Thoroughly unsettled, Libby glared at him. ‘You’re a troublemaker and can we, please, change the subject?’ Her eyes flickered past him to Eva who was talking to a colleague of Alex’s from A and E. ‘Anyway, you’re a fine one to talk. She hasn’t stopped drooling over you all night.’

‘She’ll get over it,’ Alex drawled lightly, reaching for his wine.

Libby shook her head slightly, wondering what sort of female it would take to shake her brother out of his customary cool.

‘Don’t you feel guilty about going through life breaking hearts?’ Libby muttered in an undertone. ‘It’s men like you that have made me the woman I am today.’

Alex lifted a dark eyebrow. ‘A crazy, shoe-mad chocoholic?’

‘You can joke,’ Libby said loftily, ‘but you know it’s true.’

Alex frowned. ‘It’s not true. I’ve never deceived a woman in my life.’ His tone was maddeningly cool. ‘I’m always totally honest with them. And I’m completely faithful when I’m with a woman.’

‘Which is for a maximum of three months,’ Libby reminded him tartly.

Alex shrugged his broad shoulders dismissively. ‘So? I’ve never met a woman I wanted to wake up next to every day for the rest of my life.’

Libby rolled her eyes. ‘Well, I’m just glad I’m your sister.’

Alex smiled the smile that stopped women in their tracks. ‘What you’re saying is that I’m so irresistible that if you weren’t my sister you’d be in love with me.’ His blue eyes gleamed with amusement. ‘Go on, admit it.’

Libby’s mouth fell open and she was about to deliver a suitable retort when Katy intervened.

‘I can’t hear what the pair of you are talking about, but I know you’re quarrelling, so stop it,’ she admonished gently from across the table. ‘Alex, stop teasing Libby!’

‘Me?’ Alex lifted a hand to his broad chest, his expression hurt. ‘I would never tease my sister. I have the utmost respect for my sister.’

‘Alex…’ Libby’s tone was sugar sweet and she lifted a hand to her plate, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she looked thoughtfully at her brother’s pristine white dress shirt. ‘I’ve just thought of a use for this chocolate mousse.’

‘Will you two stop it?’ Katy stared at them, aghast, and then shot an embarrassed look towards Andreas. ‘I’m so sorry. What must you be thinking? They love each other really, it’s just that they can’t seem to help winding each other up. They’re always the same.’

Andreas laughed, totally relaxed. ‘Don’t apologise. Their conversation is very entertaining.’ His eyes rested on Libby thoughtfully. ‘And illuminating.’

Libby forgot about the chocolate mousse and Alex’s shirt and looked at him in horror. Just how much of the conversation had he overheard? Had he heard Alex suggesting that she was in love? She sincerely hoped not.

The chat started up again but Libby found herself staring at Andreas, trapped by the look in his stunning dark eyes. His gaze was intense and focused and there was no way he was letting her look away.