Page 95 of All Yours

• Feed someone hungry.

• Send love to someone unhappy.

Robyn was gobsmacked. All the wishes were for other people. Nothing for himself. Nothing to propel him forward in the game, but to help others. It was typical Fox and it made her chest ache.

Looking at him asleep, she felt a sudden longing to hold him that made her bite her lip, as the tears that she’d held back all week threatened to fall again. He might not want her any more, but she still wanted him. Terribly.

Robyn shook her head. He’d get cold and stiff sleeping here. Picking up the blanket on the sofa, she draped it gently around his shoulders, and let her lips brush his cheek in a kiss as light as a butterfly’s touch.

He murmured in his sleep, eyes flickering behind their lids.

‘Meg,’ he whispered. ‘Meg.’

It was like a knife to her heart, and Robyn pressed a hand to her mouth to stop the hurt escaping. The flash of jealousy confirmed just how deep her feelings ran. Why couldn’t it be her name on his lips, her name in his dreams? She wanted it to be her that he called out to, whether he was happy or sad. Whatever he was facing in life, she wanted it to be her by his side.

But Fox obviously didn’t feel the same. It was Meg’s silver tinsel still on the tree, Meg still on his mind, Meg who filled his heart. How could Robyn ever replace her?

She turned back to the computer, clicked the mouse for a final time and made her wish for him.

Send love to someone unhappy.

If it couldn’t be with her, she still hoped that there was a happy future for Fox.

Chapter Fifty-Four

Fox

Erin was looking pretty hot, he had to admit, dressed up rather than in her office attire. Her long black satin dress clung to a body she normally kept hidden under jumpers and baggy jeans, and her outfit was topped off with the obligatory mask for the ball. Fox lifted a hand in greeting, as she paid her cab and hurried over to where he waited at the top of the steps to the town hall. Erin stood on tiptoes to press her mouth to his cheek, and he wondered – for the millionth time that night – what exactly he was doing. Well, there was no going back now.

It had now been almost two weeks since he’d seen Robyn, or talked to her, or held her fucking amazing body in his arms. Two weeks since he heard her say he meant nothing at all, and it still hurt like hell. So why shouldn’t he try to move on, like Millie said, with someone closer to home?

He knew it made sense. Shift his attention to something else, or someone else, and Erin was attractive, and bright, and funny. At least she took his mind off Robyn. Since their date, they’d had fun at the work’s Christmas party too. She made him laugh, she made him feel intelligent, she made him feel wanted. There’d been nothing physical between them yet, just a peck goodnight after the party, but ever since that night, he’d recognised a change between them. An expectation maybe of more to come. Not that she’d said anything. Not in words, anyway. But he thought he felt it.

For the last week, she’d brought him a coffee in the mornings. They sometimes walked together to get a sandwich at lunch. She’d text him occasionally during the day with a funny message or a question – before it had usually been work-related, but now things were different.

Erin had made it clear she wanted to go out again, and so it seemed like a good idea to invite her to the masked Christmas Eve ball. Partly because he enjoyed spending time with Erin, but he couldn’t deny it was also because he knew Robyn was going to be there and a big part of him wanted to show her that she meant nothing at all to him either.

‘Can’t wait to meet your friends,’ Erin said. ‘I hope they like me.’ She tucked her arm through his, which was a new move, and followed him to the cloakroom and then in through the huge arched doors. An ornate staircase curved down to the banqueting hall, with its wooden floors and oak panelling, chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and a twenty-foot-tall Christmas tree in one corner. The band was already playing, but most people were gathered around tables or hovering at the bar. Fox spotted his friends and led the way.

He edged into the gang, and Erin slipped in beside him, keeping her hand on his arm. Curious eyes turned their way, and he saw Rosie nudging a very pregnant Wren.

‘This is Erin, from work,’ Fox said, by way of introduction, and he saw Walker swallow a laugh at Fox’s deliberately casual tone.

‘Hi, Erin! I’m Isabella, and this is my partner Etienne.’

Isabella went first, and Erin smiled and said, ‘Oh, the ones getting married soon? Congratulations!’

This seemed to delight both of them and they shook hands as if old friends already.

Walker and Gabi were next, then Alex and Amber, Rosie and Wren. Finally, Robyn stepped forward. She wore an emerald-green satin dress that fell to the floor and a matching green eye mask, her auburn hair curled over one shoulder. Fox felt his stomach flip at the sight of her, so vibrant and colourful amidst all the black dresses and suits. She was stunning.

‘And I’m Robyn,’ she said, giving a little wave.

‘Oh,’ Erin said, confused. ‘Aren’t you Fox’s nanny?’ Fox saw a flicker of emotion on Robyn’s face, despite the mask. Erin turned to Fox. ‘Who’s looking after the children tonight?’

Fox laughed, embarrassed at the reference to Robyn as the hired help when she was so much more than that.

‘I’ve got a babysitter, you don’t have to worry about that. They’ll probably be running her ragged.’