‘You’ve made me feel things too, Lee. You’ve reminded me of what it’s like to feel, to connect to someone other than a Chihuahua. I was existing in a closed-off box until you got here, and you reminded me of what it’s like to have someone to share your life with, to let someone be part of the good times and the bad. I never thought I’d want to let anyone in again, but I didn’t have a choice with you. You were under my skin from the moment you walked off with my dog on the first day, and I’ve been falling for you every moment since then. You think I haven’t been aware of this lie between us for every second of every day? I missed the opportunity to tell you when we first met, and it just got worse from there. I knew what it looked like. I knew what you’d think because I’d think exactly the same thing. And I was too head-over-heels to risk what I knew would happen when you found out.’

His words make my legs feel weaker than they do anyway. The urge to throw my arms around him doesn’t dissipate, and I kind of hate myself for thinking the worst of him without even giving him a chance to explain. ‘Why didn’t you buy it yourself?’

‘I tried, but Evergreene’s son refused to sell it to me. He hated my guts because Evergreene was like a grandfather to me, but their relationship was strained and uncomfortable. He wasn’t interested in this place. He ransacked it for valuables and handed it over to the estate agent, but no one wanted it. I remained the only offer, he still refused to sell to me, they got fed up with him, he got fed up with no one falling over themselves to throw money at him, and it ended up going for auction.’

‘And you were going to win the bid.’

‘I wasn’t giving up without a fight. Even though he’d refused my offer, I had every right to bid on the auction, and the winning bid is a legally binding contract. He knew it and I knew it. That’s why it took so long for him to give up and send it to auction – because he knew there was a good chance I’d win.’

‘Why didn’t Evergreene just leave it to you?’