Page 62 of Fundamentals in Flirting

The old lady turned towards me, a flash of regret and acknowledgement flaring in her warm brown eyes. “Yes.”

“She truly is a lovely dog, a real credit to you.”

I was being sincere – we’d had our run-ins but she wasn’t the first and would not be the last dog to try and take a chunk out of my hand on the consulting table. I hoped she could hear this in my voice. “It’s a pleasure to see you both in my consulting room.”

“Thank you, Hannah. That means the world to me.” Mrs Wainscott gave a little sniff, and tentatively touched my arm. “She’s been to see the stud dog, so I’ll be in next week for her pregnancy check. I’ll be sure to ask Jenny to book us in with you.”

The smile that lit up my face was genuine and was quickly returned.

“That’s very exciting. I look forward to seeing you both.”

Giles blew out a long breath and everyone turned to look at him in surprise. He raised his glass in a toast and everyone returned the gesture in complete confusion. “To Bridgit and her puppies.”

“To Bridgit and her puppies,” we all replied in unison.

“I hope you don’t mind, but there are a few other people I’d like Hannah to meet,” Teddy said, gently cupping my elbow as my sign to leave. “Excuse us, won’t you?”

There was a lot of nodding, and a few murmurs of “lovely couple” that I didn’t quite catch as I was manoeuvred away from the group.

“Was that your complaining client?” Teddy murmured out of the side of his mouth as we walked away.

“Yes, one of them.”

“You did great.”

“It could have gone either way. Giles nearly passed out from the tension,” I joked, and Teddy laughed.

“He should have a little more faith in you.”

We began to circle the lawned area, Teddy introducing me to various people, all charm and civility when talking to businessmen and women, some of whom were clients at our practice. And do you know what? With each new person I talked to, it became easier. My face began to relax and my brain no longer freaked out as much, each conversation relying less and less on Teddy to prompt me or support me. People smiled and laughed at my intentional jokes, no one recoiled in horror, and no one threatened to write my boss a strongly worded email of complaint. And not one person compared me to a spiny-coated small mammal – at least, not to my face. Could it be that I was actually getting good at this?

No, surely not.

Once we’d completed a full circuit of the party, we ended up in a darkened corner close to where the band was playing.

“Will you dance with me?”

“Ah, Teddy, I’m really not very good at that shit.”

“Just follow me. I’ll help you.”

“Advanced flirting technique?”

“Postgraduate level. Only for the most gifted of students.”

Teddy smiled and took my hand.

The sun had fully gone down now and a bright moon hung in the sky, a giant silvery bauble lighting the night, casting monochrome shadows across the grass and dappling my feet as I gazed self-consciously down at them. Teddy stepped in closer, tilting his head below mine to force me to meet his gaze.

“Come on. You can do it.”

“Ok,” I whispered.

This was a really bad idea and I knew it, but I didn’t seem able to stop myself moving towards him. The warmth of his body radiated through his tux, drawing me in like an industrial-strength magnet. As he gathered me to him, a slight pressure on my waist, his other fingers curling around mine, I knew, with total clarity, that I was absolutely bloody well done for.

“Everything ok?” he murmured into my ear, ruffling strands of my hair, so that they tickled my neck and goose pimples rose in a line on my skin.

“Mmm hmmm.”

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