Part 7 (1/2)

*Great. You finally decide you want to be a girl, and I can't even enjoy it with you.' She proffers her own bag. *A Pea in the Pod. That's all I've got to look forward to.'

Gabby grins. *Want to grab a coffee?'

*Only if it's decaf. So what's up with you recently? You look all glowing. If I didn't know better I'd say you were pregnant.'

*Sadly not. Must be the menopause,' Gabby says. *Haven't you ever heard of the menopausal glow? No? Me neither. I think it's just that life is going well. I feel ... happy. You know how you always said you loved being in your forties because you felt truly comfortable in your skin, that you didn't need to prove yourself to anyone any more? Well, I get that. I do. I've just suddenly found myself feeling really good.'

*That's great. I remember a couple of months ago you were saying you felt really middle-aged. It's great you're feeling better. Is this what the whole makeover's about?'

*Makeover?'

*Your grey hair has disappeared, and you're spending fortunes. If I didn't know better,' Claire peers at her as they stand in line in Starbucks, *I'd think you were having an affair.'

*Oh ha ha.' Gabby rolls her eyes. *Yes. I am having an affair, for I am exactly the type. In fact, I'm having three affairs, all at the same time. Why do you think I had to cover the grey hair? It was the only way I could attract all three gorgeous lovers.'

Gabby may not be having an affair, but she is planning to have a drink with a man who isn't her husband. She has no idea what to say, how to explain it to Elliott. It occurred to her that she could orchestrate another girls' night out, and a coincidence! a the same man would be at the bar and the two of them could, as they had before, spend the evening talking together.

This time her friends would grow suspicious. Who even knows if Gabby and Matt would be left alone? She doesn't want to lie to Elliott. A lie, however small, feels like the beginning of a slippery slope, but how can she possibly explain it? Should she tell the truth, couched in a white lie, so she will still be able to live with herself?

*Are you sure you don't mind?' Gabby now feels guilty at buying so much, even though Elliott is delighted with her new wardrobe.

*Are you kidding? Gabby, you look amazing! I feel like I have a new wife! I had no idea you were this s.e.xy, honey!'

*Great,' she grumbles. *Thanks a lot.'

*Gabs, you know what I mean. Everything you bought looks incredible on you. Usually you wear such shapeless clothes no one can even see your figure a you know that. But everything you bought just shows it off. You are seriously hot.'

*I've lost a few pounds.' Gabby turns to look at her side view in the closet mirror. *I kind of needed these trousers because the ones I have are swimming on me.'

*I can see,' Elliott says approvingly. *Not that you needed to lose anything, but it suits you. How much have you lost?'

*About six pounds,' Gabby says. *I wasn't even trying. I just haven't been hungry.'

Elliott looks down at his own stomach; he is more cuddly than ever before. *I wish I knew what that felt like,' he says. *Oh well. At least there's more of me to love.'

Gabby, looking at him, feels a surge of love. *The more of you to love, the better.' She leans down and kisses him before sitting on his lap and sliding her arms up round his neck. *Anyway, you're still as gorgeous as the day we met.'

He laughs. *Liar.'

*Oh! Guess what!' She stands up and starts to undress, carefully folding the scarf. *You know that Fourforesight website I joined?'

*No.'

*It's another social media thing.'

*I know that, but I didn't know you joined it.' Elliott shakes his head. *Isn't that like a Facebook for hipsters? You and the girls with all this stuff a I don't know how you find the time. What was your last obsession? Pinterest?'

*Yes. Over it. This one's the new one, and they contacted me and asked if I wanted to take part in a study, a focus group. Isn't that exciting! The guy who started it is flying around meeting people and talking to them about the website and what changes they'd like to see!'

*Okay,' Elliott says, and shrugs. *If you say it's exciting then I'm excited for you.'

*Well, I am excited. I feel like I could be part of a huge change. So it's Wednesday night. I have to go to some hotel in Stamford.'

*Sounds great. Just make sure you wear some of these new clothes a you want them to think you're a hot mommy, right?'

*You'd better believe it.' Gabby's smile is large as she turns to slide the scarf onto a shelf.

Chapter Ten.

As Gabby walks through the lobby of the hotel she is conscious that each of the three men sitting or standing around by the front door is following her with his eyes. She isn't so much walking, as sailing, an a.s.sured smile on her face as she takes long strides, her new boots click-clacking on the marble floor, her hips swaying, her hair, styled into soft s.e.xy waves instead of the more usual unruly curls, bouncing gently on her shoulders.

She has a quality tonight that is more than mere beauty. It is clear to anyone watching that this is a woman well aware of how powerful, s.e.xy, gorgeous she is, who exudes confidence from every pore, and it is this that makes her so compelling.

Gabby walks through to the bar, and stands for a few seconds in the doorway, squinting slightly as she looks around for Matt. She has made sure to be fifteen minutes late, so she won't be the first one here.

And there he is. At one end of the bar. Her heart jumps into her mouth at the exact moment he turns and sees her. As his face lights up, Gabby falters suddenly.

Oh G.o.d, she thinks. Look how ... gorgeous he is. What am I doing here? What the h.e.l.l am I doing here? I need to leave.

But she doesn't. She walks towards him, the smile on her face matching the smile on his, and they stand for a second or two, grinning at each other, before he extends his arms and wraps them round Gabby, who closes her eyes as he holds her tightly.

This is fine, she thinks. I can do this. We are friends. I'm just going to be chatty and friendly while still retaining my distance. I'm the one in control here and I will not let this stray into territory that might be dangerous.

They sit down at the bar, Matt swivelling his stool so he is facing her, and they look at each other and both start to laugh, Gabby shaking her head and looking away.

*I don't know why I'm laughing,' Matt splutters.

*I don't know either,' Gabby manages to say. *But I'd love a drink.'

*Coming right up.' He orders before sitting back to gaze at her.

*What?' Gabby is self-conscious. *Do I have something in my teeth?'

*No. You look great.' She notices his eyes darken as he says this and she knows it means he's aroused. She feels waves of embarra.s.sment, of pleasure, before remembering her manners. *Thank you. How were your meetings?'

*All good. How's the piece you're working on. Didn't you say it was a desk?'

Gabby smiles. He remembered. She had found a dark wooden desk at the consignment store and had stripped it with the intention of painting it a soft dove grey, replacing the handles with small, black, iron k.n.o.bs, and thereby reinventing it as a Gustavian-style desk, perfect for the study. *It's going well,' she says, getting out her phone and scrolling through for pictures.

As she scrolls, she realizes Matt is looking at the screen, at all the evidence of her life, her real life, which she doesn't want him to see. She doesn't want him to see her husband, her children, the signs of a middle-aged housewife a which is what she is, however much he may want to think otherwise. She tilts her screen slightly to prevent him seeing, but it isn't enough.

*Wait! Is that your husband?'

They haven't talked very much about Elliott. Gabby isn't even sure Matt knows his name. It wouldn't feel right to discuss him, nor does she want Matt to see him. *No,' she lies. *Just some friends back home.'

*Oh come on, let me see,' he insists.