‘How?’ She interrupted him again. ‘The opening show is on Saturday. Did you forget? Or maybe you just don’t care.’
He said nothing and the chill seemed to spread to her limbs.
Aristo stared at her in silence. Her accusations stung—primarily because he couldn’t deny them. He hadn’t forgotten about her show, but he’d downgraded its importance—obviously, how could he not have done? There were always going to be other shows, but if he didn’t go to Dubai then he would be jeopardising everything.
‘Of course I care. That’s why I’m going to Dubai.’ His face felt so rigid with tension that it hurt to speak. ‘Look, I don’t want to leave you—’
‘So don’t!’ Her eyes were fierce, the green blazing like the Aurora Borealis. ‘Stay here with us—that’s what you said you wanted.’
He stared at her, their conversation washing over him like the waves outside, pulling him in and drawing him away all at the same time.
He didn’t want to leave her, but they couldn’t stay here for ever, and this happening now was a reminder of what was at stake back in the real world—what he risked losing. Teddie might have told him that she didn’t care about money and status, and he believed her, but now that she’d agreed to marry him he was determined that this time it would be perfect.
And if things got out of hand in Dubai then that wouldn’t happen.
Glancing over, he saw that her eyes were too bright, but he let his anger block the misery twisting in his throat. He hadn’t planned any of this, and he had no choice but to fix it in person. So why was she making it so hard? Just for once couldn’t she just give him her unconditional support?
Reaching out, he took both her hands and, gripping them tightly, pulled her closer. ‘Of course I care. Look, it’s just one show. And I wouldn’t be going to Dubai if there was any other option. But I can’t risk the damage it will do to my reputation.’
Nor the knock-on consequences that damage would have when he came to issue a share price—because that was his goal. Then he would be able to join the business elite and leave his rivals in the dust.
That was his priority, in his role as husband and father.
Teddie swallowed past the lump in her throat.
She didn’t recognise the man standing in front of her. Had he really just spent hours building a sandcastle with their son? Looking down at his hands, she felt her heart contract. She could feel his pulse beating frantically, urgently through his fingertips, and suddenly she understood.
This wasn’t about some mess in Dubai, or his business reputation, this was about a childhood spent trying to win the love of his mother. And now he was trying to do the same with her and George. To earn their love.
That was why work mattered so much to him and why he wanted his name to be indelible.
But what would happen if he found out he was already loved? Unconditionally. Now and for ever. Maybe she could quiet the urgency inside him.
‘I don’t want you to go,’ she said softly. Looking up into his eyes, she smiled unsteadily. ‘And you don’t need to go. If you don’t ever float your business, whatever that means, it won’t change how I feel about you, or how George feels about you.’
She cleared her throat.
‘I love you, Aristo.’
Silence.
His dark eyes rested on her face and then, lifting her hands to his mouth, he kissed first one and then the other gently.
‘I can’t do this now.’
His voice was quiet, careful, almost as though he was scared of breaking something.
She stared at him, her heartbeat slowing. She’d never told anyone she loved them before—not even Aristo. Other phrases of love, maybe, but not those three specific words. But she knew that the correct response wasn’t, ‘I can’t do this now.’
‘Is that all you’re going to say?’ she said shakily. ‘I just told you I love you...’
‘I can’t, Teddie.’ He let go of her hands.
Her chest was too tight, and then she felt her veins flood with shock and misery as she realised that what he’d been scared of breaking was her.
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She’d thought she knew what heartbreak felt like but she’d been wrong.
‘I’m sorry