‘Tom’s just emailed me to let me know he’ll be back late tomorrow afternoon, but he wants to see a version of the speech as soon as we’ve got something to share.’ Charlie, back obviously sore after hours of hunching over his laptop, leaned back in the wooden chair and raised his arms above his head. ‘I wish you and I were on better terms right now,’ he said, half to himself but looking at Holly. ‘I’d ask for one of those amazing massages.’

Holly’s breath caught in her throat and she laughed nervously to cover up the sudden surge of desire that his words, and his slightly dishevelled appearance, provoked in her. ‘Mind on the job, Mr Thorpe. Tom’s not going to want to see a subpar version of this speech that’s supposed to change everything.’

Charlie looked troubled for a moment, and he stood up from the table. Holly felt frozen to the spot as he moved towards her. She caught the warm scent of his body and the cologne he habitually wore and saw the trace of five-o’clock shadow on his jawline. His eyes, darker away from the lamp at the side of the table where he’d been working, seemed to read into her soul.

‘You know we can only do our best, don’t you?’ he said softly as he approached her. ‘All I can do is present the issue to the House as powerfully as I can. It’s up to the pharmaceutical company and the Department of Health to come to a decision after that.’

‘I know,’ Holly replied, her own voice low in the warm light of her living room. ‘But you said to me that real change is effected by politicians; perhaps this is an issue where politics and public opinion together really can make a difference; have an influence.’

‘I hope so,’ Charlie said. ‘And I want you to know that I am going to put everything I have into this debate. I will not walk away from this again, Holly.’ He drew closer to her and she breathed in his scent, so intoxicating that she could feel a warmth spreading through her, and her own breath shortening. As if he didn’t realise what he was doing, he reached out a slightly trembling hand and ran the back of his fingertips down the side of her cheek.

‘Charlie…’ she murmured, head swimming at his closeness.

‘I know,’ he replied. ‘It’s not a good idea. But I just need… I just want…’ With the softness of an exhaled breath, he brought his mouth to hers in a kiss that was as sweet and tentative as that first one they’d shared back in London all those years ago.