And he looked at Kate as if she was the most fabulous woman on the planet. It was almost enough to make a woman jealous. If she was looking for that kind of thing.

But maybe things had changed. Shannon hadn’t seen them in a year. Even when she’d gone to the UK with Robert six months ago, she hadn’t looked them up. Hadn’t even told Kate she was there. Of course, it had been a business trip. There hadn’t really been time to leave London to visit Kate. But she should have made time. You didn’t find friends like that everywhere. Kate was a keeper.

Now the skirt was on too, it was time to get going. Although, maybe she should try and force down a couple of ginger cookies before heading for the Métro. The cookies were in the cupboard in a jar she’d bought especially a few days ago. Before that, she hadn’t allowed confectionery of any type in the house. Now it was her best friend. Speaking of which, she’d better call Robert and tell him she was going to be late.

He picked up on the first ring. ‘Hi.’

Was he still mad at her from their argument last night? She’d been pretty mad too, but right now she was too wrung out to carry it on. ‘Hi, I’m going to be late.’

There was a long pause at the other end. He was still mad. ‘Why?’

Shannon took a small bite of the ginger cookie, chewed and swallowed. Two could play at this pausing game. ‘Just running late.’

At the other end of the line, Robert took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Maybe it was her excitement at seeing Kate again, but it almost made Shannon laugh. He could be so dramatic. So deliciously French. ‘You know we are meeting the sales team at one thirty at the hotel? It was your idea to waste time sightseeing. As if strolling around the Louvre staring at paintings is going to help them get anywhere near their targets.’

Of course she knew. She was the one who had booked everything. The conference room, the hotel, the minibus and the tour guide for the Louvre. ‘Yeah. About that.