He sat beside her and pulled her to him. ‘Okay?’

‘I think so.’

Zak poured her a cup of Earl Grey. ‘You must need this.’

‘A double brandy would be preferable.’ When she lifted the cup to her lips, Lauren realised her hand was shaking. ‘It was Jude who was hanging around outside your cottage this morning.’

‘How did he find out?’

A shrug. ‘Put two and two together.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Zak said. ‘I didn’t even think about the possibility that he’d follow us up here.’

‘Me neither,’ she admitted.

All those weekends when she’d begged for a morsel of his time and he’d been unable to get away from his family and yet, when it mattered to Jude, he could drop them like hot coals. It had taken her a long time – too long – but she was beginning to come to terms with the fact that her former lover wasn’t a very nice man.

And she hadn’t been a very nice person when she was with him, either.

‘I take it that he saw us together?’

‘Yes.’ Lauren risked a weary smile. ‘I don’t think he was very impressed.’

‘I can imagine.’

‘He’s very hurt.’

‘I could say that it was no more than he deserved.’

‘I know that you’re right,’ she agreed. ‘But that doesn’t make it any easier.’

‘But it is over?’ Zak’s eyes were dark with concern.

‘Oh, yes. It’s over. Once and for all.’

Zak reached for her hand. ‘Well I, for one, am very relieved to hear that.’

Lauren sighed.

‘A trouble shared is a trouble halved,’ Zak said. ‘Or so my old gran used to say. Want to tell me what’s on your mind?’

‘I can’t go back to work – how can I? But I don’t know what else to do.’

Zak picked at the slice of cake on his plate and avoided her eyes. ‘Perhaps I should have shared this with you earlier.’

‘I’m not sure that I can cope with any more surprises.’

‘I hope that you’ll think this is a good one.’ Zak put down his cup and fixed his gaze on her. ‘I’m setting up my own company – with another guy from the office. We’re going into business against Jude with another regional daily download. But this will be younger, funkier, aimed more at the teen market.’

‘That sounds great.’

‘I couldn’t trust you with it until I was sure that it was definitely over between you and Jude. I’m sure that you understand why.’

‘Of course I do.’

‘We haven’t got anyone to do the sales and marketing,’ Zak said. ‘I’m hoping that you might say you will.’

‘I will.’

His eyes widened. ‘You don’t need to think about it? You don’t need to know your terms and conditions? Your pay?’