Authors: Linda Kavanagh
1848453051 (41 page)
Now it was Laura’s turn to squeeze Darren’s hand comfortingly, as he fished out his handkerchief, took off his glasses and wiped his eyes.
‘Thankfully, Bill discovered that you’d left a voicemail on his department phone, saying you were heading to London by train the following morning. So we agreed that I’d be on it, and that I’d find you and warn you about your so-called friend.’ He grinned ruefully. ‘I had this stupid idea that I might get a chance to save your life – then you’d be grateful to me forever more. Pathetic, isn’t it?’
‘No, it isn’t – you
did
save my life.’
Darren looked at her shyly as he put on his glasses again. ‘I searched for you on the train, but I didn’t manage to find you until we arrived back in London. I spotted you getting off, but somehow I lost you again in the crowds. Then I saw you heading for the Underground and I could only hope that I’d got on the same tube as you. When we got to Islington, I saw you get off the train and race into the police station. I was hoping that you’d gone there because you’d already found out about Kerry. But then you shot out of there like a bat out of hell, and I almost missed you – I called to you, but you were too focused on where you were going to pay any attention to me. Luckily, that nice estate agent was able to tell me where you were heading, and give me the number of the apartment.’
Laura nodded, remembering the voice she’d ignored in her haste to confront Kerry.
‘Not surprisingly, Albert refused to let me up to the apartment,’ Darren continued. ‘But I pushed past him and headed
for the lift. Thankfully, he came running after me, because I’d never have been able to open the door to the apartment myself – he has a master key, and when he heard the strange noises coming from inside, he agreed to open the door.’ He shivered. ‘If we’d been a minute later, Kerry would have had you over the banisters …’
‘The sad thing is – I’d left everything to Kerry in my will,’ Laura whispered. ‘I’d also decided to give her a sizeable chunk of the money just as soon as I’d divorced Jeff.’
Trembling, and still finding it difficult to understand, Laura’s eyes filled with tears again, and she was glad to feel Darren’s comforting arms around her. Even though Kerry had professed to hate her, she couldn’t feel that emotion herself. She had genuinely loved her friend. Yet Kerry had been a murderer, harbouring hatred that had grown like a tumour, multiplying out of all proportion.
‘I’m not very good at picking friends or husbands, am I?’ Laura said earnestly, turning to face Darren. ‘I thought both Kerry and Jeff actually cared about me.’
Darren smiled ruefully. ‘I’m sorry, Laura – I know it mightn’t be the right thing to say, but I was so glad to hear that you’d left Jeff. It allowed me to dream that somehow, one day, I might have a chance with you.’
Laura felt a frisson of delight as he looked at her. Since that day when he’d saved her life, she’d come to appreciate his kindness, his generosity of spirit and his bravery. In fact, she suspected she’d had feelings for him for much longer than that.
‘But why didn’t you ever say anything?’ she asked curiously. ‘We’ve known each other for years!’
‘How could I? If you’d told me to take a hike, it could have made things very awkward for both of us. Apart from my personal feelings, you’re a damned good lecturer, and very popular
with the students. The university wouldn’t want to lose you. And if I’d declared myself, you might have found it too embarrassing to stay on – then I’d have lost you twice over. At least if I said nothing, you’d stay on and I’d be able to see you every day.’
What a sweet, wonderful man, Laura thought, her heart brimming with affection for him. Darren was totally different from the kind of man she’d have chosen before – thank goodness. Now when she thought of Jeff, with his blond hair, good looks and suave demeanour, she felt sick to think she’d actually believed she’d loved him. She hadn’t understood the meaning of the word back then. Jeff had never cared about her – he’d only wanted her on his terms. And Steve’s vintage car had been more important to him than helping a woman in danger. Why had she always chosen such losers?
Now, she was seeing Darren in a totally different light. And with his glasses off, he had the most beautiful soft brown eyes. His black hair was thick and luxuriant, with just a few flecks of grey around his sideburns, and suddenly she longed to run her fingers through it. He had such strong, manly hands, and she felt a delicious shiver run down her spine at the thought of those fingers touching her body. While he wasn’t conventionally handsome or tall like Jeff had been, he had a heart as big and brave as a lion. Why had she never noticed how totally gorgeous he was, or how wonderfully secure he made her feel?
Laura leaned forward and kissed him affectionately. ‘You’re a wonderful man. I think I’ve always known there was something special about you – I just didn’t realise how much you meant to me until you came to rescue me. If that wasn’t an extraordinarily decent and generous thing to do, I don’t know what is.’
Darren grimaced. ‘You’re probably feeling a bit emotional right now,’ he said kindly, ‘so I’m not sure that you’d really
want to settle for a plodder like me, in the long run. I’m never going to do anything out of the ordinary, or set the world on fire.’
Laura chuckled. ‘I’ve already come through one attempt at setting my world on fire, and it’s not a trait I rate very highly! Besides,
you’d
be taking on a fool – why didn’t I realise what a disaster Jeff was?’
Darren looked at her critically, as though he found it difficult to believe her. Then he smiled shyly, taking both her hands in his. ‘Well, it was me who had the daft vision of myself as a James Bond-type character, arriving in some souped-up, spectacular car, and pulling you inside just before the baddies were about to harm you. Then we’d drive off, and you’d be so grateful that we’d immediately begin making love.’
‘How could you drive and make love at the same time?’ Laura asked in mock disapproval.
Darren grinned. ‘Ah, but you see, my James Bond car would be able to drive itself. I’d have already put it on automatic!’
‘Hmm, I suppose we
could
try making part of that scenario come true,’ Laura whispered, her heart beating much faster than usual.
‘Well, okay. You could start by kissing me,’ Darren said reasonably.
Laura was tingling with excitement. ‘And what happens then?’
‘Well, I might totally lose control and have my wicked way with you.’
‘Sounds wonderful,’ Laura murmured breathlessly, marvelling at the fact that she no longer felt lethargic. ‘How soon can we begin?’
‘Right now is fine by me.’
‘What a wonderful idea,’ Laura whispered, slipping into his arms.
He grinned. ‘And now that you’ve moved into my apartment, why don’t you stay?’
Laura nodded, smiling back. ‘I’d like that, very much,’ she replied, feeling safe within Darren’s embrace.
As Laura thought back to the events that had happened to her, she couldn’t believe that she had found happiness again. The past was over and it was time to look forwards now, maybe to starting a family of her own with Darren. She had visions of a large country house like Greygates, with lots of space for children to play.
‘I hope you don’t mind me being very rich?’ Laura added, holding her breath.
Darren grinned. ‘Why would any man object to a wealthy wife?’ But then his expression turned serious. ‘But even if you had nothing, I’d still feel exactly the same about you. I love you very much, Laura, and I’ll never let you down.’
‘I can’t wait for the future – our future,’ Laura whispered fervently, as she held him to her heart.
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ISBN: 9781488710520
TITLE: THE SECRET WIFE
First Australian Publication 2014
Copyright © 2014 Linda Kavanagh
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