‘It’s on loan.’

The voice made her jump and she whirled round. Nathan was standing a few feet away, watching her. Time stopped. What was he doing here? Or should she have been so surprised? Mateo must have invited him, or Marina?

Her body loosened treacherously just at the sight of him. It was a moment before she could speak. ‘. . . Because you didn’t want it.’

‘Yes.’

The flat rejection stung her – he was always so direct – and she turned away. No matter what physical effect he had on her, she wasn’t going to stand here and let him give her an emotional drubbing all over again.

‘. . . It was too painful having it hanging on the wall,’ he said to her back. ‘Every time I looked at it I was reminded of you – and I just wanted to move on and forget you.’

She almost gave a laugh. Was that supposed to make her feel better? She turned back to face him. ‘Right,’ she said sarcastically. ‘Thanks for clearing that up.’

She wanted to leave but her feet didn’t move and they stood staring at each other, like flies caught in a web, helplessly awaiting their fates.

His gaze fell to her hand. ‘No ring.’

She stirred, immediately on the defensive. Was he really going to bring all that up again? ‘. . . No.’

‘Being engraved?’

Was that supposed to be a joke? ‘. . . No.’

His eyes locked with hers, probing for answers without asking questions, but she remained silent. It was none of his business that Jules had signed the papers and Stephen had returned her call. It wasn’t his concern that she had chosen this single status. He may not be free but she was, and she would find her path, no matter what he or her mother or anyone else said to the contrary.

She shifted weight. ‘I didn’t know you were going to be here.’

‘Or else you wouldn’t have come?’

‘Probably not, no.’ He wasn’t the only one who could be blunt. ‘Why are you here?’

‘I helped Marina find some of the archive footage,’ he shrugged. ‘We’ve met for drinks a couple of times now.’

‘That’s nice.’ Another tinge of sarcasm coloured the words.

‘She said the wedding was cancelled – that Jules pulled off another of his cock-ups.’

She turned away angrily. ‘Oh, you really can’t help yourself, can you?’ she chided. ‘You just have to gloat.’ She tipped her head to the side, turned the tables onto him. ‘And how about you? Cheated on your wife lately?’

‘I don’t have a wife,’ he replied calmly.

‘. . . Fine, girlfriend. Fiancée. Whatever the hell she is.’

‘Ex-girlfriend. Currently staying at mine with her baby boy while she tries to get an apartment sorted. Her boyfriend’s left her.’

Charlotte stared at him, stunned, his words and their ramifications rebounding around her head. ‘. . . So then . . . why did you say—’