Evanna cleared her plate and looked longingly at the food. ‘Why am I so hungry? Do you think I could be pregnant again, Logan?’

It was only because he was looking at Jenna that Ryan saw her smile dim for a fraction of a second. Then she pulled herself together and joined in the conversation, her expression warm and excited.

‘Do you think you could be? Charlie is two, isn’t he? What a lovely age gap.’

Evanna agreed. ‘I always wanted at least four kids.’

Ryan wondered if he was the only one who had noticed that Jenna had put her fork down quietly and was no longer eating.

Perhaps it was just that she found the whole happy family scene playing out in front of her emotionally painful. Or perhaps it was something else.

She’d been happy enough until Evanna had mentioned having more children.

Evanna lost the battle with her will-power and helped herself to more food. ‘Weren’t you tempted to have more children, Jenna?’

Sensing Jenna’s tension, Ryan shifted the focus of the conversation away from her. ‘If you’re planning more children, you’re going to have to build an extension on this house, Logan.’

‘They can share a room,’ Evanna said. ‘If it’s a girl, she can share with my Kirsty. If it’s a boy, with Charlie.’

She and Logan spun plans while Jenna relocated her food from one side of her plate to the other.

It was the question about children that had chased away her appetite, Ryan thought grimly, reaching for his wine. And now he found himself wondering the same as Evanna. Why hadn’t she had more children? She clearly loved being a mother.

Evanna heaped seconds onto everyone’s plate except Jenna’s. ‘Aren’t you enjoying it, Jenna?’

Jenna looked up and met Ryan’s gaze.

They stared at each other for a moment, and then she gave a faltering smile and picked up her fork. ‘It’s delicious.’ With a determined effort she ate, but Ryan knew she was doing it not because she was hungry, but because she didn’t want to hurt Evanna’s feelings. She was that sort of person, wasn’t she? She thought about other people. Usually to the exclusion of her own needs.

He’d never actually met anyone as unselfish as her.

He felt something punch deep in his gut.

‘Ryan—you have to fill those legs and wide shoulders with something.’ Evanna pushed the dish towards Ryan but he held up a hand.

‘Preferably not adipose tissue. I couldn’t eat another thing, but it was delicious, thanks. I ought to be on my way.’ Sitting here watching Jenna was doing nothing for his equilibrium.

Why had he accepted Evanna’s invitation to dinner?