Page 55 of All Yours

‘Not for that much longer,’ Gabi said. ‘And you, Robyn, will you still be there for the wedding?’

Robyn nodded, suddenly very aware that shortly after the wedding she would be gone for good.

‘Will be fab to talk to you about all the places you’ve been. Sounds like you’ve travelled even more than me. It’s been a great perk of my job.’

‘We can compare favourite locations,’ Robyn said, delighted.

‘Ready!’ Amber called. The phone was repositioned, the curtain pulled back and Amber and Rosie stepped out wearing long silk slip dresses in peacock blue, with delicate shoestring straps.

‘These are to die for!’ Amber sighed.

‘Wow,’ Gabi called from the phone. ‘I’d love to wear that.’

‘She still looks hot,’ Wren whispered.

‘Sold!’ said Isabella, draining her glass.

Deposits paid and measurements taken, Robyn shrugged on her coat and got ready to brave the winds outside on the way to the crèche.

‘Before you go,’ Amber said, ‘is everyone clear on the arrangements for the hen night this weekend?’ Amber looked first at Wren and then at Robyn and waited for their nods before continuing. ‘So the booth at The Bolthole is booked for eight,’ she said. This was all sounding foreign to Robyn, who had not been in The Bolthole ever, or a booth for an age.

‘Preload your carbs, girls,’ Amber said. ‘We are sinking shots.’

Robyn grimaced and Wren nudged her. ‘You’ll be fine,’ she whispered. ‘You don’t have to keep up with Amber.’

‘True.’ Amber shrugged happily. ‘Few women can.’

‘Do I need to bring anything?’ Isabella asked.

‘No. I’m bringing the games . . .’ Amber said, a mischievous look crossing her face. ‘So, all you guys have to do is turn up and look gorgeous.’

Robyn felt a surge of excitement at the thought of a night out when she could let her hair down.

‘Everyone got their outfits ready?’ Amber continued.

Wren glanced at Robyn, eyebrows raised questioningly. Robyn nodded back, thinking about the gold miniskirt and matching bralette hanging in the cupboard at the pool house. The theme was ‘The Last Disco’ and she’d scanned hundreds of websites for outfits, before instead deciding to scour the local charity shops and scoring the most amazing vintage outfit ever, which she was planning on teaming with platform strappy heels. She was looking forward to the night, especially because she’d learned from the girls that the stag do was happening in the same location on the same night, and that Fox would be there.

‘Great,’ Amber said, rubbing her hands together like an evil mastermind. ‘Let the games begin.’

The only person Robyn knew who liked games as much as she did was Fox, and she was hoping he might want to play with her.

Chapter Thirty

Fox

Fox watched Robyn shut the front door from his office window. Her hair was piled on the top of her head and her yoga leggings told him exactly where she was going. He knew her routine almost as well as he knew the boys’ now, and he’d told her to still keep her spot in the class even though the boys were off school for an inset day. Mainly because it gave him an hour respite from the delicious torture of her proximity. He waited until she turned the corner on the road, heading towards the gym, and then exhaled slowly. Thank God for that.

He’d got through the week so far by not standing too close to Robyn in the kitchen. Not breathing in too deeply as she left the room, so that he didn’t smell her perfume. Not watching the clock, knowing that she’d be crossing from the pool house any minute, frantically running his fingers through his hair to make it into something that looked styled.

But it was hard. And he meant hard.

Since he’d held her in his arms, her mere presence seemed to trigger an immediate erection. He had to stay sitting while she poured cereal or passed school bags. He had to think of ex-prime ministers if he was ever wearing grey jogging bottoms. It was getting seriously difficult to be in the same room as her, but he didn’t want to be anywhere else.

Something about her had touched him so deeply when she opened up about her past. He could feel the pain buried deeply inside her, and he recognised himself in the way that she wanted a connection though was scared to make one. He’d held her for an hour that night, maybe more, as the stars arced above them. Her hair smelled of vanilla under his chin. Her hand rested above his heart and she fit so well, so perfectly, under his arm, that she could have been made for him.

Ever since, he’d been fantasising about a connection with her. Which, he knew, would never work. How could it? If only he could tell his dick that, it would be helpful. He adjusted himself in his trousers, wondering if Robyn would be in downward dog by now.

Fox’s phone went off, and he stood, taking the chance to stretch his legs and move his thoughts away from Robyn. He read the messages that came in as he headed towards the play room, to see what the boys were doing.