'A bit like your chocolate. Better in small quantities.'
'Your problem is that you're dating the wrong women,' Libby said sagely, and he gave a wicked grin.
'I know. It's something that I work really hard at.'
Libby reached across and took his hand. 'I want you to be happy, Alex.'
He frowned at her. 'Are you drunk?'
She looked pointedly at the glass of champagne in his hand. 'How can I be drunk when you're drinking my champagne?'
'Then what's all this sentimental nonsense about me being happy?' He cast her a bored look. 'I'm happy.'
Libby shook her head. 'No, I mean I want you to be settled down with children.'
Alex lifted an eyebrow mockingly. 'I thought you said you wanted me to be happy.'
Libby sighed. 'Don't you ever want children of your own?'
Alex shook his head, his blue eyes suddenly cool. 'No. I do not.'
'You'd be a great father.'
Her brother's broad shoulders tensed and all traces of humour vanished from his handsome face. 'We both know that's not true.'
'Somewhere out there, there's a woman for you,' Libby said firmly, and Alex drained the champagne glass.
'Well, hopefully if I keep my head down she won't see me.' He put the glass down on the table, his blue eyes glittering. 'I don't do commitment, Libby. You know that.'
'I didn't think I did either,' Libby said, 'and look at me now.'
'I'm looking,' Alex drawled, a hint of a smile touching his hard mouth. 'And so are most of the male guests. You're the only bride I've ever met who thinks that ''something blue'' refers to the length of your dress. Were they short of fabric?'
Libby laughed. 'I didn't want to go down the aisle looking like a blancmange. Not my style. And anyway a long dress would have hidden my shoes. Don't you just love my shoes?'
Alex glanced down. 'I think the SAS use something similar for weapons training.'
Still laughing, Libby leaned across and kissed him. 'You're a total pain but surprisingly enough I'm going to miss you. Why do you have to go to Cornwall? Why can't you be a GP in London?'
Alex was suddenly still. 'Actually, I'm not going to be a GP,' he said casually. 'I miss the pace of A and E.'
Her eyes widened. 'You're going back to trauma?'
'I am.'
'Where?'
'In Cornwall. I need a change of scenery.' Alex gave a wicked smile. 'And, anyway, I've been out with all the blonde women in London.'
Libby looked at him thoughtfully. 'Perhaps that's where you're going wrong. Perhaps you should pick a woman who isn't blonde. What you need is a tiny, dark-haired girl with a flat chest.'
Alex threw back his head and laughed, and Libby caught her breath. Her brother was astonishingly handsome. It was hardly surprising that he broke hearts everywhere he went.
He was still smiling as he looked at her. 'Why on earth would I need someone like that?'
'Because all the women you've dated so far have failed to keep your attention for longer than five minutes,' Libby explained with impeccable logic, 'so you need to date someone who is totally opposite to your usual.'
'Thanks for the advice,' Alex said dryly, standing up and nodding briefly as Andreas approached. 'Are you absolutely sure you did the right thing, marrying this woman? I mean, according to Adrienne, women were queuing up to marry you.'
'I did the right thing.' Andreas held out a hand and gave a slow smile that made Libby's heart race. Suddenly she forgot about her brother. All she could think about was her own future, with the man she loved.
She stood up and held out a hand. 'Time to smash some plates, Dr Christakos.'
And Andreas led her onto the dance-floor.
this woman? I mean, according to Adrienne, women were queuing up to marry you.'
'I did the right thing.' Andreas held out a hand and gave a slow smile that made Libby's heart race. Suddenly she forgot about her brother. All she could think about was her own future, with the man she loved.
She stood up and held out a hand. 'Time to smash some plates, Dr Christakos.'
And Andreas led her onto the dance-floor.