Maybe there was a knowing look in his eyes or maybe it was her belated guilt kicking in. Her mouth went dry as she thought of Zak and what a great time they’d had. It would be just like Jude to sack him out of spite if he found out that her friend had slipped into his place.

Which meant that if she put in her expenses for the weekend then Jude would see that there were two meals on each bill, not one. And she had no intention of explaining to him that it wasn’t down to comfort eating.

Chapter 53

Chapter 53

I’m behind my desk on Monday morning poring over my travel guide to Peru, as usual, when Blake Chadwick swings in. I close the pages on the floating Uros Islands made of nothing but reeds and slip the book into my drawer.

‘Morning, Sexy,’ he says with a twinkle in his eye. ‘Hardly recognised you with your clothes on.’

‘The old ones are the best,’ I retort cheekily.

‘That’s what I’d heard.’ He gives me another saucy look. Now it’s Blake who’s being cheeky. Just because he’s seen me in my fishnets, he clearly thinks he can get away with murder.

I fold my arms across my chest, defensively.

‘Joking aside,’ BC says quickly, ‘I really admire your ingenuity. I don’t know many women who’d have the guts to do something like that. Good for you, Annie.’

I don’t like to tell him that it was back-breaking work and that by the end of Sunday my body was begging me to lie down and die. As it still is.

‘Can I hang on to the bunny costumes for another few weeks, please?’ I ask.

‘For recreational purposes?’

‘No.’ I can’t help but laugh. Greg would faint if he saw me dressed up like that. ‘Lauren and I want to try to do the car washing again next weekend if we can.’ If my husband disappears off fishing, as I pray that he will.

‘Your sister seems really nice. Very supportive.’

‘Yes, she is.’

‘And you two are really twins?’

I blush. ‘Yes,’ I admit. ‘We are.’

‘Wow.’ There’s a vaguely dreamy look in his eye.

Typical male reaction.

‘Annie,’ BC says, suddenly serious, ‘we’ve got a big event coming up in a few weeks in London. Launch of a new tropical cocktail mix. No expense spared on this one. You never get out of the office. Fancy coming along to it?’

No one has ever asked me to go along to a company do before. I’m nearly speechless. Nearly. ‘I’d love to,’ I manage to squeak out.

‘Bring Lauren along too. If you like.’

‘That’d be great.’

‘Cool.’ He grins at me. ‘Think I’m going to have to drive through some very muddy puddles this week.’

I give him a puzzled look.