She nodded. ‘Really.’
‘I’ll set something up.’
‘Thank you,’ she said with a grin.
‘You’re welcome.’
‘I shall cook.’
‘There’s no need. We’ll go out. Or have something sent up.’
‘No, I’d like to. I used to love cooking and I can’t keep eating all the food the kitchens provide. It’s too easy, too convenient and way too delicious. Much more of it and I’ll be as big as a house.’
His gaze slowly roamed over her, setting her on fire wherever he let it linger. ‘You’re fine,’ he said, his smile fading and his eyes darkening as he reached for her yet again. ‘You’re beautiful. And I am in absolutely no way ashamed of you.’
And that was how, the following Friday evening, she and Finn played hosts to his friends, Theo and Kate Knox, and her friend Carla. Finn and Theo had known each other professionally for a couple of years, and socially for one of those, more so since Theo had met Kate and settled down. Kate, his wife of three months, was tall, statuesquely beautiful and heavily pregnant.
Over drinks and nibbles, a starter of salmon and asparagus and a main course of slow-roasted lamb, Georgie listened to the conversation that flowed easily, picking up anything she could about Finn, however tiny, and filing it away for later consideration. She smiled and laughed and made contributions where necessary, but for the most part she found herself surreptitiously watching Kate and trying not to envy her.
The other woman’s clear enjoyment of her pregnancy and the serenity and radiance that she emanated were things that had been denied to Georgie, and that filled her with regret and sadness. If only she’d known she was pregnant, things could have been so different. It was hard not to feel cheated.
And then there was the immense love that Kate was lucky enough to bask in. In all honesty Georgie found Theo faintly aloof and more than a bit intimidating, but when he looked at his wife the hard lines of his face softened and the blazing emotion that warmed in his eyes stole her breath. What would it feel like to be on the receiving end of such love and such passion? Would she ever know? It didn’t seem likely, given the hand of cards she’d been dealt.
‘So how did you and Theo meet?’ Carla asked, and Georgie made herself shake off the gloom and focus.
Kate put down her glass of elderflower pressé and gave her husband a look of wry amusement. ‘I made myself available on an escort agency website and Theo took against it.’
Goodness, thought Georgie. That she hadn’t known.
Theo arched an eyebrow, although a faint smile played at his mouth. ‘Indeed,’ he said, his dark gaze taking in Finn and Georgie. ‘How about you?’
‘Georgie picked Finn up in a bar,’ Carla said with a wide grin.
‘I wouldn’t put it quite like that,’ Georgie muttered, feeling herself blush.
‘Why not?’ said Finn, the glance he slid her holding a wicked glint. ‘You did.’
‘I don’t remember you putting up much of a protest.’
‘I put up no protest at all.’
‘The sparks flying off the two of them could have set fire to a forest,’ Carla said, taking a sip of champagne. ‘I went up to them to see if Georgie was OK and had to back off for fear of getting singed.’
Oh? ‘I don’t remember you doing that.’
‘I’m not surprised. The fire alarm could have gone off with sprinklers and everything and you’d have been oblivious.’
‘And how do you two know each other?’ asked Kate, indicating her and Carla.
‘Our parents lived on the same commune for a while when we were teenagers,’ said Georgie, remembering how excited she’d been at hearing the news of the latest arrivals.
‘We clicked instantly,’ said Carla. ‘Took a few walks together on the wild side. Even after my family moved on we stayed in touch.’
‘She’s my best friend,’ said Georgie.
‘Back at you,’ said Carla.
‘Thank you,’ said a suddenly serious Finn to Carla, who, to Georgie’s astonishment, blushed.