Sheila’s eyes widened. ‘Is it him?’
She nodded, feeling as though she were having an out-of-body experience. ‘I rather think it might be.’
‘Heavens,’ said Sheila, clasping a hand to her chest. ‘Drama.’
But Abby shook her head as the shock receded and reality reappeared. ‘He doesn’t do drama. He’s probably here with a query over my bill.’
‘Will someone open this damned door,’ shouted Leo, ‘or do I have to break it down?’
‘That definitely sounds like drama,’ said Sheila, plucking a key off a hook and making her way to the door.
And she was right, it did, but Abby was going to remain icy calm because she wasn’t going to read into his sudden appearance. She really wasn’t.
But that didn’t stop her heart from giving a stupid lurch when Sheila opened the door and there he was looking so intense, so dishevelled and so wild that her head spun.
His gaze darted around the pub, and, when it fell on her, pinned her to the spot. Not taking his eyes off her for even a second, he strode through the pub, a path appearing like the parting of the waves. He came to a stop right in front of her. So close and radiating so much heat and tension that she went dizzy all over again and had to grip the edges of her stool for support.
‘What are you doing here?’ she said and annoyingly enough it came out as a croaky whisper.
‘You didn’t give me a chance to respond.’
‘Yes, I did.’
His eyes burned into hers and Abby’s mouth went dry. ‘About five seconds, Abby. Do you really think that was long enough?’
She swallowed and looked at him, and, goodness, it was hard not to reach out and touch. ‘And if I’d given you longer?’
‘That’s why I’m here. I’ve had longer.’
‘And?’
‘You caught me by surprise, Abby, back there in the folly.’
‘I know I did. I’m sorry.’
He swung his gaze around the room, over the thirty or so people dotted about the place not even bothering to pretend they weren’t agog, and then back to Abby. ‘Look, is there somewhere a bit more private we could do this?’
As the only option was her room, which was hardly appropriate given the way things stood, she shook her head. ‘I’m afraid not.’
Leo’s jaw tightened and he shifted as if uncomfortable, but then he shrugged and said, ‘Fine. If that’s the way it has to be.’
But apparently it wasn’t because a second later Sheila was yelling, ‘Make some space by the fire, people. Let’s give these two a chance to talk,’ and, with a few muttered protests, the sofa sitting in front of the fire was vacated.
Slipping off the stool, Abby arched an eyebrow at her. ‘You’ve changed your tune.’
Sheila leaned forwards and said in a low voice, ‘Yes, well, he’s gorgeous, and he was willing to break down a door for you. I bet he’d never skive off child-support payments.’
‘No, you’re right, he wouldn’t.’
And because he wouldn’t and because she was desperate to know what he had to say, she let Leo take her hand and lead her to the sofa. They sat down. Waited for a moment for everyone to return their attention to their drinks and conversation, and just when Abby thought she was going to burst from the anticipation and longing and, above all, hope, Leo spoke.
‘I owe you an explanation,’ he said and she instantly felt like a balloon that had been popped because that wasn’t what she’d been hoping for. At all.
‘What about?’ she said, struggling to keep the disappointment from her voice, her face.
‘My wedding day.’
‘I know about your wedding day.’