‘That was only to let her down gently. I couldn’t let her come to America and look for a hook-up. She’s just a kid, in college, I guess. It wouldn’t have been right to lead her on.’ He let go of her hands and raked his fingers through his hair. ‘Oh Grace, what must you have thought of me? I put it out there so blatantly how I felt about you. I flirted with you. At the airport, the kiss and the embrace …’ He let go of her hands and shoved his own hands inside his jeans pockets. ‘I was so happy to see you. I had missed you. I realised it in Berlin, when I couldn’t stop thinking about you. And then on the train, in the restaurant – I even told you were beautiful – now that’s a come-on if ever there was one, in the piazzetta by the water when the old guy even helped me out …’ He shook his head. ‘Jesus, you must have thought I was such a jerk carrying on like that when I was supposed to have a girlfriend. Why didn’t you say something, ask me outright … if you fancied me too?’ He paused and crouched down slightly until his eyes were level with hers. ‘You do, don’t you?’

‘Yes, of course I do,’ she told him, the relief of being able to tell him making her feel a little lightheaded.

‘Phew.’ He stood back up to his full height and started pacing around the room before stopping and walking to stand in front of her again. ‘You know, we could have got this straight days ago and had so much more fun in this incredibly romantic country …’ He grinned, cheekily, and she glanced sideways, not even wanting to contemplate what might have been, ‘… if you had just told me you felt the same way too.’

‘It wasn’t that easy,’ she said, solemnly, and then, lightening up, she added, ‘I could hardly say, “Hey, Ellis, I fancy the arse off you and I know you have a girlfriend so why are you flirting with me?” I just figured that I had got it all wrong. That I was reading something into it. Like a fantasy, I suppose …’ She looked away, feeling a bit foolish now.

‘But why would assume you had it wrong? Like I said before in the restaurant, you’re beautiful and kind and compassionate. I don’t say that lightly, or to every woman I have dinner with, you know … And hot, too. Grace, you are really hot.’ He nodded slowly, staring right at her.

‘Stop it,’ she smiled bashfully.