Page 33 of The Polly Principle (The Laws of Love 2)

“Carts, Judith’s in a long-term relationship.”

He picked another piece of mushroom off and added it to the pile on his plate. Why hadn’t he said he didn’t like mushroom when she chose the pizza? And would it be really crass if she reached over and grabbed them? She loved, loved,lovedmushrooms.

“We had a connection,” he said, a sullen little frown settling across his forehead.

“Probably because she’s met someone significantly taller than her for once.”

“She’s so petite,” he commented wistfully.

Polly rolled her eyes. “She’s six foot one, Carts.”

“That’s five inches shorter than me. What about him. Her man? Is he tall?”

“Mark?” Polly put down her crust. She wouldn’t eat it, even though it looked so crunchy and yummy. That, at least, would cut out some carbs. “He’s a tiny bit shorter than her, I think. Yes, definitely, because she grumbled that she always has to wear flats around him.”

Carts punched the air. “Yesssss.”

Polly’s heart went out to him. He was really the sweetest guy. Kind, considerate, cute when he grinned. But he needed a confidence boost, and clothes that didn’t make him look like a scarecrow. He also needed to get the hems of his pants let down. She should give him a makeover.

Immediately she shot that idea down in flames. It was high time she stopped this matchmaking fetish. She was damn good at it, but lately it was losing its appeal. What was this feeling she kept getting in the pit of her stomach?Left out,her mind supplied.

Hell no. It must be just a hormonal surge happening as she slid towards thirty. It would pass.

She returned her focus to the tasks at hand: letting Carts down gently and not eating another slice of pizza. Her stomach begged. She homed in on the splurgy feeling of her butt cheeks on the chair, fisted her hands and placed her chin on them to stop her fingers sneaking towards the pizza box.

“Judith and Mark have been together since they were seventeen. She’s very happy. She wants to settle down and have babies.”

“Who says I don’t?” He eyeballed her defiantly. “And don’t look at me like that. Why can’t a guy say he’s keen to get married and have kids without people thinking he’s got a testosterone deficiency and a mummy complex?”

Polly chuckled. “Oh, you are the best. I think it’s lovely you feel that way, but I have a question for you. Ever thought you might be falling for unavailable women to get away from the fact that you like being unattached?”

Carts sent her yet another hurt look and took a large gulp of wine. “Lucy and I were together for over a year. Not my fault the day I proposed she said she preferred her personal trainer.” He stared dolefully into his glass.

“At least you got the money back on the ring,” Polly said, then kicked herself as Carts said gloomily, “And that’s supposed to make me feel better?”

She had the urge to get up and hug him. Except she wouldn’t know where to start, there was too much of him, too many sharp angles. Come to think of it, Judith and he would fit perfectly together. Mr and Mrs Tall and their tiny talls.

Maybe there was something in that, after all. What with Judith’s admission of her abhorrent lack of a sex life. Maybe…

“At least give me some background, just in case she dumps the guy,” Carts said. “Likes and dislikes. A kind of Judith starter kit.”

How could she not, with that pleading look on his face?

“Okay. She’s twenty-nine, she’s into craft, she’d probably knit you a sweater before thinking to let you kiss her. She adores her mum and dad and her brother and sister. All tall, just like your tribe. They’ve had specially adapted bench tops in the kitchen. She likes cats. Crochet. Baking. She makes the best chocolate brownies in the entire universe. I don’t think she’s ever said a really negative word about anyone or anything. Is that enough to be going on with?”

“My dream woman.”

Polly rolled her eyes and took a sip of wine. After a week of lemon juice, it tasted divine.

They talked a bit more about Judith and her home-making skills and her sunny disposition and finally, against her better judgement, Polly promised that if she ever heard Judith was a free woman, Carts would be the first to know. She really didn’t want Carts getting his hopes up. It had taken a few months for him to get over the fact that Aaron had—in his books, at least—snatched Alice from under his nose. The fact that Alice had loved Aaron for five years before he finally saw the light and returned her feelings hadn’t figured in Carts’ reasoning.

At the door, Polly stood on tippy toes and gave Carts a peck on the cheek.

Before she could stop herself, she asked, “How’s your new housemate settling in?”

Carts didn’t seem to register the higher note in her voice that screamedtell me everything you know.Thank goodness being male and an accountant made him a less emotionally observant species.

“Okay, I guess.”

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