He is an incredible kisser; he always was. His skilled tongue sweeps through my mouth, colliding with mine, and I feel delirious as I kiss him back.

Lachie flashes through my mind again, but it’s without guilt or regret. I realise then and there that I’m truly over him.

Bridget is right. This is our time. Alex’s and mine.

It took us long enough to get here.

I slip my hands up inside his T-shirt. He’s broader than he was years ago, but his soft skin still encases hard muscles. I want his T-shirt off.

He draws away when my intentions become clear, pulling his shirt over his head. His pupils are dark and dilated as he stares down at me. I’m mesmerised by the sight of his ribs rising and falling with each heavy breath. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes,’ I whisper. ‘But I’m not on the pill right now.’

He gets up from the bed and goes over to his suitcase. I brought a couple of condoms with me too, just in case, but I’m glad he’s also prepared.

My stomach is awash with butterflies as he hovers above me, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips. I pull him into me and we begin to move as one, staring into each other’s eyes the entire time. It is intense. It is incredible. It feels like coming home.

We’re lying, entangled, afterwards, when there’s a knock on the door. We look at each other in alarm.

‘Room service,’ a voice calls.

We both laugh. We’d forgotten we’d even ordered.

‘Impeccable timing,’ Alex mutters with a grin as he drags on his jeans and goes to answer the door.

We don’t make it as far as dessert before we’re going for Round Two.

It is devastating saying goodbye to Alex after what turns out to be one of the best weeks of our lives. We had a lot of heart-to-hearts while he was here, talking about the future and what we want from it. Ultimately, we decided that we want each other, and somehow we know we need to make it work.

He’s only just set up his business, he loves where he lives and is very close to his family, but I know he would give it all up and move to Australia if I asked him to.

I don’t ask him to. And I will never forget the look on his face when I tell him I’ll quit my job, accept Rachel’s offer and move back to England. He gathers me in his arms and presses kiss after kiss on my forehead before clasping my face in his hands and snogging me senseless.

As if I were going to give up getting one of those every day for the rest of my life.

My boss’s face almost falls off a cliff when I resign.

I have a feeling I was more valued than she let on, but this does not work in my favour when she insists I work my full notice.