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‘Is that why you’re inviting me? Because you don’t like the fact that I’m not falling over myself to flirt with you?’
‘That’s exactly it,’ he replied, deadpan. ‘I find my ego can’t take the knockback.’
‘Sarcastic much?’ she muttered, but a small smile tugged at her mouth despite herself.
‘I’ll pick you up at half-past seven.’
‘I might be on duty.’
‘You aren’t.’ He shrugged.
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Relax. I was just checking the rotas before and I don’t remember seeing your name.’
She told herself that it meant nothing. It was pure coincidence.
‘What makes you think I want to go?’
‘What else are you doing that night? It’s fun, and, hey, you can do something for charity at the same time.’
He was impressively convincing.
‘People will think I’m just the next notch on your bedpost.’
‘Some women are happy to have that accolade.’
‘I am not some women.’
‘No,’ he agreed. ‘You are not.’
The compliment rolled through her, making long-dormant parts of her body unfurl and stretch languidly. Her head was rapidly losing this battle with her body.
‘How about this?’ he suggested. ‘I’ll give you my ticket and you can take Saskia, or whoever you want, as your plus one.’
‘You would give me your ticket?’
‘Sure. That way you won’t feel like I’m trying to obligate you in any way.’
‘And I could take anyone?’
‘Of course.’
She narrowed her eyes.
‘Even a date of my own?’
‘Oof!’ He clutched his stomach as though she’d delivered a punch to his gut, making her laugh exactly as he’d clearly intended. ‘You know where to strike a man, don’t you? Yes, even a date of your own.’
‘And you would miss out? On something as important to you as you’ve suggested these young carers are?’
‘Oh, I won’t miss out,’ he said airily. ‘I’ll just go as someone else’s plus one.’
It shouldn’t hurt to hear. Yet it did. Anouk arranged her features into what she hoped was a neutral expression.
‘Of course. You must have a whole host of potential dates just waiting for you to call.’
‘So many it can become exhausting at times,’ he concurred blithely.
