Chapter Ten

Lizzie woke reasonably early the next morning – a Saturday, though the days were beginning to blur. Apparently it wasn’t early enough to catch Nick though. When she padded into the kitchen she found a note in his bold, stylish handwriting, telling her he’d had to go out – he’d promised the neighbouring pub owner he’d go through his accounts – but would see her after lunch. Without him, the barn seemed eerily quiet. Odd, because when he was working in his study, she couldn’t hear him anyway. She’d probably heard dormice noisier than he was. She smiled, thinking how totally different he was to her. He liked the peace and quiet to study and think. When she had paperwork to do she had the radio on, full blast. In her world silence wasn’t golden, it was boring.

She missed him. It was hard for someone as independent as her to admit that, but she did. He was so solid, so together. Amazing, considering his childhood. When he’d admitted how much he’d missed being hugged, her heart had nearly split in two. In her teenage eyes he’d always been special. Now she was just starting to realise quite how special.

After downing a quick breakfast she acknowledged she wasn’t going to be able to stay at the barn all day. Not knowing Nick wasn’t there. Within an hour she’d taken delivery of a hire car and was driving back over to her parents’ house.

She wobbled slightly going up to the front door, but was soon immersed in going through their belongings, picking through what she wanted to keep. She shed tears, but there was no repeat of the wracking sobs of yesterday. Altogether she felt calmer and more at peace.

When she finally set off back to the barn it was later than she’d intended, but she was quietly pleased with what she’d achieved. In the boot was a suitcase filled with memorabilia to take back to America. And in her heart, along with the inevitable pain, were now some good memories. She’d never be able to forgive herself for her part in their deaths, but her grief no longer felt quite so raw.

Finally the little rental car bounced down the long lane towards the barn. Grinning ruefully at her driving incompetence – was there a single pothole she hadn’t hit? – she swung the car round the corner and experienced a quick spike of pleasure at the sight of Nick’s car on the drive.

Nick opened the front door. ‘Where the hell have you been?’

The suitcase she’d been in the process of dragging out of the boot clattered back down. ‘What’s wrong?’

He stood with hands on hips, an almost palpable anger emanating from his rigid frame. ‘I’ll tell you what’s wrong,’ he thundered, striding over to snatch the case from her hands. ‘I came back to an empty house, with no note saying where you were. I tried to phone your mobile, but it was turned off. Damn it, Lizzie, I was worried.’

‘I … well … I’m sorry,’ she mumbled, stunned by his reaction. ‘I suppose I didn’t think you’d be concerned.’

‘Didn’t think I’d be concerned?’ he repeated incredulously. ‘The last I knew, you didn’t have a car. I figured you must have gone out for a walk and got lost. Or fallen down a ditch and broken your leg, or worse.’ He dropped the case to the floor, biting off any further doom filled scenarios. ‘I was seconds away from calling the police when I heard the car coming down the lane.’

Now he’d started to calm a little, Lizzie dared to look at him. He did, indeed, look like a man who’d had an anxious moment or two. His hair was ruffled, as if he’d been constantly thrusting his hands through it. Traces of worry lingered in his eyes. She felt terrible, though a selfish part of her was warmed by his concern.

Reaching up, she planted a kiss on his cheek. ‘I’m really sorry, Nick,’ she whispered. ‘I didn’t think. It’s been a long time since anyone has cared where I was.’

Nick’s heart had undergone a thorough workout during the last hour. It had lifted when he’d entered the barn, looking forward to seeing her, only to be squashed when he’d found no trace of her. Then it had started to thump noisily as he’d scoured the place, desperate to find a note or any sign of where she had gone. Now, as she kissed his cheek, it went into free fall. For a moment he closed his eyes and imagined that the kiss was the start of something more. Then reality crashed down on him. She was offering an apology, pure and simple.

‘Yes, well, next time leave me a note,’ he replied rather too harshly.

Lizzie nodded once before walking stiffly ahead of him into the house.

Exhaling in frustration, he bent to lift up the case. She’d looked so pleased with herself when she’d first climbed out of the car. Almost happy. Before he’d gone and torn her off a strip. ‘So where have you been all day?’ he asked her rigid back. ‘And what on earth is in this case? It weighs a tonne.’

She spun to face him. ‘Open it and see.’

He laid the case on the coffee table and fumbled with the old lock. When it opened, his mouth gaped in astonishment. ‘You went back to the house, I take it.’

‘It would seem so. I thought I’d take some things back to America. Memories for me, mainly, but I’ve got a few of Robert’s things for him, like his bear and his model plane.’ She shifted her slim shoulders, clearly trying to keep herself together. ‘I know it’s stupid after all this time, but maybe it could spark off a memory. At least bring him some comfort.’

Her sad eyes tugged at his heart, though not half as much as the thought of her going back home. ‘That’s a great idea, and I’m glad you felt able to go back.’ Shutting the case, he stood. Her face was inches away from his, those soft lips so inviting. Reluctantly he kissed the top of her head instead. ‘You look like you need cheering up. Why don’t I take you out for dinner?’

Lizzie hesitated. ‘It’s Saturday night, restaurants are likely to be busy. Isn’t there a chance I’ll get recognised?’

‘Nobody looked at you when we had lunch in the pub. Put your wig on and you should be fine.’ He brushed a hand over her satin smooth cheek. ‘Come on, what do you say? My shout.’

Finally he glimpsed her smile. ‘Well, I guess it beats either of us having to cook. I’ll go and magic myself into a brunette once more.’

Lizzie tried not to look too conspicuous as they sat down at a table near the back of the restaurant.

‘It’s okay, nobody’s noticed you,’ Nick whispered as he drew in his chair.

‘Am I that obvious? I was trying to act casual.’

‘You are. Now relax and have a glass of wine. I need to update you on where we are with project Charles.’ He put up his hand before she had the chance to come back at him. ‘Before you say anything, Dan phoned me just after I’d got back. I had planned on us both catching up with him this evening, but it didn’t happen that way.’

He looked so pained, she had to smile. The tongue-lashing she’d given him had obviously struck home. ‘You’re forgiven.’

‘The bad news is the police don’t have any evidence to convict Charles, so I’m afraid they’ve rubbed their hands of the case.’

She hadn’t really thought they would be able to do anything, but her heart still sank at the confirmation. ‘Is there any good news?’

He smiled and her heart did a slow flip. Honest, sincere, impossibly cute, though he’d hate to be told that, his was a smile totally without guile. And though his teeth weren’t quite straight, and weren’t quite brilliant white, it had the ability to make her heart yearn for more. More smiles, more closeness. More of everything.

A waiter hovered and they quickly gave him their orders. ‘So,’ Nick continued when they were on their own again, ‘Dan says he can’t get Charles through the criminal courts, but he can go through the civil courts instead. There the standards of proof aren’t as high. They usually use the preponderance of evidence standard.’

Lizzie looked at him blankly. ‘Err, the per— What? Stick to straight English, please.’

‘Sorry,’ he acknowledged the slip with a wry grin. ‘If you hang around with lawyers long enough, some of their language starts to stick. In a criminal case, it has to be proven beyond all reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. In a civil case, usually it only has to be established that, on the balance of probabilities, the defendant is guilty.’

‘I see, I think. But how does that help me? He won’t get convicted, will he, even if we can prove that, in all probability, he did it?’

Nick’s face turned grim. ‘It’s true there isn’t enough evidence to convict him, but if Dan can prove Charles was guilty in a civil case, he can at least clear your name. You’ll also have the satisfaction of making him a social pariah, ensuring he never works in Los Angeles again.’

Umm. She must be a hard bitch because she was really warming to that idea. ‘Does Dan honestly think there’s a chance?’ She was almost too frightened to hope.

Nick reached across to clasp her hand, his grip warm and reassuringly strong. ‘Yes, he does. Apparently Charles has form. It seems you aren’t the first person he’s tried to blackmail. Thanks to your list, Dan was able to track down an actress who finally admitted Charles had tried the same trick on her. It didn’t hit the press because she paid him off. Dan said she took a bit of convincing, but having seen what Charles has done to you, and knowing he’s probably got another victim already in his sights, she’s agreed to testify. Dan’s certain there’ll be others.’

Nick paused as they were served their food.

‘I thought models ate carrots,’ he whispered when the waiter had walked away, nodding over at her rather huge portion of lasagne.

‘We do. But right now I’m not modelling and I’m making the most of it.’

He chuckled. ‘Well, hell, eat away. You could do with putting on a few more pounds.’

She knew he meant the words kindly, but they still stung. It was a fact that dress designers loved thin girls, but men preferred curves. ‘So, you were saying. Charles has done this before?’

‘Yes, and there’s more. A background check on him revealed he’s got a record for having drugged a previous girlfriend, back in his home town of Denver.’

Funny how that knowledge didn’t surprise her. ‘Well, at least I wasn’t the only dumb blonde taken in by him.’

‘You may be blonde, but never dumb,’ he told her quietly. ‘None of this was your fault.’

‘Thank you. Though I can’t help thinking I should be more careful with my choice in men.’

Something flared in his eyes. ‘I agree.’ He looked like he wanted to say more, but instead he took a sip of wine and moved the conversation back to his discussion with Dan. ‘Anyway, Dan says he has enough to build a case. If he can also add some witness statements from your previous boyfriends, confirming three in the bed sessions are totally out of character for you, we could be home and dry.’

It was good news, but her desire to eat had vanished. It would mean more dissection of her blasted sex life, even though this time those doing it would be on her side.

‘It will all be over soon.’

She looked up to see his gentle brown eyes gazing back at her. ‘I know.’ With a small sigh she pushed her plate away. She’d had enough, in every sense.

Suddenly the hairs on the nape of her neck stood to attention as, from behind Nick’s shoulders, she spotted two men approaching their table. They were grinning in the cocky manner of men who thought they were funnier, cleverer and better looking than everyone else. ‘You look just like that blonde model,’ the taller, heavy set one announced. ‘What’s ’er name?’ He turned to his friend. ‘Elizabeth someone or other.’

‘Yeah, the one who likes to have pictures taken of her while she’s having sex,’ the other one replied loudly.

Opposite her, Nick stiffened. He made to stand up but she placed a hand on his arm, stopping him with a look. ‘I’m flattered you think I look like a model,’ she told them both with a sweet smile. ‘But I’m just an ordinary girl out on a date with my boyfriend. So if you don’t mind leaving us alone?’

They gawked at each other and Lizzie was half afraid they’d simply grab her wig and pull it off to prove they were right. Thankfully they thought better of it and stalked away.

‘That was close,’ Nick muttered when they were out of earshot. ‘Maybe you should pursue that actress idea, after all.’

She tried to smile, but the encounter had left her more than a little uneasy. ‘Can we go back now, please?’

Within minutes he’d settled the bill and they were walking outside.

‘It is you, isn’t it?’

Her heart plummeted as the two men, who’d been smoking outside, approached them once more.

The shorter one leered at her. ‘How do you fancy a little session with me and my mate? I hear you’re into threesomes.’

Before Lizzie had a chance to speak, Nick grabbed him by the neck and shoved him, hard, against the wall. ‘Say one more word and I’ll wring your scrawny little neck.’

The heavier man went to pull Nick off, but Nick twirled round fast, catching him unawares. He delivered a single, hard punch to his generous stomach, leaving him doubled over in agony.

That was it. She’d had enough. ‘Stop it, Nick,’ she screamed, pulling him off before he could do any further damage. ‘These two delusional men can think what they like. Please, take me home.’

Wordlessly Nick took hold of her hand and helped her into his car, anger still simmering in his dark eyes.

The journey back to the barn was quiet, both lost in their thoughts. Lizzie was emotionally wrung out. Everything she thought she’d escaped from was now staring right back at her again.

Nick cursed himself all the way home. What had given him the bright idea to think he could take Lizzie to a busy restaurant and she wouldn’t be recognised? He shuddered at the thought of the potential repercussions of his stupidity. Sure the men had sloped off quietly now, but they didn’t look the type to keep an encounter like that to themselves. Certainly not if they could make money from it by blabbing to the press.

He pulled into the drive, killed the engine and turned to face a very withdrawn Lizzie. Nearly back to the girl he’d seen at her apartment a few days ago. ‘I’m sorry.’ He seemed to be saying that a lot these days.

She shook her head. ‘It’s not your fault.’

‘I don’t see how you work that one out. I was the one who insisted everything would be okay, that you wouldn’t get recognised. I was stupid.’

‘Not half as stupid as me, getting myself into this mess in the first place.’ She put a hand on his arm to stop him saying anything more. ‘I just want to go to bed.’

Silently they climbed out of the car and walked into the barn. What had started as a way of cheering her up had badly backfired. He could only hope this was the lowest point. It would all start to get better from now on.