‘He never said anything to me!’

Just then someone knocked on the door of the flat.

After a few seconds the knocking was repeated, more loudly this time. Louisa put one hand across the receiver. ‘Would you mind answering that, dear?’

Megan stood up, grabbed a tissue to mop her eyes and made her way to the door. When she saw Ben standing outside she said, ‘Oh, no!’ before she could think.

He stepped into the hall, looking at her sharply, and as she tried to turn away he grabbed hold of her arm. ‘Having second thoughts?’

She gulped. ‘Yes.’

His grip tightened slightly. ‘Why?’

‘I just – I don’t feel right about it all.’ She sniffed and searched for another tissue.

He thrust a handkerchief into her groping hand, and put his arm round her shoulders. ‘Come and tell me about it.’ The caring tone made her sob aloud and feel quite overwhelmed with guilt. She didn’t resist as he guided her to a couch in the sitting room and sat down next to her.

‘Tell me what the matter is, Megan! Is it me? Something I’ve done?’

‘No, of course it isn’t!’

‘Then what is it?’

She tried hard to stop crying. ‘I’m sorry, Ben. I just – it’s not you, it’s me. I can’t go through with this. My family will be so hurt. And – and we’re going so far away, so I won’t even see then to explain.’

‘Shh, now. Let’s talk about it quietly.’ He brushed a strand of hair from her wet cheek with his free hand.

The arm round her shoulders felt so warm and strong she leaned against him, sighing wearily. For a moment neither spoke, then she said accusingly, ‘And what’s more, you’re not supposed to see the bride until the ceremony. It’s bad luck.’

‘Hey!’ He held her at arm’s length for a moment with a wry smile. ‘How can you not be going through with it one minute and then worry about me seeing you before the ceremony the next?’

His index finger traced a line down her cheek, ‘Such beautiful skin,’ he said softly then bent forward and started to kiss her.

Although she stiffened and tried to push him away, he simply captured her hands and continued to kiss her. As usual, his touch sent fire flaming along her nerves and made her forget everything else.

When the kiss ended, he said fiercely, ‘We are most definitely going to get married today, Megan Ross. Things will work out all right for us. We’ll make them work out. Trust me.’

She looked up into his strong face. Not only had no man ever made her feel like this before, and with the other men she’d dated, she’d often been glad when the fumbling had stopped.