Chapter Thirteen

Nina stared out of the office window at the driving rain. Ugh. She sighed.

Matt glanced over from the desk opposite. “For goodness’ sake. If I had a penny for every time you sighed, I’d be able to buy the bloody Taj Mahal.”

“Sorry,” she mumbled, going back to the spreadsheet on her laptop. She rubbed her eyes. Taking a step back career-wise was feeling like the wrong choice. She could do it all with her eyes shut.

Not taking chances in life was not paying off. Going for this job instead of looking to a promotion in the US… Not taking a gamble in a relationship with a super-star DJ… Who cared if it’d only been physical? She could have had her moment with him and enjoyed every last second until he’d ended it and still be in exactly the same position, but at least she’d have had more time with him. I’m such an idiot.

Nina imagined him and Ash together, raising their child. It didn’t matter whether they were together as couple or just co-parenting, he’d be a fantastic father…unlike Zac. Nina shuddered at the thought.

A cup of coffee was set down in front of her. She glanced at Matt. She hadn’t even noticed that he’d left his desk to make it.

“There you go, little miss sad pants,” he said, smiling. “Maybe a bit of caffeine will spur you on.”

“Thank you,” she said. “Sorry for being a downer.”

“It’s okay,” he said, sitting back at his desk. “Just remember this the next time I’m pining for a guy. I want full sympathy and no sarcasm.”

“I wouldn’t be sarcastic,” Nina said.

He raised his eyebrows. “Really? Need I remind you of Pete?”

She rolled her eyes. “For goodness’ sake. The guy made a living by attending ladies’ nights to serve drinks wearing nothing but a tiny apron. That doesn’t count.”

Matt sniffed. “Don’t be a snob.”

Nina laughed.

“By the way,” Matt said, “in the kitchen the others were saying something about a celebrity in the building. I don’t know what they were going on about.”

“A celebrity?” Nina said, sipping her coffee. “What celebrity would want to come here?”

“I’ve no idea,” Matt said. “It’s probably just a rumour.”

There was a noise at their office door and one of their colleagues entered, appearing a little wide-eyed.

Nina studied her. “What’s wrong, Sally? Is there something amiss in the lab?”

“No,” Sally replied, sounding out of breath. “Have you heard? There’s an A-lister on his way up here.”

Matt snorted. “You mean the celebrity they’re going on about? It’s clearly nonsense. Why would anyone famous be in the lab?”

“It’s true,” Sally said. “Maria saw him. It’s that guy who does the dance music. You know, the one from Glasgow.”

Nina felt like her heart might stop. She shot Matt a look.

His face erupted into delight. “You mean Logan Wild?”

“Yeah,” Sally said. “I couldn’t remember his name. I’m more of a country music fan myself. Anyway, he asked the way to your office, so he’ll be here any minute.”

Matt frowned. “To my office?”

“No,” Sally said. “Nina’s, silly. It just happens to be your office too.”

Nina spotted people gathering in the hallway outside the office door. “Why’s everyone in the corridor?”

“Celebrity spotting, that’s why,” Sally said. “I told them all he’s coming.”

Nina groaned. “Sally.”

“What?” Sally said. “We all need a bit of excitement on this rainy day.”

“Shit,” Nina said, glancing at Matt. “Why do you think he’s here?”

Matt rolled his eyes. “For goodness’ sake, woman, isn’t it obvious? He’s come to sweep you off your feet.”

She shook her head. “This isn’t a movie, Matt.”

“It could be,” he said, “with the plot so far. And don’t look now but here comes our happy ever after.”

Nina turned to see Cameron excusing himself through the crowd at the doorway. He finally made it over the threshold of the office and locked eyes with her.

“Hi,” he said.

Nina nearly fell off her chair at sight of him. How could he have become even more handsome in the few weeks she’d been away from him? She couldn’t speak.

Matt got to his feet. “Right!” he shouted. “Everybody out!” He strode over to Sally and herded her out of the room, paused to shake a bemused-looking Cameron’s hand, then followed Sally out and shut the door.

Nina stood, her legs wobbling. “What brings you here? Missed the weather?”

He laughed. “Yeah, but that’s not all I missed.” He closed the gap between them and Nina held onto the desk to anchor her jelly legs. He lifted a hand to her cheek. “It’s so good to see you again.”

She swallowed to try to lubricate her throat. “You too.” She took a deep breath. “Unbelievably good.”

He smiled and his intense hazel gaze made her insides flutter. “I’ve been speaking to Isla.”

“Oh yeah?” Nina said slowly. Was that a good thing or a bad thing?

He nodded. “She told me some stuff that I wanted to corroborate with you.”

Nina studied him. “So you flew out here?”

He nodded. “I figured this way you couldn’t ditch my calls.”

Guilt washed over her as she realised the selfishness of her self-preservation measures. “I’m sorry.”

He took her hands. “That’s okay. But I think we need to be honest with each other.”

Her heart rate rose. Was he going to say what she thought he was? Surely, he wouldn’t have come all the way here just to tell her in person that he wasn’t interested?

She squeezed his hands. “How’s Ash?”

“I’ve not spoken to her in a while, not since the results came back,” he said.

Nina’s heart rose into her mouth.

“It’s not mine,” he said. “It’s Zac’s.”

A weird mixture of relief and disappointment engulfed her—relief that the man she loved wasn’t imminently having a baby with another woman, but disappointment for Ash that the father of her baby was the king of all douchebags. She cleared her throat. “Poor Ash.”

He nodded. “Needless to say, he didn’t want to know. But I think it was good for her to be honest. She finally managed to see that the guy has no redeeming qualities whatsoever and she shook him off.”

“Will she be okay?” Nina asked.

“I told her I’d support her, whatever she decided to do,” Cam said. “As a friend.” He looked at Nina meaningfully. “Which is how I would’ve done it even if I was the father, because I don’t love her. I love you.”

The force of those words hit Nina like a tidal wave of joy. She studied his face, unable to believe it. She opened her mouth to reply but nothing came out.

He smiled and drew her into a kiss. The scent of him and the feel of his lips sent her head spinning.

He murmured against her mouth. “Anything you want to tell me?’

“Yes,” she said, grateful to finally let the words out. “I bloody love you so much. It’s been torture being away from you.”

He let out a breath and smiled broadly. “You’ve no idea how good it feels to hear you say that.” He pulled her back in and kissed her more urgently.

There was a shuffle from outside the door and Matt’s voice carried through it. “Well, thank Christ for that!”

Nina laughed against Cam’s mouth. “Sorry about Matt.”

Cam grinned. “I like him.” He kissed her again.

“So,” she said, “what now?”

“Up to you,” he said. “I’ll go wherever I have to, to be with you.”

She raised her eyebrows and gestured to the window where the rain was lashing the pane to within an inch of its life. “You’d move back here?”

“If this is where you want to be, then yes,” he said.

She shook her head. “I think I’d like to try the LA thing. I’ve gone off carbs anyway.”

He laughed. “You’ll apply for that job?”

She nodded.

“Good,” he said. “I don’t like the idea of you selling yourself short.”

She smiled. “Will you write more songs about me?”

He kissed her again. “I’m way ahead of you.”