At Her Boss's Bidding

‘Rachel said that?’

‘That surprises you?’

‘Did you tell her who you are?’

‘Yes. But she already knew. I could see it in her face. I had the feeling she knew quite a lot about me. You didn’t tell her?’

‘No.’

‘Well, she knows everything,’ Mandy insisted. ‘Trust me on this.’

His mother, he realised with a groan. Yesterday. Or possibly earlier. He shook his head in amazement. ‘She never said a word.’

‘Women in love will do anything not to upset their man.’

Justin stared at her. Was she right? Did Rachel love him? Dear God, he hoped so.

‘Did I tell you how fantastic you’re looking, Justin? How handsome? How sexy? I’m a fool. I know I’m a fool. But my fate is sealed, my darling. Just remember…I loved you once.’ She uncrossed her legs and stood up abruptly. ‘Marry your Rachel, Justin. Marry her and have children and be happy. I must go,’ she added when her eyes filled again. ‘I have a plane to catch.’

She was gone as quickly as she’d come, leaving Justin sitting there, staring after an empty doorway. When Rachel filled that doorway he blinked, then saw how worried she was looking.

‘It’s all right,’ he said reassuringly. ‘She’s gone. For good.’

‘But is she really gone for good, Justin?’

He rose, realising that was why Mandy had come. To set him free; free to love again. She’d taken time out from her not-so-good life to do a really good thing.

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Yes, she’s really gone. For good.’

By the time he reached Rachel, she was crying. His heart turned over as he realised she had loved him all along. He drew her into his arms and held her close.

‘We’re going to get married, Rachel,’ he whispered against her hair. ‘We’re going to work together, buy a home together and have children together. Oh, and one more thing. I love you, Rachel. More than I have ever loved before. Much, much more.’

Two months later, Carl Toombs’ yacht was lost in a hurricane near the Bahamas. All on board perished.

Ten months later Justin and Rachel were married, with Rafe as best man and Isabel as matron of honour. Alice minded Isabel’s newborn daughter during the ceremony and the baby didn’t make a peep. Alice was duly voted by the wedding party as chief babysitter for all their future children and ordered never to sell her large home with its large back yard.

She didn’t. And Alice’s home was regularly filled with love and laughter for many years to come.