But Bonnie shakes her head. ‘I don’t want it to.’ She deserves more than this. She may have got caught up in old feelings for her first love, but what they had all those years ago doesn’t exist anymore.

‘You’re making a mistake.’ He looks bewildered. ‘This kind of chemistry doesn’t happen every day.’

‘What we have is lust,’ she assures him. ‘What I’m after is love.’ She moves past him and opens the back door for him to leave.

He shakes his head as he walks past her into the carpark. ‘You’re going to regret this.’

‘You know what? I don’t think I will.’ She closes the door after him, finally feeling a lightness that she hasn’t felt in a long time.

Chapter 52

52

‘Is there any chance that there’s a future for you and Ty?’ Darcy has the phone to her ear, enjoying the small victory that she managed to secure this phone call with Penelope. While Penelope’s former boss had been very tight-lipped about Penelope’s whereabouts, her new assistant had been more than happy to help when Darcy concocted a story about it regarding money being left to Penelope via a will.

Work is the only thing keeping Darcy going. She still hasn’t sorted things out with Ed. She’s picked up the phone on several occasions, wanting to call him or at least text him, but then she finds an excuse. She’s pretty sure she has feelings for him and that’s not really okay seeing that she was engaged to another guy only days ago. So she’s just going to embrace this chapter of her life: Darcy Reed, career woman.

There’s a long pause before Penelope answers. ‘No.’

Darcy wishes she could see Penelope’s face. This isn’t an ideal phone conversation. ‘Are you sure?’ There’s definitely some kind of hesitation.

‘Yes, I’m sure.’ Penelope sounds more confident this time.

‘Okay,’ Darcy says, glancing back down at her notes, scribbling around Ty and Penny reconcile. ‘Have you managed to see any of the show?’

Darcy’s pretty sure she hears Penelope sigh before answering, ‘Bits of it.’

‘So, you’re aware that Ty still needs some closure over your break-up?’ A total understatement, but she’s hoping she’ll be able to reel her in this way.

‘What are you asking?’

Darcy likes that this girl is so straight to the point. ‘We’d like you to come on the show and tell Ty it’s over, once and for all.’ She knows what a big request it is given the lengths Penelope has gone to in order to hide from Ty and any media attention.

‘I don’t think so.’ Penelope sounds almost amused by the idea.