Love and Liability (Dating Mr Darcy - Book 2) (43 page)

Holly dashed past her without answering and found the bathroom. Thankfully there was no one else inside, and she locked herself in a stall with nothing but her misery and a nice fat roll of loo paper for company.

Well
, she consoled herself as she blew her nose again,
at least I don’t need to worry about being late back to work…because my first day will doubtless be my last
.

She’d got the interview with Alex.

But she hadn’t got Alex any longer.

She’d ruined everything, probably lost her brand-new job…and she had no one but herself to blame.

Ten minutes later, Holly emerged from the ladies’ with her sunglasses thrust atop her head and her make-up more or less restored.

Her heart, however, was another matter.

“Has Mr Barrington left?” she asked the receptionist. She only hoped the girl didn’t notice that her black hair was now blonde.

“Yes, fifteen minutes ago. Would you like to leave a message?”

Holly felt her heart sink into her shoes. So it was too late, then. It was well and truly over between her and Alex.

“No,” she said finally, just before she turned to go. “No message.”

Somehow Holly dragged herself through the rest of the day. She transcribed her interview with Alex and turned it in to Valery; thankfully, her new responsibilities kept her so busy that she hadn’t time to mope over Alex, or to wonder how his press conference had gone, because there simply wasn’t a moment to call her own.

It was ironic, really, Holly reflected dispiritedly as she let herself into the flatshare that evening. Everything was perfect at work — she’d got a promotion, and recognition, and even an apology from Valery Beauchamp; she and Kate were friends again, and with her pay rise she could pay her father back the money she owed him.

But the most important thing of all — her relationship with Alex — was an epic fail.

After eating a few bites of the Chinese takeaway she’d brought home for dinner — Kate had gone out with Jamie — Holly abandoned the carton of moo shu pork and took a shower. She dressed in track bottoms and a Hello Kitty T-shirt — one size too small, but who gave a crap? — and settled herself on the sofa to watch the
News at Ten
.

She barely registered the flickering images of a Dublin car bombing, looting in Mumbai, or protesters in Syria; she was far too preoccupied with thoughts of Alex.

Why
had she been so determined to think badly of him? Was he right — was she really so easily influenced by others’ opinions? She reached for a box of Minstrels and shook a few of the shiny hard-shelled chocolates into her palm. She hadn’t felt this low since she’d got sacked from
BritTEEN
and fled back home to wallow in self-pity and non-stop episodes of
Emmerdale
.

Then, like a miracle in a pinstriped suit, Alex had appeared on the doorstep. He’d dropped everything to leave London and come and comfort her. It was the best weekend — and unquestionably the best sex — of her entire life.

She knew beyond a doubt that she loved Alex. How could you not love a man who came all the way to Chipping Norton after a long day at work, just to check you were all right…
and
make passionate love to you for an entire weekend?

And although she hadn’t appreciated it at the time, she loved that Alex had gone to such ridiculous lengths to seduce Kate — because when all was said and done, he’d been guilty of nothing more than trying to help Holly.

Surely Alex wouldn’t do those things
, she realized,
if he didn’t feel something for me
.

“Correction,” she muttered, and thrust a Minstrel disconsolately in her mouth. “He
felt
something for me.”

“And in local news tonight,” the newsreader on the telly announced, “Henry Barrington, a solicitor with the Grosvenor Financial Group, was elected as the new Conservative Member of Parliament for the constituency of Chipping Barnet.”

Holly sat up, startled. The camera cut to Alex, looking impeccable in his dark navy suit and yellow tie, making his announcement at the press conference earlier that day.

A tear slid down her face, then another, as she watched him. She admired his ease in front of the cameras and his deft handling of the barrage of questions, and when he flashed that brief, heart-stopping smile she felt her own heart might burst with equal measures of pride and despair…

Because she’d lost him. And there would be no second chances for either of them.

“I intend to work to cap the interest rates that payday loan firms currently charge — rates as high as four thousand per cent,” Alex was saying. “These loan sharks — for that’s exactly what they are — prey on marginalized people, as well as young women like Sasha Davis.”

The camera panned briefly to — Holly gasped — her ex-boss. And wasn’t that
Will
standing next to Sasha, leaning forward to kiss her? It was!

“These firms target young working women,” Alex continued, “promising quick cash to buy the latest handbag or designer shoes. The problem is, if one payment is missed, the interest rate skyrockets, the loan company raids the borrower’s bank account, and it becomes nearly impossible to pay off the loan.”

So
that
was why Alex’s number was scribbled on Sasha’s payday loan pamphlet, Holly realized. She must’ve been in serious debt and in need of Alex’s financial advice.

“One final closing remark, if I may,” Alex added. “Homelessness is an issue I intend to address vigorously in my capacity as an MP. I want to thank one woman — Ms Holly James — for the difference her efforts have already made in one homeless girl’s life. In two people’s lives, actually,” he amended, and paused to look directly into the camera.

Holly watched, her eyes wide and her heart lodged firmly in her throat, as he continued. “Ms James helped a homeless teen to find, not only a job, but her father, as well.” He paused. “And she helped a rather self-important man—” she could swear he was looking straight at her “—to look down from the lofty heights of his high horse long enough to see the ground again.”

He raised his hand to cut off the flood of questions. “Thank you all for your time.”

There was a barrage of camera flashes as Alex walked away.

Dazed, Holly switched off the telly. Before she could even begin to formulate her thoughts, there was a knock on the door.

“It’s Mrs Stephens,” the landlord’s wife called out. “I’ve a delivery for you.”

Holly went to the door and unlatched it. Mrs Stephens stood outside her door, halfway obscured behind an enormous bouquet of red and pink roses.

She thrust them at Holly. “They came this afternoon, but you weren’t here.” She indicated the tiny card stuck at the top of the bouquet. “Mind you make him grovel for whatever he’s done, love. Don’t let him off the hook
too
easily.”

“Oh, no, Mrs Stephens,” Holly said decisively as she took the bouquet, “no more games for me. I’ve wasted enough time as it is. Thank you,” she added, and closed the door.

She set the vase — filled with at least three dozen gorgeous red and pink blooms — on a table in the hallway and plucked the envelope from the green plastic pitchfork with trembling hands.

By way of apology for being such a self-important git,

Alex

P.S. — Found one black wig in bin. Believe it belongs to you. Will return soonest.

Holly scrabbled desperately through the takeaway menus and fashion magazines on the coffee table until she found her mobile and punched in Alex’s number. It rang several times before going through to his voicemail.

“Alex? Hello, it’s Holly. I got your flowers just now. They’re beautiful. Thank you so much. I just wanted to say sorry for—” she took a deep breath “—well, for everything, really. I’ve been such an idiot—”

She stopped. The buzzer went downstairs.

“Alex, hold on, there’s someone at the door,” she said into the phone. “I’ll call you later.” She rang off and went into the hall to press the answer button. “Yes? Who’s there?”

There was a pause. “A self-important git,” came the eventual reply, “with a black wig to return.”

“Alex! Thank you for the gorgeous flowers. I was just leaving you a message—”

“I know. I’ve been sitting in my car outside your flat, trying to work up the courage to knock on your door. It seemed a bit silly to talk to you on the phone when I’m already here.”

She pressed the button to let him through. “Come up.”

Five minutes later he knocked, and Holly opened the door. Alex wore the same suit he’d worn on television, only his tie was loosened and he looked tired.

“You look exhausted,” she said softly, her hand resting on the doorknob.

“It’s been a long day.”

“How did you know to find me here?”

“Kate told me.”

Holly stared at him in surprise. “Kate?”

He nodded. “I went to Gordon Scots to talk to Jamie after I finished the last press conference, and I asked him to tell me where you were. He and Kate were having dinner. She told me you’d got your job back at the magazine and that you’d moved back in with her only yesterday.”

“I haven’t even unpacked yet.”

“Jamie congratulated me on my win,” Alex added, “and shook my hand. He was actually quite decent. He offered me a whisky, to celebrate.” He paused. “I wisely declined.”

Holly smiled. “Very wise. It’s Monday, after all — karaoke night.”

“Ah. Good thing I didn’t stay, then.”

“Thanks, by the way.” Holly looked at Alex, her eyes luminous.

He looked back at her blankly. “For…?”

“Sasha called this afternoon to apologize, and to congratulate me. She said she recommended me as her replacement at
BritTEEN
because she knew I could do the job…and because
you
suggested she put my name forward to Valery.”

“I did. I thought it was the least she could do to make up for all the trouble she caused you.”

Holly blinked, surprised. “She told you that?”

“Yes, amongst other things. She admitted she was threatened by you, Holly — she thought you meant to take her job away.” Alex lifted his brow slightly. “Turns out she was right. In the end, you did.”

“She told me her sister’s doing much better. And she said you helped her get out from under the payday loan company.”

“I helped her restructure her debts, that’s all. Holly,” Alex said, frowning, “might I ask you something?”

“Of course! Anything.”

“Might I come in? Standing in the hallway like this is a bit awkward.”

Holly opened the door wider. “Oh, God, Alex — I’m so sorry! Come in, please.”

He came in and waited as she shut the door behind him.

“So…here we are.” He eyed her track pants and one-size-too-small T-shirt with approval. “I must say,” he remarked with an upraised brow, “Hello Kitty is definitely your look.”

“I look awful.” Holly crossed her arms against her chest self-consciously. “Why on earth didn’t you come straight up? You needn’t have sat out in your car, waiting.”

“I’d hoped you’d call when you got my flowers, earlier. When you didn’t, I thought perhaps you’d tossed them in the bin. Along with any hopes for a reconciliation.”

“No, the landlady only just brought them. They’re beautiful.” She added softly, “I saw you on the
News at Ten
. You were amazing.”

“Thanks. I meant every word, you know.” He regarded her, his expression serious. “I decided to stand as an MP largely because of you.”

“You…you did?”

He nodded. “Reading your homeless article inspired me and made me want to work for change. You’ve inspired me in lots of ways, James.”

Holly fiddled with the drawstring on her track pants. “I acted like an idiot this morning, trying to disguise myself instead of…” she glanced up at him “…instead of just being honest with you and telling you how sorry I am, for everything.”

He waited.

Her eyes searched his. “I shouldn’t have said those things. They’re not true, any of them. You’re clever, Alex, and kind, and you were really nice to my dad — even though he misjudged you, and treated you like crap — and I should’ve known you’d follow through on the Chipping Barnet shelter. And…and I love you.”

There. She’d said it.

The words hung between them. Holly caught her lip between her teeth and waited, terrified that she’d said too much.

“Actually,” Alex said, frowning, “I don’t blame your father for treating me like crap. The first time I met him, I was in my skivvies. The second time, you were wearing knickers and a T-shirt, and not much else…and we were snogging on his doorstep. Given the circumstances, fury was an understandable parental reaction.”

“I suppose,” she agreed.

“Besides,” he added, “that’s what fathers do, isn’t it? Watch out for their daughters?”

“I suppose,” she said again. “Although it’s bloody annoying sometimes. Alex, about what I said just now—”

He nodded. “Yes. Your dad really did treat me like crap, you know.”

“He did. But that’s not what I’m talking about.”

“Ah. You mean the bit where you said that you love me? That?”

She blushed and nodded.

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.” She let out a breath. “Yes, I am.”

“Well, that’s good. Because,” he murmured as he drew her into his arms, “I’ve grown rather fond of you, too, James.”

“’Fond?’” she said indignantly.

“Very fond.”

“Alex, you might be fond of puppies, or chocolate, or your auntie’s vintage camper van—”

“Does my auntie have a vintage camper van? I didn’t know.”

“-but you can’t possibly be fond of me!” she finished.

He looked at her, puzzled. “I can’t? Why not?”

“Because…because…” Holly’s words trailed away.

“Because you want me to say I love you,” Alex asked as he drew her into his arms, “don’t you?”

Holly blushed and nodded, unable to take her eyes from his velvety brown gaze. “Yes. But only if you mean it.”

“Right. I wouldn’t want to perjure myself, would I?” He reached out and brushed her hair back from her face. His fingers were warm and gentle. “I can honestly say,” he murmured, his dark eyes not leaving hers, “that I love you, Holly James. I can’t imagine my life without you.”