He was thirty-two, in his prime, with a lurking devil in his eyes and a sensual quirk to his mouth that was worth any amount of good looks, except that he had them as well.

But as for him being hers? Had he ever really been hers? She’d been his in every possible way, but she’d never felt, in her heart, that she’d been vital to him. Nor had she ‘let him go’. She’d merely faced the fact that in all important ways he’d gone already.

Marianne murmured, ‘You really don’t mind if I try my luck?’

‘You’re welcome to him,’ Kelly said firmly. Oh, it felt good to be able to say that; not to have to watch jealously. ‘Come on, I’ll introduce you.’

As they weaved their way through the throng of guests Kelly tried to calm down. The sight of Jake had given her a shock because she wasn’t expecting him, but that was all. She was a little annoyed with him for gate-crashing, but apart from that she was cool. A few feet away from him she waved gaily.

‘Jake, how nice to see you,’ she carolled.

He gave her his practised smile. ‘I’m sorry, have we m-? Kelly?’

The sheer blank astonishment in his eyes gave her heart a lift. That had knocked him off his feet. Yes!

‘Let me introduce you to Marianne,’ she said. ‘Marianne-my ex.’

‘If he was mine he’d never be allowed to be an ex,’ Marianne laughed, taking the hand Jake offered her.

‘Kelly just discarded me,’ he sighed. ‘Tossed aside like an old shoe when I’d outlived my usefulness.’ He was looking warmly into Marianne’s eyes.

‘Oh, really, Jake!’ Kelly said in disgust. ‘You can think of a better line than that.’

‘No probs,’ Marianne said hurriedly. ‘That one will do just fine. Jake, why don’t you come and cry on my shoulder…?’

They drifted off together.