This book is dedicated to my two honorary “crazy” nieces, Sarah Mason and Jakki Lee. Just remember in later life I’ll blackmail you with all the stories!

      Contents

       Cover

       Introduction

       Title Page

       About the Author

       Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

       CHAPTER FOUR

       CHAPTER FIVE

       CHAPTER SIX

       CHAPTER SEVEN

       CHAPTER EIGHT

       CHAPTER NINE

       CHAPTER TEN

       EPILOGUE

       Endpage

       Extract

       Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

      ADDISON WAS PACING. She couldn’t help it. It was three o’clock and Caleb still wasn’t home. They had to leave for the airport in an hour and he hadn’t even packed.

      The doorbell rang and she hurried to answer. Lara, her son Tristan’s nanny, stood on the doorstep, rain dripping from her hair and nose.

      ‘Lara? What on earth? Come in, come in.’

      Lara stumbled over the doorstep, dragging a large suitcase behind her. ‘I’m so sorry, Addison. I know you’re just about to leave for your holiday. But I had nowhere else to go.’

      ‘What’s wrong?’ Addison was trying not to panic. Lara was the perfect nanny. Her son Tristan adored her. It didn’t matter they were about to go on a month-long holiday, she wanted to be sure Lara wasn’t in any kind of trouble.

      Lara sniffed. ‘I had a Sliding Doors moment. I got the earlier Tube home and Josh...’ her voice wobbled ‘...he was in bed with the next-door neighbour.’ Her shoulders started to shake.

      ‘What? He what?’ Addison was enraged. ‘That lazy, good-for-nothing ratbag. You’ve paid the rent for how long? He doesn’t even contribute and he treats you like that?’ She’d never liked Lara’s boyfriend and now she knew exactly why.

      She put her arm around Lara’s shoulders and guided her into the kitchen, pressing a few buttons on her coffee machine.

      ‘Here, let me get you something.’ The machine only took a few minutes, then she sat down across from Lara. ‘What are you going to do?’

      Lara bit her lip. ‘I’m sorry, I panicked. I just stuffed a case and left. I know this is the last thing you need right now.’

      Addison silently sucked in a breath. Lara was perceptive. Addison had never said a word to her but she’d obviously picked up on the stress in the household.

      ‘What do you need?’

      Lara seemed nervous. ‘I was wondering... I’ll need to find somewhere else to stay. Is there any chance I could stay here while you’re away?’

      Something simple. ‘Absolutely. No problem at all.’ She stood up. ‘And, Lara? Don’t give up your holiday. You saved long and hard for that. Don’t let him spoil it for you. Go, and enjoy every second without him.’ She reached over and gave Lara’s shoulder a squeeze. ‘Now, will you be okay? Caleb and I will be out of your hair within the hour. I need to finish packing.’

      Lara gave a nod and a grateful smile. ‘Thanks, Addison. I owe you, big time.’

      Addison met her gaze. ‘You deserve someone who loves and respects you, just remember that.’

      She walked out of the kitchen and into the large hallway just as the door opened again. Caleb. Also soaked to the skin and still on his phone.

      She felt herself prickle. ‘Caleb? Do you know—?’

      He gestured to her to stop talking as he continued his conversation. ‘Frank, I know exactly how important this is. I will deal with it. I promise you. The price of the stock won’t fall. I’ve been working on these negotiations for months. I’m not about to let anything get in the way.’

      He looked tired. His shirt and trousers were wrinkled and she knew that he’d worked through the night. He was doing