She sat down heavily on the edge of his desk. ‘I had no idea that you felt like that.’

Zak shrugged. ‘Well, now you do.’

‘Does that mean you don’t want ham and mayo on granary with me?’

‘I think it’s best if I don’t see you,’ Zak said. ‘Other than in the office. It’s just too . . . difficult.’

‘But we’re mates,’ she insisted. ‘We should talk about this. I don’t want to lose your friendship.’

‘And I’m not sure that I want to be one of your friends, Lauren.’ He looked at her sadly. ‘You don’t treat them very well.’

‘I’m sorry, Zak. I hope that you’ll reconsider.’

He shook his head. ‘I need to get out, start dating again. See other people.’

‘I’ve never stopped you from doing that,’ she said.

‘No.’ He sighed. ‘I stopped myself.’ His eyes returned to his computer screen. ‘I’m busy, Lauren. I should get on.’

‘I hope that you find someone wonderful out there.’

‘And I hope that you won’t wait around for Jude for ever,’ Zak said. ‘But I think that we’ll both be disappointed.’

‘He loves me,’ Lauren heard herself say. ‘It’s not like you think it is.’

‘Whatever.’ Zak turned back to his computer. ‘I won’t call you again, Lauren.’

‘But—’ Then she stopped. What could she say to him? In so many ways he was right. Her shoulders drooped and she walked away from his desk.

In his office, Jude was also tapping away at his computer. Lauren popped her head round the door. ‘Lunch?’

‘Can’t.’ Jude barely looked up. ‘Busy.’

‘Don’t forget I’m leaving early tonight,’ she said. ‘I’ve got that party with Annie.’

‘Oh. Right. Have a great time.’

She wondered if she could sneak Jude on to the guest-list too. There were bound to be some spare invitations kicking around. There always were at that kind of thing. ‘You don’t fancy coming along, do you?’

Jude shook his head. Finally, he looked up at her. ‘I’m stacked out,’ he said, raising his hands at his computer. ‘I’ll be burning the midnight oil here.’

‘Another time,’ she said.

‘Yeah,’ but his attention had already drifted away from her.

So lunch alone it was, Lauren thought miserably. She couldn’t wait to get out of this place. Tonight she was going to make sure that she had a thoroughly splendid time!

Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Lauren is already waiting on the jetty when we pull up in the mini-bus. All the staff burst out, exuberant after a rousing chorus of ‘Caribbean Queen’. The pontoon has been strung with colourful lights and the enormous shiny white boat that’s moored there looks very luxurious. There’s a hive of industry with people rushing up and down the gangway taking packages on board. I’m almost beside myself with joy.