to him.
She was asleep in seconds.
He looked across the room to the window, seeing the moon hanging in the sky like a wheel of cheese with a chunk sliced off the end. A small noise brought his attention back to the door, and he looked over to see Cam standing there.
Cam met his gaze, nodded, gave a small smile and backed out, closing the door behind him.
Dex kissed the top of Honey’s head, enjoying her warmth and hoping it wouldn’t be the last time he would hold her in bed like this.
Would she ever forgive him? He hoped he’d pleaded his case well, and so far the signs were good and she hadn’t thrown him out. There was one final thing he could do to try and make sure the wedding went ahead on Saturday, and he lay there in the dark, planning how to go about it.
It was some time before he finally fell asleep.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Honey awoke slowly, conscious of the sunlight streaming through the open curtains and falling across her face like a warm blanket. She opened her eyes and peered at the clock on the bedside table—nine thirty. Jeez, almost lunchtime!
She pushed herself up onto one elbow. The bed was empty. The faint smell of Dex’s aftershave lingered on the pillow.
She’d woken a couple of times in the night, thirsty and needing to pee. The first time she’d slipped from the bed, changed into her pyjamas in the bathroom and returned just as quietly, only to find him waiting for her, his arms tightening around her as she curled up to him once again. He was still fully dressed and on top of the bedclothes, but she didn’t ask him to undress, and he didn’t suggest it. They didn’t speak, but he stroked her hair and back until she dozed off again.
The second time, when she returned he was still asleep. She sat up in the bed for a while, watching him. He lay sprawled, still gorgeous in his blue shirt and trousers, ruffled and sexy even in sleep. She watched him for a long time, her gaze lingering on his face, the stubble on his cheeks and chin, his large, strong hands resting on his chest, bare of the ring he would be wearing should they get married on Saturday.
Then she curled up and fell asleep again, conscious as she drifted off of how safe she felt having him with her, as if nothing could go wrong with him by her side.
He’d probably gone to work, she thought as she got out of bed and slipped on her dressing gown. A shame he didn’t wake her, but she’d obviously been in a deep sleep.
The night before was a jumble of moonlit shapes and murmured words, blurred by sleepiness and the numbing effect of the whiskey. She could remember everything he’d said, though, every heartfelt word he’d used to try to convey his guilt and his sorrow over what he’d done. But could she forgive him? And even if she did, would she have the courage to go through with the wedding with Cathryn’s words ringing in her ears: He’s already left one woman at the altar… Aren’t you worried he’s going to do it again?
Refusing to think about it for now, she padded out to the living room, expecting to find it empty, and stopped in surprise to see Daisy sitting on the sofa, drinking a cup of coffee.
“Hey! What are you doing here?”
Daisy looked up, stood and walked over to her with a smile. “Come to see my baby sister.” She put her arms around Honey.
Honey stood stiffly for a moment, shocked. She’d never been as close to Daisy as to her other sisters. The fact that they were so near in age probably had something to do with it, but Honey had always disliked her sister’s superior manner, her bossiness and her cold-hearted attitude toward everything, especially money and her relationship with Chase, who Honey adored.
Still, she knew Daisy hadn’t been planning to come home until the next day, so one of her sisters had obviously spoken to her. And in spite of Honey’s coolness, Daisy didn’t relax her hug but instead squeezed her sister, kissed her hair and stroked her back. The only time she’d done that in the past had been when Honey had walked out on Ian.
So Honey relaxed and returned the hug, resting her cheek on Daisy’s shoulder. “Nice to see you,” she mumbled, realising it was true.
Daisy gave her