Having the Boss's Babies. Barbara Hannay

was,’ said Alice. ‘But it was awful and I left.’

      ‘Hmm.’ Mary-Ann looked momentarily sympathetic and then doubtful.

      ‘Honest, guys. I went to the Hippo Bar to look for you, but you weren’t there.’

      ‘Ever hear of these little devices?’ Shana waved her cell-phone. ‘They’re the latest means of communication. You can speed dial a friend at the touch of a button.’

      ‘OK, OK.’ Alice raised her hands to ward off their anger. ‘Give me a break. Look, meeting Liam Conway was totally unexpected. He came into the bar. I was on my own and, well, we kinda clicked.’ She took a quick breath. ‘But it was a one-off thing. I won’t be seeing him again.’

      The girls were leaning towards her now, faces intent. It was clear they expected more.

      ‘Clicked as in—totally clicked?’ asked Mary-Ann.

      Alice thought it best to ignore that query. ‘I had no idea he was our new boss,’ she said. ‘And he didn’t know me from Eve. It was a really weird coincidence. Bad luck.’

      ‘Bad luck?’ cried Shana. ‘Honey, I’m not sure that’s what you call it.’

      ‘When it turns out he’s my new boss, I do.’

      ‘May I interrupt?’

      The voice at the door startled them. There was a collective gasp and a surge of near-panic hit Alice as she turned to see Liam standing there.