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‘Who’s Finn?’ Amber and Isabella said simultaneously, leaning in on their elbows. Robyn took a deep breath. She could share the story, she wanted to, with these new friends.

‘He was my ex, a long time ago,’ she said. ‘But that was love, at least I thought it was. It didn’t end well and that’s when I started working abroad.’

‘Did he cheat on you?’ Isabella asked, putting her hand to her heart. ‘I know how that feels.’

‘Worse,’ Wren answered for her, reaching out to hold Robyn’s hand across the table.

‘What could be worse than that?’ Isabella asked, genuinely confused. Wren shot Robyn a look of love.

‘He left me at the church,’ Robyn replied. ‘Didn’t turn up to our own wedding.’

Isabella clamped one hand to her mouth, the other to her heart. ‘Oh. My. God,’ she said. ‘I am so sorry that happened to you. I just cannot imagine how painful that would be.’

‘I am so sorry,’ echoed Amber.

‘Yep,’ Robyn nodded, followed by the understatement of her life. ‘Not nice.’

Wren squeezed her hand and Robyn threw her an appreciative look. Wren had seen her through all her heartbreak, with hugs, and tea, and tissues – lots and lots of tissues – before waving her off at the airport.

‘How do you ever get over that?’ Isabella asked, curious. ‘How do you feel about marriage now?’

‘I don’t honestly know how you get over it. Or if you do,’ Robyn said. ‘I’m definitely not looking for a relationship anyway.’

‘Well, you’re in good hands with Fox then,’ Amber said. ‘He’s never looking for a relationship either. We’ve tried fixing him up with people before, but he just laughs. Says the boys are his priority, and that he had his shot at love. So at least you don’t have to worry about the hot dad of Honeybridge hitting on you.’

Funnily enough, as soon as Amber had said she was in good hands with him, Robyn had only been able to think about his hands on her – his long fingers, his tanned wrists.

‘Like I said, I’ll be gone again in a few months. And Willow comes first.’

‘But you have to come sometimes,’ Amber said with a wink. ‘Don’t forget that.’

‘I thought you realised already,’ Robyn said, winking back. ‘I’m a girl who can look after herself.’

Someone cleared their throat behind her and Robyn swallowed her laughter, turning in her chair to see the tall, blond man fidgeting behind her. He blushed a shade deeper under her gaze.

‘Hi,’ he said, and cleared his throat again.

‘Hello?’ Robyn replied.

‘I had to ask – do I know you?’

Amber snorted quietly, and tried to turn it into a cough.

Robyn studied the man’s face. He was good-looking in an angular way, with a long straight nose. He wore spectacles, and looked a little like an architect. But she didn’t recognise him at all.

‘I don’t think so . . .’ she said slowly.

‘It’s just that when you came in,’ he said and then shook himself lightly, ‘I could have sworn I’d seen you somewhere before.’

‘In your dreams maybe,’ Amber muttered beside her and Robyn kicked her swiftly under the table.

‘Sorry, I must just look like someone else.’ Robyn smiled. He nodded, apologised, and turned away. As he reached the doorway of the restaurant, he turned once more to look and found all five women still watching him. He blushed to his collar and opened the door.

‘Robyn, you’re one hot mamma,’ Amber said, rubbing her ankle. ‘And even if you don’t want to find a man, I think one might find you.’

Chapter Twelve

Fox