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That was what she realised after over a month of self-pity. Ultimately, it wouldn’t have mattered what she had done because it was Robert’s actions, not hers, that led to the mess she found herself in. Robert’s decision had broken more than just her heart. So, rather than continuing her wallowing, Gemma took it upon herself to learn everything she could from the incident.

The moment she decided that she would never again let a man, or anyone else, take her for a fool, it was like a weight lifted from her. The weight of other people’s expectations. She would never focus her happiness on trying to please someone else or be the version of herself that she thought they wanted. Instead, she would be the version of herself she wanted to be. So that was what she had done.

It had taken a while, especially with all the baggage Robert had left behind, but Gemma was confident with who she was as a person now, and that was a person she liked—a person who had good friends who would do anything to support her, and whom she would do anything to help. She had a job that she adored, and one that allowed her to help people, perhaps not as directly as being a teacher or a doctor, but she knew that her presence in her customers’ lives each day made a difference to them. She liked who she was, and if she was going to find somebody to fall into a serious relationship with again, then they needed to like her as she was, too. And so, it was with only a quick shower to get off the smell of the day, and a change into a simple pair of jeans and a black top that she walked up to the White Horse.

It wasn’t a pub she went to often, but it was close to where Fleur and Henry lived, so she understood why they had chosen it. With one last glance at her reflection in the window, Gemma took a deep breath and stepped inside.

“Gemma!”

Gemma had barely gathered her bearings when she spotted Fleur on her feet, waving at her.

“Over here.”

As Gemma walked across the pub to join them, Fleur stepped forwards, and kissed her on both cheeks.

“I’m so glad you could make it. Gemma, I want to introduce you to Angus.”

As Fleur stepped to the side, Gemma’s eyes moved past her friend to the man sitting next to Henry.

Her jaw dropped.

Angus, it turned out, was absolutely gorgeous.

CHAPTER 29

Gemma liked to tell herself that she didn’t have a type. It was more about personality than looks. But at the same time, she suspected Angus was almost every straight woman’s type. Or at least straight women who liked tall, immaculately dressed men, with bright blue eyes and shoulders that told her his body wouldn’t have been out of place in a swimsuit magazine. He was dressed impeccably but in a way that didn’t come across as conceited. A pale blue shirt, dark denim jeans, and shoes that looked undeniably expensive.

“Gemma, I’m so pleased to meet you,” he said as he followed Fleur in kissing Gemma on both cheeks. His voice was deep and rich and tickled the hairs on the back of her neck. “I have just ordered a bottle of Bordeaux. You will have a glass, won’t you?”

Gemma definitely considered herself more of a cider drinker than a wine drinker, although when she was with the girls, they would often share a bottle of white. She couldn’t remember the last time she had drunk red wine and wasn’t sure if she even liked it.

“Actually, I?—”

“Trust me. You will love it.”

With a swift grin and a flash of his perfectly straight, white teeth, Angus sat back down, took a glass from the table, and started to fill it.

“That’s plenty,” Gemma said when the glass was halfway filled, and yet he continued. “Honestly, I’m not a red wine drinker.”

“That’s because you probably drink cheap rubbish. This is the decent stuff.”

Only when the glass was full did he stop.

“Gemma, come and sit here,” Fleur said, shuffling around the seats so that Gemma was tucked in next to Angus. Gemma wasn’t best pleased to be squeezed into the corner. There was no way she could get out unless other people moved, but even without customers, she had been on her feet all afternoon. A sit-down was a welcome break.

“Angus was just telling us about this case he was working on in London. It all sounds very interesting.”

Angus took a sip of his wine before smacking his lips together.

“Well, I can’t tell you that much. NDAs, you know. Non-disclosure agreements,” he added as if Gemma didn’t know what an NDA was. “Big company, massive. Some of the stuff they were covering up would make your skin crawl. Of course, when they pay as well as they do, it’s easy to overlook a little thing like ethics, right?”

He chuckled. It was deep and fruity and probably would have been an attractive laugh had it not been for the context of the conversation. With a tight smile as her only response, Gemma sipped at the Bordeaux, confirming her previous assumption that she did not like red wine. She tried to disguise her dislike as best she could.

“It’s great, right?” Angus said, clearly misreading her expression. “Worth the price tag. To be honest, I was surprised a place like this had such a decent drop.”

Once again, Gemma struggled to know how to respond. Fortunately, before she could figure out how, Angus was on his feet. “Do excuse me, just need to head to the little boys’ room.”

With that, he slipped out from behind the table and walked across the room. Immediately, Gemma glared at Fleur, lowering her voice to a hiss.