Match Me If You Can

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Sarah (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Catherine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Rachel (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirty: Sarah (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirty-One: Catherine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirty-Two: Rachel (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirty-Three: Sarah (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirty-Four: Catherine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirty-Five: Rachel (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirty-Six: Sarah (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Catherine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Rachel (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Sarah (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Forty: Catherine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Forty-One: Rachel (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Forty-Two: Sarah (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Forty-Three: Catherine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Forty-Four: Rachel (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Forty-Five: Sarah (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Forty-Six: Catherine (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Acknowledgements (#litres_trial_promo)

Ready to do a little baking of your own? (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Author (#litres_trial_promo)

Also by Michele Gorman (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#ulink_153d8ab3-0fce-5f7f-b67d-b5fac837dd72)

Catherine (#ulink_153d8ab3-0fce-5f7f-b67d-b5fac837dd72)

‘What did you say?’ Catherine whispered as Richard calmly sipped the last of his wine. Even as her insides churned, she knew her face gave nothing away. Fifteen years of practice with him gave her the kind of composure that poker players dreamed of.

Only this didn’t feel like a winning hand.

‘I’ve asked Magda to marry me,’ he repeated, this time at least having the decency to look contrite. He glanced around the busy Soho restaurant. ‘Kate, you’re not about to freak out, are you?’

‘Don’t call me Kate. And when have I ever freaked out?’

Catherine wasn’t a freaker-outer, at least not in public. Richard would have known that when he planned his matrimonial ambush. She glared over his shoulder at an empty spot on the wall. Don’t you dare cry, she warned herself. He’ll only get the wrong idea and then everything will be really awkward. Besides, it was none of his business any more how she felt. She took a shaky breath. ‘I’m …’ She stopped when the word came out squeaky. ‘I’m just surprised, that’s all. I didn’t know you were so serious after only a few months.’

A few months! She’d been with him for years before she’d even left her toothbrush at his place. And now he was getting engaged to a woman he hadn’t even known for as long as his Waitrose delivery man.

‘It was a year last weekend, actually. We went to the rooftop bar at SushiSamba to celebrate.’

‘Oh, she’s finally legal then?’

Catherine probably had bras that were older than Magda.

‘You know,’ said Richard, signalling the waiter for the bill. ‘Cattiness isn’t flattering on you.’

Maybe not but it was better than letting her real thoughts fly.

‘Neither is dating someone who has to ask her dad to borrow the car keys.’

‘You know very well that she’s twenty-three. She’s mature for her age.’

‘And firm, I bet.’

A whisper of a smirk played around Richard’s mouth, despite the fact that she was savaging his girlfriend.

Catherine didn’t wish for her twenties back. Just some of their elasticity. Tall and slim, with thick dark hair that dried straight and swingy, her peaches-and-cream complexion and direct hazel eyes all helped her pull off the classically professional look she’d cultivated for so long. She knew she looked good for thirty-six. As long as she didn’t stand beside her ex-husband’s new fiancée.

He sighed. ‘Let’s not fight. I wanted you to be the first to know because you’re my best friend. Magda has her heart set on a spring wedding.’

‘Which spring?’ It was early November already.

His closed-lip smile told her it wouldn’t be a long engagement.

‘That’s only a few months away.’

‘Please be happy for me,’ he said.

His words shifted Catherine’s anger off the boil. She could probably be happy for him in time, but just now she wanted to sulk. It was the contrast that stung. When they’d got engaged, he hadn’t even officially asked her.