‘Especially ones that have been planned for eighteen months.’
‘And will probably last six tops.’
Abby grinned. ‘Cynic.’
‘Realist.’
‘Where’s that eternal optimism of yours?’
‘It’s taking a break. Simon didn’t call.’
‘Oh, no. I’m sorry, sweetie.’
‘Par for the course, huh? But never mind. Plenty more fish in the sea, and all that. And talking of fish, isn’t lobster on the menu tonight?’
‘It certainly is,’ said Abby as the mouth-watering menu popped into her head and she switched into work mode.
‘It’ll be spectacular. Karen’s a genius. She won’t let you down.’
‘I know.’
There was a pause, and then Gemma said, ‘Well, look, I’d better let you get on with it, but if you want to chat, rant or whatever you know where I am.’
‘Thanks. Likewise.’
‘Hope it goes well.’
‘You too.’
‘Give the lovely Jake a kiss from me.’
‘I will.’
Hanging up with a smile still on her face, Abby pushed herself off her car, and crossed the drive, her trainers crunching on the gleaming white gravel. It was a shame Gemma wasn’t going to be around on Saturday, but she’d be fine.
It wasn’t as if this were the first time she’d be without her wing woman. It wasn’t as if she were going to have time to ruminate over Leo and the way she felt over what he’d done was—a bit worryingly—changing. And it wasn’t as if he were here to bring it to the forefront of her mind. Or to distract her or disturb her or just generally upset her equilibrium.
No, she reassured herself, climbing the couple of steps to the front door and ringing the bell. He was probably in London. Or abroad maybe. Anywhere. She didn’t know and she genuinely didn’t care. As long as he was nowhere to be seen.
The sound of a catch turning snapped her out of her thoughts and she pulled her shoulders back, her smile widening in anticipation of the sight of the friendly and diminutive housekeeper.
But as the door swung open and Abby’s gaze fell on legs that were clad in faded blue denim and very definitely male the smile froze on her face because it clearly wasn’t Mrs Trimble who’d opened the door.
It was Leo.
And as she looked up and stared at him, for a moment unable to speak although she should have known fate might play a trick like this, everything she’d been struggling to convince herself about him over the last fortnight flew straight from her head. All those conversations she’d had with Gemma about how despicably he’d behaved. How badly she’d got him wrong. How dismally disappointing the male sex was in general...
She might as well not have bothered because one look and all she wanted was to throw her arms around his neck, kiss him to bits and tell him how much she’d missed him. Because, as nuts as it sounded given their last encounter, she had. Hugely.
‘Leo,’ she said with a bright smile even though annoyingly her heart was hammering with something that felt suspiciously like excitement and her stomach was practically liquefying with desire. ‘What on earth are you doing here?’
‘It’s my house.’
‘I know, but...’ She tailed off helplessly because, really, but what?
But I told you not to show up until the start of the party? But I can’t stop thinking about you even though I shouldn’t because what you did was so very low? But can’t you see that you being here is going to make my job so much harder?
‘I want to see how things are done.’