CHAPTER SIX

Imogen had spent one of the most incredible fortnights of her life. She loved her work and it had always fulfilled her. But suddenly her home life was fulfilling as well. She'd tried to be happy with Daniel and maybe she had been at times but it had always been an effort. Their priorities had always been too different for them to really mesh together.

And now, for the past two weeks, she'd been waking up every morning with Mark Brennan in her bed, usually naked, and that wasn't even the most incredible thing. They'd spend their evenings chatting or going out, not to noisy clubs but to high-class restaurants or exhibitions. She'd even learned to put up with his strange taste in television programmes. She knew she'd had a crush on him as a teen, and yet whenever she looked back on that time, a part of her wondered if they'd really been compatible after all. Now…now she knew she loved him.

When she heard him coming to the door, she automatically found herself smiling and turned to face him. "Hey! Do you fancy going out tonight? I don't really feel like cooking…" She trailed off as she realised he wasn't smiling. "What's wrong?"

"You're probably about to get a call from your office,"Mark told her.

Before Imogen could question him, her phone rang and she quickly answered it. "Hello? The case has been dropped? That's great! Can you let me know the full story tomorrow? Okay. And tell Kevin I'm pleased for him." She ended the call and turned back to Mark. "Are you going to tell me what that was about?"

"We found the guy that hired him in Taiwan. He's made a full confession, including the fact that Kevin knew nothing about it."

Imogen suddenly understood Mark's mood. "What happens with you now?"

"Well, the case here's concluded so they want me back in Adelaide. I can ask for leave, see if I can stay around here…"

"What good would that do?"Imogen found herself saying.

"I don't know, maybe..." Mark took a deep breath. "Maybe it could help us, you know? These last two weeks they've been great. I mean, if the idea was to show that we work together, we've done that."

"We've managed to make it work for two weeks,"Imogen argued. "That's not enough to guarantee a lifetime together."

"I know, but if I managed to get a few more weeks..."

"You'll have to go back anyway, won't you?" Imogen stared at Mark, hoping he'd deny it, then he gave a reluctant nod. "It was nice while it lasted but…maybe it's time for you to go back." Every part of her wanted to beg him to stay with her. But reality told her it wasn't going to happen.

Mark didn't want to go.

That was pretty much the only thing he was sure of. He had no idea what he'd do if he didn't. He had no job to stay in LA for, he had family back in Adelaide who were expecting him back. But somehow all of that paled next to the terrifying prospect that very soon he might have to go through a day without seeing Imogen Willis.

He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting when he came there. He'd been aware there was a connection between them that he'd wanted to explore but perhaps a part of him had been expecting it all to fizzle out, for them to spend an enjoyable few weeks together but realise they wouldn't work out long term, and part with fond memories. Instead, he'd been the happiest he'd been in a long time. And he realised that, even if it hadn't been the case when he'd first come here, he was now utterly, irrevocably in love with her.

All of these thoughts passed through his mind as he put his belongings into a bag and zipped it up. When he headed back through to the living area, he found Imogen standing alone, seemingly trying not to catch his eye. "You'd better go if you're going to catch your flight,"she noted.

Mark took a deep breath. "Imogen, I don't want this to be over,"he declared.

Imogen looked up sharply. "What do you suggest?"

"I don't know,"he admitted. "I just can't bear the thought of going out that door, getting on a plane and never seeing you again. Of giving up what we've got here." He paused again before saying "I love you, Imogen."

She held his gaze for a few seconds longer, as though considering the possibility there, then looked away again. "No, I can't do it. I can't do uncertainty. I can't have you hanging around for a few more days, drawing out the agony, and then leaving anyway. You need to go so I…so I can work out what I'm going to do next."

Mark deflated. He'd know it was a long shot, that it was unlikely a declaration like that would fix anything, yet he'd pinned his hope on it anyway. Unable to think of anything else to say, he nodded and headed for the door. Imogen moved to intercept him, not blocking the exit but making sure he'd have to pass her to get to it. He paused, took her hand and then kissed her, intensely, not wanting to think about the fact it could be the last time he kissed her. "Goodbye,"he mumbled and left without looking back, his insides churning at the thought that that might be it, that everything they'd had together was gone just like that.

It wasn't the first time that he'd underestimated her.