Allie turned the sign on the door to closed, then locked it. She walked to the window by the sofa to close the blinds and looked out at the garden. The past few weeks had been eventful, and she’d been on a rollercoaster of emotions as well as a journey of self-discovery.

Quite frankly, she was exhausted.

She rested her head against the cool glass for a moment and closed her eyes.

Following Mrs Burnley’s news about the vision of perfection in the red sports car, the rest of Allie’s day had seen her yoyo between being stern with herself about staying strong and moving on, and fighting a deep sadness that made her cold to her bones and created an ache in her chest that wouldn’t go away.

It was all so silly, really. Allie had jumped the gun and allowed herself to feel things about Chris that she had no right feeling. She’d been swept up in nostalgia and what-ifs, and it had ended badly. For her, at least. Apparently, Chris was making plans with a gorgeous raven-haired model.

She exhaled slowly then opened her eyes.

And screeched then staggered backwards.

On the other side of the glass, was a white face, its eyes wide and dark, its mouth stretched in a grin.

“Chris.” She covered her chest with her hands and willed her heartbeat to slow down.

What was he doing here?

He pointed at the door.

She unlocked it with trembling hands, wishing she had a valid reason to refuse that wouldn’t make her seem completely insane.

“Hey, Allie,” he said, as he came inside. “I’ve been meaning to pop over all day but I didn’t expect to find you sleeping against the window.”

Allie offered a brief smile. “I just have a headache.”

“Poor love.” He reached out and placed his palm against her forehead. “You are quite warm. Hope you’re not cooking something up.”

Allie moved away from his hand. “I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”

“Okaaayyy.”

He followed her to the counter.

“What do you want, Chris?” Her tone was so icy it surprised her.

“I came to see you.”

“But why?” She met his brown eyes and saw them fill with confusion.

“Because I wanted to see you. Because I like seeing you.”

Allie swallowed a retort about him seeing enough of a six-foot model that he shouldn’t need to see her.

“Well you’ve seen me now.”

“Allie, what’s wrong? Have I done something?” He ran a hand through his hair and frowned at her. “I’m a bit confused. I thought we were… well, you know.” He shrugged.

“I guess we both thought wrong.”

She folded her arms over her chest.

Chris shook his head. “I came to tell you that I’ve got some news. A plan, that is. Can I tell you about it?”

Anger fizzed inside Allie. This man had come back to the village, to her home, and toyed with her affections. He had hurt her pride and wounded her confidence. And he still wanted her to be his friend.

“You have a bloody cheek, you know that?” She spat the words at him and he flinched.

“I do?”

“Yes, you do. You come here and make me remember how it used to be and make all these damned feelings resurface then you… you’re shagging some black-haired, long-legged…” Allie tried to think of an appropriate term that would convey her anger without making her sound jealous, but nothing came to mind. “Thing!”

“Wait a minute…” He held up his hands. “I’m shagging a black-haired, long-legged what?”

“You know what I mean.” Her voice came out strangled. “You were seen this morning. Snogging on your doorstep.”

She choked on a sob.

The emotions swirling around inside puzzled her. She hadn’t felt such anger, fire or need for reassurance in years. Chris might have hurt her but she had to credit him with burning away the numb haze she’d been wading through since Roger died, at least.

“I think someone has misunderstood what they’ve seen, Allie. That’s the problem with village gossip. Can we sit down and talk, please? I feel terribly awkward standing here like this.”

Allie watched him carefully. Was it possible that he wasn’t seeing another woman and that Mrs Burnley had been mistaken?

“I guess so.” Her voice sounded as if it had come from the bottom of a well. She should give him a chance to explain; she owed him that much.

They sat opposite each other at the table in front of the log burner, and Allie folded her hands on the tabletop.

“Allie, the woman who came to my house today was my literary agent, Audrey Harper.”

“Do you always kiss your agent?”

Chris laughed. “She’s very tactile but she’s like it with everyone. What your source – whoever that was – saw, was probably just her kissing my cheeks in greeting.”

“Oh.” Allie’s cheeks flamed. She’d let herself believe what Mrs Burnley had told her and now she felt like a complete idiot. Not only that, she seemed jealous and irrational, and she had never wanted to be either of those things.

“Yes, oh. Audrey came with some good news and that’s what I wanted to tell you.”

She bit the inside of her cheek, the physical pain nothing compared to the ache deep inside.

“Allie?” He took her hands.

“Yes.”

“Can I share my news?”

She nodded.

“Audrey is not just my agent but also a good friend. I told her I want to move back to Heatherlea and that I needed to either sell or rent out my place in London. The mortgage is extortionate and it would be ludicrous to leave it empty. Anyway, she knows someone who wants a city location and is prepared to pay cash for a quick no-chain sale.”

“You’re selling your apartment? Isn’t that a big move to make?”

He squeezed her hands. “It’s a move I’m prepared to make because I don’t want to risk losing you for a second time. I mean, what if I don’t stay in the village, and when I turn my back, someone else comes along and swoops you up? How would I feel then?”

“So you’re telling me you’re prepared to do all of this because of me?”

“No other reason.” He held her gaze, his brown eyes warm and sincere, and she felt him drawing her in, encouraging her to place her trust in him.

Something in her chest shifted a fraction.

“I can’t ask you to do that. What if…?” She bit her lip, not wanting to cast doubt on the situation, yet afraid not to voice her fears.

“If it doesn’t work between us?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Why wouldn’t it?”

“It’s been such a long time and I know I have feelings for you but we’ve both been through so much and time has passed and we’re more set in our ways and—”

“Tell me.” He cut her off.

“What?”

“Tell me what’s holding you back.”

Allie scanned his face, wanting to believe that she could do this; that it would be all right.

“Really?”

“I know something’s stopping you letting go, so tell me what it is and we’ll put it right together.”

Allie took a deep breath then exhaled slowly, clearing her lungs and giving herself a moment to collect her thoughts.

“It’s not pleasant to hear and to be honest, I’m afraid it might alter the way you see me.”

“Nothing could ever do that.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to each of her palms.

Allie hoped he was right but she wouldn’t know until she shared the truth.