Free Operation Soulmate by Diane Hall

embarrassed. And why, oh why had she mentioned spirituality so soon. And why had she dunked that blasted biscuit into her coffee, only to have it now, looking dangerously weakened as it hovered threateningly over her cup, while she continued smiling and trying to look as if she was perfectly comfortable carrying the whole sticky mess around for another ten minutes or so.
         Toby smiled awkwardly, and somewhat bashfully, and took an almost visible step back, as her coffee-cup trembled ever-so-slightly in an unhelpfully ill-fitting saucer. Her heart was pounding uncomfortably and little beads of perspiration were beginning to break out on her top lip. She could feel them.
         “Well, I’ve got a great team behind me, I have to say.” He said, fidgeting slightly.
    From across the room, she could see Ben, shaking his head and wielding the timeout signal, but Brogan was nowhere to be seen.
           “Would you just excuse me for a second, please, Toby, I’m just going to pop to the ladies.” For a second or two, Toby seemed slightly taken-aback by her unexpected withdrawal and then suddenly looked interested again.
           “Well, I hope we can catch up again later, Geraldine,” he said, smiling warmly. “I really enjoyed that feature, by the way. I thought it was beautifully insightful.” Geraldine felt herself melting. There was just no way of figuring men out sometimes...
           “I’m sure we will,” she said regaining her composure. What on earth could Ben want at a time like this? And where was Brogan?
           Brogan's voice came ringing through the hall as soon as Geraldine began marching towards the foyer “Y’okay darlin’?’” she said. Geraldine jumped slightly, as the flaming red mop suddenly appeared by her side. How did she always do that!? Appear as if by magic, from out of nowhere, just, when she was needed??
           “Where have you been? ” Said Geraldine, more fascinated than annoyed.
           “Just over there darlin’ talking to the guy with the hot bod.”
           Gerry glanced over at a personal-trainer type who was now winking suggestively at a blushing Brogan. Borgan bowed her head chastely, and actually fluttered her eyelashes at him before offering a delicate little wave. Geraldine rolled her eyes and shook her head stoically. “Okay, Ben’s just called timeout,” she said in a loud whisper, “Just, follow me.”
    Outside, in the cool air-conditioned foyer, Ben was looking pleased and slightly impressed.
         “Great start!” he said, triumphantly.      
         “What do you mean, great start!?” said Geraldine, incredulously, “I’d barely said two words to the guy before you dragged me away.”
         “Oh, I think you got more than two words in there. In fact, you could probably have written another feature for the Times Educational Supplement on the subject of “How great I think you are Toby, and how I am not worthy.” Geraldine looked down at the floor between them and bit her lip slightly with embarrassment and irritation. Ben was truly infuriating! How had he even heard so much of the conversation?!! And, more to the point, what was really so awful about letting someone know you liked them and that they impressed you and almost made you want to conceive on the spot because they were someone just crying out to be reproduced for the highest good of all?! Okay, maybe, in hindsight, it was probably not that great. Not awful, but not completely ideal. She could see how she might not have come across all that well. But how on earth had Ben heard so much from the other side of the room? It was all truly cringe-worthy! “Look, just trust me on this,” he continued, rising to the challenge once again. “You were getting flustered and he was losing interest. This guy obviously has women fawning over him all the time. Gerry, you are going to have to pull yourself together and just be a little bit more