The mood was uproarious, good natured and exactly the tonic she needed.

‘The only rule,’ Zak said, ‘is that you have to finish all that’s in your bowl before you can go back for another pudding.’

The heavenly scent of them was making her mouth salivate. ‘I can tell that you’ve done this before,’ Lauren said.

‘Just once or twice.’

‘Any tips from the maestro?’

‘Start with the heaviest and work your way towards the lightest.’

‘They all look equally rich.’

‘That is the slight downside of my cunning plan.’

Lauren picked up her bowl. ‘Let’s get this started.’

‘I have to warn you that my own personal record is ten puddings,’ Zak boasted. ‘You have a lot to live up to.’

She grinned at her friend. ‘That very much sounds like you’re throwing down the gauntlet, Mr Reynolds.’

‘Are you woman enough for the challenge?’ he teased.

Lauren strode towards the pudding buffet, glad that she’d worn a loose-fitting dress. ‘We’ll see, shall we?’

Chapter 92

Chapter 92

An hour later and Zak sat back in his chair, massaging his stomach. ‘Oh, that was so good.’

Lauren massaged her tummy too and groaned contentedly.

‘Though I do have to point out that you’re a total lightweight, my dear Ms Osbourne.’

‘One measly pudding more than me. That was all you managed.’ She inspected his bowl carefully. ‘And I question whether you’ve eaten all of that one. I’m sure that I can still see traces of sticky toffee pudding.’

Zak ran his spoon round the bowl again and scooped them up. ‘You are a ferocious competitor.’

‘This time I’ve been beaten by a better man.’

‘Want a chance to redeem yourself?’

She shook her head. ‘I couldn’t eat another thing.’ This was the most she’d eaten in years. And, though she might well regret it in the morning, she now felt very pleasantly satiated. Food seemed to have become a substance that had lost all of its pleasure for her.

‘One more for the road,’ Zak challenged. ‘Equal portions. First to finish.’

‘What are the stakes?’

Zak pondered, then said, ‘Breakfast in bed for the victor.’

‘I won’t be letting another morsel of food pass my lips for about a week!’

‘I don’t believe it. You can’t live on fresh air, woman. You have to start eating properly.’

‘I’m not sure that devouring five puddings in a row counts as eating properly.’

‘It’s a start,’ her friend said, and he picked up her bowl and carried it to the buffet table. Lauren followed behind him, eager to see that he didn’t cheat.

‘This is a very serious competition,’ Zak explained to the chef. ‘Honour is at stake. The portions need to be exactly equal.’ He turned to Lauren. ‘Choose your pudding.’

She mulled it over. They had all been delicious. ‘Chocolate, please.’

‘And I’ll take the golden syrup sponge again.’