As he strode on she watched the side of his face. It was dark with something that she might have mistaken for fury if she hadn’t known better. She had neither fear nor hope that he would follow through; not now, while she was dependent on him. It would be a betrayal of trust, and he was a man of honour. There was no justice in the world, she thought sadly.
As soon as they reached home they got to work, stoking up the fire, working in the kitchen, managing to avoid each other’s eyes even when they said goodnight and retired to their rooms.
That night it rained, and by morning the worst of the snow had gone. Drago said he would arrange for her bags to be delivered. To her relief his manner was normal again, and she was able to respond in the same tone.
‘I’ve managed well enough so far,’ she said with a gleam of humour. ‘Although I suppose I should stop pinching your shirts.’
‘That’s the third one you’re wearing. I’ll be glad for you to recover your own clothes before I run out.’
Then his smile died. ‘But it’s not that. The truth is that these last few days have been-Didn’t you feel it?’
‘Oh yes,’ she said in a tone of wonder. ‘We laughed. Can you believe that? I don’t think I’ve laughed in months.’
‘Me neither. It was the last thing I was expecting when we came here. It’s you-I’ve never known anyone like you. I don’t want this time to end.’
‘Neither do I,’ she admitted.
‘Just a couple more days?’
‘All right.’
‘I’ll call home and get them to send the bags right away.’
But before he could take out his mobile phone, Alysa’s own telephone shrilled, startling her. The sound seemed to come from another world, one she had left behind without regret. The caller was her boss.
‘Alysa? Are you all right? I got worried when we didn’t hear from you.’
‘I’m fine, Brian,’ she said, trying to sound bright. ‘I took a little trip into the mountains and got snowed in.’
‘Damn. There are big things happening here, and it would really help if you came back.’
‘But I left everything in good order. I even cleared up all the problems with the Riley account.’
‘I know, and he’s very impressed,’ Brian admitted. ‘So impressed that he’s introduced a new client and told him to ask for you and nobody else. But he wants an early appointment. You should be very proud.’
‘Yes,’ she said slowly. ‘I suppose I should.’
His voice changed, became persuasive.
‘Mind you, if it’s really difficult, I suppose I could assign him to someone else. Frank’s proving very good.’
She knew Frank, a newcomer who was straining every nerve to impress the boss, and would obliterate her if he could. Brian had known just what to say.
‘How’s the snow?’ he asked.
‘Clearing,’ she admitted reluctantly. ‘All right, I’ll be back tomorrow.’
Drago was watching her as she hung up.
‘Duty calls?’ he asked wryly.
‘I guess it does. Oh, if only-’
‘Hey, that’s enough. If there’s one thing you and I have learned not to say, it’s “if only”.’
‘I can’t help it. If only-if only-’
She wondered what was happening to her. It had been on the tip of her tongue to tell Brian that she was still trapped and needed more time. But the habit of putting work first was too strong, and the words had come out of their own accord.
‘There’s a flight at six o’clock this evening,’ Drago said. ‘I’ll book it for you.’
Her heart sank. She wanted to say that tomorrow would have done, and they could have spent one last comfortable evening together. Now it was too late. Unless, perhaps, there were no seats. But even that hope died.
‘All fixed,’ Drago said, hanging up.
‘I should have put Brian off,’ she said unhappily. ‘I wanted those extra days.’
‘So did I, but it wasn’t to be, and maybe it’s best. We’ve had something we both needed, and we’re stronger for it. I shall be glad for the rest of my life that I met you, and you helped me survive.’
He reached out, enveloping her in a bear hug against the warmth of his chest. She turned her head so that it rested on his shoulder with her face turned away from him. His words reminded her of the letter she’d taken and which now, more than ever, she was determined that he must never see. She was afraid to meet his eyes lest they should somehow reveal her thoughts.
They had been granted a special time in which to heal each other’s wounds. It had brought them suffering, but also a kind of healing. Now it was time to move on to a life that might be bearable again. But still her heart ached.
Drago called his home and arranged for her luggage to be delivered to the airport, while she went to pack up the few things she had with her, putting the dangerous letter firmly away in her bag.
He made her a final meal of spaghetti, and they washed up together.
‘We’d better leave now,’ he said. ‘I’ll need to drive slowly.’
They made it to the foot of the mountain without mishap, and then they were on the road to the airport. Once there he bought her a coffee and went to meet the chauffeur, returning a few minutes later with her suitcases.
‘We’ve got a few minutes before you need to check in,’ he said, sitting down with her at the table.
‘Yes.’
Just a few minutes, and then she might never see him again. The speed of her departure had taken her by surprise. There were so many things she wanted to say to him, but suddenly she couldn’t remember any of them, and the time was ticking past.
A waiter asked if Drago wanted anything, and he asked for coffee without taking his eyes off Alysa. When it came he didn’t even notice.
‘That’s that, then,’ he said.
‘Yes.’
‘It should be a calm flight. The weather’s cleared nicely.’
‘Yes,’ she said again.
She wanted to meet his gaze, yet she feared to meet it. There was something there that she couldn’t afford to see now that she was leaving. He was her friend and comfort, both of which she needed too much to risk them with any other kind of relationship. And yet-and yet…
‘Call me when you get there,’ he said. ‘Just to let me know you’ve landed safely.’
‘Yes,’ she said for the fourth time. Inwardly she was cursing herself for being tongue-tied.
‘Yes,’ he echoed heavily.
She gave him a faint smile. ‘I reckon we’ve exhausted the conversation.’
‘It’s not the words,’ he said. ‘It’s the other things.’
‘Yes,’ she said before she could stop herself, and they both laughed awkwardly.
‘Luckily the other things don’t need saying,’ he added.
As he spoke he reached out across the table to take her hand in his, rubbing his thumb softly across the backs of her fingers, then raising them so that he could brush them across his cheek. When he released her he put his hand to his eyes for a moment.
‘Will you be all right, after everything I’ve put you through?’ he asked.
‘Don’t worry, I’m tough.’
He met her eyes. His own were gentle.
‘No,’ he said softly. ‘You’re not.’
‘You’re not either.’
He gave the self-mocking smile that touched her heart. ‘Don’t tell anyone.’
‘I promise. It’ll be our secret. What about you? Will
‘I will now, with your help. I’m only sorry it was so hard on you. I got off lightly in comparison.’
She thought of the letter that he must never see, and smiled at him.
