No More Secrets by Tricia Maw

Author:Tricia Maw
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783754939
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2014-01-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Charlotte leant back against the seat of the plane and closed her eyes. Beside her, Raphael slept. His fingers still entwined with hers when he’d taken hold of her hand during take-off. His breathing was even, his face free from the tension that had been there since the phone call. She still wasn’t sure how he’d managed to persuade her to come with him. Or why. After he’d put down the phone he’d driven her home in silence, his face a grim mask. She’d tried to find some sympathetic words but he’d only grunted in response and she realised he didn’t want to talk.

The cottage was quiet when she let herself in, Matt was probably asleep and she was glad to crawl into her own bed and try not to think. Her body ached from his caresses, needing the fulfilment denied her but which she had been willing to give. She wondered if his love-making had been some kind of catharsis for his revelations about his past. She was still stunned by what he’d told her, sure that her feelings for him were racing ahead of his. His past entanglements were obviously still present and he was still evasive about Coral, but hopefully the time apart would let her put things in perspective.

She was surprised, then, when he’d arrived at the cottage just as she and Matt were finishing a late breakfast. Matt had let him in and she could hear their voices in the hall as she cleared the table. All her objections about accompanying Raphael had been brushed aside by both men, and once or twice she’d caught a glance between them as if they were in collusion with one another. Finally, sensing Raphael’s growing impatience, she’d capitulated, only to find that he’d taken her agreement for granted when he produced two first-class tickets.

‘How long will we be away?’ she’d asked.

‘I don’t know. The tickets are open-ended. Does it matter?’

‘Yes.’ Matt chimed in. ‘I’d like her back in time for my wedding.’

‘Don’t worry. We’ll be back well before then.’ He flashed Matt a broad smile. ‘I’m looking forward to it.’

After he’d left Charlotte turned to her father. ‘You might have told me you’d definitely fixed the date.’

‘I’m sorry, love. We had to finalise it with Jean last night. You know how booked up she gets. I did look for you but you’d disappeared and I knew Raphael was driving you home.’

‘It doesn’t matter,’ she relented, kissing his cheek. ‘I’m delighted you’ve finally decided on a date. And I’d better decide what to pack,’ she added, disappearing upstairs to sort through her clothes.

Raphael’s hand on her arm woke her. ‘We’ll be landing in a few minutes,’ he warned, his dark eyes still showing signs of strain. ‘You’d better fasten your seat belt.’

There was a car waiting for them at the airport. Charlotte climbed into the back seat as Raphael sorted out the luggage and spoke to the driver. ‘Welcome to Portugal,’ he said as he joined her. ‘We should be at the villa in about half an hour.

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