The Marriage Risk. Emma Darcy

all the time. You must know what he’s like, working for him. Always thinking about what’s got to be done. Pressure, pressure, pressure.’

      ‘Mmmh…that’s probably what makes him successful.’

      ‘I guess so.’ Buffy didn’t seem sure that success was worth so much attention. ‘He is good at sex,’ she added as though that was some compensation. Then leaning forward confidentially, ‘I bet Josh is, too.’

      ‘Mmmh,’ Lucy agreed out of pride.

      ‘Is he really built?’

      ‘What?’

      Buffy wrinkled her nose. ‘You know. Some guys can have a great-looking physique, but when you get them down to the buff…very disappointing.’

      Not knowing how to answer, Lucy blurted out, ‘I take it James isn’t disappointing.’

      ‘Not in that area. He’s big. And a real pistol. He can go on and on and on,’ Buffy assured her, rolling her eyes appreciatively. ‘What about Josh?’

      Lucy took another deep breath, desperate to somehow get this conversation steered onto other ground. As it was, she didn’t know how she was going to control her thoughts once James returned to his chair.

      ‘Josh has never disappointed me,’ she said truthfully, though the claim had nothing to do with sex. She turned curiously to Buffy. ‘Do you always rate men on how they perform in bed?’

      ‘Well, it is a big thing, isn’t it?’ Buffy reasoned. ‘After all, it’s what they want us for, so it’s a dumb deal if we don’t get satisfaction.’

      ‘What about a sense of companionship? Enjoying other things together?’

      ‘Huh! In my experience, men only put up with what I want to do, to get what’s coming at the end of it. Sex is our bargaining chip, and I, for one, am not going to be a loser.’

      Lucy had never thought of the relationship between men and women in such stark trading terms and it set her wondering how true Buffy’s vision was. She didn’t like it. She wanted to believe that one day she might have the best of both worlds, the kind of companionship she shared with Josh, plus the passionate sexual desire she wished she could share with James.

      The band started playing again so whatever problem had arisen was apparently resolved. Her gaze fastened on James, striding back towards their table, and before she could stop the downward slide, she found herself staring at the movement of his thighs and thinking of what Buffy had said. Which so appalled her, a tide of heat burned up her neck and scorched her cheeks.

      She snatched up her glass of champagne—assiduously re-filled by their waiter whenever the content lowered—and tried to bury her shame in it. Buffy, having also noticed James’ approach, leapt to her feet, skirted Lucy’s chair, and accosted Josh, leaning invitingly over his shoulder.