‘Nevertheless you do.’
‘Is that an excuse?’
‘No, because I don’t think there is an excuse.’
‘No.’ She put her fork down and looked him. ‘It hurt, you know. I really thought you were being nice. Thoughtful. More fool me.’
For the briefest of moments the impassive mask that was his expression slipped and she caught a flicker of regret. ‘I’m sorry. I really don’t know what else I can say, although you may be pleased to know that the guilt has been driving me insane.’
A bit rocked by that flash of regret and the admission of guilt, Abby reached for her wine again and toyed with the stem. ‘That is some consolation.’
‘Do you accept my apology?’
‘Is it heartfelt?’
He paused, seemed to tense up a bit, then relaxed and said, ‘Very much so.’
And because of the way he said it, she found herself softening. ‘Then in that case, yes.’
‘Thank you,’ he said, giving her a faint smile that had her heart lurching and her mouth going oddly dry.
Leo carried on looking at her and Abby found she couldn’t break the contact. The seconds ticked by, the air thickening and the tension between them creeping back and she could feel her heart rate quickening, the roar of her blood in her ears.
Conversation. That was what they needed now. Nice, normal conversation. About the party. That would be good. That would be safe.
‘So, forty years,’ she said brightly and he jumped, as if he’d been lost in thought and she’d yanked him out of it. ‘Quite an achievement.’
‘Hmm,’ said Leo, picking up his fork and finally tucking in to both the food and the chat. ‘How long have your parents been married?’
‘Thirty-five. Kind of incredible, don’t you think?’
‘Remarkable. Have you never been tempted?’
‘I’ve never been asked.’
His eyebrows shot up. ‘I find that surprising.’
‘Why?’
‘Because you’re beautiful, successful, warm, intelligent and kind, for a start.’
‘Oh,’ she said faintly, reeling a bit at her apparent attributes. ‘Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome.’
‘Though you missed out “forgiving”.’
‘Thoughtless of me.’
‘Only I have been told I’m not very dateable.’
‘Not very dateable?’ he said, glancing up and looking at her as if she’d suddenly sprouted another head, which, she had to admit, did send her self-esteem shooting through the roof.
‘According to my last boyfriend, I’m too independent and too capable,’ she said, her self-esteem plummeting again as the memory of Martin detailing all her faults shot into her head.
Leo frowned. ‘And that’s bad?’
‘Apparently it’s intimidating.’