‘I was wondering if Max is there.’
‘Max?’ His mum sounded understandably confused.
‘Yes. I wondered if he wanted to go skating.’
‘I... I’m sure he’d love to. I’m about to drop him off to the rink anyway—it’s one of his volunteer nights. Why don’t you meet him there?’
‘Great. I’ll bring him back and maybe could we talk?’
‘Of course.’ A pause and, ‘Are you OK?’
‘Yes. I think so.’
Half an hour later Liam arrived at the roller-skating rink, aware of nerves and a sense of the surreal, aware that this ‘everyday’ activity felt like a step into the unknown.
‘Liam. Hey.’
Max walked towards him, a shy smile on his face, and he realised that, despite his casual bearing, his stepbrother had been waiting for him.
‘Hey. Hope this is OK.’
‘Sure. It’s cool. Mum says you’d like a skating lesson.’
‘If that’s OK with you?’
‘Let’s get you sorted with some skates and we can get started.’ Max gave a sudden grin. ‘I teach a group of four-year-olds some days... I’ll give you the grown-up version.’
Liam pulled the skates on, watched as Max followed suit, saw how confident the teenager was. ‘Right. Don’t try to do too much too soon. To start with, balance against the wall and move how you can. Next you need to let go and waddle like a penguin.’
‘Hey, what happened to the grown-up version?’
‘I meant waddle like an adult penguin,’ Max said, deadpan, and Liam gave a snort of laughter.
‘Like this?’
‘Perfect.’
‘OK. Whilst I practise my waddle, why don’t you show me how it’s really done?’
‘Sure.’ And then he was off, and Liam’s jaw dropped as he watched Max weave in and out of the throng of customers in an incredible display of speed and agility before zooming back.
‘That was incredible.’ Liam shook his head. ‘I know there’s no way I’ll ever be able to do that, but if you could coach me so I can at least do a circuit that would be great.’ He glanced around. ‘I know you’re working too.’
He watched, saw how professional Max and the other skate guards were, watched the speed skating and realised Max had a real talent. And throughout Max came and offered encouragement and help until, ‘I’ve got it,’ Liam crowed.
‘You have. You’ve clicked. Now it’s all about practice and I’m pretty sure you’ll get up to a good speed in no time.’
Liam held out a hand. ‘Thanks, Max. You’ve been great. I appreciate it.’
By the end of the evening Liam had a happy sense of achievement, felt a connection to Max that he genuinely hoped to build on.
‘Did you have fun?’ Bea asked as they arrived back.
‘It was cool,’ Max said as he headed upstairs.
‘Definitely cool,’ Liam agreed.
‘You said you wanted to talk,’ Bea said. ‘John’s still at work.’
‘That’s fine. I... I just wanted some advice, I guess.’ The idea was strange.
‘About Ava?’
‘Yes. How did you know?’
‘I saw Ava a couple of days ago.’
‘For drinks with Anna Lise. How was it?’
‘It was fun. It was lovely of Ava to organise it. But Ava and I stayed and had a last drink and I got the feeling something isn’t quite right between you. She said you’re thinking of having a break.’
‘Yes.’ That was the story they’d agreed on, a kind of phased break-up. Pain jabbed at him and he tried to remind himself that you couldn’t break up something that had never existed in the first place. ‘But I don’t want a break.’
‘Then tell her.’
‘It’s not that easy.’
‘Why not?’
‘I’m scared.’ The admission was terrifying in itself. ‘I’ve always messed up relationships. I don’t know how to do it.’
‘So you’re just going to give up? Throw away a chance for true happiness?’
‘Like you did for me?’
‘I am happy, Liam.’
‘You are now. But you weren’t—you spent years trapped in an unhappy marriage. Wasted years. Because of me.’ Just like Jess had wasted her precious years. With him.
‘No.’ Pain touched Bea’s eyes. ‘That is not how it was, Liam. I stayed because I wanted to, because it was the right thing to do. For you and for me. Terry was your dad. He loved you. In the end I couldn’t take you away from him. That was my choice and I’ve never regretted it. I loved you. I still love you. You were my priority and I do not regret that choice. If what happened then, between your dad and me, between you and me, is affecting your decisions now, then please don’t let it. I know your marriage to Jess was both complex and tragic. But don’t let that stop you now. Don’t let what happened in the past take away from you and Ava.’
‘There is no me and Ava. There can’t be. I can’t take the risk I’ll mess it up again. It’s not fair to her.’
‘It doesn’t work like that. Don’t you think Ava deserves to make that choice for herself? Make her own risk assessment? Don’t take that away from her.’
After all, wasn’t that what he’d done to Jess? Not told the truth. Not given her a choice. Made assumptions.
‘Think about it,’ she said. ‘Please.’
‘I will.’ Without hesitation he rose, could almost see the air clear between them as he moved over to her and hugged her. ‘And thank you.’
Ava looked round, wondered if she’d lost her mind, imagined the wrath of her mother, the wrath of her lawyers if they knew her current whereabouts. She slouched down, pulled the brim of the designer sunhat a little further down and cast a furtive glance at the Italian offices, the headquarters of Luca Petrovelli’s business.
Diligent research had uncovered an interview where he’d said he sometimes liked to eat his lunch in a nearby park—so here she was staking out the premises for the second day in a row. It at least gave her something to focus on apart from Liam, provided a small distraction from the pain that weighted her cracked heart.
She looked at the revolving door one more time and blinked in disbelief. There was Luca—in truth, she’d not really anticipated success. So now what?
Better to trail him to the park or he might simply turn and retreat back into his fortress or, worse, call security on her. Trying not to look furtive, she followed her half-brother until he seated himself on a bench. Her insides clenched with trepidation and swiftly she headed towards him and sat down. Cast a sideways glance at him. Dark hair presumably inherited from his mother. Grey eyes, ditto. But his nose was their dad’s, and his lips, and she could see something of herself in him, something elusive that she couldn’t quite place. Something that made them kin.
Now she was staring and Luca turned.
‘Luca?’ Ava heard the smallness of her voice.
‘If you are a reporter I have noth—’ He broke off as grey eyes met amber. He paled under the olive skin, and she felt the shock of recognition. ‘Ava?’
‘Yes.’
For a full minute they just sat and looked at each other, the birds in the background, the noise of the breeze rustling the trees. Ava locked the moment away—no matter what happened next, she’d done this, looked for Luca and found him, and now she needed to say what she had come to say. ‘I’m sorry to surprise you like this but it seemed important we talk, in private, face to face.’
‘But not here. We could be spotted. Come. We’ll find a café, somewhere busy and anonymous.’
Once in a bustling café redolent with the smell of pastries and hot chocolate and percolating coffee, he turned to her.
‘What would you like?’
‘Black coffee and an almond croissant.’
His smile was tight. ‘Jodi’s favourite.’ The words jolted her, the idea that she shared something with a sister she’d never met.
Once back at the table he sat down and stared at her, his face unsmiling, his eyes hard. ‘So why are you here?’
‘Because the whole talking through lawyers isn’t working. Because I need to know what you want to do about Dolci. Because I wanted to see you. Meet you, even if it’s only once.’
His gaze didn’t waver. ‘Do your lawyers know you’re here?’
‘No. No one knows I’m here.’ And only one man wouldn’t condemn her for it. For an instant she wished Liam were here, waiting at the hotel. Someone to have her back. But that wasn’t to be. Couldn’t be. ‘Truly. I just want to know what you and Jodi want.’
A shadow crossed his face and then he leant back. ‘How about you tell me what you want?’
‘I’d like to figure out a way for us all to work together. As a family. You, me and Jodi. I know there will be tensions and difficulties. And obstacles. But we could find a way to overcome them.’
‘That won’t be so easy.’
‘I know. My mother—she will oppose this and I don’t know how your mother will react. I don’t know the answers. But I would like to try and figure them out with you and Jodi.’
Now Luca sighed. ‘OK. I believe you. Though my own lawyers will have a hissy fit. But there is another problem. One you don’t know about.’
Liam stood at the arrivals gate, his eyes scanning the travellers as they came through, some weary, some with smiles as they looked for their loved ones. His whole body was wired as if he’d drunk a bath full of caffeine; anticipation and terror tingled through him at the thought of seeing Ava. Then there she was, blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail, dressed in a cable-knit sweater, jeans and boots, tugging a suitcase behind her.
He knew that her nails were probably accessorised to her luggage and the idea tugged at something deep inside him. His heart cartwheeled at the sheer joy of seeing her even as nerves nearly caused him to remain out of her line of vison, flat-footed and petrified.
Swiftly he strode forward, stepped into her path. ‘Ava.’
Her eyes widened and for a second there was his Ava. Her eyes held a fleeting happiness—joy, even—and then the emotion muted, vanished and he wondered if he had simply seen what he wanted with all his heart to see. ‘Liam. What are you doing here?’
‘I came to pick you up. I wanted to see you.’ He’d vowed to tell the truth, not play with words or act a part, yet he didn’t want to spook her, wanted to do this right. But the words of love wanted to escape right here and now and he swallowed them down. Better to stick to plan, maintain hope for longer. ‘If you’re not exhausted I thought we could talk. Off script. If you are tired I’ll drop you off home.’
‘I’m not exhausted or even tired. I’d like to talk.’ That sideways glance, her amber eyes flecked with curiosity.
‘Good. Let’s go somewhere more private.’
‘Sure.’ They walked to the car in silence, Liam simply happy to be with her, to have her close in this moment when he could still hope.
‘Where are we going?’
‘It’s a surprise.’
Now a small smile tipped her lips and then vanished, replaced by a frown. ‘Have I forgotten something? Is this part of our break-up plan?’
God, he hoped not. Nerves tautened inside him. Jeez. Show some backbone, Rourke. Worst-case scenario, he’d get hung out to dry, be humiliated. But he’d have been honest. He’d be able to look back without regret. There would be no what ifs to haunt either of them. ‘We’re here.’ It didn’t answer her question but it’d do.
Nerves crackled through him as he pulled to the kerb outside the London park. He climbed out and saw Rita and her boyfriend parked close behind him. The petite redhead waved, jumped out of her car, opened her boot and he walked over to heft the hamper out. He’d wanted the food to be chilled and the wine to be cold.
‘Here you go. I’ll drive the car back to the garage.’ Rita caught the keys he tossed to her and turned to Ava. ‘He chose it all himself. I’m just the delivery girl.’ She stepped closer to him. ‘Good luck, Big Guy.’
He’d take any luck going, though somehow the jangle of his nerves had calmed now his plan was under way, now he was committed to his course of action. Ava followed him through the park until they reached the place he’d chosen. He pulled open the basket, took out the portable heater and the thick tweed blanket, spread it on the ground. The late afternoon sunshine still touched the ground and air with a touch of early spring warmth but he knew soon enough the late March evening would turn colder.
Ava watched and he saw realisation dawn in her eyes. ‘It’s our first date,’ she said. ‘The one we couldn’t have.’
‘Because it wouldn’t have been the right time of year,’ he said. ‘I am hoping that now is. The right time for a real first date. Not part of a charade or a pretence. Or an imaginary projection. Real. With a real blanket and a real hamper.’ He gestured towards the wicker basket. ‘I have chilled white wine. I have crystal flutes.’
‘And soon there will be stars in the sky and we can sit and talk and...’
‘Discuss the constellations.’
‘And it will be magical.’
‘Yes. Because I think we’re good at magic. I want a chance for us to do this properly, to win your love the right way. If that’s what you want.’ Stop talking, Rourke. ‘If it isn’t, then that’s OK too. I’ll get it. Please don’t go along with this because you don’t want to hurt me.’ He knew the damage that could be done that way.
‘Love?’ Her voice held surprise, shock, but also perhaps an undertone of hope.
‘I love you, Ava.’ He tried for a smile. ‘I know it’s a bit forward on a first date and I am not expecting you to reciprocate.’
She stepped forward, put her hand on his arm, her face, oh, so serious. ‘I won’t lie to you, Liam. Not now. Not ever. So I swear to you that what I am about to say is the truth. The whole truth and nothing but the truth. I love you too.’
For a moment he stared at her, unable to believe the words, but then he took in her expression, the love in her eyes, the happiness that illuminated her smile, a smile that he knew was real. And a sense of joyous disbelief dawned inside him, pulled an incredulous chuckle. ‘You love me?’
‘Yes.’
‘So you love me and I love you?’
‘Yes.’ Now her smile widened. ‘This is the best first date ever.’ She sank down onto the blanket and he followed suit, busied himself with switching the heater on, and then she snuggled next to him. Moved away, studied his expression. ‘You are sure, aren’t you?’
‘Yes, I am. One hundred per cent and then some. This is real, Ava. And, hell, it frightened me. That’s why I fought it for so long. Because I was so scared I couldn’t handle it. Just like I couldn’t handle my parents’ relationship, just like I messed up my marriage. I thought the safest path was one I walked alone.’
‘So you couldn’t hurt anyone else.’ Her voice was gentle now, so full of warmth and understanding. ‘What changed your mind?’
‘You. You’ve changed me, Ava, made me see things I couldn’t before. I did make mistakes, but I don’t have to bear all the responsibility. I have accepted that other people make choices too. My mum made her own decisions, so did Jess. She was part of our marriage too and she made mistakes as well.’
Ava shifted even closer to him, laid her head against his shoulder, and the tickle of her corn-blonde hair, her closeness, filled him with joy. ‘You showed me that I don’t need to cut myself off from everyone. You were right about my mum, about John and Max. They are my family. I’ve spent a lot of time with them in the past days. Max took me skating.’
‘Really?’ Now she laughed, the sound melodious and light in the evening air.
‘Yup. Apparently I’m a natural. For someone of my advanced years. Something else I wouldn’t have discovered if it weren’t for you.’
Ava grinned at him. ‘Well, you’ve done wonders for me too. Guess what happened on my business trip.’
‘Tell me.’
‘Well, I went to Italy to see Leonardo Brunetti and we signed the deal.’
‘Ava, that is fantastic!’
‘It gets better.’ Her eyes sparked with happiness, her expressive face catching the light of the setting sun. ‘I also saw Luca.’
He took her hands in his, held tight, knew how much courage that must have taken. ‘You are incredible. How was it?’
‘Amazing. Surreal. I can’t believe I finally met him and there was an instant definite connection. And you were right. The reason he hasn’t been in contact properly isn’t because he hates me or that he is vindictive. It’s because he really doesn’t know what Jodi wants. He doesn’t even know where she is.’
‘She’s missing?’
‘No. She just won’t tell Luca where she is. After Dad died Jodi took off to go travelling. Luca said she was having a great time and then suddenly she changed. Contact lessened and now she’s asked him to leave her alone, promised that she is OK and she doesn’t want him to pull his “big brother shit”. He is really worried. It sounds like they are really close. But he won’t make any decisions on Dolci without her.’
‘That makes sense and I hope Jodi is OK. And I am so glad you have begun to sort things out with Luca.’
‘Me too. We decided that for now I’ll keep running the company but I’ll keep him in the loop. We’ll talk, conference call and he will have some input. Once Jodi is back in the picture properly we’ll go from there. I even spoke to Mum, told her what I’d done. She wasn’t happy but I did tell her that no matter what happens I will always be there for her. That I want her to be part of my life. But I realise that she will have to make that choice. And she didn’t shoot me down in flames and she’s agreed to hold fire on trying to overturn the will herself So I hope that we’ll work it out. I know it will take time but I have hope.’
‘I am so pleased for you.’ And he was, knew how much this meant to her.
‘But it’s thanks to you I did it. You’ve shown me how to be me, to stop playing a part, to stop trying to please everyone else without taking my own views into account. You’ve shown me my opinion does count. You listened to me, encouraged and supported my ideas. That’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you.’
He grinned at her. ‘What were the others?’
‘You make me laugh, you’re loyal and caring and honourable and with you I can be myself.’
‘Always.’ He cupped her cheek. ‘Because I love you for you. I love the way you smile, the way you care about everyone, the way you deal with difficult situations. I love that you have fun, take selfies. I love you, Ava. I want to wake up with you beside me every day. I want to be at your side for the ups and the downs. I want to have children with you, to grow old with you.’
‘That’s what I want too. You’ve shown me that love can be a good thing, a beautiful thing. That it isn’t all about need or obsession. It’s about a partnership, about reciprocity, about being there for each other. It’s not a power struggle, it’s about two people who want to be together, who work through their problems together. Because I know that’s what we’ll do.’ Her gaze encompassed him with love and he felt an awe and wonder. ‘For ever.’
‘For ever.’
Then he kissed her, a kiss that sealed their love, marked the beginning of for ever. A kiss that filled him with pure happiness that this woman loved him. And so they spent their first date, began their for ever, lying under the stars and planning their future.
Look out for the next story in The Casseveti Inheritance trilogy
Coming soon!
And if you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Nina Milne
Baby on the Tycoon’s Doorstep
Their Christmas Royal Wedding
Whisked Away by Her Millionaire Boss
All available now!
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