Confetti Hearts (Confetti Hitched, #1)(86)

“Go and get your bloke back, Joe Bagshaw, and don’t let him go this time. Men like him only come along once in a lifetime.”

I race off, dodging around Ryan’s stunned figure. “Your wife is a genius,” I shout. “Just don’t ever piss her off.”

“Thank you,” he says mildly.





Chapter

Nineteen





Joe



I race up the stairs, my breaths coming in pants.

Frances flattens herself against the wall as I run past her. “What on earth is going on?” she says. “I really think I must make a complaint about you, Mr Bagshaw. You’re either canoodling with your husband at my daughter’s wedding or making inappropriate remarks and juvenile jokes.”

“Make a complaint,” I shout. “And then kindly remove the massive stick from your arse.”

“I have never been spoken to in such a fashion.”

“You should get out more.”

I leave her gasping in horror, and probably already composing her letter of complaint, and throw open the door to my room.

Lachlan is dressed and sitting on a chair by the window, slumped and surrounded by the tiny paper hearts. He sets a desolate picture.

“Why did you sign the divorce papers?” I ask.

He startles and jumps to his feet. His face is white and set and he looks twenty years older than the last time I’d seen him.

“Joe,” he gasps. “What are you doing here?”

“Answer my question. Why did you sign them?”

He sighs. “Because I wanted to do as you wished. I wanted you to have that choice.”

“Yet, you still came here. Why?”

A ghost of a smile touches his lips. “Because I wanted to do what I wished.”

“And what was that?”

“See you. More than anything in this world and the next, I wanted to see you.”

“Why?” I hold my breath, waiting for his answer.

“Because I love you.”

I suck in a breath as though he’s winded me and drop onto the bed. “Say that again,” I croak.

“I love you.”

“Since when?”

He examines my face intently his eyes hesitant. “When we first met, I thought my feelings were lust. Then I thought it was attraction. Then I considered infatuation or indigestion. Finally, I settled on love. It was just unfortunate that I realised that right when you were set on divorcing me.”

“You didn’t love me when we married.”

“No, I didn’t.” I wince and his eyes flame. “I did it all backwards. I met you and was instantly fascinated by you. I think we were falling for each other, but then I married you when we were drunk, and I never got off the back foot. Our marriage ruined the start of us. I thought I could keep you separate from the rest of my life, but it was no good, and then I went and fell in love with my own fucking husband.”

Our eyes clash and there’s a heavy silence as he waits for me to reply. When I don’t, he slowly lowers back into his chair. “It’s okay,” he says dully. “I wanted to give it a last try. I’m sorry I lied. I was going to tell you the truth when you first saw me but then you came up with the idea of pretending to be together and—”

“And what?” I whisper.

He looks at me, his beautiful eyes tired. “I ran with it, maybe because it was my dearest wish, but I have to say that if this was Groundhog Day, I would happily do it again and again and again because it gave me more time with you.” He looks at me, his face earnest. “I made sure that I signed the papers before I came, so if this didn’t work you can move on with your life. I want you to be happy, Joe, more than anything.”

I stand up and he watches me. His apathetic expression looks so wrong on such a vital man. I walk nearer to him, feeling as if there’s a string pulling me.

“You lied, schemed, and gate crashed a wedding so you could see me.”

“I did,” he says, his expression becoming rebellious. “I would have done anything and given every penny of my money for you to hear me. But I involved Erica because I wanted to try it your way.”

“What do you mean?”

“My first instinct was to just offer her some money—maybe pay for her wedding. But that’s me. It’s the way I’ve always done things—I throw money at a problem until it’s sorted. And then I thought about what you would do, and I knew you’d talk to her. You’re so fucking good at that, Joe. People love you. So, I asked Rafferty to introduce me to her and I threw myself on her mercy and I humbled myself because nothing is more important to me than you.” He stops and chuckles humourlessly. “And I had my punishment because you were looking at me like you used to, and it was sweeter than it even was when we were together. And it was all an illusion because I could hold you and fuck you, but it was counterfeit. You were right.” I suck in a breath, and he shrugs and gives a pained chuckle. “I suppose I didn’t think I would fail. I didn’t realise I’d fucked up as badly as I did. I realise now I was looking at the solution to our marriage problems the wrong way. I didn’t factor you in. I never did. You have had an unprecedented impact on my life.”

I’ve never seen him so vulnerable and willing to let me see him. He smiles at me. “I never realised how lucky I was to have you. You are kind and warm and a little crazy at times. You’re funny and clever and so much more than I can ever be.” He straightens his shoulders. “You can have your divorce, Joe, but I want you to know that I love you and that if you are ever in need of anything, I would be honoured if you would call on me. I am, you see, always yours.”