since they’d bumped into each other in London.
“What, Sarah?”
“Oi, don’t you know how to charm a lady?” Her voice was sultry and seductive, as always. It used to do him in, but now it only evoked annoyance.
“I’m busy.”
“I need your help. I’m in trouble.”
He sat at his desk and put his head on the tabletop. “What is it now? Unpaid parking fines? Assault a meter-maid again?”
“Drew, seriously. I’m starting a business, but need to cut ties with my partner.”
“So, what’s the problem I need to help with?”
“Well, you’re a solicitor.”
He ground his teeth. “Not anymore, Sarah.”
“You just don’t work for a firm, Drew. You know you’re still a solicitor.”
“I can’t help you. I’m very busy.”
“How busy can a greengrocer be?”
His blood boiled at her words. She demeaned his family’s profession at every turn and still expected him to pander to her?
“ Very busy, actually. Stop calling. I’m happy here. I’ve met someone, the shop is doing well, things are better without you mucking it all up.”
“Met someone, have you? Drews, you know I’m the only one who will ever really love you.”
“Goodbye, Sarah.” He hung up without waiting for a response.
His heart was racing and he could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins. She made him so angry every time he spoke with her. Good to get out of that one. Why did I ever love her to begin with?
He couldn’t remember a time with her when he was actually happy. She was always pushing him to be different, to be more than he was, more than he wanted. He just wanted to live a comfortable life. If that meant having loads of money and high society friends, he was fine with it, as long as he was happy. Work had become his entire life and Sarah had started planning their dates around a list of important people they might run into. The unease had seeped in during those days of Sarah’s attempted social climb. He’d changed his life the day he caught her with another man. He never wanted to go back.
A simple happy life. That was all he wanted.
Grace’s face flashed in his mind when he thought of the peace and contentment he now had and the one thing it lacked. He wanted a life full of easy conversation, tea and coffee in the morning, sitting quietly on the couch watching a film, and her hair splayed across his pillow every night. The realization scared him, made him worry he was falling uncontrollably for her, rather than easing himself into a life with her.
She’d already lived that life with John. Why would she want it with me?
He shook his head at the jealously pouring through him. John was a problem. He figured any other man would be. Drew knew his faults. After Sarah, he couldn’t open up and trust anymore. Even if there was no reason to be jealous, he always found a way. His hands clenched tightly as he took a steadying breath.
I’ll just have to show her how much more I can give her. How much more I can be.
Chapter 11
“Thanks for the call, Mick.” Grace hit the end button on her phone a little too forcefully and slammed it down on the tabletop.
“God! Damn-damn-damn,” she cursed to the empty house. Another delay. Another ridiculous problem that Mick should be handling.
She picked her phone back up and dialed Valerie.
“What’s up?”
“Sorry to bother you on lunch. Mick called. Yet another accident on the site. Some structural issues need to be looked at and changes need to be made. Can you head over and take photos for me?”
Valerie sighed and Grace could hear the familiar sounds of the café near their house. “Yep. Can I bring you something?”
“Sure. Maybe an iced coffee?”
“All right. You know, if they don’t start getting it together, we’re never going to finish by deadline. I’d like some time for a social life.”
“I know what you mean.”
Valerie chuckled. “Whatever. Don’t even try to pretend you have no one keeping you warm at night. I see Drew
“What, Sarah?”
“Oi, don’t you know how to charm a lady?” Her voice was sultry and seductive, as always. It used to do him in, but now it only evoked annoyance.
“I’m busy.”
“I need your help. I’m in trouble.”
He sat at his desk and put his head on the tabletop. “What is it now? Unpaid parking fines? Assault a meter-maid again?”
“Drew, seriously. I’m starting a business, but need to cut ties with my partner.”
“So, what’s the problem I need to help with?”
“Well, you’re a solicitor.”
He ground his teeth. “Not anymore, Sarah.”
“You just don’t work for a firm, Drew. You know you’re still a solicitor.”
“I can’t help you. I’m very busy.”
“How busy can a greengrocer be?”
His blood boiled at her words. She demeaned his family’s profession at every turn and still expected him to pander to her?
“ Very busy, actually. Stop calling. I’m happy here. I’ve met someone, the shop is doing well, things are better without you mucking it all up.”
“Met someone, have you? Drews, you know I’m the only one who will ever really love you.”
“Goodbye, Sarah.” He hung up without waiting for a response.
His heart was racing and he could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins. She made him so angry every time he spoke with her. Good to get out of that one. Why did I ever love her to begin with?
He couldn’t remember a time with her when he was actually happy. She was always pushing him to be different, to be more than he was, more than he wanted. He just wanted to live a comfortable life. If that meant having loads of money and high society friends, he was fine with it, as long as he was happy. Work had become his entire life and Sarah had started planning their dates around a list of important people they might run into. The unease had seeped in during those days of Sarah’s attempted social climb. He’d changed his life the day he caught her with another man. He never wanted to go back.
A simple happy life. That was all he wanted.
Grace’s face flashed in his mind when he thought of the peace and contentment he now had and the one thing it lacked. He wanted a life full of easy conversation, tea and coffee in the morning, sitting quietly on the couch watching a film, and her hair splayed across his pillow every night. The realization scared him, made him worry he was falling uncontrollably for her, rather than easing himself into a life with her.
She’d already lived that life with John. Why would she want it with me?
He shook his head at the jealously pouring through him. John was a problem. He figured any other man would be. Drew knew his faults. After Sarah, he couldn’t open up and trust anymore. Even if there was no reason to be jealous, he always found a way. His hands clenched tightly as he took a steadying breath.
I’ll just have to show her how much more I can give her. How much more I can be.
Chapter 11
“Thanks for the call, Mick.” Grace hit the end button on her phone a little too forcefully and slammed it down on the tabletop.
“God! Damn-damn-damn,” she cursed to the empty house. Another delay. Another ridiculous problem that Mick should be handling.
She picked her phone back up and dialed Valerie.
“What’s up?”
“Sorry to bother you on lunch. Mick called. Yet another accident on the site. Some structural issues need to be looked at and changes need to be made. Can you head over and take photos for me?”
Valerie sighed and Grace could hear the familiar sounds of the café near their house. “Yep. Can I bring you something?”
“Sure. Maybe an iced coffee?”
“All right. You know, if they don’t start getting it together, we’re never going to finish by deadline. I’d like some time for a social life.”
“I know what you mean.”
Valerie chuckled. “Whatever. Don’t even try to pretend you have no one keeping you warm at night. I see Drew
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