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‘That’s nonsense.’

‘Look how great you are with Lizzie.’

‘That’s because I have all the fun and none of the responsibility,’ he said shortly, frowning slightly as he looked at her.

‘I don’t think that’s true. Lizzie expects a lot from you and you always deliver. How many netball matches have you been to this year?’

Jack grinned. ‘Lots. You know me. Rugby, rock-climbing, netball—my three favourite sports.’

She laughed. ‘Precisely. The sight of you standing on the side of a netball court would be funny if it wasn’t so touching.’ She added the envelope to the ever-growing pile. ‘And it is touching, Jack. You’re fantastic with Lizzie.’

A muscle worked in his jaw. ‘But what she really wants is a father.’

Bryony shrugged. ‘And who can blame her for that?’

‘She doesn’t realise that fathers aren’t perfect.’

‘I think she probably does, actually. But she still wants someone.’

‘So how is the quest going? Any suitable candidates lined up? Obviously David is now off the scene…’

Something in his tone made her glance up at him but his expression was neutral.

‘Well, it’s not going that well,’ Bryony muttered, licking another envelope and adding it to the pile. ‘Christmas is three weeks away and I don’t have another date until Saturday.’

His expression was suddenly hostile. ‘You have a date on Saturday? Who with?’

Bryony blushed slightly. ‘Toby.’

‘Toby who?’ Jack was frowning and she laughed.

‘You know—our Toby. Toby from the mountain rescue team.’

‘You’re kidding!’ He glared at her. ‘Toby? He’s totally unsuitable.’

‘Calm down, Jack,’ Bryony said mildly, gathering up all the envelopes and putting them on the table. ‘Toby is nice. And he’s always been kind to Lizzie.’

‘Toby has a terrible reputation with women,’ Jack said frostily, and she shrugged.

‘So do you, Jack.’

‘But I’m not dating you.’

And how she wished he was. Her gaze met his and held and then he sucked in a breath and rose to his feet, powerful and athletic.

‘You can’t date Toby.’

‘Why not?’

There was a long silence and a muscle twitched in his jaw. ‘Because he isn’t right for you.’

She sighed. ‘Jack, you’re so jaded about relationships that you’re never going to think anyone is right, but trust me when I say I’m not going to choose anyone who would hurt Lizzie.’

He took several deep breaths. ‘I don’t want anyone to hurt you either.’

‘I know that.’ She smiled at him, touched that he cared at least that much. ‘You don’t need to be so protective. It’s nice, but I can look after myself.’

‘Where are you going on Saturday?’