Living Together

‘I know exactly what you meant,’ Leon said with a sigh. ‘And I don’t suppose your close proximity will do much for my peace of mind. But I would rather be with you than away from you. Can you understand that?’

She shook her head. ‘Not really, and I just can’t see myself calmly moving in with you.’

‘If you don’t,’ he warned, ‘I’ll haunt this place. I can’t seem to stay away from you. And if I do that the press are bound to pick it up sooner or later.’

Her face paled. ‘I couldn’t bear that!’

‘I know it.’

‘But won’t they know I’m at your apartment?’

‘Why should they? If I choose to spend more time at home than usual it’s no one’s business but my own. I’ve given it a lot of thought, Helen, and I just can’t come up with any other solution. The fact that I’ve flown back today should tell you how desperate I am,’ he added almost pleadingly.

He did look very strained, she had to admit, and thinner too if she wasn’t mistaken. She frowned at him. ‘Have you lost weight?’ she asked. The strong angles of his face appeared to be more prominent.

‘Maybe a few pounds,’ he dismissed impatiently.

‘Because of me?’

He shrugged. ‘I haven’t felt much like eating, sleeping either for that matter. The director isn’t very pleased with you, I look vastly different now from when we started filming.’

‘You didn’t tell him about me?’ Helen asked worriedly.

‘No,’ he gave a mocking smile, ‘I didn’t need to. He told me to take the woman who was bothering me and get her out of my system.’

‘How did he know it was a woman bothering you?’

His smile deepened into humour. ‘What other explanation could there be?’

‘Are all men this physical?’ Helen asked crossly.

‘As me?’

‘And your director.’

‘I think so,’ he answered thoughtfully. ‘You make me feel very physical, Helen.’

She looked away. ‘I’m just not sure, Leon. I’m not even sure I want to be involved with you.’

His mouth tightened, the lines of strain deepening around his eyes. ‘For God’s sake give me a chance, give me a chance to show you how good it can be.’

‘I need to think,’ she muttered.

‘You have the next two weeks to do that. Talk it over with Jenny if it will help, although I have a feeling I know what she’ll say. She’s as concerned for you as I am. I’ll leave you alone while you do your thinking, I won’t put any pressure on you at all. If you do decide to move in then just be there in time for dinner when I get home two weeks from today. If you aren’t there I’ll know you’ve decided to stay locked away in your shell where you can’t be hurt.’

‘It isn’t that, Leon,’ she protested pleadingly. ‘I just—’

‘Forget I said that,’ he interrupted harshly. ‘I’ve said I won’t pressurise you, and I won’t. It’s being alone with you like this that’s doing it. Let’s go out. We could visit my parents.’

‘Your—your parents?’ she echoed, unable to hide her surprise.

Leon laughed at her expression. ‘I do have parents, Helen. I have a couple of sisters too, both of them younger than me, both of them married.’

‘Do they have any. children?’

‘A girl each, they’re both two, born within a month of each other.’

‘I suppose your mother is waiting for you to get married and provide her with a grandson,’ she said woodenly.