‘Fuck off,’ Michael growled. ‘I’ll be downstairs if you need me, Grace. After I’ve seen to this prick.’ He pulled a terrified looking Reuben up from his chair and out of Grace’s office.

‘Close that door, will you?’ Grace asked once Michael was gone.

Ben did as she asked and walked over to her.

‘Do you have to antagonize him?’ she sighed.

‘I’m sorry. It’s hard not to.’ He grinned at her.

‘He wasn’t supposed to be here at all today. I gave him enough work to keep him tied up for the afternoon. I could bloody kill Reuben. But anyway, it would make my life easier, if on the rare occasions you two do meet, you don’t act like you’re dying to punch each other’s lights out.’

‘Sorry Grace, but we’re never going to get along, are we? As far as Michael is concerned, I’m Nathan’s best mate and therefore your sworn enemy. And let’s face it,’ he said as he slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him, ‘if he knew the truth then he’d probably want to slit my throat, never mind have a few digs.’

She leaned into him, pressing herself into his muscular chest and inhaling the smell of oil on his clothes.

‘Well, he’ll never know,’ she said.

She felt his muscles tense. ‘That’s exactly what I’m afraid of,’ he said.

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean we’ve been doing this dance for thirteen fucking years now, Grace. I’m tired of it. This has got to stop.’

‘What do you mean, this has got to stop?’ she snapped at him.

‘It’s all or nothing. No more sneaking around. I’m too old for this shit.’

‘But, Nathan.’

‘Fuck Nathan,’ Ben snapped, releasing her from his embrace. ‘We can’t live the rest of our lives worried about hurting his feelings.’

‘It’s not about hurting his feelings. It’s about him being a raging, jealous psychopath, and you being his best mate who had an affair with his wife. He will make you pay in ways you have never dreamed possible, Ben. I can’t even think about what he’d do,’ she said, tears pricking her eyes.

‘I can handle myself,’ he growled. ‘Don’t pretend this is about protecting me, Grace. I would have told him thirteen years ago, but you wouldn’t let me. It’s always something else. Well I’m fucking tired of waiting for our life to begin.’

‘It’s not just you though, is it? He’ll kill me. And then what would happen to Jake? The thought of not being here for him …’ She didn’t finish the sentence. She couldn’t.

‘I’d never let him hurt you,’ Ben said as he met her gaze. ‘But I can’t do this anymore, Grace.’