"I know. I'm sorry. I wanted to keep it to myself for a while." He winced at her hurt expression. "Laura, you know as well as I do that being a bachelor had become a sort of religion for me. For both you and me. But then I met Clare and everything changed. I've never felt this way before. Everything seemed to be going so well, I didn't want to rock the boat. It was as though going public might jinx it or something."
He sipped his tea. "I've wasted too many years shutting myself off from relationships, keeping people at a distance, all because of what Dad did." He shook his head. "The trouble with trying to avoid getting hurt is that you don't get to enjoy the good bits either." He smiled sheepishly. "I knew the minute I met her that Clare was the girl for me."
Laura spluttered over her tea. "Don't you start with all that love-at-first-sight stuff," she tried to joke.
She felt a little ill. She and her brother had been in this together—it was a kind of family creed, never getting close to anyone, using their father's defection as proof they were doing the right thing . . . and never seeing the relationships that did work, the couples that stayed together. Rachel and Paulo. Maria and her husband.
"Are you alright?" Steve's voice cut across her thoughts. "You're rather pale. I know it's a bit sudden, my getting married and everything, but . . ."
Laura fixed a happy expression on her face, although of all the people in the world, Steve was the one person she doubted she could ever fool.
"I'm fine, of course I am. And I'm thrilled. It's such a surprise, that's all." She kissed him on the cheek. "So, when do I get to meet this love of your life?"
Steve beamed, his face lit by a happiness that took her breath away. "Next week, maybe? I'll arrange for us to go out for a meal." He pointed at her waistline. "You could do with one. You're going to love her, I promise."
"I'm sure I will. I'll look forward to it."
Steve headed for the door then stopped, suddenly awkward, shifting from foot to foot.
"Your mother's worried sick about you. You've hardly visited, and you won't admit anything's wrong when she asks. She says it's ever since you got back from Portugal. I didn't believe her, but I do now—I can see it with my own eyes. Were you ill out there? Or has something happened?"
Defiantly, she shrugged. "I'm just a little run-down with the start of term and everything."
"Come on, Laura, you can't fool me and you know it. Tell me. Please."
"There's nothing to tell," she insisted stubbornly.
Seeing he wasn't getting anywhere, Steve took a different tack. "It's not anything to do with this Stone character, is it?"
"How do you know about him?" Laura's voice was too quick, too sharp.
Steve pointed to the postcard on the desk. "I'm nosy. I read it while you were making the tea." His expression was triumphant as Laura paled. "It is him, isn't it?"
She shook her head. "No, Steve. Mr. Stone was just a guest at the hotel. He owns a travel company and wanted to do business with Paulo. Teresa has an active teenage imagination and she had a crush on him, so she assumed I must have, too. Don't read any more into it than that." Weary of defending herself against his brotherly onslaught, she tried to change the subject. "I'm so pleased at your news, and I can't wait to meet Clare."
"I can take a hint. I'll go, but I don't believe a word." Steve opened the door. "I think you fell in love and it all went wrong and it hurts." He cupped her chin in his hand. "Don't shut yourself in here forever, Laura. If he's worth it, go after him. If not, well . . . being a hermit doesn't solve anything. It's just a waste of time. Believe me, I know." He stepped out. "Take care. And call me if you decide you want to talk."
The door closed behind him and Laura sank down on the sofa, finally giving in to the tears that had threatened the whole time her brother was there. How could she go after Daniel? What was the point? He wasn't interested in the fact that she was in love with him. He'd made it plain he couldn't accommodate a relationship, and she'd made it clear to him that she had no interest in one. It was too late.
In a temper, Laura kicked the exercise books off the sofa and curled up in a ball. It was so unfair! All those years making such an effort to avoid falling in love, only for it to happen anyway without her having any say in the matter!
****
"Daniel. I need a word, please."
Ben had used his full name. That was not a good sign. "What—now?"
"Yes, now."
Rolling his eyes, Daniel left the photocopier to its own devices and followed Ben into his office. His brother sat down and indicated the chair opposite.
Daniel sat. "What's up?"
Ben raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps you could tell me."
"What are you talking about?"
Ben steepled his fingers together on the desk and looked across at him. "It's been six weeks since you came back from that first trip to the Costa Verde. Thankfully, you've been back there again for two of those six, because in the other four, so far you've had Becky in tears, me tearing my hair out, and for your information, the office junior walked out this morning and she's refusing to come back. And—most telling of all—Natalie has asked me for a reference. She's job hunting."
Daniel's brow furrowed. "I'm not sure . . . what you're getting at." Although a sinking feeling told him he did.
"Then let me spell it out for you. I'll start by saying you're my brother and my best friend, and I will love you to the ends of the
