A Safe Pair of Hands by Ann Corbett Page B

from the identity of him. She so
did not want it to be him, to have him intruding into her life once
more, especially not now – not at this moment.
    But as he looked up suddenly and seemed to look straight at
her – she could not hide away from it any more – she could not deny
her eyes any longer.
    The man heading straight towards her was her ex-husband –
Rick.

Chapter Eleven
    Nick was watching Sadie with a half smile and a look of
tenderness, when he saw the change come over her.
    He had a horrible moment of déjà vu, and a sickly feeling
settled in his stomach.
    Something was distressing her, and this time he was not going
to sit and wait to find out what it was.
    He moved around the table so that he was sitting beside her
and took her hand to turn her away from the snowy landscape
outside.
    “ Whatever it is,” he murmured huskily, as he tilted her chin
gently. “Don’t let it in.
    He put his lips to hers, as the doors opened and a cold air
gusted in.
    He wrapped his arms around her waist and deepened the kiss as
a man’s voice could be heard.
    “ My car has broken down – is there a phone that I can
use?”
    “ Aye there is a payphone just round the side of the bar... help
yourself.”
    “ Thanks very much.”
    Nick continued to kiss her for a moment longer, but then he
moved back ever so slightly and looked deep into her eyes. “Don't
let it in,” he murmured again, and for a moment he thought that he
had lost her, but then she smiled at him, a quick reassuring smile
that faded as quickly as it had appeared.
    A shadow fell over them, and Sadie looked past Nick and her
eyes stayed steady.
    “ Rick,” she nodded coolly.
    “ I thought that it was you, Sadie,” a man's voice said in
shock.
    Nick did not turn to acknowledge him in any way; he merely
kept his steady gaze on Sadie – willing her to be
strong.
    “ Are you keeping well, Rick?”
    “ Yes... yes I am doing okay – what about you?”
    She smiled a little smile. “I am good, Rick... I am really
good – now.”
    “ I am happy to hear that... look I have to go – there is an
appointment that I am already running late for... but can I give
you my number – maybe we can catch up at some point?” Nick could
clearly hear his awkwardness; he did not need to see the other man
to know that he was all but wringing his hands with
eagerness.
    Sadie just shook her head. “No, Rick.”
    There was a moment of silence and then the man spoke. “No,” he
agreed sadly, “Oh well, what's past is past I suppose... keep well,
Sadie, and goodbye.”
    “ Goodbye, Rick.”
    The shadow moved away, and Sadie looked at Nick with a real
sense of freedom.
    “ I love you so very much, Nick,” she whispered
softly.
    **
    The journey home was accomplished without much further
conversation. They were so relaxed and happy in each other's
company now, and though they spoke a little – about the passing
scenery, the other vehicles around them; they even talked a little
bit about Christmas, but most of it had an almost dreamlike quality
to it.
    Nick had walked back out to the car park with her, and he had
kissed her tenderly on the mouth. “We will take things nice and
slow – you and me, but I just wanted you to know that I love you
too, I always have, from the very first time that I saw you.” She
gasped in surprise and her grey eyes lit up; and Nick simply smiled
as he helped her into the car.
    They had time, lots of time for her to be sure of him, to be
confident in accepting his marriage proposal – when he made
it.
    *
    He pulled the car to a halt outside her house, and turned to
her.
    “ I don’t want you to come into work tomorrow, Thursday will be
soon enough; but when we are both back at work ...” he began a
little uncertainly.
    Sadie nodded in understanding. “Yes of course – things would
be awkward in the office, if we were all over each other all of the
time... yes I know exactly what you mean, we are there to do a job,
and you are still my